Athletic Intelligence

The Science of Speed: What Does It Take to Unlock Bat Power?

GameChanger — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Every player is chasing an edge, that small improvement that can change their game. Dr. Sasho Mackenzie has built his career studying exactly that. Known as “The Savant of Speed,” he’s a biomechanist who’s spent decades decoding how the body creates power and precision in motion.

In this episode, Sasho joins GameChanger’s Aman Loomba and Alex Trezza to unpack the physics, biomechanics, and technology beyond his revolutionary Stack System – a tool that uses adjustable weights and intelligent feedback to train both overload (strength) and overspeed (quickness).

You’ll hear:

How overload and overspeed training can reshape a player’s swing
The science behind personalized bat fitting
Why speed training is critical for youth athletes’ development
How the Stack app’s adaptive algorithms keep training simple, effective, and data-driven

About GameChanger:

GameChanger empowers athletes, coaches, and families to stay connected through live streaming, scheduling, statistics, and scorekeeping. Available on iOS, Android, and the web, GameChanger covers over 9MM+ games annually and 1M+ teams a year. The live streaming and scheduling technology is available for all youth sports, with deep stats and scorekeeping capability for baseball, softball, and basketball. GameChanger is based in New York City and is owned and operated by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

The Power of Perspective: How Video is Changing Youth Sports

GameChanger — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

What happens when a camera built for the mountains finds its way behind the backstop?

From the first handy cams on the sidelines to the rise of livestreaming, video capture has changed how we experience baseball and softball – and how families stay connected to the game.

In this episode, Lonie Paxton – a three-time Super Bowl champion who helped GoPro make the leap from individual adventure to team sports – joins Aman Loomba, SVP of Product at GameChanger, and Anna Nickel, Senior Marketing Manager to talk about how that shift happened, what players can learn by seeing themselves on film, and where the next wave of sports technology might take us.

You’ll hear:

How GoPro brought new perspectives to team sports
The story behind GameChanger’s livestreaming launch and integration with GoPro
What players and coaches can learn by watching themselves on film
Why perspective and feedback go hand in hand in player development
How video capture continues to connect players, coaches, and families

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

Complete Players Start Here: Lessons from the GameChanger Scout Team

GameChanger — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

What makes a great baseball player? Beyond throwing hard or hitting for power, it’s often the intangibles—character, resilience, and mindset—that separate good from great.

In this episode of Athletic Intelligence by GameChanger, Jason Ferber—head coach of the first-ever GameChanger National Scout Team—joins hosts Aman Loomba and Alex Trezza to explore how metrics and mindset work together to shape complete players in youth baseball.

From his early days as a coach in Central Park to leading 26 of the top 12U athletes at IMG Academy, Coach Ferber shares why he values motivation as much as mechanics, and how tools like Trackman, Pelotero, and Pocket Radar can support development without overshadowing the joy of the game.

You’ll hear:

The balance between hard skills and soft skills in player development
Why feedback, patience, and even failure are crucial parts of building confidence
How baseball analytics can guide tough decisions for parents and coaches
What families can do to keep their kids’ imagination and love for baseball intact

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

From Little League to MLB: Why Empathy Still Wins

GameChanger — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Every good coach knows the importance of mechanics and reps. But what about trust, empathy, and emotion? According to Boston Red Sox hitting coach Pete Fatse, those “soft” skills are just as vital to player development as bat speed or swing path.

In this episode of Athletic Intelligence by GameChanger, Pete shares lessons from his own coaching development—from opening a training academy to coaching in the Major Leagues. He explains why youth baseball and the big leagues aren’t so different after all, how technology can provide an objective lens, and how “soft” skills like trust and empathy can unlock a player’s full potential.

You’ll hear:

How Pete’s independent ball days shaped his coaching philosophy
How trust and empathy turn raw data into actionable player insights
The role of strength and conditioning in building complete players
How cues–short, simple coaching phrases–help connect data to feel
Why coaching his 8-year-old-son isn’t so different from working with MLB players

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

The Future of Pro Softball: How the AUSL is Capturing National Attention

GameChanger — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400

What if young softball players had real role models to look up to and the tools to follow in their footsteps?

For Sam Fischer, growing up meant studying MLB stars like Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols. She went on to play for Team USA, compete in multiple Olympics, and make history with the first home run in AUSL history. Known for her clutch hitting, sharp defense, and elite softball IQ, Sam spent more than a decade at the top of the game.

Now, she’s on the other side, serving as Senior Manager of Softball Operations for Athletes Unlimited. In this episode of Athletic Intelligence by GameChanger, Aman Loomba and Anna Nickel talk with Sam about the people and moments that shaped her career—from the travel ball coaches who believed in her, to the early tech tools that helped her refine her swing.

They dig into why balancing data with feel is so important, how the AUSL’s fan base is growing across the country, and what MLB’s recent investment means for the sport’s future.

You’ll hear:

The travel ball years, when she “started to see the formula” for getting better
How a camcorder and Right View Pro became game-changing tools for her swing
Why too much data can sometimes get in the way
How fan communities are forming around AUSL teams and players
Why MLB’s investment is a pivotal moment for softball’s growth

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

The Summer of Sal: How a Multi-Sport Mindset and Tech Shaped His MLB Career

GameChanger — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400

What does it take to go from a multi-sport high school athlete to a starting outfielder in the big leagues? For Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick, it’s been a mix of relentless competitiveness, a strong team culture, and learning how to make technology work for him—not the other way around.

In this episode of Athletic Intelligence by GameChanger, Sal joins hosts Aman Loomba (SVP of Product at GameChanger) and Alex Trezza (Baseball Market Manager at GameChanger) to talk about the moments that shaped his career. From his days juggling football, hockey, and baseball, to the pivotal decision to focus on the diamond, Sal shares how different sports gave him an edge when the lights came on.

They dig into the tech that’s now a part of his daily game, from pitch sequencing data to simulation machines that replicate any MLB pitcher, and how he’s learned to balance data with instinct. Sal also reflects on the culture that fuels winning teams, and why being a good teammate is as much about accountability as encouragement.

You’ll hear:

Why Sal believes playing multiple sports is the best foundation for young athletes
The college conversations that convinced him baseball could be his future
How tech like the “Trajekt” machine helps him prepare for pitchers in real time
Why knowing how much technology to use is as important as the data itself
How first-step quickness and route efficiency are tracked—and why they matter
Why team culture is built on both support and holding each other accountable

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

Taking Radar Beyond the Pros: How Speed Data Became a Youth Coaching Staple

GameChanger — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Radar has been a tool long used by the pros, a way to clock fastballs and scout talent at the highest level. But what if it could do more? What if it could be simple, affordable, and built for the everyday athlete and coach?

In this episode of Athletic Intelligence by GameChanger, Pocket Radar CEO Steve Goody shares how a backyard game and a roadside speed sign sparked their mission to reimagine radar technology. Alongside hosts Aman Loomba (SVP of Product, GameChanger) and Anna Nickel (Sr. Marketing Manager, GameChanger), Steve dives into what it really takes to bring high-performance tools to youth sports.

He reflects on the early challenges of building a radar gun that was accurate, affordable, and fits in your pocket. From injury prevention to player confidence, they explore how a single data point — velocity — can unlock bigger insights and why the real power of radar and sports tech as a whole lies in how it’s used.

You’ll hear:

How a roadside speed sign led three engineers to reimagine the traditional radar gun
How women’s softball played a key role in early adoption
What coaches, parents, and players can learn from a single velocity reading
Why objective data can be a game-changer for coaching, feedback, and injury prevention
How Pocket Radar fits into the broader shift toward tech-driven development
Why simplicity and usability matter just as much as accuracy in sports tech

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

From Swing Theory to Smart Tech: How Pelotero is Rethinking Player Development

GameChanger — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Every player wants to get better. But for most young athletes, access to quality coaching is inconsistent, expensive, and often one-size-fits-all.

In this episode of Athletic Intelligence by GameChanger, former MLB player Chris Colabello and longtime hitting coach Bobby Tewksbary share how they're changing that. As cofounders of Pelotero, they’re building a platform that makes personalized development accessible to every player, not just the pros.

They break down the early days of the swing revolution, the emotional highs and lows of player development, and why they believe understanding why something happened matters more than the what. You'll also hear how tracking failure can be a powerful teaching tool, why instincts still matter in a data-rich world, and how Pelotero is helping coaches spend less time in spreadsheets and more time building relationships.

You’ll hear:

How Chris Colabello and Bobby Tewksbary’s friendship began with a shared obsession for stats and improvement
The behind-the-scenes story of how Bobby ended up pitching at the MLB Home Run Derby
Why collecting data is easy, but making it meaningful is the real challenge
The origins of Pelotero and how it aims to make player development scalable
Why player self-awareness and context matter more than raw metrics
How tech can help kids learn the game, not just perform at showcases
A candid look at how data, emotion, and personal growth intersect in youth sports
How a digital tool can transform not just swings, but family conversations and confidence
Why understanding the why behind failure is just as important as tracking success

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

Coaching, Customized: Why Softball Needs More Than One-Size-Fits-All

GameChanger — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400

From early injuries to burnout, softball pitchers are facing new challenges at younger ages, and many coaches are struggling to keep up. As the physical demands of the game grow, understanding your body isn’t just helpful – it’s essential to staying healthy, improving performance, and building a long-term future in the sport.

In this episode of Athletic Intelligence, OGX co-founder Krista Stoker joins GameChanger’s Aman Loomba and Anna Nickel to explore how technology, data, and biomechanics are reshaping softball training from the ground up. Krista, a former Division 3 athlete and longtime coach, shares her journey from relying on grainy video to creating a modern, player-first training system. Her experience shaped OGX’s mission: to help athletes track their physical progress and give coaches the insights to support them.

You’ll hear:

What makes youth softball different from baseball, and how does that distinction impact player development
Why injuries and overuse are sidelining young players before they even reach high school
How Krista’s experience as a D3 athlete and coach inspired OGX’s mission
How OGX helps athletes become experts on their bodies and mechanics
What puberty, fatigue, and long-term development mean for performance – and how to support players through it
How OGX is helping coaches, parents, and athletes play the long game

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

From PitchCom to Pitch Clocks: How MLB’s New Rules are Reshaping the Game

GameChanger — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400

From pitch clocks to PitchCom, Major League Baseball (MLB) is embracing technology to speed up the game, boost fan engagement, and create more exciting moments on the field. But how do these changes impact the way baseball is played and coached at every level, including youth baseball?

In this episode of Athletic Intelligence, former MLB pitcher and current VP of On-Field Strategy at MLB, Joe Martinez, joins GameChanger’s Aman Loomba and Alex Trezza to explore how innovations at the professional level are shaping the future of the sport, from big league stadiums to local Little League fields.

You’ll hear:

How MLB tests new rules and tech to make the game faster and more exciting for players and fans
How PitchCom is improving communication and game flow on the field
What the pitch clock means for pace and player health
How simple changes, like bigger bases, are creating more movement and fewer injuries
Ways parents and coaches can use tech to build confidence, safety and fun into every practice
Why focusing on fundamentals and joy over velocity leads to better player development in the long run

About GameChanger:

Download GameChanger for free today and take your team's game to the next level!

Follow & Connect:
Subscribe now to Athletic Intelligence and never miss an episode. Visit GC.com for more information.

Introducing Athletic Intelligence from GameChanger

GameChanger — Thu, 08 May 2025 13:52:17 -0400

From professional stadiums to neighborhood ballparks, Athletic Intelligence explores how technology is shaping the future of youth baseball and softball.

In bi-weekly episodes, we dive into the latest innovations–from AI-powered officiating to smarter coaching tools and live-streaming setups–and explore how they’re impacting players, families and teams today.

Learn firsthand about the sports tech redefining how we play, watch, and experience the game.

Visit GC.com and follow GameChanger on LinkedIn for more.