Four programs that have each won a Women’s College World Series title, Alabama among them, will meet in one event next season. Programs are building early-season schedules that test them against the best, and that tells you where the sport is headed. If you play in the Southeast, this is a good one to circle for a trip.

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Nebraska hosts UConn for a three-game series in early April, the first regular-season meeting between the two programs this century. Non-conference series like this are how programs from different regions get measured against each other. For a recruit, schedules are worth reading: they show you who a program is willing to play.

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Auburn missed the NCAA Tournament last season and spent the offseason on strength training and adding talent. Missing the postseason is information, and how a program responds in the fall tells you a lot. Strength is part of every serious development plan, so this is a useful read for any player thinking about her own offseason.

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Coach Paul lays out a progression: tee work first, then front toss from 10 to 15 feet, then batting practice at about 70 percent of game velocity, with live pitching last. He also warns against putting a machine at full game speed too early. The point I like: earn the speed. Build the pattern slow, then let the pitch speed up. It is a solid template for the next few weeks.

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Julie Jones, a former Division I coach and mental performance coach, says acknowledge what pressure feels like instead of fighting it. Then name your likely triggers and decide ahead of time how you will respond. Write it down before the game, not during it. A plan you made calm beats a reaction you make nervous.

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A sport psychologist at Children’s National says check your own emotions first, name what your child is feeling, and give her space to wind down. The real conversation may go better hours later. Set behavioral goals before the game, goals within her control, and review those afterward instead of the score. Simple, and most of us can do better at it.

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Commitments for the Class of 2027 continue, including Utah, NC State, Stanford and Coastal Carolina. The note I would pass to families is that several uncommitted Top 150 players are dealing with injuries and taking their time. There is no prize for committing first. Choose the right fit.

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FROM MY MIC

Transcending Sport with Rob Crews

Conversations on the mental side of performance, development and the athlete’s mindset. New episodes are on the show page, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

ON THE BOOKSHELF

Get Recruited by Rachel Coleman

A step-by-step guide to the recruiting process. If item seven has your family asking where to start, this is a good first read.

WHERE’S ROB & WHAT’S COMING

Rake Sessions, camps and appearances are posted with dates, locations and registration on the events page. I add new stops as they are confirmed, so check back before you plan travel.

See upcoming events ›

Want a Rake Session at your facility? See details and book ›

The Inner Circle · $19/mo

Every morning, one piece of hitting instruction: a mechanism, a drill, a diagnostic, or something to stop saying. Week-long series that build day by day, plus mental-game notes.

Shorty Training Bat · $150

One-time purchase and part of the Swing Dynamics system. A short bat is a constraint that teaches a piece of the swing you cannot cue into existence. Pairs well with the tee-first progression in item four.

Pick one thing off this list and actually do it this week. That’s the whole point.

Elite is a mentality.

— Rob