Dynamic Fastpitch Academy, LLC

04/11/2026

I need to brag on Maggie today! She is in 7th grade and has been working with me for 3 years, and I mean WORKING! Today we made two adjustments in the last 20 min of her lesson and went from 46 mph to her PR of 51!! She is also throwing fastball spots at over 80% accuracy, change up and off speed, killer drop and the start of a wicked curveball. WTG Maggie!! Coach is SO proud of you.

08/14/2025

Combined a couple drills into one to work on sequencing, arm whip and wrist snap! Enjoy!

08/07/2025

A quick trick to Menards to create a simple tool! Enjoy!

07/29/2025

Cata has been working hard with me since May of 2023! So proud of her…THIS is why I love working with beginners! Way to Go, Catalina!!!

07/05/2025

Group lessons are in the works! Fill out this google form if you are interested in learning more.

Sarah Atkinson started Dynamic Fastpitch Academy in 2022 with a vision to impact young ladies through fastpitch softball. She has traveled the country playing ball since she was 12 years old, was a dominating pitcher a million years at at South Milwaukee HS (Go Rockets!) and also played D1 at the Un...

07/05/2025

Kay has been working hard this season!

07/02/2025

06/28/2024

This can be one of the most frustrating things to navigate through with your daughters as they move from practice to games. Here’s something that might help.

https://www.facebook.com/share/cQAPQ6hgiJrLnyBs/?mibextid=WC7FNe

I have been getting an influx of messages from you saying your pitchers pitch one way in lessons and then another way in games.

No need to worry...you are not alone! This is a common problem, but different pitchers will take different amounts of time to overcome this problem. Usually pitchers move slower in a game because there's a lot of pressure and they are scared of making a mistake/disappointing.

The best thing I suggest doing: Have your pitcher identify on a scale of 1-10, 10 being moving the fastest and throwing her hardest, what she feels like she has been throwing at in a game. YOU don't give HER a number, have her give you the number. I like to use this scale for lots of things because it is something that they can relate with. If they are confused, say that a "10" is like a 100 on a test at school.

Then, at practice, have them show you what a "10" looks like, and more importantly, have them take a second to remember what it FEELS like. Have them show you what a 10 looks like...multiple times at multiples practices.

Then, at that time, come up with a plan, like this "Ok, we are going to commit the next time we have a game to pitch at a "10" for one whole batter. It doesn't matter what the batter ends up doing, but I want you to commit to one entire at bat you pitch JUST LIKE THIS, at a 10."

Go into a game, and pick out which batter it's going to be. I suggest it being a leadoff hitter of one inning. After the inning is over, and she runs back in, make sure you ask her what # she felt like she was pitching at a scale of 1-10.

The next time you have a game, maybe you have your pitcher commit to one whole innings pitching at a 10, and not caring what the results are

06/04/2024

Good reminder as tournament season is upon us!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/792Rj3RtPPr4pEhR/?mibextid=WC7FNe

05/28/2024

As everyone is finishing up the school year and starting up their tournaments and leagues, I just wanna say good luck! Have fun! Remember to listen to your body and give your arm rest when needed. Preventative ice is better than “I can’t lift my arm” ice 😉.

Reach out for a summer lesson slot and/or check in!

04/03/2024

💯 The biggest challenge I see with my pitchers who struggle in games is that they are trying to aim, place, push, force things rather than TRUSTING their mechanics. Practice is for fixing and improving and doing the hard work. Come game time, players need to TRUST that the work they did is solid and stop overthinking and over correcting. Just DO what you’ve trained to do, and then after the game get back to work. Because there’s ALWAYS more work 🙂.

Here's something I bet you haven't thought of before....

In practice, you're in a training mindset. This is where you're focused on learning, tweaking and pushing your limits. Your thoughts might be, 'I need to fix my glove hand,' or 'I need to work on my accuracy with this new pitch.' It's all about growth, addressing weaknesses, and building strength. Practice is your time to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. And also the time to develop, focus on changes and have a learning cap on.

Now, let's switch to game day. Here, you move into a trusting mindset. You've done the hard work in practice; now it's time to trust in that training. Instead of focusing on what you need to improve, your thoughts shift to what you already do well. You might think, 'I’ve got a strong fastball – I’m going to use it to get ahead in the count,' or 'My changeup has been effective lately; I’m confident throwing it in crucial moments.' It’s about relying on the skills you’ve honed in practice and knowing that you’re prepared.

The trusting mindset is crucial because it allows you to relax and reduce anxiety during games. When you trust in your skills, you release the pressure of perfection and allow yourself to enjoy the game. This relaxation can actually enhance your performance – you're less tense, more focused, and you can react more instinctively.

So, how do you make this shift? It starts with recognizing the difference between practice and game situations. In practice, be analytical and critical about your mechanics – this is your time to train. But come game day, switch to a mindset of trust. Remind yourself of all the hard work you’ve put in, the progress you’ve made, and the strengths you possess.

Training vs Trusting mindsets - important to teach this as a parent/coach and recognize this as a pitcher.