So our team has had an optional batting practice the last couple of weeks and I thought it’d be interesting to share what works and what doesn’t.  It hasn’t been a rushed batting practice before our game like the photo – if you watch a big league game the players go in and out very ..read more

I have had a few practices with my new team and I’ve had fantastic help from parents. I’ve had almost a 1-1 ratio of coaches to players on the field at every practice and it means I can do a LOT on 1-1 mechanics. Instead of just saying LINE UP FOR Grounders and me hitting a ground ball to the player in line — I can have 12 parents roll a ball to a player. In the same time of getting one good rep if I’m lucky as the player at the front of time would be distracted by the kids in the back of the line — I’m getting 12 reps ..read more

Well who’s counting, but we just had the season ending party for my team.  They finished under 0.500 but I thought they had a great season.  The best part of the party was when I asked who was going to play again next season and everyone raised their hand (OK one or two said they ..read more

Nothing can keep a baseball coach up more at night than ruminating about the order of pitchers for an upcoming game.  I remember reading a biography of Vince Lombardi where he is quoted as saying that football was an odd game since 90% depended on the quarterback.  I remember reading that and thinking “well baseball ..read more

Readers of this blog (thanks!) know that I’m not one of those feel-good coaches who constantly says happy things to players even when they do not perform.   I tell them the truth, they like it, they work hard, they trust me, and in general they learn and the whole thing is very rewarding.  I just had to share that at a pitcher/catcher practice today I had one kid really focus on practice. I don’t know what did it, but he locked in and  at one point he threw a ball that was just good mechanics — nice clean mechanics and the ball went right to the glove of the catcher  And I ..read more

And so it came to pass that before our first game, I realized I hadn’t covered warmups between innings. For pre-game warmup, we had rehearsed in practice as I wanted it to look like we had a clue. But the pre-inning warmup is a thing I usually forget about and just show the first baseman how to roll a ball to the other fielders once the game is underway and after a game or two they get it. Well yesterday’s game I realized it before the game and decided to EXPLAIN it instead of SHOW IT.  I went over it — everyone was confused and I said “Don’t worry I’ll show you.” And so one key thing is ..read more

I always feel like it’s an existential question this time of year as I get ready for a new season. I am so excited. I’ve coached youth baseball since 1998 and I was so happy cleaning out all my baseball stuff last week — sorting all the balls — organizing the shelves in the garage. Seems like the more I do it the more fun I have. So aside from entertaining me, the question is does coaching matter? Well my fall team did win their playoffs and the league championship so I’d like to thing the answer is yes. The question is, if you gave the same kids to a different coach how much differently would ..read more

Maybe you are searching for ideas for a pre-game warmup for 7-8-9 year olds.  I got an email from a coach who had just beat my team, and he said, “It was a great game (we only lost 4-2) and you absolutely set the gold standard for best pre-game warmup” So what do I do? First, I have the kids run down to the foul line – right field foul line if we are in the 1B dugout and LF if we are in the 3B dugout.  Then I have them do their stretches on their own.  No coaches.  We work it in practice and after a few practices I have them practice doing it on their own.  If there ar ..read more

Today we were working on a drill I like that's focused on backups. I have eight kids get on the bases with gloves. One on the base and one is the backup. I call a number of a base to throw to and the person with the ball throws to the base. As I guess a new number while the ball is in the air, the receiver catches it and knows where to throw next. The key is that the backups are to align themselves with the throw as it comes from any direction and they have to get the ball if it goes past the primary receiver. They were doing a great job and then one kid missed the backup and I went ..read more

The Tanner Tee is an amazing batting T.  They are the gold standard — if you are sick of T’s falling apart.  This is the way to go.  I’ve never owned one myself as I never splurged and I made do with the $20 cheap T’s, but every year I think about getting one.  Feel like I did have one for some all star teams that the league gave me and I loved it, but alas I had to return it.  If you want that special present for a coach you know get one of these.  They are so amazing.   They are in use in every professional hitting facility.  They are lighter wei ..read more