By: Joseph M. Hoedel, Ph.D. Provided by: Character Development & Leadership “Obviously, you’re known for what you do. But you still want to be known as a good person.” At the tender age of eight-years-old, […]
Leadership: Create a Thriving Environment with Greg Frady
Watch as Coach Greg Frady explains the importance of creating an environment where everybody can thrive. In the ideal program players depend on each other, work together and have each other’s back.
Mental Game: No Excuses with Trey Fowler – Kennesaw State University
Watch as Coach Trey Fowler explains that if players are going to be successful, they can’t make excuses and, as a coach, you can’t except them. Complaining goes in conjunction with making excuses and both […]
Baserunning – Runner on Second Base
By: Todd Guilliams Originally Published in: High-Scoring Baseball Provided by: Human Kinetics Knowing the positioning of the defense is more important when you are on second base because more balls will be hit behind you. […]
The Challenges of Reinforcing and Punishing with Shaun Larkin – LA Dodgers
Watch as Coach Shaun Larkin discusses the mindset of an athlete and how most players are afraid to fail because of the perceived consequences. Coach Larkin constantly reminds his players that it’s okay to fail.
Baserunning: Reading the Pitcher with Jared Broughton – Piedmont Univ.
Watch as Coach Jared Broughton discusses reading a right-handed pitcher. The pitcher’s body language, most times, will tell you what the pitcher is going to do. The baserunner starts his count as soon as the […]
Pre-Game Drills for Catchers
By: Coach Bob McCreary Provided by: Baseball By The Yard As teams get older, catching becomes more of an impact position on the field. Having the unathletic kid strap on the equipment and kneel behind […]
Pitching: Training with a Softball for the Curve and Slider with Steve Smith – Auburn Univ.
Watch as Coach Steve Smith explains, and pitchers demonstrate using a softball to help with their spin on the curve and slider. Throwing the softball assists the pitcher in staying out front and allowing them […]
Baserunning – Reading the Pitcher from the Windup Position
By: Mike Roberts Originally Published in: Baserunning – By Human Kinetics Provided by: Human Kinetics A baserunner has a lot to keep track of when the pitcher throws from the windup position. The runner must […]
Catching: Position and Movement with Johnny Cardenas – Lipscomb Univ.
Watch as Coach Johnny Cardenas explains, and a catcher demonstrates position and movement. If pitchers are around the zone it is OK for the catchers to keep their body still and use their hands to […]
How to Make Training More of a Game Environment with Jay Johnson – Univ. of Arizona
Watch as Coach Jay Johnson mentions how everyone likes to play games, but winners and champions love to practice. If you can develop your team culture so that practice has the same urgency as games, […]
Tip for Catchers to Help Their Coach on Close Pitches
By: Coach Bob McCreary Provided by: Baseball By The Yard “COME ON, UMP! WHERE’S THAT PITCH? LET’S GO!” Sit close to a field and you will hear a lot of variations of the phrase above. […]
Hitting: Swing Direction with Taylor Dugas – Northwestern State Univ.
Watch as Coach Taylor Dugas explains that the ideal swing direction is when the barrel is moving through the middle of the field resulting in line drives.
Critical Reflection
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics Unlike reflective practice, critical reflection is not focused on solving a specific problem. Critical reflection is used more sparingly, but still […]
Baserunning: Read the Cut with Rusty Stroupe – (Retired) Gardner-Webb Univ.
Watch as Coach Rusty Stroupe discusses baserunning and why it is important to teach your athletes how to read the cut.
Developing a Quality Practice Design with Shaun Larkin – LA Dodgers
Watch as Coach Shaun Larkin discusses the components of a quality practice design. He emphasizes foundation principles, decision making, speed variation, stressors/consequences, and tech/feedback.
Teaching Athleticism with Jason Thompson – Alamo Heights HS (TX)
Watch as Coach Jason Thompson discusses how some kids have had the athleticism coached out of them to where they are mechanical. He believes in de-emphasizing the teaching of mechanics, and instead, teaching the approach […]
Two Things Hitters Can Control
By: Todd Guilliams Originally Published in: High Scoring Baseball Provided By: Human Kinetics All hitters have control over two things: (1) when they swing and (2) when they stride. When to Swing All hitters must […]
Identifying and Coaching to Your Strengths
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics The traditional approach to coaching is sometimes referred to as a deficits-based approach because coaches focus their energy on identifying and […]
Pitching: Lead Leg Maneuvers with Steve Smith – Auburn Univ.
Watch as Coach Steve Smith explains, and pitchers demonstrate this lead leg maneuvers stability and direction drill. This drill is for controlling the lower half of the body, especially the front side.
Do You Play or Do You Compete?
By: Coach Bob McCreary Provided by: Baseball By The Yard A lot of kids across the world play baseball. Not as many compete. There is a huge difference between the two. A kid who plays […]
Pitching: Arm Care with Matt Hiserman – Univ. of San Francisco
Watch as Coach Matt Hiserman discusses arm care for his pitchers. Consistency is the biggest key and the best arm care for each individual is the one that each pitcher believes is best for him.
Are You Asking Yourself the Right Questions?
By: Coach Bob McCreary Provided by: Baseball By The Yard When players self-analyze, they often limit themselves to a few basic questions like… How many batters did I strikeout? What is my batting average? How […]
Accountability – Cal Ripken Jr.
By: Joseph M. Hoedel, Ph.D. Provided by: Character Development & Leadership “All I ever wanted to do was play well and play every day.” In 1994 major league baseball players went on strike. For the […]
Pyramid of Teaching Success in Sport
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics The Pyramid of Teaching Success in Sport is a popular athlete-centered coaching philosophy framework. Legendary American college basketball coach John Wooden […]
Pitching: Mental Game (Breathing) with Deskaheh Bomberry – Sacramento City College
Watch as Coach Deskaheh Bomberry discusses how breathing is the #1 skill that he emphasizes with his pitchers. Being able to take a deep breath when stressed can bring a pitcher back into the moment, […]
The Art of Stealing Third Base
Baseball, being a game of percentages, is the basis for our program’s philosophy of getting runners to third base with less than two outs and scoring them with productive outs. Putting the ball in play […]
Pitching: Build On, Work On with Matt Hiserman – Univ. of San Francisco
Watch as Coach Matt Hiserman discusses his teaching approach which emphasizes strengths and weaknesses. Coach explains the ‘APV’ plan (approach-physical-visual) which is the ‘what, why, and how’ of pitchers improving their performance.
Balancing Development with Winning
By: Bob McCreary Provided by: Baseball By The Yard One of the many challenges that youth level coaches face involves the balance between developing your players and winning games. Many times the two go hand […]
Two Reasons Players Quit with Jason Thompson – Alamo Heights HS (TX)
Watch as Coach Jason Thompson discusses two of the biggest reasons why players decide to leave a program – frustration and boredom. Players must learn how to deal with setbacks and failure and it is […]