Most games are lost, not won.

Previous Coaching Thoughts...

Teaching Mechanics: In teaching the proper mechanics of throwing, pitching, hitting and fielding, we devise drills for our players that break down the various components of a skill; to help them understand the proper feel of each component of the skill.  This is important, and beneficial.  At the same time, we need to make sure that we don't turn our players into "choppy" movement players.  We want fluid and athletic movements.  We must also have drills for our players that pull the components together, and emphasize loose and fluid movements.

OF Defensive Positioning: A ball hit down the line and to the wall should not be more than a double.  A ball hit in the power alleys has a better chance to be a triple.  So, playing straightaway for OF'ers (absent any other factors like hitter tendencies, pitcher, game situation, etc), should be pinched a little to the middle - take away the potential triple.  Go to where the space is...

Practical Realities: A good coach doesn't always practice what he preaches. When coaches develop an instructional approach it is based on what should be done, on what steps in the process are important, on which teaching methods seem to have the best results.  The reality is that very few players - of any age or skill set - are either exactly average or an example of the ideal. We are all built differently; we grow differently; and our joints and muscles work slightly differently.  This is why we should not take a "cookie-cutter" approach to teaching. The effort to turn out clone-like ball players with the exact same pitch delivery or exact same swing mechanics is bound to fail because our differences mentally and physically prevent it.

Bullpen Sessions: Sometimes make Pitching Bullpen sessions more game-like:

  • Switch baseballs periodically
  • Make the pitcher step off occasionally.  Pretend there was a pick-off; Coach or another player can occasionally yell "step off!" as would occur in a game.
  • Have a teammate talk to the pitcher while he's working; try to distract the pitcher.  This forces the pitcher to work on his routines to stay focused.
  • Periodically switch back and forth from the wind-up and stretch position.
  • Have a stand-in batter; pitcher trying to execute pitches to a batter.  The Batter benefits also by seeing live pitches.

The more stress that can be placed upon players in practice; the more prepared they are for the games.

Practice Concepts: Some practice concepts to consider discussing with your team:

* Practice is Coaches time; players should expect coaches to help provide environment to get better.  Game time is for players.

* No matter what you have going on in your life, good or bad, practice time is an oasis; let everything else go, and just focus on the fun of practicing baseball.

 

* Anyone can practice hard and well when they feel great.  How do you practice when you don't feel well?

 

* At game time, most everyone has the will to win.  Teams that have the will to PREPARE to win are the ones that will be successful.

 

* If you're not doing it right; you're doing it wrong.  Everything is a habit; it's either a good habit or a bad habit.  Do everything in practice with a PURPOSE and with focus on the proper MECHANICS; like every throw you make playing catch - it adds up. Every time you do something, swing a bat or throw a ball, you're either reinforcing a GOOD HABIT or a BAD HABIT

 

* Practicing repetitive fundamentals can be viewed as monotonous.  Rather, it is baseball, and baseball is FUN.  Be enthusiastic and enjoy the repetitions.

 

* Know the difference between working on mechanics (working deliberately) vs. drills at game speed.  Learn to practice effectively at both.

 

* The best coach you'll ever have is you, the player.  You need to know why and how you do what you do in order to be able to adjust in game situations

 

* Practice time is limited, what are you doing extra to get better?

 

* Focus on what you're doing EVERY DAY to get a little bit better; by the end of the season, that adds up to a lot of improvement.  What are you going to do TODAY to get a little bit better?  Think about today; focus on today, not on the next game or the next tournament.  You can deal with the next game when it comes; focus on the present; on doing what you can, right here, right now to improve.

Pet Peeve Play:  Keep the Batter on 1B after a single!  Pet Peeve Play - Your team is in the field.  Runner on 1B.  Ground ball base hit to left field (or anywhere in the OF for that matter).  Your LF'er hustles over and the runner on 1B is going to go to 3B; the LF'er comes up throwing to 3B with NO chance to get the lead runner.  Meanwhile, this allows the batter to take 2B. If you don't have a chance at the lead runner, throw behind to 2B and keep that batter on 1B!

3B'man Defensive Positioning: The 3B'man always wants to play close to their "friend" the base.  The reality is that many more ground balls end up in the hole between SS and 3B than down the 3B line.  And, the SS has a tough backhand play in the hole.  Help out the SS, and play the odds.  Move back and well over towards SS as the standard straightaway position.  You can certainly move from there depending on the batter and the situation (e.g. guard the line late in a tight game or a dead pull right-handed hitter at bat), but as a straightaway position, play the odds and take away that ground ball base hit in the hole...