Better Men, Better Ballplayers

Better Men, Better Ballplayers

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

  • 73 - Ron Eastman, Woodlands HS (TX)

    Bio

    • 21 seasons as HC of Woodlands HS (TX)
  • 482-155
  • 14 district championships
  • overall record in 27 years as a head coach is 640-275
  • 3 state championships
  • 3 time national COY
  • 3 first round draft picks
  • 2017 HOF class of the National HS Baseball Coaches Association
  • 57 All State Players, 16 All Americans and has had 26 players taken in the MLB Draft
  • 2006 his Highlanders were crowned the national champions by Baseball America
  • Extremely humble and high class individual
  • Legend!



    • Notes

    • Routines
  • Red lights, yellow lights, green lights
    • Green lights - 
  • The higher level you go the more mental the game is
  • The 6 inches between your ears controls the 6 feet below 
  • The difference between winning and losing is execution
  • Use telescope approach (whole year) and then break it down
  • The mental game helps you be where your feet are
  • Mental toughness is about helping you stay present in the moment
  • The past is your ego and the future is your pride, and being in the moment is about being humble.
  • Routines are huge and teaching in practice and executing in games
  • When you get to the game - you take off your clothes and you are no longer a student, son, you are all in and focused in on the game
  • When you leave the game/line - you take off your clothes and go back to being a good son/boyfriend/community member
  • Drop in the brick, bring a toilet to flush the error
  • So what, next pitch to help stay in the moment
  • Work on breathing - easy to do when things are going well, but to have the ability to slow it down when the game speeds up and recognizes.
  • Players should have their routine, so when they are waiting they are doing their routine
  • When the at bat starts you have work your routine (in the hole, on deck, etc)
  • Understanding what a players release is and work on it
    • Defense get out of the circle
  • Purposeful reps to be sure they are aware of their release routine (make them bobble)
  • Pitcher wipes the mound (to wipe away the last pitch)
  • Classroom session, mapped out practice, and execute in practice
  • The lightbulb may not come when we have them but when
  • We are trying to develop the champions off the field, and the championships on the field work it out
  • First days of the fall we are only in the classroom
    • Develop core values - called “family values”
  • Excellence - be your best
  • Competitive
  • Energy 
  • Selfless 
    • How are these visible in the community, classroom, home
  • What kind of service can we do for the community?
    • Challenger league - go help and host
  • I wanted to develop a program, not just a team
  • Getting to know each of your teammate is crucial
  • Present the values - what do we think of them??
  • How do we demonstrate in the classroom, community, home
  • We have to model the behavior
  • Put all kids in the program in small groups and have a leader and they get to know each other, and at the of the fall we have a draft to put together team for “Dell Challenge.”  Captains choose  
  • Costume Halloween game
  • Boat crew leaders in charge of attendance to tell coaches who is absent
  • Once you think you have this game figured out it will humble you quick
  • 80-85% pitcher/hitter battle, so we need to dominate that battle
  • We are focused are on the things that happen the most 
  • Rapsodo to help get numbers to get recruited and help develop a pitcher quicker
  • YOU NEED TO BE YOUR BEST HITTING/PITCHING COACH
  • Driveline Axe bat trainer for overload/underload bat speed training
  • Stations where you choose what works for best for them, along with what WE are doing
  • We are trying to give them ownership
  • Book studies
  • Mind, body, spirit - getting a little bit better each day
  • Practice what I preach!
  • Focus on the process and play one pitch at a time
  • Summer homework - live your family values, read the book, and do a one page reaction paper on it, watch Miracle the movie and look for family values. 
  • Creating habits versus setting goals. 
    • What habits will you create to make a big difference?
  • We all have those dreams, and look at your habit and do they reflect your goal?
  • Raise or lower your goals based on your daily habits
  • Fill out your weekly schedule so you know where you time is going
    • Log your week!
  • Reflect and see where your time is going
  • Then fill out your schedule
  • If you have a goal you want to achieve then your time need to match that
  • Don’t try to do it all, find out what works for your guys!
  •  
    • 1 hr 23 min
  • 72 - Ryan Alexander: Grove City High School (OH)

    Ryan Alexander Bio

    • Current HC at Grove City HS (OH) 
  • Finished 13th season at GC
    • Record    244-100
  • Conference championships. 6.   2010. 2012.  2014. 2015. 2017.  2021.  
  • State playoffs.  2 trips to state final 4.  2011 and 2012 
  • Players to college/pro over 75 to college.  3 drafted.   2 still playing.  
  • Highest rank.  #1 in state in 2012.  #17 USA Today.  



    • Notes

    • 8 week shutdown for pitchers with on ramp 
      • See what showcase or camp you have coming up
  • Limit throws for 2 way players - don’t take infield, put balls in buckets
  • Pitchers give their own pitching plan for when their days start and what it looks like
    • What you do day before, day after, two days, etc
  • Lift, rest, active rest, arm care, etc
  • Create your own plan based on what they know, how bought in they are, so you are either given a plan or creating it
  • Letting kids being so individual to get what they need and their routine
  • Outfield with outfield, infield with infield, and feel their throwing progression for different throws to prepare themselves
  • Always trying to pick something up and if it works for you, use it!
  • It is doesn’t feel good, we can’t do it! ***
  • Everyone needs to have their own plan and know their arm so if they don’t have a team that is organized he can fall back
  • Non stop teaching of the way we want to play the game (Dirtbag and Nasty)
    • Dirtbag mentality - dirtbag competitions and rewards given at the end of practice
  • Classroom sessions
  • Presentations, memories of past dirtbags
  • Bright green shirt - offensive, defensive, or energy giver and they would wear it the next day to practice/game
  • Bring alumni back to help instill and be around to help maintain the consistency of the dirtbag culture
  • All weather balls
  • Give a full week of tryouts -
    • 2 days to show what you have on the mound (15 pitches)
  • Rating scale 
    • Inf velo, exit velo, bat speed, ground ball, outfield footwork, catcher pops
  • Competitions all week
  • Talk to every single kid and the competitions lead to good talks
  • If we have a game tomorrow, this is where we see you - constant communication all year!
  • Those roles are not sticking and you need to perform in practice and game to keep them
  • Always evaluating how you good of  a teammate you are
  • Mulch sale for big fundraiser - get out mulch easter weekend
  • Everything is going to be under scrutiny so we need to think about it and protect ourselves
  • Pitchers used to get skinnier and skinnier and I want to keep guys thicker and more muscular, so we need to do sprints and not 3 miles!
  • Kids running charts
    • Armed forces (pitching chart) - + and - for quality pitches
  • Quality at bats
  • Hustle chart (little things)
  • Charts can be different based on what your team needs
  • On a strikeout drop your bat and go hit the pole, say what you have to, get it out of your system, and when you get back be a good teammate
  • Twitter - @coacha8 
  •  
    • 1 hr 32 min
  • 71 Eric Kibler: USA Baseball & Horizon (AZ) HS (Ret.)

    Bio

    • Start the Horizon High School program (AZ) in 1980
      • 2007 National Champions
  • 6 Arizona 5A State Championships
  • 3 Arizona 5A State Runners-up
  • 20 Regional Championships
  • 7 National Invitational Championships
  • 881 total wins 809 wins in Arizona which the most wins for a coach in Arizona history.
  • 3 first round draft picks. 28 overall players drafted in MLB
  • Over 200 players gone onto to college and played
  • USA Baseball staff member
    • Coordinator of USA 14U and 17U olympic development program. 
  • 2018 started the 16U program
  • 2010 USA Baseball COY
  • 2012 USA Baseball Development COY
  • Arizona Baseball Coaches Association HOF, Arizona Coaches HOF, High School association HOF,
  • National HS BCA COY in 2018
  • 5X Arizona COY



    • Notes

    • To be a good teammate, don’t care who gets the credit and we will be in good shape
  • Taught you how to practice, and then gave you ownership
  • Pound the fundamentals and make sure you are efficient
  • Took a lot of things personal as a young coach
  • The joy playing like a kid is what keeps me moving forward**
  • I hope I never forget what its like to play like a kid! ~Kris Bryant
  • Play multiple sports and give “active rest” - play other sport, work on hitting, skills, etc
  • You have to train the athlete and be athletic to be great 
  • Play for now, and if you play they will find you, and play for now and the end will take care of itself
  • Do you want to be good or do you want to be great? If great, then the expectations went up
    • Every pitch BP
  • Make other players better
  • Want to and not a have to
    • You should not “have to” come to practice, you need to “want to”
  • If i teach them how to practice and then give them ownership
  • Mental game is coached up more than it used to be due to the negative leadership that wanted positive outcome (“my way”)
  • When you think you need some help you come ask me and then we are all in!
  • Everyone is an individual and a little different, so you need to say and do things that works for them
  • Standards instead of rules - standard has more worth
  • Ownership is a big deal - you have no control over and it develops trust
  • There are program absolutes! Hustle, trash talk, class
  • Model the behavior and calming during post season/pressure situations
  • Being honest with players is the best thing you can do for players
    • I care enough to tell you the truth
  • You need to be careful with your words because conversations stick with the players
  • When we make mistakes we must own it, and the players see that and then they will own it when they make mistakes. 
  • Captains meeting once a week to keep everyone mind right and see who needs a kick in the butt or a pat on the back
  • Start with a quote and talk about how it impacts each person
  • Baseball is not my life, and baseball humbles you, so start with a quote and see how it impacts our life
  • Interview in the fall  - 1 on 1 to evaluate strengths and weaknesses
    • Based all year
  • Figure out who the person is
  • See if they have good self awareness
  • USA baseball Manual - write down my experiences
  • Process versus results - everyone except us is result focus
  • Get comfortable with being uncomfortable to get past it (feeling rough)
  • If you are playing a team sport, you should always put in extra time for your teammates**
  • I will really emphasize the little things, and role the player did during the game
  • Every player needs to have a role no matter the talent
  • Practice plan
    • Quote
  • Practice in 10
  • Dynamic
  • steals/baserunning
  • Bands 
  • Throwing program (and be OUT there)
    • Go stealth when kids cannot say a word
  • If you lose the clubhouse your done, and it starts with communication
  • I don’t go too long because I want every rep quality rep
  • Team defense or position drills depending on the staff
  • Good footwork is paramount to being a good fielder
  • Relays with live baserunners. Run till you get out (then work on rundowns).
  • “What happens in the game the most often?”
    • No catcher pop ups everyday, because it does not happen everyday
  • Winning 1 run ball games
    • Throwing program
  • Baserunning - “the coach is just your stop sign”
    • Live baserunning with outfielders - put in situations
  • I can’t expect them to perform in situations we have not covered
  • Situational baseball
  • Speeding the game up
  • Competitive bullpens
    • Scripted
  • P-I-T-C-H (horse for bullpen)
  • Pace - 12 seconds or less between pitches
  • Intensity 
  • Practices are for coaches, games are for the players. If I do my job I should be able to sit in the stands
  • How can I play you if you can’t do your job?  Do you want to be good or great?
  • Playing time is huge! Sit the player if he is not acting right, and you
  • Give pitchers permission to get hit
  • No words on the field, the tunnel (cage) is our classroom
  • Is this practice going to help us win a game or lose a game?
  • Baserunning and bunting - special teams of baseball
    • 1st/3rd game - score as many ways as we can
  • Runner on 3rd and score the game winning run
  • Evaluate our strengths and weaknesses as a coach
    • How can I score with the team that I have?
  • Hit with 2 strikes - embrace and get more mentally tough
  • Pitch recognition - look at the bullpen, hitters take and say where it was
  • I know how to pitch a kid how they take a pitch
  • Taking pitches is as important as hitting pitches
  • 602-291-1952
  •  

    •  

    1 hr 38 min
  • 70 Drew Bailey: Bluefield State College (WV)

    Bio

    • The 2020-2021 season marked the first year for Drew Bailey as the Head Baseball Coach at Bluefield State College.
  • In the 2020-21 season the Big Blue finished 15-12 overall, marking their first winning season in school history. 
  • The Big Blue won the first Black College World Series against the Xavier University of Louisiana. 
  • Bailey, joined Bluefield State College after four different coaching stops and a professional playing career.
  • Bailey spent time as the pitching coach at Concord University before becoming the pitching coach and RECOR for the Bluefield College baseball. 
  • He was also the former head baseball coach at Averett University in Danville, Virginia. 
  • Bailey played two professional seasons for the Athletics’ organization where he posted a 5-0 record and had an ERA of 2.80 ERA. He racked up 48 strikeouts in 54 professional innings and limited opponents to a .216 batting average

    •  

    Notes

    • Surround yourself with great people
  • He doesn’t work for me, we work together
  • Recruiting and culture
    • Got to be able to recruit and bring in talent
  • Got to have standards and hold expectations
  • Creating structure, recruiting, and building culture
  • When guys develop mentally and maturity the baseball player develops
  • Recruiting goals, alumni goals, classroom goals, ncaa regional goal as a team, 
  • Set and communicate our Standards - work ethic, kindness, accountability, 
  • “Developmental” team - JV team, we need to treat our last guy like our best guy
  • I’d rather lose a close game against a rank opponent than go dominate a bad team
  • Can’t process and compete at the same time!
  • Video is huge so they can see the adjustment
  • Film and feel - we have to film it so we can cue it to be able to feel it
  • Measure it to find out what type of pitcher they are - 2 seam or 4 seam, slider or curveball
  • Most players struggle to accept their identity, and we need to help them identify who they are
  • Pre throw activation - don’t need to throw more than 15 minutes
  • Mobility - yoga once a week
  • Fast twitch, explosive intense movements/running rather than slow twitch long distance running
  • Just because I played professional baseball people assume I know baseball. That is the biggest misconception in our game.
  • Some of the best coaches in the game are guys who did not play at a high level
  • Passionate, learning, and communicate are staff guys I am looking for
  • Most high school kids don’t understand how to hold runners and run the bases!
  • Love the competition that breeds in the fall
    • Exit velo competitions - best average of ev wins!
  • If you don’t handle your academics you will not attack your baseball as good as you could
  • It is a privilege to be able to play
  • Adversity of schedule, practice, freedom do it without parents, 
    • Need support - we will support the kids, tutor groups, study hall
  • 3.2 is the standard
  • I have a problem with a guy who is  2.8 and could be 3.5!
  • Grade checks, classroom checks - be where you are supposed to be.
  • Expectations not rules
  • Guys who are not accountable are not coachable
  • Don’t ride that emotional rollercoaster - keep pushing forward and keep working to push through adversity
  • What can you control?  If you can’t control it, don’t focus on it
  • “Into the real world” session - people from around the community in the real world and what they have done to push through adversity.
  • Daily communication to help with their mental game
  • I want my guys to know we are setting themselves up to be a better husband, father, co worker, etc
  • “40 year commitment” not just 4 year!
  • Your reaction to the situation is everything 
  • What is your why? What's your playbook?
  • Baseball is a platform, we need to serve others.
  • Baseball is what we do, it's not who we are.  
  • Butch Thompson - “you need to build them up before you break them down”
  • Guys will play hard for you when they know you care about them
  • I don’t want to treat players differently just because they don’t perform
  •  
    • 1 hr 16 min
  • 69 Steve Roof: Madison Central HS (KY)

    Bio

    • Current HC of Madison Central HS (Kentucky)
  • Coach Roof just finished his 21st year as the head coach of Indians' baseball team.  
  • During his career at Central, his teams have a record of 526-224-1, 
  • won the Kentucky 11th region title in 2015 and 2018, 
  • and was the Kentucky 11th region runner-up in 2021, 2014 and 2005.  
  • The Indians' have also won 18 district championships.  
  • Roof was named 11th Region Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2014. 
  • Coach Roof has been the head coach of the East/West All-stars six times. 
  • Works with USA Baseball  
  • Prior to Madison Central, Coach Roof was an assistant at Eastern Kentucky University for four seasons under Hall of Fame Coach Jim Ward
  • From 1998-2000, Roof served as the Recruiting Coordinator, and the Colonels won the OVC in 2000.  
  • He was also the head coach of the Durham Braves in the Coastal Plains Collegiate League.
  • Great guy, constant learner, huge work ethic!

    •  

    Notes

    • 16 Day Baserunning install - its not just running the bases, its putting the pressure on the pitcher and as a results we get more fastball
      • Day 1 - 1st base
  • Day 2 - sliding (you can’t be a baserunning team without getting dirty)
    • Pull guys
  • Story time - criss cross applesauce
  • Day 3 - leads at 1B
  • Day 4 - leads at 2B
  • Day 5 - leads at 3B
  • Day 6 - dirt ball reads
  • I want you to ask why, I want you to know why we do it, and it creates more buy in!
  • You read the catcher on the dirt balls - read the knees
  •  Measured leads, what is your time 1st to 2nd
  • Teaching from game 1 to the end of the year, and always teaching and adding to the journal
  • If you can play catch at a high level you can execute a run down
  • We stop doing everything and all situations, and focused on what happened most frequently
  • Why didn’t my player understand?  It is on us coaches! We need to find something and stop complaining!
  • Find a way to compete and find a way to win
  • Look at everything you have and hold true to what is working.
    • Know your guys
  • Know what you are trying to do
  • Focus on yourself
  • Finding the right fit for each person and individualizing to fit the players needs
  • When players take charge of their own development that is a win for our program
  • Run producer or run scorer - speed guy or heavy hitter
  • 1st third - find our roles, find who can play, may lose games due to development 
  • 2nd third - learn from our mistakes
  • 3rd part of season - here is who we are
  • Made a google classroom for the team
  • Book study in the fall
  • Players texting me about a book that was personal to them
  • Memorize a quote for the beginning of practice
  • Classroom sessions
  • Trying to develop men! Can we get them to maturity?
  • The individuals get better collectively and WE get better
  • 4 things that can happen once the pitch is throw, so control what you can!
    • Hit it hard and get out
  • Hit it hard and get a hit
  • Hit is soft and get out
  • Hit is soft and get hit
  • Be the best you can 
  • Family, hard work, and toughness
    • Family - accept your role, roles can change, play for each other
  • Hard work - doesn’t matter get better, if you aren’t where you want to be, then you find a way to get better
  • Toughness - when the game is on the line are you going to perform?
  • Serve each other, get better, toughness to handle the pressure
  • How? Get 1% better each day
  • Batting practice 
    • Charting defense
  • Expand your range - layout in practice, and sellout in practice
  • Dirtbag chart
    • What does a dirtbag look like?
  • Give him a shirt at the end of the game
  • 2 strike adjustment
    • Team AB
  • Sacrifice myself for the team
  • Put it in play
  • Measuring it makes it more significant
  • Wear a pitch get a chicken sandwich 
  • What can we do to promote the things that no one seems to care about?  The little things
  • Make it competitive and reward the winners -
  • Have a group of guys you can trust that can help you in situations. “The grass is brown everywhere!”
  • Developing the person, and loving your team - tell them you love them!
  • Have a common goal and develop the man!
  • 859-661-2414
    • 1 hr 7 min
  • 68 Matt Deggs Univ of LA at Lafayette "Rajun Cajuns"

    Bio

    • Current head coach at Louisiana University at Lafayette, Ragin Cajuns!
  • Former head coach at Sam Houston State winning the conference championship 3 of his last 4 season at Sam Houston State
    • Became the first Sam Houston State team to go to a super regional in 2017
  • 16 players went into the draft during his tenure
  • Former Ragin Cajuns assistant coach in 2012-2014
    • 2014 was the first time Louisiana ever had a number 1 ranking, but it was Deggs second time when he was an AC at Texas A&M and they were ranked #1 in 2009. 
  • First mid major to ever be consensus #1 at the conclusion of the season
  • Former Texas A&M and Arkansas AC
  • First experience as head coach was at Texarkana and led them to their first ever trip to the JUCO world series, helping develop future All Star Hunter Pence
  • A man of faith
  • A leader of men
  • Best selling author
  • A fierce competitor

    •  

    Notes

    • Too many of us wrap our identity into what we do, instead of who were are
  • Two types of people, humble and people about to be humbled
  • I don’t care about what you have done, I care about what you are going to do about it.
  • The sin is not getting back up!
  • 15 to 28 book that told my story about being broken and redemption
  • Press conference went viral to tell my story and use a platform
  • try to be transformational not transactional especially when it comes to win and losses
  • We make one promise - we will develop the well rounded man!
  • When your identity is wrapped up in what you do, you are not fully there mentally and will fill it with other sources
  • Graduation, team gpa, community work
  • “Master key” = degree that will open doors
  • Become very good at the things you do control!
    • Attitude, energy, concentration, 
  • It is a culture of over achieving - taking pride of what things no one else cares about
  • We are in the relationship business
    • 1-1 is important
  • Teaching and test
  • “Professional development” - half hour before a lift or practice
  • Binder of “Cajun Baseball”
  • Two things to have a shot - organized and united!
  • Classroom, guest speakers, and one on one times
  • Clarity of mission and understanding 
  • Culture is leadership and action on a daily basis
  • Master coach - 1. write things down, structure and organize it. 2. Test the guys!
  • attitude , approach, tenacity, toughness
  • Not every pack is created equal
  • The structure/framework stays the same but what we do inside needs to adapted and evolved
  • You will always need them more than they need you!
  • Loyalty is everything!
  • No player is worth burning a bridge with another coach
  • You need to be upfront, honest, and authentic, and when you are you they will do what they can for you!
  • When you are unafraid to be embarrassed in front of the guys you lead, you got it!  Just own it, lead from the front, and don’t throw everyone under the bus.
  • Your offense is only as good as your personnel
  • The power of contribution - wolfpack baseball! Team centered
    • Team at bats - 
  • Pride yourself on who you are for the success of the pack
  • Guy on the bump is the buffalo, and we need to surround him (like wolves) to get him out of there
  • Callous mindset that loves to fight and not focused on the result/record, they want to scrap!
  • The success of an individual is determined by the team, but the teams success is NOT determined on one individual
  • Results are temporary, and the relationship with your boys is forever
  • Runner, bombers, hitters, ballplayers and we train them accordingly
  •  
    • 1 hr 5 min
  • 67 Adam Moseley: Hoover HS (AL) & USA Baseball

    Moseley notes

     

    Bio

    • Current Head Coach Hoover HS (AL)
      • 2021 state finalist
  • 2017 7A Alabama state champion
  • 5 area championships in a row
  • 44 have gone to play college in 7 years - 16 D1
  • Member of the USA baseball staff
    • Pitching coach 14U national development program
  • Pitching coordinator for 14U national development program
  • Assistant coach 15U trials
  • Pitching coach for the 2018 15U World Championship USA national team
  • 18U national pitching coach
  • Former Head baseball coach at Virgil Grissom HS
    • 1st and 2nd round picks 
  • Won over 400 wins as a head coach
  • Incredible person
  • Man of faith
  • Learner and leader!

    •  

    Notes

      • 5 zones 
        • 1 is off the plate left side
  • 2 is on the corner
  • 3 is down the middle
  • 4 is on the corner
  • 5 is off the plate right side
  • If its up in on the hands
  • Scripted pens - fb in the 1, 2 seam in 4
  • Script the first 10 pitches in the game
  • What gets him comfortable in the game - breaking ball glove side or two seam inside
  • These are the first 5 pitches and do you like him
  • You can train whatever you want on the strike zone, but if you don’t know what the umpire is calling it doesn’t matter
  • Release points (on nose, ear, and off face)
  • What are you getting ready for? Focal point
  • Flatground teaching points
    • Feel, release points, finger over the ball
  • In the summer - work with bullets, based on the last performance
  • Tunnel - keep it in line from me
  • Just like in basketball, shooters shot, and throwers throw
  • You need to throw with more on the line to give you feedback
  • The art is how much the guys needs in between starts
    • Dealing = needs more adversity in between to keep edge
  • Struggling = keep confidence high in between
  • Look at them as pillars not rocks and stones - long toss, lifts, 
  • Form to Rate these 3 things everyday with some notes - soreness, effort, and feel (whatever are the pillars)
  • Things that don’t work are easier 
  • Open your home to your team
    • Coach for the events that matter the most!!
      • Look for moments to bring them aside and make a meaningful relationship
  • In big moments I am going to touch them (encouragement)
  • Try to talk to each player individually
  • Live out life as much as I can in front of the team
  • Character development
    • Everyday is doing character development, that doesn’t separate you, that is how you live your life
  • Fall - gets a day
  • Spring - pre practice and discuss how it relates to life
  • 24 hour principle - if it is important in 24 hours we will discuss it then
  • Culture
    • Be there consistently
  • Be in the front, when you need to be in the front, be in the back when you need to be in the back
  • They need to know you will take the bullets for you
  • Start with shading on the pitch
  • Have pinch hitters ready early
  • Start practice with a new situation - new situation each pitch and get rolling
    • Video the session to discuss next day
  • Pitchers throw live or throw flat ground to hitters
    • Hitters go in with 0-2 count
  • Work on your stuff
  • Twitter - DM are open: @moseleyadam
    • 1 hr 7 min
  • 66 - Sean Davis: Sherwood HS (MD)

    Davis Notes

     

    Bio

    • Head Coach at Sherwood HS (MD) since 2012
      • 140-36
  • 4 time regional champion
  • MSABC district coach of the year 2016 and 2019
  • AC at Sherwood started in 2009
    • 2010 state champion
  • AC at Georgetown Prep and Rockville Express
  • At the end of his career at Frostburg he was the all time leader in hits, runs, at bats, and games played.
  • A DUDE!!

    •  

    Notes

    • Post practice plan in the PE office and guys check it and post to group chat
  • Hack attack for multiple uses
    • Dirt ball reads
  • First and thirds
  • Pop ups 
  • Bunting with a little pace
  • Using pocket radars to give immediate feedback for a kid to swing with a content
  • Spray charts for opposing players 
  • Fastball taken for a strike 
    • Can’t take the best pitch of our at bat
  • Especially in “GO” counts
  • Guys who take more fastballs in counts tend to be weaker hitter
  • Conversations with players about what they are seeing and having an approach
  • Each conversation is different based on the player
  • Getting kids prepared for college
    • Call pitches, picks from dugout, signs from a wristband, practice preparation
  • Picks - verbals and non verbals around 
  • As many touches as possible in a short amount of time
    • 4 man fungo,
  • 3 rotation PFP
  • Lineups are defensively based
  • Offensively changed our philosophy based on how we swing it
  • If the players know you genuinely care about them you can ask the world of them
    • We are doing this because I do not want the seniors to cry at the end of the year
  • If I won’t, they don’t! If I go to everything they know I am bought in.
  • Make it feel big league, as good as it can!
  • Twitter - @woodbaseball1 DM’s are open

    •  

    44 min
  • 65 - Mark "Pudge" Gjormand - James Madison HS (VA)

    Bio

    • Current head coach at James Madison High School
      • 26th season at Madison (31st overall)
        • Langley HS (1 year)
  • Marshall HS (8 years)
  • 2 VA state championships
  • 1 perfect season, which was recognized as one of the best high school teams of ALL time
  • 14 Liberty Conference Championships
  • 1 Concorde Conference Championships 
  • In 2018 Gjormand was named Conference Coach of the year for the 7th time 
  • Region 6 Coach of the year for the 4th time.  
  • Home Plate Club’s high school coach of the year
  • National Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) East Coast coach of the year
  • finalist for the BCA’s national coach of the year award
  • Founder of MVP International where multiple sports are played all throughout the world
  • Incredible clinician speaker
  • Leader of men!  
  • Mental game master!!

    •  

    Notes

    • Learning how to lose is just as important as learning how to win
  • Take the reigns early and then loosen it up as you go
  • Unload christmas trees for lions club in the community
  • Phases of the season
    • Phase 1 - pre season and off season, friday life lessons
  • Phase 2 - spring break - tournament and compete for something
  • Phase 3 - conference play - win as much as we can, we only count wins, we lose and we get back up
  • Phase 4 - conference tournament
  • Phase 5 - regional tournament
  • Phase 6 - state tournament
  • You always need to overachieve no matter how good you are
  • You are not a 9 hitter, you are 1 of 9 hitters!
  • Post goals at the beginning of the season in the locker room
  • I have been there, but I have not been there with this team!
  • Glue guys - do the things no one sees and keeps us all together
  • In baseball we can’t ride the emotional rollercoaster
  • We need to stay at a level and feel where it needs to be
  • My captains are my seniors, because as a senior you deserve to be a leader and it gives you the opportunity to put it on a resume. 
    • If they are not ready for that leadership then it is on me!
  • Players win games, coaches lose games
  • Winning can be the bridge to misery
  • Rise and shine or rise and wine, be careful
  • Follow on twitter @coachpudge8
  • email at James Madison High School

    •  

    1 hr 13 min
  • 64 - Trevor Flow North Hall HS (GA)

    Bio

    • Current Head Coach at North Hall High School (GA)
      • 2021 AAA Georgia State Champions!
        • First as a head coach 
  • 2013 won 3A state championship as assistant coach
  • 116-33 overall record 
  • first year (2018) as head coach the Trojans finished 24-7 and made it to the Sweet Sixteen
  • in year 2 the Trojans finished 21-16 and made it to the Final Four, 
  • year 3 the Trojans were 12-4 and ranked #1 in AAA before the Covid shortened season.
  • Region Coach of the Year honors during the 2018 season
  • AAA Coach of the Year in 2019
  • Constant LEARNER!
  • A DUDE!!

    •  

    Notes

    • Keep a card and write down any learning point throughout the game
  • Extended column - these things that can help us or hurt us in the playoffs
    • Become Practice plans 
  • Hope to cross off items as we go
  • If I am going to ask a kid to get better I need to be specific
    • It's on me to be specific
  • Write MAY on their bullpen ball
  • The playoffs are like a high wire - regular season is low and then as you get longer in the season the wire gets higher and you have no net!
  • Team goal of 950 field %
    • Outfield - NO GAPS
  • Infield - can’t play infield without good feet
  • 200 ground balls a day - 
  • Only throws full speed or DON’T THROW
  • Game speed feet if you can’t throw game speed
  • Your expectations as a coach turn into players’ actions!
  • Positions are rented!
  • You better watch out for the teams that fight for positions
  • When you get to the point of vulnerability you don’t back down from confrontation
  • More time in the weightroom, long toss sessions, bullpens, any chance you get to get to know each kid because you can’t talk to each kid the same
  • Your kids need to know that you don’t have it all figured out
    • Not scared to tell the kids I made a mistake
      • Let a pitcher in too long
  • Send a runner or didn’t send a runner
  • It can’t be a one size fits all
  • Big difference between knowing the game as a player and knowing the game as a coach
  • There is no substitute for experience
  • How do I extend the 21 outs on my side and shorten them on their side
  • Most coaches don’t trust their players preparation, when it turn it is the coaches who prepared them, so it’s really the coaches failure in preparing. 
  • Would you rather win a game 10-2 or 10-6?
    • 10-2 you lost an opportunity for you to find something about a kid
  • 10-6 you got an opportunity for you to find something about a kid
  • Know you players and their identity (move power hitter to leadoff spot based on his identity)
  • Video breakdown and character talk
  • When they leave the program I want them to know I love them and be better people and have more than an identity than baseball players
  • Character card - values of the people in our program will possess
    • This is your card about you as a man in this program
  • If I take it we talk about, and I give it back when I see they make the changes
  • Reached out to staff as characteristics of what our kids need the most
  • Made hard decisions based on the character of a kid - addition by subtraction 
  • Surface - element card
    • Surface - fence, grass, backstop, etc
  • Element - wind, temperature, sun, etc
  • Team meeting before practice
  • Character talk before practice
  • Feel the heart beat of your team and see what would be generic for the guys and figure out what works 
    • Don’t be scared to fail and think the coach is “cool”
  • Twitter - @trevorflow
  • Email North Hall
  • social media is a dialogue for myself
  • The more I coach it's not competing against the other coach, it is coaching/playing against the game and ourselves
  • You got to go out and play chess not checkers!!
  • Advice from other coaches through the coaching community
  •  
    • 1 hr 21 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!