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If you've been around youth baseball in any capacity you've heard chatter about "pitch counts." Today we discuss counts vs innings, proper conditioning and how to address concerns with your coach. 

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The 2025 season is here! Let's recap our December and our experience at the All Ripken Futures Games and discuss December events in general. Are they a money grab? Are players ready for them? Coach discusses his views on these two hot topics and more.

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Join us as we sit down and talk with former Argo catcher, Josh Prizina. 

Josh tells a little about his playing career and answers what advice he would give his younger self now that he's completed all of his collegiate eligibility. 

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Why did we choose to begin travel at 8U instead of little league or babe ruth? 

The simplest answer - those options aren't available to us. 

On this episode we share some feedback from the last episode on development that we received and answer a question that was sparked from one of the clips we shared. 

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Development. A word you’ll hear often around the ballpark. But what does it mean? What does it look like?

Every player and coach is different so it should look different for everyone. But at the center, the core of the game of baseball should be being taught. Just like curriculum in school, at the end of the process all “students” (insert players) should have the same basic knowledge as the rest. Some will excel in certain subjects and others won’t. That’s ok!

Development takes time. 

It’s a process of mastering the basics so that when players get on the bigger fields they’re prepared and ready for what’s to come. 

They can make their own adjustments. They can play the game with confidence. They can be their own coach. 

If we aren’t doing this, we are failing them as coaches. 

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A dad of a 13U player writes in for advice on his player's upcoming season. Their district allows players to play up if they pass an athletic placement test. The current grade level isn't challenging, but the placement test isn't easy either. Should they play another year of school ball? Take a break? 

Let's chalk talk with Coach & get his thoughts! 

*Disclaimer - there is no code for Dugout Mugs but we do have an affiliate link if you're interested! See below: 

https://dugoutmugs.com?sca_ref=6482264.tlVMZuwNssB

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December 1, 2024 - The day the portal opens! 

The portal is a topic of many directions in the world of college sports. In this episdoe we dive into some key things coaches are looking at, how the portal can be helpful and how it can be a challenge for athletes and coaches alike. 

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Q: "When, if at all, should coaches not bat their lineup?"

A hot topic in the world of youth sports. 

Should everyone bat? Why or why not. 

Let's dive into it!

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"Who is this guy?" 

A question we get a lot when it comes to the videos we share. This episode dives into Coach Kevin's playing career. Where he played, who he played for and the kind of coaches that poured into him. 

We talk a little but about his minor league career. A paycheck we found from June 15, 2011 for $379.23. And whether or not he would do it again if given a chance. 

Our hope is that sharing leaves the game better. Giving the huge roster of people who have poured into Coach a chance to also pour into the world. 

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The most viewed & interacted with video we've done was the simplest, most profound. 

I asked Coach, "What do you wish coaches at the youth level knew?" one morning before he went off to work. 

"How to build confidence in players," he said. 

Without a doubt, one of the missing components in young athletes today is confidence. There are many reasons for why this is, but that's not what we want to focus on. Instead, let's talk about how to build it! 

In this episode we highlight some of the ways that Coach has found success with building confidence in young players and how we implement those principles in our home as mom and dad.