Youth & Travel Baseball Blog, Updates, Coaching & Instruction

My quest for leadership qualities

"Did I ever tell you you're my hero?"

A while back, a good childhood friend wrote to me, "Jack, your dad was a great leader, coach, and gentleman. I can remember him from Joliet Little League, along with your fastball. Please write about him." His note had me thinking about what it was about my dad that my friend felt made him a leader. It sent me on a quest for, "What are leadership qualities?" His request also had me realize that leaders are often right in front of us, without our knowing.

Batting the Ball, no Bull

It's that time of the year when players' seasons have been going for some time. By now, players have a good indication of what type of year it is with batting the ball? Whether it's been a solid season, mediocre or poor one, it's important that players learned from their experiences.

Where Peace of Mind Comes from?

I have come to realize that it would not have been a shame if I had not made it to the major leagues. It would have been a shame if I hadn't found this in my life.

MLB Playoffs and Me

The Major League Baseball Life has its Moments

The professional baseball life is like every other job. It has its good days and bad ones. Maybe the biggest difference is that one cannot just disappear at work, as one maybe can in the "real world" of non-professional sports. Or can you? Right out of a scene in an Indiana Jones movie, here is how things went down one night in Dodger stadium.

Minor League Baseball is not Close to Major League Baseball

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Youth Baseball Hitting Coaches Quandary

 
 
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These base running drills give coaches a great way to spice up their baseball practices along with coaching base running skills and instincts to youth playe

Baseball Teaching Points that Lead to Successful Coaching

If nothing else, coaches must coach these two baseball teaching points because they automatically improve players game play. Simply coaching these two necessities will impress others that you know what you are doing as a baseball coach.

Coaching Relay Throws

The Correct Bat Path is Crucial

It is difficult to change and have the time to make major baseball fundamentals changes during the season. Now that the season has ended or the pace has slowed for most youth ballplayers, the time is best for making the muscle memory adjustments to improve and avoid this past year's deficiencies. Players are still in baseball shape so any extra swing, throw or field practice should not put players in danger of injury.

As the baseball season winds down, players have to make their season ending plans, which are crucial for next season's development. Players must decide a few important things for their baseball off-season. First, which months are they planning to take off from even touching a baseball or bat. Downtime is crucial and that break should be a minimum of 3 months for even the most dedicated of players. That break time allows players to come back with a determination that year round play cannot produce.

When coaches draft teams or have tryouts, they should watch for players that display high character. Indications of high character players are not getting too upset after failure, cheering on others, hustle and thanking coaches for things. Of course, the ideal situation is having talented players who have high character.