Sunday, February 28, 2010

126 Year Old MLB Record is Broken By 10u East Cobb Yankees

In considering the events that transpired in last's night's game against the EC Rays, I realized that my boys (EC Yankees) broke a Major League Baseball record that was set by the Detroit Wolverines back in 1883.

What amazing feat did we accomplish last night in the bitter cold??? We allowed 20 runs in a single inning. The 1883 Wolverines only gave up 18 to the White Stockings. We were ahead ahead 9-0 in the 4th, when the Rays exploded to hang a 20 spot on us.

Now as a coach, how do you get something positive out of an error and walk infested inning? Simple, understand that the greatest players on the planet make errors, walk batters and just flat out stink sometimes.

I want my kids to know the difference between the guys who make errors, strike out and walk batters that at age 36 are selling insurance (that's what I do) compared to guys that I played with that make errors, strike out and walk batters that now make $6 million a year.....

Confidence- I believer confidence in spite of the circumstance is a determining factor to greatness.

One attribute I would like my kids to have as ball players is that they carry themselves with confidence regardless of the situation.

Great hitters go through prolonged batting slumps, great teams give up big innings (from time to time). Amidst the difficulties of a slump or loosing streak, baseball players MUST conduct themselves with a high level of confidence. Otherwise, you stay in those slumps even longer. This takes building up your mental toughness.

I love what Yogi Berra said..."Baseball is 90% mental the other half is physical."

Remaining confident during a bad inning is an example of how mentally challenging this game is.

You often hear "There is a right way to play this game..."

I think one part of that "right way" is that if the scoreboard was turned off and someone stopped in during the course of the game, they should not be able to tell by your body language if you are winning by 10 or loosing by 10 (or even 20).


I want my kids to be confident regardless of their circumstances.

Circumstances are always subject to change. However, one's character is the filter that processes circumstances. I never want circumstances to define the character of my team. If I believe we are great (and I do) then I will believe that when we are up by 9 or when we give up 20 in an inning.

Taking a defeat like this early in the season can be a building block to our success later in the season if we do not allow circumstances to define our character (confidence).

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Season Opener

Our season opener started at 8:15pm last night. It was cold but bearable. We played the team that my son and another player played for last year (and I was the assistant coach). Sometimes in youth sports there is drama with parents and coaches which causes people to leave and start new teams. This is not one of those situations. We parted on great terms and as friends.

Now for the game...

Baseball has a way of rewarding the insignificant details of hustle if you look past the obvious highlights of hitting a home run or making a diving play at shortstop.

My high school coach would tell us "It's the little things that make you big" and "If you take care of the little things the little things will take care of themselves."

Last night one of my hitters was working a tough at bat. He didn't swing at a pretty good pitch early in the count and then with two strikes he swings at a high pitch out of the zone and fouled it off.

While he fought off a few more pitches the runner on 2nd takes off for third and steals the base safely.

No big deal, right?

The very next pitch the batter hits a ground ball just past the pitcher and the run scores with the hitter getting an RBI.

Due to the fact that the hitter remained composed during his at bat and the base runner was hustling we were able to turn an insignificant ground ball into a run.

Defensively you have to have heads up players that can do the little things (like catch and throw).

The other team crushed a ball to the center field fence. The center fielder throws to his cut off man but the throw to the plate is a little late but accurate.

Our catcher realizes that he is not going to get the out at the plate so he takes two steps up to cut the ball off and fires to third to get the out. Even though the other team scored a run, we did a nice job of catching and throwing which enabled us to get an out at third.

Both teams played well considering the cold temperatures and we came out on top last night. It was a great way to start the season

Today we have a game at 2:30pm the warmest part of the day!! If you can't tell I am ready for the cold temps to go away.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Baseball Practice Planner

Last night's practice went GREAT!!

My "twin engines" were back and the team was flying all over the field. The "twin engines" are a set of twins on the team that have two settings...they are either off or the are operating at full speed. I love the energy and enthusiasm that being at "full speed" adds to a situation.

Our park has a limited amount of field space for practice so having a practice plan beforehand is the best way to optimize our opportunities on the field. I like to utilize as many dads to facilitate drill stations as possible.

Here is how we set it up last night:

Stretch/Throw (10 Minutes)

Phase I Fielding Repetitions (20 Minutes)
Group One
  • 5 players
  • 3 started in RF
  • 2 started half way between the 3 in RF and the coach that was hitting balls from the LF foul line
  • The player in RF would have to field the ball and throw to the cut-off man (player in CF)
  • After they they threw to the cut off man they would go to the back of the line in CF
  • The cut-off man would throw the ball into the coach and proceed to the end of the line in RF
Group Two
  • 5 Players one at each infield position (w/ 2 players at one position)
  • One coach on the 3rd base line hitting balls to the first and second baseman (alternating)
  • One coach on the 1st base line hitting balls to the SS and 3rd baseman (alternating)
We ran these groups for 10 minutes. Then the OF group came into their INF postions and the INF group moved into the OF station.

Phase II Game situations with a runner on 1B (20 Minutes)
  • Coach hit balls to various players and each player reacted according to their role/responsibility
  • Base runners reacted to the ball
  • Changed players after 15 minutes

Phase III Specific plays (15 Minutes)
  • Implemented bunt coverages
  • Basic- Get the out at first
  • Wheel- Get the out at 3rd
Phase IV Base running (5 Minutes)
  • Runners worked on going 1st to 3rd
  • Picking up 3rd base coach before they get to 2nd
  • Rounding 2nd properly
The remaining 5 minutes--water breaks; change over

Having a plan is the best way to optimize your practice time on the field. If you are in need of a sample practice plan I hope this was helpful.

Blueprint for Baseball is an e-book that has many more coaching ideas that I have accumulated over the years. Follow this link for more information on Blueprint for baseball and other helpful information on coaching youth baseball.

Tonight we are hitting in the batting cages for an hour and fifteen minutes.

I will let you know how this evening practice goes on the next post!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

First Day of Baseball Practice


Even though it is a chilly 41 degrees out, the sun is shining and we have our first field practice of the season today at 5:30!! I love living in the south.

As a former professional player and a baseball instructor since 1991 "Consulting" teams has been relatively easy. Being the head coach of my 10 year old's travel baseball team is were the rubber really meets the road.

This blog is to shed some light on my experiences as a dad, husband and a coach as it relates to the experiences of youth baseball.

Our team has adopted many of the same ideas that I have implemented with other teams over the years...Novel ideas like:
  • Positive and clear communication works great
  • Getting better at baseball is a process that takes time
  • Winning is more fun than loosing so let's have fun
  • Some of life's hardest lessons can be easily taught on the field if coaches are intentional
Our goals for the season are pretty straight forward
  • Keep the game fun for the kids (they are 10)
  • Emphasize hit the ball, catch the ball, throw the ball
  • Play every play to the end
  • Run hard, Play hard
Playing baseball tournaments presents several interesting dynamics

  • ...Pool play games don't really matter
  • ...Elimination games win at all cost

Our goal is to teach the importance of always doing your best. Although winning is not the only thing nor is it the most important thing, I do believe that winning is habitual. It is difficult to turn effort on and off. I really hope my boys bring a desire and an effort to each game that will provide them with an opportunity to win the game.

Here is a Hitting Drill that has been very effective to get my kids to keep their eye on the ball and to increase their bat speed.








Baseball---
---Telling the Greatest Story Ever Told Through the Greatest Game Ever Played


One of my favorite verses to share with my team is found in 1 Corinthians 9 verses 24-27

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Run(Play) to win everyday!