Better Men, Better Ballplayers

By Trey CobbSports Health & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement Baseball

Better Men, Better Ballplayers episodes

January 03, 202293: Todd Fitz-Gerald - Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
Todd Fitz-Gerald - Stoneman Douglas High School

Bio
Current HC Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
Stoneman Douglas ended a historic 2021 season being ranked the #1 HS team in the nation by Perfect Game (#2 Baseball America)
2021 National Head Coach of the Year (his 3rd time, 2016 & 2008)
2021 Florida State Coach of the Year (2nd time)
2021 Florida state champion
2nd state championship in 6 years
3rd FL state championship
#1 in the country
Former HC at American Heritage
Florida state champion (2008)
2008 All USA COY
Overall record of 446-119, .789 winning percentage
His teams have been in the top 50 in the country 12 years in his 20 years as HC
32 players have been drafted into professional baseball
Man of integrity, high character, and teaches life lessons

Notes
More interactions with kids, more patience since the school shooting
Let assistant coaches coach, so he can float around and talk to each position
Don’t ever feel like you have to call me to come back to practice. You are always welcome
Open door policy - promote guys as much as possible
Sports are the best thing to bring people together
Tragedy to triumph
You need to have luck
Baseball is a game that teaches you perseverance, failure, tough, level headed
So many life lessons
Toy drive for Joe Dimaggio hospital
Rizzo walk for cancer
Hang lights for foster kids
Far major things in life than winning and losing games
Want players to be the best version of yourself and don’t be anything different
My resume is because of the players who have played for me
INAM - Its Not About Me
QAB - write down their at bat and grade it
A or F
Result
Pitch, count, tendency chart
Won’t tolerate after striking out and not giving love to other teammates. Being a bad teammate
20 minute meeting prior to practice to go over game night before
Just because it is not D1 does not mean you are not a Dude!
What is the best fit for you??!
Decisions needs to be made on more than just baseball - school, baseball, academics, social, distance, etc
Do you have a list of questions to ask coaches when recruiting?
Chart and intersquad to be competitive
Not just result - hard 90? You getting out of the box? You standing on 2 when you pop up?
4.3 seconds or less on the infield to make a play
Intense at practice, relax at games - don’t make me coach you today!!! You have competed all week.
The only team that can beat us is us!
Competitive Pitchers
Get outs!
Control the running game
There is a lot more than throwing the ball 60’6”
Control emotion, stay in the moment, know you are the best guy on the mound
Challenge period - all hitters around turtle, guy on the mound, runner at 2B, defense, 1 out
Guys who have not done well in certain things well
Pitching and defense win championships, offense wins games
We will eliminate the inner third and look outside and over the plate and take advantage of mistakes
Some years we bunt, some years we don’t!
Try not to coach the first 4-5 innings
I don’t want to coach on game days
In the fall everyone has the green light
How are you going to know if you don’t go??
I don’t want them to rely on coaches to make decisions and then we will talk about it
Its the only thing in life you can fail and be considered great
Allow yourself to be successful, stop pouting
Its not about you!
Athletics roll the school system, and starts with the football team to have a good year
Good AD
Administration support
Booster club - all fundraising is ran through own booster club
Banners, hit a thon, dinner with a pro
Bring excitement to the program
Wall of fame
Facility upgrade - fences and windscreen
Cover the batting cages
Clubhouse
I want them to go off to college and BE READY!!! They are college ready is the best compliment I can get!
954-295-6878
[email protected]
1 hr 14 min
December 27, 202192: Gerry DeFilippo - Challenger Strength (NJ)
Meet Gerry DeFilippo - https://www.challengerstrength.com/meet-gerry-defilippo.html

Bio
Head trainer and owns and operates Challenger Strength
Serves as the strength coach for the Jersey Hitmen.
He orchestrates the programming and training for eight different Hitmen teams, which range all the way up to the Elite and Premier Junior's Level Programs.
Since founding Challenger Strength in 2016, Gerry has worked with over 100 college, college bound and professional athletes across multiple sports.
Numerous articles published on EliteFTS, Muscles and Strength and Elite Baseball Performance.
Gerry is certified by industry legends Joe DeFranco and James Smith.
As a Certified Physical Preparation Specialist he specializes in athletic performance, pre-movement preparation, strength, power, speed, core training, program design, and mental toughness, all built on the seven pillars of athletic performance.
Aside from being a Certified Physical Preparation Specialist and working with athletes, he is also an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, with a background in personal training and general fitness.
Great follow on Twitter, shares great content!

Notes
We can’t just focus on the output, we need to decelerate as well
Athletes need to get better at deceleration, start AND stop
If we can’t get better at them in a controlled setting, then we will really be behind in a chaotic, game like setting
Athletes are having to start up, after they have just stopped
What do you see “prominent” in your sport?
Look at it from a simple perspective and expand from there
You will always have a baseline and a progression and regression
Progress or regress depending on athlete and where the athlete is. Their “neutral”
Deceleration isn’t needed if you are not fast enough
“Earning progression”
Start and stop sprints
Yell
Partner reacts
Drop foam roller
Avoid people
Older athlete separated with sprint work and decel work
Younger athlete needs more consistent sprint and decel work to get a foundation of movements
Do they have a year or two of training under the belt to get them in the right group/plan
In season versus out of season just depending on what you are getting a lot or have not gotten enough
Are we looking at the movements we need in the game and base programming off that
If you are not getting better in your rotational output then we have to go heavier
Why am going to continue doing light rotation work when it is not working?
Overrated in getting in balance (throwing med right and left handed, not needed)
You are not going to undo movement with the few med ball throwing
In season maintenance and focus on what we are not getting in our sport
Hinge is different with the field and in the weightroom
***At a certain point you need to evaluate what your goal is and go all in
If it is what the kid wants and they go after
Causation vs correlation - was it the athlete and 3 sports or the genetics
Jump mat and vertical power
Learn the reasoning behind the test first, and then get the equipment
Velocity based training
Technical proficiency in movements
If what they are doing is not working
Instagram @ChallengerStrength
Twitter @Challenger_ST
Website - www.challeger
Podcast - muscle and management - spotify
1 hr 4 min
December 20, 202191: Ryan Kinnan - Davenport HS (TX)
Ryan Kinnan Bio
17th year as a teacher and coach.
started at Euless Junior High, 6th-9th grade
During that time he was also the Varsity Assistant baseball coach at Euless Trinity High School
Football State Championship in 2005 Euless Trinity year
work for legendary Coach Steve Lineweaver
Assistant at Irving High School for 2 years
coach Trevor Story (Colorado Rockies)
First HC job at a Texas 3A school called Carrollton Ranchview
Ranchview we broke the single season stolen base record
9 years at 6A Irving MacArthur.
Irving averaged 3 wins a year for the previous 10
Averaged 14 a year during his 9 year tenure
First Baseball team in school history to make back to back playoff appearances
4 straight playoff years.
Also the first team to win 20 + games in school history.
Current HC at Davenport
Brand new school
600 kids
Almost all juniors, sophomores and freshman. Every sport but football is competing on the Varsity level.
68 collegiate players and 7 MLB draft picks
Learner, family man, cares about kids

Notes
3-5 year plan
First had a meeting with players and parents
You don’t take money with you, you take people
Relationships and discipline
Reward shirts
Player of the week
Golden glove - fielder of the week
Silver slugger -
Cy young -
Baserunning tshirt -
Tryout point system
No more than 20 pitches at a time in a bullpen
1 first and third play
1 bunt coverage
Don’t be a slave to the clock
Mental training
Ladder series with glove and ball
Baserunning
3 bases, 4 bases, baserunning carousel
Position specific
Team D/O
Offense theme days
Monday - my pitch Monday - only hit your pitch or your out!
Tuesday - 2 strike tuesday
21 outs
Situational game - pull out card to do situation
4 base drill - call out where to throw the base in sequence
Chart during offense BP using managers
HR philosophy, if its your pitch, hammer it, if not swing late
Intersquad - if you are thrown out you get to go back, second time your out
Fathers night out - go out to local restaurant and spend night with dad
Mothers night out - dress up in shirt and tie and go
Team outing once a month - open to entire families
Hand written Christmas cards to every player
Professional baseball game
Team dinners - team outings on Wednesday nights on shortened practice day (recovery day)
We are only going to be as good as parents allow us to be
Outside the fence needs to be pulling hard as inside the fence
Steve Mackey - “2 Words”
Video clip with follow up questions
Brian Cain material during mental skills at the beginning of practice
Stop and take good deep breath as we transition to hitting/different areas of practice
“Always Grind” hitter and pitcher notebooks - guided notebook that breaks down each at bat/each pitch
“Opportunity for improvement” - consequence for not doing what you are supposed to do
Recruiting talks to figure out what they really want at the next level
It is our job as a coach to help players in whatever they want to do
“Virtual combine” - streamline all data to one site
“Testing day” will put it in one site and track each year
Test every 6 weeks
Baseline testing
Spotlight the highest achievers
Distance throws
60, steal start
EV and Blast for Bat speed
Pull downs
Command game with 9 pocket net
Grade reports on Sunday!
Have a standard of a GPA (3.0 or higher)
Business card to give out kids, and kids stats on the back that the coach needs
Baserunning - green, yellow, red system and just have it in the dugout to see and let them know
Fire, Stop, Icicle
Fire - no rules,
Stop - station to station
Icicle - cold, no risks
Dugout participation chart - points for specific talk and engagement in the dugout
Daily, weekly, and monthly sheet
Gold, silver, and bronze medal winner shirts
@coachkinnan
@bsbldavenport
DM on twitter
[email protected]
1 hr 10 min
December 13, 202190 - Ray Evans: NHSBCA Hall of Fame
Evans Notes

Bio
559-251-2 career record
Dr. Phillips
Back to back District title first two years (between COVID)
Flanagan - 15 years
3 time state champion, 2005, 2006, 2010
12 district title
12 region finals
2010 National championship
Dr. Krop - 5 years
Started the program
3 out of 4 District titles
Miami Beach - 10 years
Restarted and revamped title to 1st district title in since 70’s (20 years later)
HOF Class of 2021 National HS Baseball Coaches Association
Currently works with Power Baseball and Assistant coach at Windermere HS (HC Eric Lasiter)

Notes
Made a checklist of what he needed to be successful to take over a program
Continuity of staff and admin to get to where we need to be very quickly
Support from admin, parent, and player buy in to be successful
Changed the look of the facility and culture came with it. Kids saw how committed I was and brought them in
Great coaching staff that I surrounded myself with and that continuity was key
Everyone had a position coach
Staff was part of the checklist and admin helped make it happen
Bring in a coach and let them do their job
Its never just you! Players, admin, staff, parents, family
Learned what NOT to do
It doesn’t matter your age, it matters your talent
At the end of the year evaluation yourself and evaluate your staff
Observe at a parent meeting and see their family situation
When they know you really care, the kids will open up
You got to be able to speak to kids
You are worried about the Wins than the kid and their life
Needs to be ONE of the best thing, not the best thing
Getting a game winning hit cannot be the best thing of your life, but it is something you will remember.
The impact will be greater than any game you will win
The game is important than any individual
Program, team, individual
You have to be involved with the kids and not just because of the game
Look for great situations in moving jobs
You want to win every year
You can’t keep running the same offense if you don’t have the personnel
You need to adapt
Yes we want exit velo but it depends on your body (big guys can hit in air, but smaller guys need lower launch)
You need adapt to the times
Our 9 beats their 5!! Sprint on and off the field
People want to see you smile, have fun, and hustle
Its not about any one person, its about the kid
Work ethic, we wanted to out work everyone.
Competing everyday, scouted every team,
What did we do wrong, not what did they do wrong
Its constant comradery and then get back to the whole team and build chemistry
Take seniors on trip
Something with competition everyday
Create some type of competitiveness to be successful
Baserunning everyone does the same thing
Automatic on certain counts, shut down on slide step, or unless coach shuts down
You have to adapt and you have to love what you do
If you are second guessing yourself then it is time to do something else
Surround yourself with really great people
Work hard at your craft
[email protected]
954-854-7855
1 hr 36 min
December 06, 202189 - Garrett Baker: Inspiration Academy (FL)
Garrett Baker notes

BMBB store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home

Bio
Player development coordinator for Inspiration Academy (Bradenton, FL) (Summer of 2021)
American International College pitching/recruiting coordinator, and assisted S&C (Fall of 2018)
Westfield State University pitching and S&C (2017)
Independent Baseball (empire league (NH), and Pecos league (AR))
Undergraduate in Exercise science and Masters Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Topics
Starting with a breathing exercise and routine based warm up
Meetings in small groups
Skill emerges through my mental capacity
Lets envision the best practice we possibly have!
Check in with yourself and see if you are checking into thoughts in the past or future, and we need to get rid of them to have our best practice
Signal lights - red, yellow, and green
Green light I go
Yellow light I need to be cautious, so be aware
Red light I need to stop before I spin out of control
Get rid of the red thoughts
4 box - inhale 4, exhale,
Physical helps me wipe it away
Final thought helps me get back to now and action
Practice on the mound, and in the actual place
Having the process in play and practicing it each day
Same verbiage with hitting coach to discuss the mental skills
The ability to bring yourself back to the moment will help be a better person and ballplayer
Just notice the thought to bring yourself back to the moment
If you are not locked into a drill, perform the mindfulness training to continue that skill
Players need ownership in their own routines
Need to have a routine of when things are not going to well
Do something physical
Take break
Mental thought!
Allowing freedom and learn themselves
Movement challenge
Somewhat based on assessment
Encourage the body in a different way
Blend a water bag with throwing to develop a pattern
Assessment looking at indicators
Back leg
Front leg
Glove arm
Throw arm
Rotation
Capture trunk
Trunk into arm
Universal movements that are within everybody
2 days very individualize and 3 days of team workout
Learning all movement patterns within team workout
Guys given option for movement prep before game
Savage pitching certification
We can stabilize movements without thoughts
Your body is interested it can use in multiple ways
Mid week bullpen is all water bag bled throwing to targets
3 prescribed drills to pitching
Basketball throw - treat the arm as an extension of the body (goalie throw)
And blend with plyo/baseball
“Success” is when the drill helps capture the movement
The on field matters - and we will evaluate based on how they perform
In game we do not want to have thoughts, and training within this environment by allowing the body to feel the force
Encouraging the movement, by providing the outside force and stabilize to be in your best spot
Create the best movers while ensuring the workload is there
Your body adapts to the stress it gets put on it
Movement madness Monday - movement challenges to be adaptable
PVC Game
Drop pvc pipe as low you can
Challenging movement system
Mimics sport
Swipe up and swipe down and you have to either jump or squat down
Minimal jerk, minimal joint motion, minimal processing
Maximize everything
Recovery movement circuit
Walking in a squat
Different lunge/squat in 15 yards
Crawling
The lizard
Spine work
Arm movements, low intensity easy movement
Wrist clinics
What matters is listening to the player because you can’t push the system that is already overloaded
Have a framework to work off of
Twitter and Instagram - @coachgbaker
[email protected]

BMBB store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home
1 hr 25 min
November 29, 202188 - Veronica Alvarez: USA Baseball & Oakland A‘s
BMBB store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home

Bio
USA baseball women's national team head coach since 2019
2019 team of the year and coach of the year
Been a part of the 12U baseball ID series, task force, and trials staff.
Served as an assistant coach for one year prior to her time at the helm
first woman to be named the USA Baseball Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year
Played 2008-2015 as a catcher on the US National team
Team USA finished its tournament with a perfect 7-0 record and the program's first gold medal since the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and was voted USA baseball team of the year that year
2019-2020 served as a coach with the Oakland Athletics at Minor League Baseball Spring Training
2021 Oakland A’s roving catching instructor for minor league baseball

Notes
MLB breakthrough series - all girl event for high school girls
The Trailblazer series for 12-14 year olds
USA baseball develops
USA baseball website for future events
Veronica’s events on Instagram
The softball and baseball swing should be more similar than they are
Prepare for the highest level by tearing things down before we build them up.
Attack your weaknesses and think more long term
One knee down (OKD) has gotten out of control,
If you don’t know why you are doing something then it can go by the wayside
Capitalize on adjustability
Receiving is about our feet, hips and have adjustability based on pitch location
Adjustability when a pitcher misses so you don’t move too much
Change to a knee when pitcher is missing up
Pitcher throws down constantly and you need to receive low pitches more
Be able to be balanced and have it all in your versatile.
Keep strikes, strikes, make balls, strikes
Blocking balls, making plays helps the pitchers mental capacity
Catchers need to keep the mentality of the pitcher strong
If pitcher is working fast, you need to keep them working fast
Pitcher is working slow, slow them up - calling time, calling outs, talking to umpire, giving the pitchers extra seconds to think and take deep breaths
bench/role players know their roles to keep the energy up and keep everyone engaged
Catchers can call their own game and have that experience
Target practice for throwing
Blocking competition
Receiving - thumb under technique
Use 3 joints to help with framing - shoulder, elbow and wrist
Less movement the better, lets make this look as sneaky as possible.
Strike zone awareness - knowing where it is and how much I need to move my glove to get a strike
Use markers on my body to know the zone (top of the catcher knee is the knee on hitter)
Receiving starts in the middle of the strike zone, use your joints, and then catch the angle as it tries to go away from the strike zone
Pre pitch movement - glove down to the ground to then come up and receive it (flex to firm); start with a neutral elbow
Sneaky receivers done with good timing
Tracking the ball is also pre pitch movement
Exaggerate movements with youth level
How can I explain the same things a million different ways
I want them to have success
All about the team, if it does not help the team, we are not doing it!
Staying in touch with the players and have a personal relationship with each person
Everyone is a leader in some way on the team
Instagram @veronicaoalvarez
BMBB store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home
1 hr 29 min
November 22, 202187 - Travis Hash: Absolute Sports Performance
BMBB store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home

Bio
Director of S&C at Absolute Sports Performance (2018 when opened)
Loyola Blakefield Baseball S&C coach
CCBC Dundalk Baseball S&C
Personal training background, even since HS - graduated HS with certified personal trainer
CSCS certified -

Notes
Younger the person the easier it is to recover
Train, recover, and compete in the sport
48-72 hours recover before next competition
Communication for best program about what the week looks like, days off we take advantage for work
Athletes will typically be sore from increase volume
Can handle high weight less reps with not too much soreness
Eccentric lower part of the lift provides from soreness than concentric
RDL (eccentric) vs Hip thrust (more concentric)
Limiting range of motion - back squat - using box with limit range of motion
The best overall strategy to mitigate soreness is to consistently train
Bowling analogy - if you just go once in a while you will be sore
Stay in the weightroom
Be able to adjust your plan, based on life! Have to be flexible
Online, remote programming options
Have separated season
Under-development or over stress
Have a system in place for different levels of movements and commitment
Tier
Foundations of movement - squat, hinge, push, and pull
If we do not have these movements we can’t move on
Accumulation block - build up so we can build
Higher reps
Strength block - maximal output
Power and speed
Peak with power and speed as we enter the season
During season we are maintaining strength and power/speed blocks
Sprint work, plyo work, strength work
Above 80-85%
Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) - finding a weight to find a pretty good gauge
Essentially finding his 3 rep max
Rated 1-10; 1 - dynamic warmup, 2-5 very light weight, 6 - 4 or 5 left, 7 - 3 reps, 8 - 2 reps, 9 - 1 rep, 10 - max
The real coaching comes into managing work loads and intensity
Plan for the things you can plan for
You need an assessment but it needs to make sense for you!
Do not just copy and paste from big programs
Take pieces of assessments that will actually help and you can use and know
10 different movements
Performance test with Hinge, Jump, sprints
Ncaa has data that you can compare with your data to see what average athlete can do
What does the average of this team really need? What are the most lacking?
Build around that weakness
During phase 1 individual attention for specific patterns
How you cue (verbal talk) and prescribe weight to each athlete is the best way to individualize
Have a reprotirs of cues and rotate through each as best you can for each kid
Re establish the foundation and based on the assessment determines how long we need to focus on the movements
Weights and intensity can help determine the individualization
Individualizing the weight and intensity is best way to see results in team
RPE helps the player determine the best weight for them (become their best coach): automates the process
As a coach you need to be there and talk to see if we need to increase or decrease weight. Be there, be honest!
Bar speed, velocity based training, which correlates bar speed to intensity
Assessing athletes every single day: RPE, movements, moving weight, soreness
Program set weeks we will deload
3 weeks strong (RPE increase each week), 1 week deload (week 1 RPE)
Checking with your athletes each day to gauge intensity - check numbers and communicate and adapt plan
Track as much as you can
Assessment you can handle - pick what you think is important to get baseline, and assess them periodically
Record weights and have a training card that has a long term plan - write weights and sets
Foundational movements are still foundational even with arm care
Arm care (accessory work, you have to strong in the foundational movements to support your arm)
Rotator cuff strengthening - j bands,
Scap strengthening - good ROM and stability!
Landmine presses
Full ROM on rows
Timing - up tosses, med ball drops, shoulder tube, tramp work
Whatever you are assessing it should matter for the sport
Lateral jump - single leg force production is important for baseball
Split squat, lateral lunge,
Rate of force production and velocity
Pre and post activity questionnaire - sleep, soreness, stress, perception of lift,
@hashsportsperformance on Twitter and Instagram
www.absolutesportsperformanceMD.com
1 hr 15 min
November 15, 202186 - Chris Joyner: Auburn University S&C
Joyner Notes

BMBB store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home

Bio
Current Auburn S&C coach Baseball (August 2018 - Present, 4th season)
16 years in pro ball
Major League S&C Coordinator for Toronto Blue Jays 2014-2017.
Major League S&C Coordinator for Brewers 2007-2010
Minor League S&C coordinator for Toronto Blue Jays from 2003-2006 working with more than 150 players in the system including Roy Halladay.
Has worked with some big time big leaugers like Roy Halladay, Trevor Hoffman, Jose Bautista, and Josh Donaldson.

Notes
Run your own ship - need to be able to make adjustment on your own because coaches will not always be around
Scouts asking S&C what a player is like!
Journaling each week and reflecting on the week
Sleep, final exam before the start, program, drink enough?
All about Developing trust
Listening to the players
Know players you have the best interest at heart
Push when they need pushed
Let them rest when they need to rest
Create athlete profiles
Movement assessment
Force plate
Range of motion
Baseline test
FMS
What is the development from the day they stepped in?
Movement is the foundation, and whatever is on top of it will fall
You have to have a baseline of movement
Explode, load, and drive -
Track average velo and peak velo
What does that profile look like?
Recognize red flags
Earn the right to load up
Weight Room where they can just train and be a safe place
All about patterning (hinge, push, pull , carry)
Menu of options of the patterns (uppers, lowers, total body,)
Give them an arm throwing program working with the PC with weightlifting on a calendar. Try to detail as much as possible
Adapt to skill work, scrimmage,
Treat it like spring training - hit the most important patterns
Starters get them on their routine
Relievers treated like position players - 2 days in season or 4 days in off season
Always encourage recovery
Be as consistent as you can on workout days
In season - be on a routine, be consistent,
Giving them ownership of a program based on how their body performs, what they like and how it works for them (individualize)
Master the simple things
Surveys at the end of fall to get feedback from players on all areas what they like and do not like
Incoming guys take summer school and it helps tremendously to get used to routine, campus, coaches and their style.
Not stretching the cold rubber band - lacrosse ball, thera gun, foam roller
How do I prepare? I’m fixing to go do some work, so attack it in your pre work
Philosophy - prepare, work, recovery, repeat
In season we are more “recovery specialist”
Foam roller
Cold tub
Hot tub
Recovery boots
Lacrosse ball
Same movement pattern but different phase of the pattern (load, explode, drive)
How does their top velo and average velo correlate to show when guys can go back to back and how to program him the days before and after appearance
What is going on with your body weight?
The numbers are telling me you just need to rest and recover
squat , hinge, push, pull, carry
What movements are they doing on the field
Work on them!
What the fundamental patterns are - it just doesn’t look right and you address those
Make time for it in practice - body weight, pushups, balance, stretch
For us it is movement!! If you are not moving right, work on it
Heart rate ranges based on who they were (for conditioning)
Different conditioning for different guys based on their development
Its not a one size fits all
Conditioning is about work capacity and does not have to be just running
[email protected]
1 hr 47 min
November 08, 202185 - Steve Rassel: Toronto Blue Jays S&C
BMBB store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home

Bio
Toronto Blue Jays S&C Coordinator since 2019
Webber International University Head S&C Coach 2009 - 2019 and Associate AD (2016)
he was working with every team
he has transformed the department into one of the most well-renowned programs in the country
over 80 coaches that have been under the tutelage
2 Full time coaches, Interns, and GA
S&C finalist 2016 and 2018 for National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
Daytona Cubs S&C coach 2009

Notes
Helping people through training
Train the person and we hire and fire based on culture and skill level
Training to help the team but ultimately helping the individual
Collaboration is key to talk to coaches on different sides (S&C and player development)
Total collaboration to help solve problems together (mental, player development, S&C, medical, coaches)
Balance between performance and development
Not trying to develop them so much that we would sacrifice performance
Continuity and being able to speak the same language to align as player move
Team of Teams model
US special forces joint command to have an effective team
General stanley mcCrystal
We could not what we wanted to do, but we can do what we had resources
You may want the whole gauntlet, but you need to settle on smaller test now
Assessment driven process is to help understand the athlete
Pay attention to details, learning, and compiling information
Identify what people need the most (pillars)
Need more bracing forces
All gas no brakes, so be sure you have holistic and balanced approach
Stay open minded while you are training
Informed approach and learn what is impacting performance
Its important to approach it systematically
Reaching out to an expertise and find out what these athletes need to get better
Minimal effective dose - don’t bite off more than you can manage. What are you comfortable doing to help them reach the next step
holistic, movement program - push, pull, hinge, simple movement patterns
You want ownership and asking why because that means they want it, keeps you on your toes, and speak at a high level
You can’t start something in something, it needs to be a blend from off season to in season so they aren’t as sore
In season should look different than off season program
Minimal effective dose in season.
Progressive fatigue, but not nose diving
Have a training program that they are maintaining during the season
Total body approaches during the season, twice a week, once a week last half of the season
“Mirco-dose” - two to 3 exercises in a short period of time
Young players are resilient and may need a higher “dose” so they do not nose dive
Gradual progression from off season to in season
Med ball training very important for baseball players
Young players need multi-sport approach to help athleticism
Training needs to be in balance (strength with movement)
Light weighted implements to train the movements and as you start to advance you add the weight
You don’t want to push for external strength without willing to brace internally
Body weight plank test
Activate glutes
Its not about loading weight, but also holding tension!
Elite in stability and strength
Single leg RDL
Squat hold - two legs and single
Hip bridge
Hold loads and don’t strain externally
Less load on shoulders in season
Lay a foundation of volume in the off season
Slow motion temp work
Building that foundation on purpose
Off season phases (typically 4 weeks), stack phases, sometimes deload depending on player
Purpose of the phase!
Keeping core beliefs at the front of your decisions
Another dude trying to figure it out and pick people brain an implement
“Adjusting spokes!”
Relentless growth!
[email protected]

BMBB store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home
1 hr 31 min
November 01, 202184 - Brendan Clary: R.L. Turner HS (TX)
BMBB Store - https://stores.bjscustomcreations.com/better-men_better-ballplayers/shop/home
Bio
Coach Clary is going into his second year as the Head Coach of the R.L. Turner Lions in Carrollton, TX. He has made previous coaching stops at Ranchview, Lubbock-Cooper, & Slaton prior to that. Worked his way up through the ranks at each level coaching to make his way into the head coaching job. He played his college baseball at Lubbock Christian University while receiving a degree in History with a minor in Exercise Sports Science. He holds memberships from NHSBCA, THSBCA & ABCA. He was a recent ABCA Barnstormer Clinician at TCU.

Coach Clary also coaches with the Dallas Patriots organization in the Fall & Summer as the head coach of a 2024 group.

Coach Clary has been married 3 years to his wife Kelsey, who also teaches and coaches. They welcomed their first child into the world, daughter Charlotte, over this past summer.

Notes
Fall 3 innings or 25 pitches
“Machine league” - 6 outs in an inning, 2 pitches, time limit to go play as much as possible
At school - “foundational and relational”
“Ron Washington’s” -
5/5/5 - knee work, fielding position
Med ball progression - movement patterns without having to teach it
Heel toe action with med ball
“Kickball roll” - ask the pitcher for what you want
Roll Series - outfielders going back as long as they like to, and work through each side
Get behind drills - ball up and get through the ball
Travel ball kids - “chasing opportunity for the next level”
Individual skill based
Play tennis - find a line and get the ball back and forth
Pre practice period for everyday drills
“The Menu” - list 5 drills, and players get to choose 3 to complete
Gets ownership of their development
Flacco’s - wide receiver drills
Leadership council - kids voted on 3, and they chose 2, and coach picked 2
Parent GroupMe along with email
Write down my identity and what you want as a program.
Growth plan for 3-5 years with more process based
Created jobs and duties for assistants
Ask questions
Our culture grows everyday
We are the protectors and keepers of our own culture
Little things do turn into big things
We protect our culture as much as we can
Practice plan out in group me
Copy in locker room
Movement prep, j bands, arm blades, plyos, PCR (play catch routine)
PCR - 12-15 minutes
If you are going to throw then you need to warm up and then go throw, not go practice everywhere and then come back to throw
Combo work -
“Cinco series” -
If you want to eat spaghetti, you need to go get that noodle warmed up and ready to eat. If it sits around it gets tight and sticks together, and
Outfield Grid system - 9 boxes, 1,2,3 in, 4,5,6 in the middle right and left, 7,8,9 back and left to right
Infield grid system - 4 boxes to simplify communication
Red, yellow, green running system
Colored baseballs that will determine how to get the ball to first
The feet will dictate the throw, stay in the box to make a good throw
The best pickoff most time is a step off
Have an “active” take
Taken “sacrifice” out of the word bunt
Get the bunt down and away from the pitcher
Bunting is offense
21 outs and will sometime do 6 outs with varsity and 3 outs for JV
Deck of cards to pick situations
Middle of practice and throw a guy in a situation and see if they win/lose and go back to practice
@brendan_clary
[email protected]
Join the state association, and the national association to help grow your career.
1 hr 20 min

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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!

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