Video on First Base Play

Test for you. Go ahead!

Below you will find a test that I created for the youth team that I coach. You are more than welcome to take it. I do have a repeat question that I can't seem to delete so I apologize ahead of time.


http://www.wiziq.com/online-tests/386-south-oakland-a-s-baseball-test

Ted on Location

Hey Coaches, Follow us on Twitter

Michigan USSSA Baseball is going to twitter. For updates regarding tournament openings, scores and more follow them at www.twitter.com/michusssa.

If you want to receive free coaching tips then follow us at www.twitter.com/teachingcoaches.

A Successful Coach

A Successful Coach

1. Cares about his players enough to improve his or her knowledge of the sport.
2. Cares enough about himself/herself and baeball that he/she is motivated to be the best.
3. Is willing to give organized, quality time to improve himself/herself and those around him/her.
4. Has a geniune feeling of concern for his/her players and their problems and can read their thoughts, feelings and emotions.

Greg Green

Coaching Tip for Hitting

USSSA Michigan!

I would like to thank USSSA for making us available to their Michigan coaches. Visit www.michusssa.com to sign up for any local or regional tournaments held in Michigan.

Organizing Practice

Coaches,

After a coach evaluates their team, its time to set up an effective practice plan. The following are some questions that a coach shall ask themselves in order to create an outstanding practice plan:

What are my team's strengths and weaknesses?
What positions do my most talented athletes play?
Can I move my more talented players in the positions that require the most skill?
Do some players posses certain strengths that lend well to certain positions? What are the ages of my players?
Attention spans?
What kind of facilities do I have access to and what condition are they in?
What kind of financial commitment can I expect from my families? Travel?
What equipment do I need or have access to?
Do I have other parents that could possibly help?
What are my strengths or weaknesses as a coach?
Health of players and weather conditions?
Practice flow? Time constraints?

These are just some questions that coaches should ask themselves. I would also like to give coaches some tips that I learned over the years that had helped me develop players of all ages.

Practice should be arranged so that their is a constant flow, no standing around
Fundamentals should be stressed at every level
Skills should be broken down into its simplest techniques and terms
Going over something once does not mean player mastery
Players must go over a technique and skill numerous times and in varying situations in order to ensure proper learning
Coaches should lecture very little and get players actively involved quickly
Players attention spans are limited based on their age
Learning involves connecting new information with old information
We encourage learning and development by constant, consistent praise, careful evaluation, considerate and constructive feedback. When developing your practice plan it is important to keep track all of the things your team covers in order to track the progress your team is making and adjust your practice plan accordingly.

Greg Green
http://www.teachingcoaches.com/

Teaching You How to Teach: Tip on Communication

When teaching hitting, I always try and use references that players are familiar with. For example, instead of telling a player to stride at the pitcher I may say "take your back pocket towards the pitcher on your stride". This enables a hitter to perform a movement a coach would prefer keeping their hip aligned properly on a stride and resulting in proper balance and alignment when a hitter starts their swing.

Often, as coaches we have to get a player to over compensate in order to get the results that we need. For instance, a hitter may have trouble moving their hands back as they stride. Therefore, when I work with a young hitter instead of just telling a player to move their hands back during their stride, I have a player to start their hands in front of their nose (point of reference and provides consistency). By changing my communication strategy, it allows a player without thinking, to move their hands back as they stride forward. As a hitter becomes more comfortable they work on moving their hands back to their normal spot. Not only have you helped a hitter mechanically, but you also gave them a way in which they can correct themselves in the future.

The above is just one example. I have provided my coaches a few simple things in which they should consider when teaching baseball to young kids:

1. Stay within your player's knowledge base. Remember baseball plays are not scripted. A player has to be ready for any scenario that may occur, therefore, it takes time to know how to react in each situation.

2. When teaching baseball use objects that help with the teaching process ie. cones, towels, tape, in order to provide players a visual and teaching reference.

3. Use tape and color code things so that players can use it as a quick reference and recall. For example, when working on the how far a player's prefers their hands away from the body in their initial stance, a coach, can easily use a put a piece of tape on their player's bat handle. This allows a player to place the bat, with the tape, on their shoulder for a quick reference and also provides better consistency when setting up their hands in their stance.

Greg

www.teachingcoaches.com

Fond Memories of the Past

I think these sayings have been said thousands if not millions of times by us as coaches or to us by our own coaches. Take a minute and just read over some of these things because these catch phrases might bring back some fond memories.

Greg

Persistence is more important than talent

Respect the game as much as you want to be respected
Tuck in your shirt
Don't wear your hat backwards
Practice hard because you play the way you practice
It doesn't take any talent to hustle
Be a student in baseball. Learn the game - Study the history of baseball
Help your team win whether you play or not
Keep a daily diary of what you do at practice and keep notes of your observations. This will help you see the progress you have made
Never argue with an umpire
Agree to let your coaches train you
Don't cut class
Maintain the grades that keep you eligible
Set high standards along with knowing the steps to attain them
Don't tell people what you are worth, prove it to them
Your girlfriend is not more important than your career
Your parents love you, but they don't know more than your coach about baseball
Don't let anyone make an excuse for you
Maintain eye contact with all adults when they talk to you. Practice on your friends
It is your coach's opinion of you that counts. He makes out the lineup. Fail to understand this point and you will soon be out of the game
Life is not fair. Regardless of what some people want you to think
Be passionate about your teammates
Love the game
Players are not the only people in the game. There are coaches, trainers, announcers, umpires, broadcasters and writers. All those jobs are honorable professions as well as keeping you young
The only thing that coaches owe you is HONESTY
Body language screams. It never whispers
Balance makes champions. If you focus on hitting and ignore the defensive part of your game you will never be a complete player
Be as diligent on defense as you are on offense
Defense wins more games than offense
Pitching sets the tone
Games are lost not won. Mistakes lead to losses
You can win a league with a few good pitchers. Well developed pitching staffs win the tournaments
Work on your game every day of the year. The guy who beat you out for the starting job did and the team that always beats you
Who you are today is a result of who you were in the past. Fill your past with smart work and good deeds and you will maximize your potential
You don't have to be a great athlete to be a good baseball player
Show off your talent to your current coach and your future coach by doing the following: (ALL THE TIME)
When you jog to warm up finish first.
When you stretch do it best.
When you play catch, throw to a target and hit it every time.
When you play catch, catch the ball or block the bad throw and keep it in front of you every time.
When you are doing a drill, do it perfect, every time.
Go hard all the time. Never walk on a baseball practice field.
As a batter/runner run to first as though it matters that you are safe.
Know the situation on defense and do the right thing.
Baseball reveals character it doesn't build it.
Character means doing the right thing when nobody's watching

Welcome to Teaching Coaches Blog

Coaches,

I have a great passion for teaching baseball and I am really looking forward to working with all of you who have the same passion as I do. I will be posting numerous teaching tips along the way in an attempt to help you become a better coach.