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mental game

Teaching the Mental Game in Practice

I had a kid last spring, twelve years old, good hands, could read the ball off the bat better than most kids his age. But every time he stepped into the box with runners on, he'd bail on inside pit...

2026-08-17 · 11-12
 parent management

How to Run a Pre-Season Parent Meeting That Actually Works

The Meeting I Almost Skipped Last year I pulled into the parking lot for our first practice and had three parents flag me down before I even got my bag out of the truck. One wanted to know why her ...

2026-08-10
 hitting

Tee Work: Why Most Coaches Do It Wrong

I watched a kid hit off the tee for twenty minutes last spring and wondered why I was even there. He was just swinging. Ball after ball, same spot, same height, same lazy loop through the zone. His...

2026-08-03
 mental game

How to Coach the Mental Game at Practice

Last week I had a kid stand at the plate for six straight pitches without swinging. Good pitches too. Not nervous, not confused — he just kept waiting for something perfect that was never coming. I...

2026-07-30 · 11-12
 parent management

When Parents Disagree with Your Lineup

I had a dad corner me in the parking lot after a 10U game, three minutes after we'd won, and the first thing out of his mouth was, "Why was Tyler batting seventh?" Not "great win." Not "the kids pl...

2026-07-27
 pitching

Pitch Count Rules and Why They Exist

I had a 12-year-old kid on my travel team — big arm, good spin on his curve, the kind of pitcher every coach wants on the mound in a close game. His dad came to me after our third tournament and as...

2026-07-20
 mental game

The Pre-Game Routine That Calms a Nervous Team

I had a team of 10U kids last spring who were visibly shaking before a tournament opener. Hands fidgeting, eyes darting around, nobody talking. I'd seen nervous teams before, but this one felt like...

2026-07-13
 parent management

Managing Playing Time Without Losing Parents

I had a mom corner me in the parking lot after a Tuesday practice, kids still on the field, and she went straight for the throat. "My son played two innings last game and you had him sitting while ...

2026-07-06
 pitching

Teaching Pitch Sequencing to Young Pitchers

I had an 11-year-old on the mound two summers ago — kid had a legitimate fastball for his age, maybe sitting 62-63, and he just kept throwing it. Same spot, same speed, over and over. First inning,...

2026-07-05 · 11-12
 mental game

The Pre-Game Routine That Settles a Nervous Team

I had a 10U team a few years back that was playing in their first tournament game ever. We showed up to the field and I could just see it — kids standing around with their hands in their pockets, n...

2026-06-08
 practice planning

How to Run a High-Energy Infield Practice

Last week I watched a coach run infield for 45 minutes and the kids looked dead by minute 30. They were going through the motions—shuffle step, field the ball, throw it back. Shuffle step, field, t...

2026-05-27
 player development

Proven Youth Baseball Drills to Build Confidence and Skills Fast

Six high-rep, high-success drills that build real skills and real confidence — because in youth ball, the two grow together.

2026-05-26
 practice planning

Youth Baseball Practice Plan Template That Saves Coaches 5 Hours a Week

Steal this proven 75-minute practice template. Plan in five minutes, run high-rep stations, and never stand around again.

2026-05-21
 parent management

Talking to Parents: Scripts Every Youth Baseball Coach Needs

Word-for-word scripts for the conversations every coach dreads — playing time, position changes, and the angry sideline parent.

2026-05-19
 practice planning

The Perfect 10-Minute Warmup Routine for Youth Baseball Teams

A repeatable, ten-minute warmup that prevents sore arms, sharpens focus, and gets your team ready to compete from the first pitch.

2026-05-12
 player development

How to Develop Every Player: Smart Lineup Strategies for Youth Baseball

Winning at 8U is a trap. Here is how to build lineups and field assignments that develop your whole roster — and still compete.

2026-05-05

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