Advertise on podcast: The Lookback Rule: A Youth Softball Podcast

Why are girls leaving youth rec softball for travel ball, and what can leagues do about it? In Part 2 of our series, Kelly and Jeff Mirabella talk to the leagues and the whole softball community. We cover watered down rules at 8U, 10U and 12U, why coach development matters, competitive rec divisions and in-house tournament teams, why rosters shouldn't reset every season, why rec leagues should host tournaments, and why rec is real softball. For volunteer coaches, league board members and softball parents who want girls rec softball to be competitive again. Free Practice Builder for coaches: https://www.thelookbackrule.com/practice-builder First Practice Pack and newsletter: https://www.thelookbackrule.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelookbackrule Is rec ball thriving or shrinking where you live? Let us know.

Is youth rec softball dying in your town? Here's what parents and coaches can do right now to save girls recreational softball and keep kids playing the game they love.Youth rec softball is shrinking in a lot of communities. Teams fold, girls leave for travel ball by 10U or 12U, and the families who stay start wondering if rec ball still matters. We think it matters more than ever.In this episode of The Lookback Rule, Kelly and Jeff Mirabella, two volunteer youth softball coaches and league board members, talk through what parents and coaches can actually do to bring girls rec softball back. We cover why girls are leaving, how to bring real competitiveness back to rec without the travel ball pressure, how parents can help fill rosters, and how coaches can build practices and team culture girls don't want to walk away from.This episode started with a question from one of you in the comments, so keep them coming. What's working in your league?🧢 Free tools for youth rec coaches🥎 Free Practice Builder (8U to 14U practice plans in seconds): https://www.thelookbackrule.com/practice-builder🥎 Get our monthly newsletter for coaches and softball families: https://www.thelookbackrule.com🎧 Listen to The Lookback Rule🥎 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033Ue73jiyWV0lZDdDnBLx🥎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lookback-rule-a-youth-softball-podcast/id6803955018🥎 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c771a4d-d374-4e63-a22f-bed0c83d85b3/the-lookback-rule-a-youth-softball-podcast🥎 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lookback-rule-a-youth-341927941/🥎 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelookbackrule?sub_confirmation=1🥎 Facebook: https://facebook.com/thelookbackruleThe Lookback Rule is a youth softball podcast for volunteer rec coaches and softball families. Real talk from two parents still in the dugout every season.#YouthSoftball #GirlsSoftball #SoftballCoach #SoftballMom

Heading into a tournament weekend can feel like packing for a week-long expedition—especially if you aren't sure what to expect! In this episode, we’re breaking down the full tournament experience for coaches, parents, and players. From navigating pool play vs. bracket seeding and handling umpire etiquette, to keeping athletes hydrated and surviving the sidelines with siblings in tow, we cover the real, unfiltered side of tournament weekends. Plus, we share our top 3 tournament must-haves and debate the eternal travel ball question: should you book the hotel? 🎒 Shop Our Tournament Must-Haves:Grab our favorite sideline gear, dugout essentials, and tournament weekend lifesavers on our curated Amazon list: https://www.amazon.com/shop/stellar247/list/19NE83ECPLS02?ref_=aipsflist Episode Breakdown:(00:00) Intro & Recap(01:20) Why Consider Tournaments?(02:40) Coach Prep & Setting Expectations(04:16) Pool Play & Seeding Explained(06:10) Umpire Etiquette & Coaching Boundaries(07:45) Rule Differences & Who Approaches Umps(12:15) Our Top 3 Tournament Must-Haves(16:55) When to Pull Your Pitcher(19:35) What Parents Need to Know: Hydration & Heat Prep(22:09) Why Your Player Might Be Sitting(24:18) Managing "Feral" Tournament Siblings(27:14) Types of Tournaments & Should You Get a Hotel? Follow The Lookback Rule on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode, and leave a review if you enjoyed the show!

Making the jump to 12U fastpitch softball changes the game completely. Between dropped third strikes, live ball base running, and complex umpire calls, knowing the rulebook is essential for players, coaches, and parents transitioning out of 10U or rec ball. In this video, we break down the most critical 12U softball rules, the key differences between rec and tournament play, and practical base running tactics like the lookback rule, delayed steals, and base paths. Timestamps:0:00 Intro0:45 Every League Uses Different Rules1:20 Why 12U Is "Big Girl Ball"1:48 Rec Rules Are Not Select Rules1:58 The Lookback Rule Explained3:53 Dropped Third Strike5:31 Get That Runner Off First6:18 Stealing Bases in 12U7:29 Stealing Considerations8:08 Leading Off Every Time9:59 The Delayed Steal10:33 12U Base Running Tip11:04 Infield Fly Rule13:35 Leaving the Base Early14:20 Tournament Rules Can Be Different14:46 What Rule Questions Do You Have?15:19 Obstruction vs Interference17:30 Base Path Explained18:42 Walk-Up Music Etiquette Drop your rule questions in the comments below, and don't forget to like and subscribe for more fastpitch tips, drills, and strategies!

Managing a youth sports team is about so much more than what happens between the white lines; it starts with setting boundaries, managing parent expectations, and building a culture where kids truly fall in love with the game.In this episode of The Lookback Rule Podcast, we’re breaking down the exact blueprint we use to eliminate team drama before practice even starts, create an unforgettable team bond, and run high-yield fundraisers to spoil our players.Inside This Episode:The Pre-Season Parent Meeting: Why the first team meeting is non-negotiable, how to communicate player/parent codes of conduct, and establishing clear boundaries for game-day communication.Managing Expectations: Proactively handling common parent concerns around batting orders, position development, and playing time.Building a Tight-Knit Team Culture: Simple bonding traditions—from post-game ice cream runs to pre-game line dances—that turn individual players into teammates who support each other through wins and losses.The $5,000 Hit-a-Thon Fundraiser: How we funded custom gear, indoor batting cage practices, tournaments, and end-of-season parties without breaking the bank.Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:Fundraising Platform (RallyUp): https://rallyup.com/Custom Name Plate Softball Necklaces (Temu): https://share.temu.com/3SFkxHGUsrCCHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to Episode 5 of the Lookback Rule Podcast00:56 The first thing we do02:35 Pre-Season Team Meeting06:11 Please get your kid to practice11:32 When to approach the coach14:40 Creating a strong team culture - I am not a crazy softball mom16:40 Girls can be catty at this age. We don't allow that.22:00 Fundraising our way to $500028:00 other fun things you can do for less money

From playing shorthanded in the championship game to navigating the "bro culture" of youth sports, welcome back to another unfiltered conversation on The Lookback Rule Podcast!In Episode 4, we break down our very first season coaching youth softball in Colorado. We dive into the big decision behind bumping our 10U daughter up to 12U to play with her sister, what draft day looked like as newcomers, and how we built a winning regular-season routine around smart practice strategies and clear communication.Then came the championship game against an undefeated powerhouse. With players out sick, an unexpected emergency room trip mid-game, and only 8 girls taking the field, everything that could go wrong did. Hear how the team rallied for an unforgettable win!We also take on a critical topic in youth athletics: why we desperately need more women stepping into coaching and board positions, how youth sports create future female leaders, and why investing in rec softball matters more than ever.Key Stats Mentioned:Fast-pitch participation is up +19% in two years (SFIA).94% of women executives played sports, and 69% of women who played hold formal leadership roles (EY/espnW, Women’s Sports Foundation).Subscribe for more candid stories, coaching systems, and honest takes on youth sports culture!

Some seasons you play. Some seasons you say goodbye to. Jeff and Kelly look back at their final season coaching Texas softball: the year that ended with the first Twisters team ring, and the year that ended with a moving truck pointed toward Colorado. They talk about what that ring actually meant after everything it took to get there, what it's like to coach a season knowing it's your last one with that group, and what it takes to pack up a softball life and start over in a new state. Rings are great. The people you win them with are better. Chapters:00:00 Welcome back and recap00:50 It's big girl softball now02:04 I love coaching 12U Softball02:39 Coach Kelly starts actually coaching more as an assistant 04:45 You can't just talk at girls. You need to teach and demonstrate them so they understand05:08 The candy trick11:00 Drama always at tournaments!16:01 Every time we do a tournament the girls level up16:43 She quit soccer and fell in love with Softball20:47 We were known for our team culture 27:30 We closed our chapter with Prosper Baseball and Softball Association (PBSA)

10U is where you find out what you signed up for. Jeff and Kelly get into their first full season coaching 10U softball: the chaos, the learning curve, and their first real run-in with That Parent. (Every coach gets one. Theirs came early.) They also relive their daughter's first all star championship, still one of their favorite memories in the game, and talk about how that whole season quietly set the tone for the kind of coaches they are today. Every coach has a season that shapes them. This was ours.

Jeff and Kelly Mirabella kick off The Lookback Rule by going back to the very beginning of their softball coaching journey. First team, first mistakes, first lessons the field taught them the hard way. If you coach, or you love someone who does, start here. Two blanks to fill: your posting cadence, and the team or league name if you want it in there for searchability. If you tell me the age level you started with and roughly what year, I can work those in and make it a lot more specific.