Get on board with Extra Inning Softball’s regular feature, The Last Inning!
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
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Here’s our TLI for Friday, Jan. 21:
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COACH PROFILE: BRYAN GARRETT
Bryan Garrett has had a lot of success in the Stars National program and running the Diamonds Fastpitch organization, but he really shines as a catching and hitting coach.
COACH PROFILE Q&A
Name: Bryan Garrett
Hometown: Havertown, PA
High School: Sun Valley High of Aston, PA
Club Team: Current Coach of Stars National 18U-Garrett and Stars National 14U-Garrett. Also ran the Diamonds Fastpitch Organization.
College: West Chester University, Masters Immaculata University and Doctoral program started, but not completed.
Nickname: BG
Twitter: @Bryangarrettcatching and @Bryangarrettca1
Top Coaching Honors/Accomplishments:
Every time a player receives an opportunity to play in College means the world to me. Nothing better than seeing a player realize their dream and be lucky enough to be a part of the moment. When a player calls, texts or messages about a great moment during a game they feel came from working hard during the lesson or when they give back and talk about what they learned to help younger players. When players come in and are excited for the lesson and disappointed when it ends! Grow the game, love the game and respect the game!
Coaching Highlights:
My team earning a ranking of #67 in the country from Extra Inning Softball last season. Multiple catchers I work with earning rankings at their position because it means a lot to them. Being one of the top teams coming out of NEFL to earn the Tier 1 Alliance bid last season. There are championships, which mean a lot to me because the girls earned them, including the East Coast Fall Championship, Nightmare Fall Classic, playing in the 18U Invitational at Legacy last fall as a first year 16U team to name are a few great moments.
How do you approach the game?
Hard work. I will never be outworked, just don’t believe in it. I am a volunteer coach for both of the Stars’ teams. I run a regional program, Diamonds Fastpitch, too. I took on the second team this season because I want our players to have the greatest opportunity possible to develop. It is something I can control and when you work with kids, they see our work ethic, so I need to lead by example. We practice hard and really push trying to maintain a game speed and intensity. Over my years of coaching from football, basketball, baseball and softball, I have learned the value of culture and balance. I know people say it but my team truly loves each other. They tagged themselves #teamfun. They created an Instagram page stars of the show and starsnatty to just post funny pictures and make fun of the posts and enjoy each having fun. They play for each other and understand how to fight for each other no matter how tall the task. They know and I say we are grinders you don’t walk on the field and win a game!
💥HITTING & CATCHING LESSONS💥
Framing/ Blocking and Fundamental throwing work take a look below ⬇️
Schedule Online: https://t.co/qPMTgKhQAK
Catching & Hitting 🥎
Havertown, PA pic.twitter.com/w668NFwyJj— @BryanGarrettCatchingHitting (@bgcatching) November 4, 2021
What’s your area of expertise?
Catching and Hitting. I have spent hours on hours listening to great instructors! I believe there are great aspects of many coaches and instructors and it is my responsibility to learn from them. The more I am willing to learn the greater the opportunity is for my students and players. I try to approach coaching/being an instructor with an open mind and a growth mindset. I have been lucky to learn from some great coaches and try to pull all the best aspects and continue to build on them!
Before to current progress below!
💥HITTING & CATCHING LESSON💥
Schedule Online: https://t.co/qPMTgKhQAK
Before lessons started to her current progress! See in the video below! Bella continues to grow as a hitter on her 12U Team @Bryangarrettca1 @ExtraInningSB @Diamonds_SB pic.twitter.com/asfjni1QtI— @BryanGarrettCatchingHitting (@bgcatching) November 19, 2021
What are some of your favorite training methods?
I have some favorite drills including “walk-ups” for hitting, working off a yoga block for learning to front heel drop. I teach ground up for building the swing. Unfortunately, a lot of hitters do not understand how to use their legs or understand timing. They kind of get taught Algebra without understanding how to add. I think fundamentals are the most overlooked aspect of most players due to a lot of coaches and teams chasing trophies. Most players will have good or even great aspects of their swings, but no understanding how to feel or adjust when needed. So the drills are really player dependent. Same thing with catching, I have some favorities and spend at least some portion of the lesson on fundamentals of receiving, blocking, throwing footwork, etc.
What’s your schedule/routine?
Crazy, lol! Monday nights after work, I do individual lessons for a few hours, then team lessons. Tuesday 3.5 hours of hitting and 1.5 hours of catching groups. Wednesday is a repeat. Thursday I usually either contact my online lessons, current players or hitters to break down their video for analysis. Friday is usually off unless a player reaches our and needs help before a camp or clinic. Saturday lessons in the morning for three hours. There’s usually four hours of Stars practice followed by one hour team hitting with Diamonds and one hour team catching. Sunday is just four hours of team practice, sometimes additional catchers or hitting for the Diamonds. I work 40 hours-plus a week for teaching too!
Top players you’ve coached?
I’d rather not answer this question. They all are important to me and I could never pick who the top player is in general. I am blessed know it and respect it! Sorry, I am not trying to avoid the question, just never want to put a number value on any of my players.
Other sports coached?
I have coached Varsity basketball, baseball and 9th grade football. I have coached varsity softball for HS too. I no longer coach any of the other sports, but I just took over the high school program where I am a Special Education Teacher.
Is coaching and/or softball your full-time or “day job?”
No, it is a passion and I love it! I am a High School Special Education Teacher.
Did you have a coach or mentor that helped you get started? Mike Diluzio. I was a baseball coach and started picking his brain about softball. He shared everything, was always available to answer my questions and share his love for the game. He came to a few of my practices as I went from coaching baseball to softball and helped me. Dave Willams was an assistant coach on my college team, who opened my eyes to all the different aspects to hitting and understanding there are so many parts to a great swing.
What is the best part of your job?
It never feels like and hopefully never will feel like a job! I get to see players grow in a sport they love. Their passion and excitement is awesome! We all know there are so many life lessons in sports and watching a player figure them out and gain confidence through the trial and error and hard work is very cool!
The worst?
Seeing people in the game put their success ahead of what’s best for the players. If you truly care about some players, it may be in their best interest to play at a higher level then you are capable of providing. Honestly, originally this is where Rachel and I started our softball relationship. I had players who deserved an opportunity to compete on a higher stage than we could provide in the regional aspect of our program. Being able to access the whole other level of play most people do not even realize may exist. If you truly are in the game for the players best interest, sometimes pushing them into those opportunities is the right move by the kid and family. Partnering together between Diamonds and Stars, it has been awesome to be able to see players who are finding success and what is truly the greatest route for the individual.
Do you think softball is in a better place now than 10 years ago? Why or why not?
Yes, it is growing and younger players have players to look up to and learn from at the college, Olympic and even professional level they can see on TV now. There will always be some drawbacks from the growth of a sport, but I think the players right now truly love the game and it shows which helps younger players know they can dream big!
What other club and/or high school coaches do you admire and why?
Rachel Coleman. We work together and she has the same passion and drive I do for the sport. We are both player driven and want the best for the kids! Amy Ingram. She has been right by my side coaching for the last seven years. She never asks for anything from anyone but is the first to give her time, sacrifice her own money and be there for every player! She is the glue of everything and people do not truly understand how much she means to the girls and any success we have together! Philip Belfield. He built an awesome Stars National program and he literally removed his personal ego and gain to give Rachel Coleman an opportunity for success. It is one of the most selfless acts I have seen in travel softball where there are many people making a lot of money and all he wanted was to provide a woman an opportunity to succeed and leave the program in great hands! That is a leader!
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