By: Todd Guilliams Originally Published in: High-Scoring Baseball Provided by: Human Kinetics The count plays an important role in determining whether the hitter achieves a quality at-bat. “It is central to the question of situational […]
Cuts & Relays with Mark Martinez – San Diego State Univ.
Watch as Coach Mark Martinez answers a question on cuts and relays. Individually they work on footwork in their throwing progression and every other long toss simulates a rhythm throw on a relay. Infielders are […]
Weighted Ball Warmup with Blake Allen – DePauw Univ.
Watch as Coach Blake Allen discusses, and a player demonstrates this weighted ball warmup series that forces catchers to overexaggerate wrist and glove movement.
Defining Mental Toughness with Jack Clark – Univ. of CA, Berkeley
Watch as Coach discusses mental toughness and how the term is valued and used a lot but has no clear definition. He states how critical it is that definitions are consistent within an organization so […]
Pitching: Reverse Throws with Bryan Conger – Cincinnati Reds
Watch as Coach Bryan Conger explains that if players are going to be successful they can’t make excuses and, as a coach, you can’t accept them. Complaining goes in conjunction with making excuses and both […]
Infield Footwork and Hand Skills with Jason Crain – Alma College
Watch as Coach Jason Crain explains, and an infielder demonstrates fielding backhand and forehand grounders. The average time from home to first base is 4 to 4.5 seconds so it is key that the infielder […]
Hitter’s Two-Strike Approach with Austin Wates – Kansas State Univ.
Watch as Coach Austin Wates explains how he uses Fall practice to determine if he needs to give his hitters a two-strike approach. The most common approach is to expand the zone by extending another […]
A Lot of Try
By: Coach Mickey Marley Originally Published in: Game Ready – 52 Takeaways for Winning Previously, I shared that my daddy was a professional cowboy in Texas. Kid Marley had many clever sayings related to his […]
Pitching: Knee Pinch Drill with Sean Kenny – Univ. of Iowa
Watch as Coach Sean Kenny discusses, and a player demonstrates this knee pinch drill to help pitchers develop efficient arm movement and rhythm with their foot strike. Coach Sean Kenny was formerly at University of […]
Baserunning: 2nd to 3rd Scenarios with Rusty Stroupe – (Retired) Gardner-Webb Univ.
Watch as Coach Rusty Stroupe discusses his baserunning rules for 2nd to 3rd base and explains the one scenario where you are allowed to break the rules.
How the “Why?” Generation Is Making Coaches Better with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Stephen Mackey gives an interesting take on how today’s generation always asking ‘why?’ can make your coaches better. When coaches communicate, they should always start with ‘yes’ and not ‘no’. If you start with ‘no’, […]
Networking
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics The old saying that “it’s not what you know but who you know” doesn’t always hold true, but having […]
The Role of a Coach with John Smoltz – (Retired) Atlanta Braves
Watch as John Smoltz discusses how baseball is changing, but the role and impact of the coach will never change. He reviews his experiences with coaches from youth through professional baseball.
Defining Commitment with Jeff Janssen – Janssen Sports Leadership Center
Watch as Jeff Janssen discusses defining commitment with your athletes and obtaining their feedback. It is important to question where they feel their commitment level is in regards to practice, social life, and acceptance of their […]
Making It Exciting for Athletes and Fans with Noah Sanders – Univ. of Arkansas at Little Rock
Watch as Coach Noah Sanders discusses how creating a fun and exciting training environment for your athletes can help to increase buy-in and motivate them to be successful.
Catchers Throwing Sequence and Footwork Drills with Johnny Cardenas – Lipscomb Univ.
Watch as Coach explains, and catchers demonstrate their daily practice throwing sequence. The catchers use a ladder to work on footwork motion, momentum, and direction for throws to 2nd base. They also work with connection […]
Digital Distractions: Impact on Athletes Today with Todd Gongwer – Kardia Transformation Group
Watch as Todd explains the impact that digital distractions have on today’s athletes. He will discuss in detail how the following factors impact a team dynamic and make teaching, in general, more difficult. What is […]
Controlling the Running Game System with Justin Scali – Piedmont Univ.
Watch as Coach Justin Scali discusses, and players demonstrate their verbal system for controlling the running game and why the focus is not on getting outs.
Infielders’ Daily Fundamental Drills with Bryan Aughney – Our Lady of the Lake Univ.
Watch as Coach explains and shows practice clips of his daily fundamental drills for infielders. They start with 3 different knee barehand drills for 10 minutes. Getting to their feet, the infielders will now work […]
Baserunning Checklist: Runner on Third
By: Todd Guilliams Originally Published in: High-Scoring Baseball Provided by: Human Kinetics Know how many outs there are. The stakes are magnified because you are only 90 feet (27.4 m) from scoring a run. Have […]
Outfield: 360 Fly Ball Drill with Kerrick Jackson – Univ. of Missouri
Watch as Coach Kerrick Jackson discusses, and players demonstrate this 360 fly ball drill to practice tracking a ball and making an explosive movement in the right direction.
Pressure Is a Privilege with Scott Shepperd
Pitchers should throw more often with less effort. Coach wants his pitchers to do drills off the mound in game-like situations. The more you cover situations in practice the more your pitchers will thrive under […]
Hitting: Focal Points with Robert Ruiz – Westmont College
Watch as Coach Robert Ruiz explains focal points: internal cues vs external cues. Coach does not talk a lot about mechanics, but places more emphasis on external focal points.
Leave the Resume in the Office with Adam Moseley – Hoover HS (AL)
Watch as Coach explains that players do not care about the resume or past of their coach, they care about the NOW. He recommends ‘leaving your resume in the office’ and focusing on your current […]
Why I Call the Pitches with Deskaheh Bomberry – Sacramento City College
Watch as Coach explains that the main reason he calls pitches is that he has way more information than the catcher will ever have. He allows his pitchers to change the pitch call whenever they […]
Pitchers’ Report Cards After Games with Chris Litton – College Station HS (TX)
Watch as Coach explains and shows examples of report cards that coaches can give to their pitchers after a game. The form can be generated and sent to players, so that they have a visual […]
Optimism
By: Alan Stein, Jr. Originally Published in: Raise Your Game Confidence comes from an understanding of your own agency, your own influence, and your own ability to make things happen. Bob Rotella is a sports […]
3 Things for Building a Successful Pitcher with Alex Sogard – Wright State Univ.
Watch as Coach Alex Sogard discusses 3 things that are necessary for building a successful pitcher that require no skill on the mound.
Baserunning: Don’t Get Picked Off on the Bunt with Rusty Stroupe – (Retired) Gardner-Webb Univ.
Watch as Coach Rusty Stroupe discusses his biggest pet peeve when it comes to baserunning and shares a couple rules related to bunt scenarios.
Med Ball Ground Balls Drill with Andy Schatzley – Rocket City Trash Pandas
Watch as Coach Andy Schatzley explains, and infielders demonstrate this med ball ground balls drill that emphasizes posture, stability, and leg strength. This is a 3 to 4 set drill in which the med ball […]