The off-season is a time for work to begin. One question, what tools should every baseball/softball player use. The first place a player gets better is in the weight room (for those of the proper age). If a player does not work hard in developing a strong body and mind then the tasks on the field will not matter because they will not be able to handle them. The program designed for the weight room should be one which focuses on the athletic movements within the sport. For in

Life as a head coach begins and there is so many behind the scenes issues that a head coach must deal with which parents and kids do not realize. For instance, upon accepting the head baseball coaching position at a local high school here I have had to inventory all items that we have (practice shirts, socks, uniforms, belts, baseballs, jackets, hats, pants, etc.) as well as get an order in for some items which might take some time to complete (anything with logos/embroidery)

Coaching is a difficult job but one of the most rewarding job out there. Coaches have to wear multiple "hats" when working with a player or team. Coaches must be a : 1. Teacher 2. Parent 3. Role Model 4. Tutor (for older kids) 5. Confidant 6. Trouble Shooter 7. Manager 8. Planner 9. Individual/Team assessor 10. TEACHER The above list is just a fraction of what a coach must be every day in the lives of their players. Coaches at the younger age group (4-15 year old) need to foc

Now we are at the point in our training to begin to convert on sport-specific training into specific baseball skills. Practice: Do drills, fielding, hitting, and throwing as a team. Running: Players should be running 5-6 times per week. For the first two weeks in this training group focus on stamina on Mondays, focus on speed on Tuesday and Friday, light jog on Wednesday, do speed-endurance on Thursday, and so speed-endurance and run bases on Saturday. Take Sunday off or an e

Goal: To recover, rehabilitate, and maintain current fitness level The goal in the first three to four weeks after the season is over is active rest. You want to give your body time to recover from the completed season and stay just active enough to maintain fitness. Formal training will begin in October/November. The Active Rest phase is a three to four week section with no formal training that is designed to allow you to recover both physically and mentally from the previou

Another night at the ballpark and yet another representative of baseball coaches that set a poor example. As I was watching this 9U game (had a pupil of mine playing in it) I couldn't help but notice the opposite coach complaining and yelling on every play. Don't get me wrong I understand some of the frustration that coaches feel during a game, I coach high school baseball myself, however there was no excuse for a coach to yell at the umpires or the kids on every play. The sc

Last night I was at the local baseball field and noticed a few things as coaches/parents we really need to work on. I was there observing a young player that I've been working with - I wanted to see if the practice work has translated into his games. But while I was there I noticed that the coaches on both teams never moved kids around to other positions, they kept the infielders on the dirt and the outfielders in the outfield. Kids at this age, 6-9 years old, need to experie