Watch as Coach Josh Bloomer explains, and a player demonstrates this hula hoop hitting drill. The drill works on sequencing within the swing, allowing the hitter to feel the sequence of the swing, pelvis, torso, […]
Communicating Your Vision with Dr. Alex Auerbach – Toronto Raptors
Watch as Dr. Alex Auerbach discusses setting goals on a vision. Great coaches have the ability to communicate to an individual or team on what they can accomplish and convey the belief that they can […]
Building Relationships
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics Ability and desire to relate to athletes are critical in coaching. The coach-athlete relationship provides a foundation for effective […]
Parents Need to Take a Step Back with Christa Williams-Yates – Friendswood HS (TX)
Watch as Coach Christa Williams-Yates explains that parents sometimes think a player’s performance is a reflection on them and suggests that they need to take a step back. Parents should focus on the process and […]
Build the Batting Lineup Efficiently with Scott Whitlock – (Retired) Kennesaw State Univ.
Watch as Scott Whitlock explains that when you are assessing your team you must build your batting order so that it is efficient. He encourages looking at the 2-hole hitter as an RBI opportunity hitter. […]
Catchers: Prevent Bad Habits in the Bullpen with Lisa Navas – Univ. of South Florida
Watch as Coach Lisa Navas explains that catchers can develop bad habits if they relax in the bullpen. Catchers need to get the ball back to the pitcher with good tempo emphasizing proper arm alignment […]
Infielder’s Figure 8 Drill with Mary Jo Firnbach
Watch as Coach Mary Jo Firnbach explains, and infielders demonstrate this figure 8 drill. The drill works on footwork, setting up to attack the ball forward, and glove flips. Each player will take 5 reps, […]
Culture Is Not a Sign or Saying with Seth Greenberg – ESPN
Seth Greenberg explains that building your culture takes time. Culture is not a sign or saying but how you live every day and how you carry yourself. It involves being consistent and setting expectations and […]
Use Social Media as a Tool
By: Becky Burleigh – Retired Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics Most athletes have outward-facing social media as well as inward-facing social media. You can post things on your […]
Timing Slap Drill with Tim Walton – Univ. of Florida
Watch as Coach Tim Walton explains and shows video clips of the Timing Slap Drill. Strategically, if the batters can show bunt and pull back to swing hard, you cause the infield to be out […]
Technology’s Impact on Mental Health with Dr. Josie Nicholson – Univ. of Mississippi
Dr. Josie Nicholson of Ole Miss Athletics discusses today’s technology and how it can have a negative effect on an individual athlete’s mental health. She explains that the world of sport is a world of […]
7 Key Steps for Making Ethical Decisions
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics To help you make ethical decisions in your own coaching, here are seven key steps. Recognize that ethical decisions […]
Foul Ball Pop Fly Catcher’s Drill with Kelly Inouye-Perez – UCLA
Watch as Coach explains that catching foul fly ball pop-ups is a skill that needs to be practiced. The catcher must turn their back to the infield on a foul ball behind the plate because […]
Building Bat Speed: Quick Toss – Weighted Balls with Ralph Weekly – Univ. of Tennessee
Watch as Coach Ralph Weekly explains and shows a clip of his best hitting drill. This side toss drill uses weighted baseballs with 3 sets of 24 swings that helps develop bat speed.
Helping Athletes Overcome Perfectionism with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Watch as Stephen Mackey explains that athletes are dealing with pressure and expectations that come from the community and from themselves. Most athletes do not expect growth or personal best but instead, perfection. Athletes should […]
Pitching: Stationary Arm Circles with Marissa Young – Duke Univ.
Watch as Coach Marissa Young explains, and pitchers demonstrate this stationary arm circle drill. This is an everyday drill that works on timing, posture, and the finish that can be used for all types of […]
Where Is the Title IX Finish Line with Peg Pennepacker – High School Title IX Consulting Services
Watch as Peg Pennepacker discusses the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and where she sees the end goal or “mythical finish line”. There has been a lot of positive movement in the last 10 years, […]
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 […]
Infielder’s Short Hop Practice Drills with Leslie Huntington – Univ. of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Watch as Coach Leslie Huntington explains, and infielders demonstrate these short hop warm-up drills. The players start on their knees facing each other, working straight on. They turn sideways, still on the knees, to work […]
Building Relationships Is Key with Athletes with Christa Williams-Yates – Friendswood HS (TX)
Watch as Coach Christa Williams-Yates explains that her players perform better and buy in when she is more personal with them and shows that she cares. The goal is for each player to be the […]
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 […]
Pitching: Tempo of Movement with Melyssa Lombardi – Univ. of Oregon
Watch as Coach Melyssa Lombardi discusses the impact of tempo on pitching consistency and explains why most issues with mechanics stem from the same problem.
Catcher IQ – Know Your Pitcher with Kelly Inouye-Perez – UCLA
Watch as Coach explains the importance of catchers understanding a pitcher’s routine, mechanics, spins, movement, and key words. Having your catchers study film of the pitchers allows them to understand the base and then to […]
Mindset: Stop Blaming & Complaining with Alan Stein, Jr.
Alan discusses awareness and mindset which may be the #1 separator from good to great and from great to elite. A winner’s mindset involves having extreme accountability and ownership for everything in your life. You […]
Outfielders: Ball in the Gap Drill with Colleen Powers – St. Catherine Univ.
Watch as Coach discusses the importance of outfielders working on balls in the gap, both on the ground and in the air. The goal is for the outfielder to get to a ball and to […]
What Are Your Athletes’ Biggest Influences? with Chet Scott – Built to Lead
Chet Scott explains the ‘leadership is influence’ concept, and that you know you are a leader if you have followers. If you are going to lead and influence your players, it would be beneficial if […]
A Competitive Drill to Increase Skills & Hustle
By: Cindy Bristow Provided by: Softball Excellence What softball coach wouldn’t want a single drill that practiced every skill used in softball, and was competitive at the same time? Does such a drill even exist? […]
High-In Low-Out Hitting Drill with Garland Shirley – Clarke Univ.
Watch as Coach explains, and a hitter demonstrates the High-In Low-Out Drill that is good for hitters struggling with inside and outside pitches. Coach covers the tee placement, and then the hitter will pull the […]
Plank Pitching Drill with Melyssa Lombardi – Univ. of Oregon
Watch as Coach explains the Plank Pitching Drill. Throwing off the plank makes the pitcher focus on the pitch and staying on the plank. The drill is harder than throwing off the ground, so when […]
The Importance of Mindset
By: John Klessinger Originally Published in: A Coach’s Manual Provided by: Championship Productions “Confidence is a very fragile thing, and it certainly is something that has to start with your mental approach and your ability […]