Chris Olsen

Rebels National (Softball) Coach. Entrepreneur. Investor. Digital Marketer. Former News Reporter/Anchor. Father. Closet Redneck.

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

Players, you need to hear this. It’s what your coaches want you to know when it's all said and done.

Softball is a cruel teacher.

It will hand you the greatest feeling of your life, then snatch it back before you can hold onto it. A walk-off. A perfect game. A moment where the ball meets the bat and you just know. We let those moments go too soon, traded in the second something goes wrong.

But the lows don’t ask permission. They follow you to the car ride home, to the silence at dinner, to the replay that won’t stop running in your head at 2 a.m. You’ll carry an error longer than you should. You’ll lie awake after a strikeout that didn’t even matter in the final score. You’ll question whether you’re good enough, whether you belong, whether any of it is worth it.

It is. Stay with me.

Here’s the truth: your strikeouts, your errors, your losses don’t define you. They just make you harder to quit on.

What defines you is what you do after. Running back to the dugout fence to cheer for your teammate when your own at-bat is still stinging. The tears on your face after a mistake, because you care that much. Putting in extra reps when no one is keeping score. Sitting when you want to be starting, trusting the process when the reward feels years away, and showing up anyway.

This game will test you in ways most people will never understand. But it gives back. Maybe not on the scoreboard, not always in a trophy or a starting spot, but in the person next to you in the dugout and in the kind of toughness that sneaks up on you one hard season at a time.

Just know: this game loves you back, even when you’re struggling to love it.

And more than anything, your coaches love you. On your worst days. After your worst games. Long after the season ends.

Being you is enough. Failures and all.

Ladies, carry this with you: your coaches will always be your biggest fans, even when we’re no longer coaching you.

[Ainsley Palmer @ains_palmer10]

So grateful to be honored with 1st team all EKL Outfield! Thank you to everyone who’s helped me strive to be better! Growing more in the game of softball everyday.
@RebelsOlsen @IndStSoftball @SIUESB @Gorilla_SFB @UNISoftball @UEAthletics_SB @UCASoftball @EIU_Softball @RedbirdsSB

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@GardnerSoftball @TheEarlAwardKC @KansasPregame @sportsinkansas @KSSCentral @BlazerBlueCrew @GEHSAthletics @LattemanCharlee Great work, Chuck! A no-brainer decision!

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@SDCoyotesSB @SDCoyotes @TheSummitLeague @D1Softball Go Piv, Go!

[South Dakota Softball @SDCoyotesSB]

𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇! 🥎

Coyote Nation, welcome 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐫 as the 11th head coach in program history!!

"It's a heck of a day to be a Coyote!"

📰 » https://t.co/MOyjCNeCru

#GoYotes

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

Congrats Piv!

[South Dakota Softball @SDCoyotesSB]

𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇! 🥎

Coyote Nation, welcome 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐫 as the 11th head coach in program history!!

"It's a heck of a day to be a Coyote!"

📰 » https://t.co/MOyjCNeCru

#GoYotes

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@GoJacksSoftball @RozelynCarrillo Congrats Roz!

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@djgasso I’d definitely like to see them fill the stadium. Sometimes giving people a day will do that.

[Grace Samuels 2027 @gracesamuels36]

Now that HS season is over, I think it’s time for a little recap. Here’s a few highlights from my Jr. season ‼️ Can’t wait for club ball to start with my girls ❤️

@DgSoftball1 @suziemuenz @Coach_NThompson
@hallieblackney @lexikinnaird
@coach_pilk @BrendaHoladay @JamesSnyDus @maddiepederson9
@CoachJoshBarnes @CoachAbbyShoe
@HJordanCoach2 @eeconomon @EastonHerring @CoachBredbenner @RebelsOlsen
@KCRebels16nat

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@ToriTyson I love her. We played her a lot in travel and she's great!

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@Coach_MartyBall @CoachBeede Lol now you know how I feel.

[Diamond Addicts @DiamondAddicts]

Are you doing everything in your control to get recruited?

Are you working out?

Are you throwing pens? Going to the cage for BP?

Are you going to college camps?

Are you playing softball during the summer and increasing your chances of being seen by coaches?

Are you posting your film on here/IG or field level?

Are you communicating with coaches?

Have you made known your college aspirations with your club? Are they helping you?

Are your college options flexible?

In a crazy recruiting atmosphere today, it is imperative you are doing everything in your power to get yourself noticed

The rest of the process is up to the coaches who want to bring you to their program

But control what you can control

Work hard, be consistent, never give up

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@NebraskaGold What a moment. Your girls are killing it!

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

Why can’t travel ball coaches work together the same way we see college coaches collaborate through the NCAA and @NFCAorg?

At the end of the day, most of us got into this for the same reasons:
• Help young women chase their dreams
• Grow the game we love
• Build strong women who lead their communities
• Develop talent, confidence, and character

Not every player is the right fit for every team... and that’s OK. If a family finds a better fit elsewhere, that shouldn’t create bitterness. It should create respect.

And scripture also reminds us to:
“Iron sharpens iron" Proverbs 27:17
“Rejoice with those who rejoice.” Romans 12:15

Competition is healthy. Great coaches push each other to be better. We should be able to celebrate each other’s success while continuing to raise the standard of the game.

I challenge all of us in travel ball to keep perspective and remember why we started doing this in the first place.

Let’s build warriors. Not politics.

[Carol Bruggeman @CoachBrugg]

Watching two of my best friends & colleagues compete on the big stage was both gut-wrenching and exciting. 😬🤗These two are proof you can compete bw the white lines & be respectful/collegial outside them. What. A. Game! 🤯@CoachDeifel @RhondaRevelle @RazorbackSB @HuskerSoftball

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@NSUDemonsSB @CoachJenFuller @CoachBradF Class act! Love seeing us grow a community and be civil. We should celebrate each other's successes!

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@NSUDemonsSB @CoachJenFuller @CoachBradF Love when ADs do the right things!

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

UPDATE: as apparently TDs don't want their logos on there...

Well, it's out there, so I may as well publish it to the masses. Coaches, join us to see how and why our reputation for developing talent is growing.

Our promise and commitment to our players in developing them is unmatched.

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@coachapjackson @coachphunt Noticed a Typo... lol

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@BSUBeaversSB @JadynKistner

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

@DiamondAddicts @ains_palmer10 get yourself on this list...

[Chris Olsen @RebelsOlsen]

This is incredible!