The possibility of needing Tommy John surgery is a dark cloud that hangs over baseball players, especially pitchers and catchers. Some wonder when, not whether, they will have to…
Coaching Perspectives with ABCA Hall of Fame Coach Ron Maestri – Retired – University of New Orleans
Listen to ABCA Hall of Fame coach Ron Maestri discuss his perspective of the game as both a coach and athletic director. Coach Maestri talks about how even at 78 he is always learning and […]
Hitting – 45′ Angle Flips with Craig Rainey – Adrian College
Watch as Coach Craig Rainey explains and a hitter demonstrates this 45′ angle flips drill.
Pitching Mobility, Arm Care, and Focus with Rolando Garza – Pepperdine and Youngjin Yoon – Cal State Bakersfield
Watch as coaches Rolando Garza and Youngjin Yoon demonstrate a variety of exercises they use to increase a pitcher’s mobility and arm strength, as well as concepts they use to develop mental focus.
3 Drills That Improve Agility for Baseball Infielders
The better a baseball infielder’s range, the more plays he can make. But range has to be developed through baseball agility drills that work on first-step burst, quickness and acceleration. Here are three drills I use with my infielders at Ashland…
Engage and Know Your Players with Joe Kruzel – St. Louis Cardinals College Spikes
Watch as Coach Joe Kruzel discusses the importance of developing relationships with players to assist them in adapting to your program.
Infielders: Should an Infielder Drop a Knee at a Base? – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach Bob McCreary discusses tips for infielders preparing to receive a ball and make a tag on a base runner.
Pitching: Off Speed Pitches
The changeup is an important pitch at every level of the game, simply because it is thrown with the same arm action as the fastball. For youth, the changeup…
Bunting: Push Out/Drag Out with Chris Hanks – Colorado Mesa Univ.
Watch as Coach Chris Hanks explains this combo drill as batters demonstrate push and drag bunts and pitchers practice fielding these bunts.
Hitting: Cushion Margin – Mike Bard – YSPN360
Watch as YSPN360.com’s hitting instructor, Mike Bard, demonstrates how creating a cushion, based on a hitter’s unique mechanics, sets up the best opportunity for solid contact even though the timing is off.
A Different Practice
Albeit that I have coached for decades this being my 50th year, every season presents a new learning experience. This year despite stealing an inordinate…
Catchers, Don’t Make This Mistake – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach Bob McCreary explains that a catcher’s responsibility on a stolen base attempt to 2nd base is to make an accurate throw to the base and not be concerned who is covering.
Hitting: Do Not Take Pitches – Craig Rainey of Adrian College
Watch as Coach Craig Rainey explains that he does not want his hitters taking pitches. Each hitter needs to define the pitch and location of what they are looking for to hit.
Study: Traditional ‘Pitch Counts’ Aren’t Doing Enough to Help High School Pitchers
Too many pitches can be bad news for a young pitcher’s arm and shoulder health. That’s why pitch counts have become a trusted way to guard against…
Pitching Grips with Mike Schultz: Two-Seam Fastball
Watch as YSPN360.com’s Coach Mike Schultz demonstrates the proper two-seam fastball grip – including the correct way for youth pitchers with smaller hands to grip the pitch.
Infielder’s Footwork Drills – Jan Weisberg – Birmingham-Southern College
Watch as Coach Jan Weisberg explains and players demonstrate these footwork drills with an emphasis on footwork and posture.
9 Components of a Fantastic Arm Care Program for Pitchers
A pitcher has to take care of their arm. If you clicked on this article, you likely know that much. My goal with this piece is to make you re-evaluate your arm…
The Best Bunting Drill – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach Bob McCreary discusses this 3 stage bunting drill.
When a Batter Causes a Balk – Baseball Rules Academy
Watch as Major League Umpire Ted Barrett discusses the situation of when a batter causes a balk.
Pitching – Quick Spin Pickoff – J.D. Arteaga – University of Miami
Watch as Coach J.D. Arteaga explains and a pitcher demonstrates this quick spin pickoff move.
Make Time for Your Catchers
Many high school programs have a similar problem: their catchers don’t get enough practice time. Most of the issues fall into two categories: a lack of catching…
Pitching – Mound Visits – Karl Kuhn – Univ. of Virginia
Watch as Coach Karl Kuhn discusses what he wants to attack on a mound visit.
Does Your Pitching Velocity Dip During the Season? Here’s Why
A high school pitcher trains his butt off during the off-season but stops completely when the season actually begins. I see it all too often. In my opinion, the…
Pitching Recovery Exercises – Patrick Hallmark – University of the Incarnate Word
Watch as Coach Patrick Hallmark explains and pitchers demonstrate these recovery exercises.
Combination Tee Drill with Edwin Thompson – Eastern Kentucky Univ.
Watch as Coach Edwin Thompson explains and players demonstrate this combination tee drill.
Pitching – Throwing Inside for Strikes and Effect – Baseball By The Yard
Watch as Coach Bob McCreary discusses tips for pitchers for throwing inside for strikes.
NCAA Eligibility Center
When the goal is college athletics, the secret to success for many student-athletes often comes down to a simple premise: Knowing what…
Character Development and Culture with Michael Kazlausky – Air Force
Watch as Coach Michael Kazlausky discusses character development and creating a culture that goes far beyond the sport of baseball.
Defensive Rundowns with Steve Bieser – Univ. of Missouri
Watch as Coach Steve Bieser explains and diagrams rundown responsibilities and execution for multiple situations.
Foul Ball or Foul Tip Rule – Baseball Rules Academy
Watch as Major League Umpire Ted Barrett explains and demonstrates the difference between a foul ball and a foul tip.