1. Messages should be direct. Coaches who are weak on this quality avoid straightforward, direct communication. Their athletes may not know where they stand. These coaches assume others…
Giving Signs – Tim Leiper – Toronto Blue Jays
Watch as Coach Tim Leiper discusses giving signs.
Hitting – Front Toss Routes Drill – Ed Servais – Creighton Univ.
Watch as Coach Spencer Allen explains and a player demonstrates this Front Toss Routes Drill.
Get Better Through Observation
When Tiger Woods was a young child and being watched by his father, he would often be put in a high-chair so dad could practice his golf swing. For safety reasons, Tiger’s dad didn’t…
Catcher: Fielding Bunts with Andy Stewart – IMG Academy
Watch as Coach Andy Stewart explains and a catcher demonstrates proper technique for fielding bunts.
Shortstop Footwork at Second Base on the 1-6-3 play – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach Bob McCreary discusses shortstop footwork at second base on the 1-6-3 play.
Pitching – Bullpen Singles – Louisville Baseball
Watch as Coach Roger Williams explains and a pitcher demonstrates this Bullpen Singles Drill.
The Myth of the Cross-Over Step in Base Running – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach Bob McCreary discusses the myth of the cross-over step in base running.
7 Exercises for Pitchers to Improve Shoulder Strength and Mobility
In baseball, or any other overhead sport, proper shoulder function is critical to performance and longevity. When we get our baseball guys in after a long season to start their off-season training, one of the first…
Hitting – Separation Drills – Bill Mosiello – TCU
Watch as Coach Bill Mosiello explains and a hitter demonstrates these Separation Drills.
Hitting – Chair Drill – Charley Lau
Watch as Coach Charley Lau explains and hitters demonstrate this Chair Drill.
Do NOT Do This on a Double Play – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach McCreary explains how middle infielders should throw to first base on a double play.
5 in 1 Baserunning Drill with Kevin Graber – Chicago Cubs
Watch as Coach Kevin Graber explains and his players demonstrate this 5 in 1 Baserunning Drill.
How to Teach Soft Hands on Defense – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach Bob McCreary discusses how to teach soft hands on defense.
Practice Plans – Base Running with Scott Stricklin – Univ. of GA
Watch as Coach Scott Stricklin discusses and explains the importance of including base running in the practice schedule.
Step-Behind-Step Drill with Randy Mazey
Watch: Step – Behind – Step Drill – TCU
Increase Your Pitching Velocity With These 3 Exercises
Often when athletes are figuring out how to increase their pitching velocity, they leave out a key component. Yes, they should be squatting to build up their legs and doing rotational med…
Hitting – Back Toss Drill – Paul McGloin
Watch as Coach Paul McGloin explains and a batter demonstrates this Back Toss Drill.
Catcher’s Signals and Signals Position – IMG Academy
Watch Coach Andy Stewart explains and a catcher demonstrates signals and signals position.
Baserunning: Possible Doubles with Ken Bolek – IMG Academy
Watch as Coach Ken Bolek explains and a baserunner demonstrates setting up turns for a possible double.
Hitting – Post Stride Drill – Charley Lau
Watch as Coach Charley Lau explains and a hitter demonstrates this Post Stride Drill.
Assessing Your Personnel
After assessing players’ ability level, coaches can start to place players into groups with similar skill levels. For example, creating two groups with names such as “deer” for the speed group…
Outfielders – Z Drill – IMG Academy
Watch as Coach Jason Elias explains and players demonstrate this Outfielders – Z Drill.
How to Keep a Hitter’s Front Side from Flying Open – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach McCreary explains how to keep a hitter’s front side from flying open.
Bunt – Kill Zone vs Sacrifice
The kill zone is an area located adjacent to the foul lines 25 to 35 feet (7.6 to 10.6 m) from home plate and approximately 10 feet (3 m) wide (figure 6.3). A skilled bunter can place a drag bunt or a sacrifice bunt in this kill zone. A bunt…
Hitting – Chair Drill with Charley Lau
Watch as Coach Charley Lau Jr explains and a hitter demonstrates this Chair Drill.
Third Basemen – Hugging the Line on Bunts – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach Bob McCreary discusses Third Basemen – Hugging the Line on Bunts.
New SAT Grading Scale Released for NCAA and NAIA Initial Eligibility
In the spring of 2016, the SAT rolled out a newly formatted exam. As a result, both the NCAA and NAIA recently released revised SAT minimum score requirements, which…
How to Warm Up Without a Bullpen
I’ve written a number of posts about the need for all pitchers to warm-up properly before games. One of the biggest mistakes pitchers make is not warming up correctly. This is why many pitchers…
Infield – Groundball Technique with Kevin Graber – Chicago Cubs
Watch as Coach Kevin Graber explains and his infielders demonstrate proper Groundball Technique.