Better Men, Better Ballplayers

Better Men, Better Ballplayers

By Trey CobbSportsHealth & FitnessMental HealthEducationSelf-ImprovementBaseball
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Better Men, Better Ballplayers episodes

  • 33 - Joel Mishler: Founder of the Indiana Chargers

    BIO

    • Indiana Chargers Baseball Academy and Team founder
  • Indiana Chargers have become one of the premier travel baseball programs in the Midwest.
  • Since 2008, 187+ players have gone on from the Chargers organization to play college baseball.
  • Development both on and off the field is the primary emphasis of the Chargers organization.
  • Driveline featured travel program in their blog post on October 3, 2017
  • One of the first programs ever to have TRAQ due to Driveline endorsing them
  • 2005-2011 Westview High School head coach
  • Former coach at Glen Oaks CC for 10 years, winning over 300 games.
  • Associate scout for the Orioles and Marlins
  • A complete developmental coach who cares for kids!



    • Show notes

    • Good compared to what??!
  • 3 reasons to start
    • College exposure
  • Compete with guys like you did
  • Play college baseball
  • Pitching protocols are not just pitch counts, training is a part of that!
  • Driveline helped us build up our pitching protocols and training protocols
  • Provide the player with the information and let you decide how you will deal with it (pillar of the organization)
  • Coaching is communicating is a less words as possible!
  • College weekend series
    • Make it feel and be as close to a college experience as possible
  • Friday - Sunday - 3 games series between 4 teams
    • BP and in and out before each game
  • Saturday DH
  • Sunday series winners/loser play
  • Less coaching, and a lot more athletic!
  • Being athletic leads to good mechanics
  • If you can become more fluid in your movements and athletic, then your mechanics will be better.
  •  
    • 1 hr 16 min
  • 32 - Tom Held, Defiance High School (OH), "Creating velo and throwing hammers!"

    Bio

    • 21st Season as Head Coach of Defiance High School (OH) 
      • 526-94
  • 3 state championships
  • 5 state appearances
  • 9 players drafted
    • 3 big league players in (Jon Niese, Chad Billingsley, Justin Hancock)
  • 8 years at Bryan High School (164-44)
  • 2012 Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee
  • 2014 Defiance College Hall of Fame inductee
  • Knows how to teach velo!
  • Knows how to teach a curveball!
  • A great guy




    • Show Notes

    • 3 ball system - tennis ball, softball, baseball into a net
  •  Throwing progression 3 days a week
  • No matter what you do, you will be judged
  • Every kid may think they are throwing with intent, but until you put the radar gun up they always have more
  • Correlation is the most athletic guys are throwing the hardest
  • Youtube Defiance throwing 
  • Curveball progression everyday
    • 45 feet just spinning it

    •  

    1 hr 7 min
  • 31 - Butch Chaffin; Cookesville HS (TN) "Guardian of the Game"

    Bio

    • Current HC at Cookeville HS in Cookeville, TN.
  • 34 years in baseball
  • Has spent the last 14 years with USA Baseball
  • Spent 4 years as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech
  • 3 years was a special assignment scout for the Kansas City Royals
  • National speaker/clinician
  • Truth spreader of the game
  • Just a dude!!!
  • Preacher of the game



    • Show notes

    • I yearned for consistency 
  • “Rebuilding year” insults everyone in your program
  • We are going to work as hard as we can, we will find that line, and then work a little harder
  • I am going to try and find a way to get everyone in the game except the next game starter
  • The other team is just feedback to see if what we are doing is working or not
  • If you are talking development, and about development, then your seniors as coaches!
  • You cannot rush athleticism. 
  • The secret sauce to development is maturity. We push maturity A LOT!
  • Maturity is a decision.
    • Make your bed
  • When you go in the classroom you be respectful
  • When you get done with lunch throw trash away
  • Raise your hand and be responsible
  • Teaching manners
  • Best gauge of your culture is behavior
  • Players only offer words of encouragement, not criticism
  • Mature kids learn faster, so athletically they will take off
  • The elite guys loved being coach!!
  • No wasted reps, and guys who make national teams don’t waste reps. They don’t make them accidentally
  • If you don’t have success, how will you recover? Recover after the strikeout. 
  • Parent manual given to my parents at first meeting
  • Need to be ok with people not liking you and being on your side
  • Systematic approach to how we develop
  • Make it more than an activity
    • As a coach I can’t strike out 
  • Simple is a skill
  • Great follow on twitter (when he gets it figured out) @Gawbage29
  • It's not about me, but it is about me leave fingerprints all over the place
  • Guardian of the game!




    • 1 hr 24 min
  • 30 - Adam Posey Eastern Mennonite University "Pillars of a Program"

    Bio

    • Current Head Coach at Eastern Mennonite University to become the 11th HC in the programs 52 years
  • After graduating from EMU in 2014 he came on the Royals staff to become the first full time assistant coach.
  • Serves the Fellowship of Christian athletes
  • A leader among the faculty and staff at EMU that aligns to their Christian values.

    •  

    Show Notes

    • Fall has more focus on development and built individual development plan due to given more days with the team
      • Assistant coach has title of director of player development
  • Baseline testing - on base u (mobility), blast, hitting/pitching rapsodo
  • Comparison to the team to develop a plan
  • 3 things to accomplish in practice: compete, mindful, and fun!
  • You are the bowling ball, we are the guide rails!
  • Be your best coach!!
  • Getting strength coach certification to help tailor strength programs
  • Access google drive for ind development plans (IDP)
  • Freshman/soph (younger guy) teams development mode in the spring, starters will focus on more approach
  • Changed the focus of practice from time, to feel and environment!
  • Fast paced practice, music, and shortened time of team practice
  • All teaching is done before we get on the field
  • Guided meditation has been a big success, and is built into practice
  • Use a guided meditation app, players can pick the GM of the day
  • Heads Up baseball by Ken Ravizza!!!
  • I didn’t get physically better, but my mind got sharper!
  • The breath is the biggest skill that most guys coming into college baseball need!!
  • What does your routine look like?
  • What is your release to get your back into green light mode? 
  • Script out the routine, and you don’t get to practice until it is written out
  • ****3 Pillars; Compete for championships, Graduating, and Giving back to the community
  • What is the process, everyday discipline to get to that point??
  • If the actions are not aligned with the processes/behaviors we need to switch it up
  • Get guys to buy into that everyday process (how we take care of our guys)
  • Week 1 goal and habit assessment 
    • Goals - what do you want to achieve
  • Habits - what does your day look like
  • The best players for EMU have been people who are about giving back to the community.
  • @adamposey
    • 1 hr 1 min
  • 29 -Jim Chester Gardner-Webb University "Program building & Practice"
    Bio
     
    Current head coach at Gardner Webb University
    Former Head Coach at Barton College
    2019 Carolinas Conference Coach of the year after leading Barton to the biggest turnaround in D2 baseball
    Former Head Coach Lock Haven University where he lead the program to another turnaround from 13-28 to 32-18
    He left the Penn State Greater Allegany as the winningest each in their programs history and led them to 6 World Series appearances
    Prior to PSGA he was the HC of Mercyhurst Northeast college for 2 seasons (his first HC gig), and was the assistant at Seton Hill University for 2 seasons.
    Man of faith serving heavily in the FCA
    Always willing to share and help grow the game
     
     
    Show notes
    Program turnaround/success is NOT about me!
    Its about our players and coaches
    Passion about everything outside of the boxscore
    Being selfless, relentless, and blue collar as a leader of the program
    Selfless - community service
    Relentless - we are about 110% and figure out a way to make it happen, no bad body language
    Blue Collar - hard work, get yourself dirty and make it work
    Delegate by mapping out responsibilities of each person on staff. Have the coaches tell me “I got it.”
    More concerned with AB and approach (charting QAB, barrels, AB)
    Love flow and function (a lot of people on the field working together)
    Practice planTeam prayer
    Warm up band routine
    Dynamic warm up
    Speed segment
    Everydays - position drills
    Throwing program - position specific
    3 man PFP and lead into pickoffs
    Bunt D or 1st/3rd defense
    BP, extended I/O, 
    Repetition is huge!
    Ron Polk's playbook!! 
    We created a playbook of everything we like to do at practice
    Skeleton of the week (use the prior weeks plans to plan out)Everyday meeting detail/refine each day
    Go against the checklist and see what we need to do 
    Map out to the minute and groups organized
    Culture and makeup trump so much!
    Don’t give up on a kid, be passionate about them, and know they will make mistakes, be there at their best and their worst.
    Hold kids accountable, tell them what they need to know, and they may not like it, but they need to hear it.
    Don’t give up on the kid, and show them you are invested.
    Practice is about the coaches preparing the players. The game is about the players performing, and going out as a cohesive unit doing something they have never done before.
    If a player messes up a coach needs a mirror
    3 inning games - play the 7th, 8th, and 9th 
    Play at least 2 and most 4 - that is where the game is lost/won
    Ed Chief article - 
    Competitive BP - points per rounds, live 
    Bunt game
    Consider myself a great thief and taylor it to myself
    Twitter - @coachjchester
    1 hr 10 min
  • 28 - James Mullins Glenville State College "Attacking Irrational Belief"
    Bio
    Entering 8th season at Glenville State College WV
    2015 MEC coach of the year
    10 All conference players during his tenure
    Served as an assistant coach at West Virginia State (Under Cal) for two years and was a player at WV State
    Also serves Salem Community College and Davis & Elkins College
     
    Episode Notes
    Cal Bailey really knew how to connect with players
    As a baseball coach was a continuous learner, books on the bus, asking questions
    Negatives in the office, praise in front of the team
    Promised a good college baseball experience, serve the community, care!
    Competition is our number one priority (cages, weight room, everything!)\Barrels in the cage
    Attacking our irrational beliefsWhen an action happens (ump bad call) you react negatively with bad self talk
    “Are you that bad of a player that everything needs to go right for you to win?”
    Marketing your brain (whiteboard on a mirror, seeing your intentions)A - Activating Event (bad circumstance)
    B - Belief system (my perception of the event)
    C - Consequence 
    D - Disputing those beliefs (do I have to have everything go right for me?
    E - Executing the new belief (positive self talk)
    Have players create their own processes and release (ownership)
    If I talked to you the way you are talking to yourself you wouldn’t like me very much! ~ Cal Bailey mound visit
    Classroom sessions are as needed, and sometimes may be just for a player
    “Social stretching” - time to just stretch and relax and get the talking out of our system
    Use Google Drive to drop in resources for each player, and their specific needs
    Given a goal during a practice or consequence after practice (pants in the weightroom)
    Daily task during BP
    Goal jersey for web gem of the day
    Individual skills with start foundational and then work to give players choice to what they need
    “Balloon breathing” with trainer that incorporates better movements.
    Twitter @jmullins85
    304-549-2952
    1 hr 6 min
  • 27 - Kevin Anderson Shenandoah University "Processes of a Program"
    Bio
    Current Head Coach at Shenandoah University
    After being hired in 2003, in 2004 he guided the Hornets to their best second best season (at the time)
    Since 2009 season SU has won nearly 400 games
    four regular season titles in the USA South and Old Dominion conferences and 
    Conference championships in both the USA South and ODAC (2015, 2018, 2019) 
    3 regional titles. 
    2009 and 2010, Anderson was named as Coach of the Year by both the ABCA and the VA State Sports Information Directors.
    Former HC at James Madison University where he won 150 games and had two CAA Tournament championship appearances at JMU. 
    His 1995 team was an NCAA Tournament participant and the Dukes had the second highest RPI improvement in the nation behind Rice University.
    Incredible baseball mind!!  A Baseball savant  
     
    Show notes
    We never do video unless it is live!!
    Try to use as many senses as you can
    Competition everyday!
    Written tests, QAB, and posted results everyday
    Everything we do we chart objective data and talk about it with the kids
    Team AB, Individual AB, intersquad rule - walk, HBP, sac bunt and last guy who made out is on first and he gets 
    Stat/chart - how many times did you win??
    Objective data to help discuss their role
    What a player can do, rather than what he can’t do (what can he bring to the table).
    1-6 starters play, 7-9 we are going to play situational baseball
    Why we do things first, how the second.
    “Coach on the run” - tactical strategy to think on their feet when their are playing. 
    We want kids to play the game like they are playing whiffle ball!
    We play for the big inning with no outs
    We get a little aggressive with one out
    Have the player color in the field where they hit the ball best
    Shade the strike zone to see where they hit the ball best
    Our job as coaches is to put them
    ****P+E+E = R (around 19 minute mark)
    ****Performance + execution + effort = Results!! 
    ****We emphasize the process!!
    We don’t make the first out on the bases unless its a force play
    Written tests are huge for us (NCAA rules, explain infield fly rule, history of baseball, etc)
    Practice schedule emailed the night before or before practice, and kids should be prepared for practice, we post nothing. 
    Hitting coach give player What drills work for them need
    Pitchers given individual drills to get ready and warmed up to see what works for you
    ***Warm up (coach em up), form up (coach up a little), time up (shut up) (around 29 minute mark)
    Pitchers given questionnaire on their arsenal and how they warm up
    Starters 3 different pitches at 3 different speeds
    1 inning guy has a elite pitch and let them work with it
    Start them off with the worst pitch and get them out with their best!
    3 C’s in life - Control, Confidence, Compete
    Good kids attract good kids, bad kids attract bad kids
    I don’t bring on any kids who I don’t talk to the parents
    If they don’t have a disciplined, organized, family value it will be very tough for them in our program
    A word we don’t use is CHANGE, we are constantly making ADJUSTMENTS, small adjustments daily.
    Go on www.SUhornets.com to read more about the program
    Prospect camp on October 17th at Register on SU Hornets or kevinandersonbaseballcamps.com
    “It's what you learn after you think you know it all that matters most” ~quoted from Earl Weaver’s Title of his book!
    57 min
  • 26 - Anthony Williams ;Frostburg State University "Qualities of a good program"
    BIO
    Current Head Coach at Frostburg State University
    Prior to FSU he was the HC at Clarion University
    Prior to Clarion he was the HC at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (winningest coach in program history)
    Was a manager in the Coastal Plain League for the Fayetteville Swampdogs
    Worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates analyzing video for the Advanced Scouting Department
    Was a former assistant coach at UMBC where he specialized in baserunning and infield play
    Started his coaching career at Frostburg as a GA, and this has been a coming home for him
    AWESOME GUY!!
     
    Show Notes
    Started building the engine of the team, and don’t want to overcoach our team
    Do not want to make wholesale changes before we give them a chance to see what they have
    Individual plans as we go through the fall
    Setting individual goals to help us championship
    “GEL” - GRIT, ENERGY, and LEADERSHIP!!  Values of the program - recruiting, practice, and in games
    Take scores and test to be sure people reflect and see where they are
    Coaches and players take it
    I will not ask them to do or be that I would not do or be
    Data on different types of groundballs to help them with their plan of weaknesses
    Use huddle to use video at practice and share with the players
    Foundational drills that everyone does as part of daily work, and then player has the ability to create their own routine
    Have a whole day to create their game day routine.
    Foundational steps of teaching is to be able to coach to the individual players needs
    Measure as much as we can!
    Sift through how much we can measure and then to see what correlates
    “Over the rubber” days and “over the plate” days - competition days and mechanics days
    Gotten back to letting kids do what they do well.
    As long as a coach you can check your ego at the door, you can move forward helping kids get better
    Damage approach - 11 inch plate; 1 ball off each side of the plate
    Gap to gap approach - hunt a good pitch (1 strike)
    2 strike approach - 2 strikes; mental and physical change - look away/react in
    Mental strategies that players can use in the moment
    Compete on the clock a lot with baserunning (speed days)
    When guys know their times it brings out the best in guys
    Looking for recruits who fit in our offensive model (pressure guys who make consistent hard contact)
    1 hr 11 min
  • 25 - Doug Little; Potomac State CC "Practicing the physical and mental side"
    Doug Little
     
    Bio
    Beginning his 24th season at Potomac State College
    746-325-1
    18th seasons of 30 or more wins
    ABCA Regional Coach of the Year 10 times
    4 time NJCAA East District Coach of the year with FOUR trips to the D1 JUCO World Series
    2016 NJCAA Hall of Fame inductee
    Has produced 5 Region XX pitchers of the year
    Numerous players drafted and signed to professional baseball.  
    Outstanding teacher of the game!
     
    Show Notes
    Different style of learning. You can rank 1-25 physically, but mentally the range is much larger
    2-3 things a week to be sure we don’t information overload
    If you have to motivate in a game your team is in trouble. You need to motivate a lot more in practice.
    We need to practice more intensely and in a game like atmosphere to be prepared for the game
    JUCO guys are hungry to go to the next level and creates buy in
    Emphasize full speed to make game speed smooth
    Kids are basically the same they have always been, but our approach has changed in terms of information overload.
    Review the game on Tuesday from the weekend
    Wednesday: team defense, bunt D, 1st to 3rd, PFP
    Thursday: position defense and hitting, P&C pens and conditioning 
    Friday: BP on the field
    Skill meetings with hitters and pitchers and catchers
    Telling guys what our philosophy is with 0 outs, 1 out, and 2 outs
    Taking care of what goes into your body, and be educated on your nutrition and how to get in shape
    Do a lot of background checks to see if the guy really likes to compete, work ethic, body size, good kid, and mental makeup
    We pound away at the mental side We force them to grow up because we count on them so fast (as fresh/soph)
    We put them in tough situations to get them mentally stronger
    Mini sessions to discuss how people show mental toughness
    Take all players and teach them how to be mentally tougher
    We see something in you, don’t take it personally, we are just trying to make you better
    We take situations in games to praise the mental toughness we want to help guys learn from the failure
    We spend so much more time on the mental toughness than we do physical side***
    The teams that can handle the adversity better will be in much better shape
    We try to take the umpire out of the equation! Not reacting
    Cell - 304-813-8438 (text me)
    If the players know they can come to you and you will be open then it lends itself a great opportunity for them to grow.
    1 hr 13 min
  • 24 - John Lowery, Sr. "Legendary Lessons"
    Bio
    The Current and ONLY Head Coach at Jefferson (WV) High School (opened in 1972)
    3rd all time in High School victories. 1st in active wins
    He has won at least 20 games for 43 consecutive seasons 
    State record 12 state championships
    The State Baseball player award is named after him, 8 of which have come from his program
    Coming up on his 50th season as the Cougars Skipper
    An absolute legend! Incredible baseball mind
     
    Show Notes
    Technology and travel teams have really helped players develop but at times they have hindered and took their focus away from what’s important
    Learn the game at this level
    There is a certain level of knowledge needed for our level
    There is a process that you take to get to the next level
    Practice at game speed
    45 minutes to hour play situational BP - play the game with different situationsGet on and off the field as fast as you can
    Game winning situation
    As many outs as we can in a row
    You can’t expect kids to do things that you don’t do at practice
    2 things to teach your playersWhat do you do when the ball is not hit to you?
    What do you know?
    Charting rival hitters and keeping history 
    Anticipate and see moves and what the other team might do3-2 count, 2 outs = back pick move
    Teaching the team to play outs
    Repetition and being around the game, and be willing to invest the time
    It's hard to get money out of the bank if you don’t put money in it.
    Starts with the fundamentals and repetition.
    Practicing discipline and concentration.
    Execution of those fundamental skills
    Long term goals and short team goals - you need to work through the short term to get to long term
    There have to be values that you take away from the game when we are finished playing
    Play a full JV schedule! Be creative and make them feel value
    1 hr 7 min

About Better Men, Better Ballplayers

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Concrete content for anyone looking to get better. This community is for people who want to grow themselves, and grow the game. We know the game of baseball teaches us so many valuable life lessons!