Look Great, Feel Great, Play Great

I sent this out via e-mail a few days ago and got quite a few responses, so I decided to share it on the blog as well. Enjoy!

I a conversation I had with Tom Hanson, I remember him mentioning a conversation he had with Mike Candrea. Tom said that Coach Candrea talked about how much time he spends on helping his players feel good.

Recently, I had a conversation with another coach via Facebook and he was talking about how he was building up a team that had recently come from losing seasons. One of the things he wanted to do was get the players to feel good about being part of the team.

One way he did that was making sure they had some of the best sweats in the league. It was something players get excited about. It's something they looked forward to and something they loved about being part of that team...they got to wear cool sweats/hoodies. This coach mentioned how something as simple as this can create a more positive atmosphere on the team.

Again it goes back to helping the players feel good. You've heard people say, "Look good, feel good." Then of course, if you feel great, you're more likely to be positive and the more positive you are the more likely it is that you have a better mindset for performing well.

Now if you don't have the cash to buy the best uniform or the best sweats or jackets in town, the Mitt Mate thing I've been talking about may be an idea (plus there's another option that I'll talk about toward the end of this message). Like I said, my girls (my daughters and the players I coach) thought they were great and got excited about getting some for their glove. Feel good, play good - think this could work.

Something as simple as this can promote a more positive team atmosphere and just create a better sense of "team" among the players. There are other benefits too and I'm actually going to be talking with Jessica (the one who created these Mitt Mates) on the next Fastpitch Talk Radio.

Not sure what Mitt Mates are? I've got a blog post with a picture up at

http://www.allaboutfastpitch.com/2009/02/useful-bling-for-your-glove.html

Then I also put up a video where I show you the one I personally have on my glove.

http://staciemahoe.com/2009/03/03/whats-on-your-glove/

If you're one of the many who've already taken advantage of the special Jessica is offering (details on the blog and in the video), please send me a picture of you with your Mitt Mate. I'd like to post it up if you don't mind.

Also, if you'd like to get some Mitt Mates for your team, but don't have the funds, Jessica just released a brand new fundraising program. Check it out at http://www.MittMate.com - remember to use promo code STM017 to get free shipping on that fundraiser.

What's on your glove?

Useful Bling for Your Glove

I'm not sure if this has ever happened to you, but it's happened to me...Last season in fact.  I took my daughter to practice, and of course, since I have great taste in gloves,  at least one other girl on my daughter's team has the exact same glove (happens to be true again this season).  

This of course, can cause some problems.  For example, one day last season (it's bound to happen sooner or later) my daughter comes to me after practice and says, 

"INSERT TEAMMATE'S NAME HERE took my glove instead of hers by accident."

Ugh!  This does seem to happen more with the younger age groups than with older ones because the younger players aren't always so particular with their gloves.  

The reason I bring this subject up is because I just recently found out about MittMates.  I actually had no idea what MittMates were until I saw them on Facebook.  I had seen similar products or "bling" on player's gloves, but these are pretty cool.  At least I think they are.

Of course, I was a little worried that older players would think it was corny.  However, I put one on my glove and the players I coach (high school age) started asking how I got it and how they could get one for their glove.  Sooooooo, I'm going to be getting MittMates for our whole team.  

Normally, these little MittMates run about $11.99 each.  However, you can take advantage of a Team Special they're running and get MittMates for your whole team for just $99.  (up to 13 players)  All you have to do is go to the order page and use promo code: STM017

Order your team's MittMates with Promo Code: STM017 and save over 35%!

They even have different colors to possibly match your team and cool designer looking ones if you want something more "fashionable." (my favorite is, of course, the surfer print).  

For a cool, stylish way to personalize and easily identify your glove, get MittMates.  Who knows, maybe it'll help us get out to the field faster on defense because it'll be easier for players to identify which gloves need to be given to the players coming off the field from baserunning or hitting.  It'll should eliminate the "Can you pass my glove?" / "Which one's yours?" exchange that we hear all the time in the dugout.  

Orrrrrr, when gloves are left at the field after practice or after games, MittMates will help you immediately identify who that glove belongs to.  ;)

So, go get some for your team today and remember to use Promo Code: STM017 to take advantage of the over 35% discount on Team Orders.