Thoughts, likes and dislikes, and takeaways from the ABCA conference.

We would have been in DC, and it was probably a godsend that we weren't there.  

Likes: Accessibility to any and all courses at any given time. Same with Vendors.

Dislikes: I had issues being able to watch and listen on my phone.  Missed comradely, felt bad about vendors, also did not like all the day to day interruptions from not being present at the conference.  

Takeaways: 

Catching with Coach Stricklin: Writing their in-game and mid inning pop times on the line up cards.  Relaxation picks, the Jedi catching/blocking drill.  

The Art of the Steal with coach Scales: Prepare (have the mentality of a thief and do your homework). Know yourself, your opponent and the terrain.  

The Basics of development for dynamic pitchers with coach Wigg: Apply long distance running and include explosive running.  70 ft change ups, 45 ft CB/SL to learn the touch and feel of the breaking ball.  

Hot Stove: Catching

Vendors: Game Changer and their updates.  Lefty Swag Bats.

Notes:

Looking forward to growing this podcast and also the 2021 ABCA convention.

In this episode we discuss base running.  Where is base running in my practice and why.  We also talk about what it is that we do.  

We go into base-running right after dynamic warm up during practices so they aren't wasting any time just doing sprints in the OF before they throw.  

4 stations:

1. home to fist (bunting or hit & run), 2. 1st to 2nd (stealing or hit & run reads), 3. 2nd to 3rd (reading and moving on the bunt or reading the hit ball), 4. 3rd to home (suicide & safety squeeze or reading the hit ball).  

We use a pitching machine on bunting days, and a coach with a fungo on hit & run days.  There is always a pitcher on the mound working on holds, pickoffs, and timing to the plate (visualization-no ball), and everything is synchronized to the pitcher's movement.  

We two different type of cones.  Defensive cones show where the defense may be able to make a play (helps to determine how many bases they will go on hit & run days).  Offensive cones are used to who the distances for primary leads and secondary leads.  

Cones are also used to help gauge how tight they need to round the bases if they are going 2 bases.  

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Listen to this podcast as JJ walks us through his life. From high school dropout to the limelight of the pros, from homelessness to becoming the pitching coach at one of the better schools in the State of Texas. As you hear him share his testimony, you will see how God has weaved his redemption, and his blessings in this coach's life. Coach Munoz is he only coach endorsed by Dr. Daniel Stokes of Scottish Rite Orthopedics in Frisco Tx. In this interview he talks about how he works the bullpen and helps the kids to translate it onto the field of play. His pitching philosophy is "control your body to control the baseball." Like most great coaches and teachers, he talks about having to work backwards to help the guys succeed, which starts with conditioning of the body and making sure everything is properly aligned. This is a have to listen to and watch interview. 

To watch this episode.  You can go to my youtube channel-Revolution Baseball Podcast.  And you can watch this instead or do both.  You can watch it as soon as it's available.  

Coach Munoz can be followed @ coachmunoz51 on twitter. He also has a youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLyRVWKENyGz5bOecOPQLVw. You can also find his webpage at https://jjmunozbaseball.com. If you’re struggling with an addiction or many addictions and they are starting to take their tolls on you and your family. You are not alone. You do not have to try to face this alone. Seek help. Reach out to me directly and I will find help for you. If you live in the Dallas Metroplex area you can call Alan Rogers with Celebrate Recovery at 972-937-5301 and he can direct your next steps.

Episode 5: Dirt Circuit Drills (Catcher) Intro: 

There are 5 drills that I have my catchers work on to hone their skills.  You can choose to have them do one of these drills on a daily basis, or you can do 2-3 in that 20 min time period designated for the Dirt Circuit Drills.  And whatever they are strongest in can be worked on the least.

The drills are:1.  Blocking/footwork. 2.  Receiving/framing. 3.  Passed balls and Wild Pitches. 4.  Runner on 1st/footwork to 2nd. 5.  Pop Fly’s.  

Blocking/Footwork:

Receiving and Framing: 

Quote- "·  A bad catcher will keep all balls, balls and will turn some strikes into balls.  A good catcher will keep all balls, balls and will keep all strikes, strikes.  A great catcher will keep all strikes, strikes and will turn some balls into strikes.” -Cody Downing

Passed balls and Wild Pitches:

Runner on 1st/footwork to 2nd:

Catching a foul ball:

Personal Note:

Outro:

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In this episode Coach Olivera talks about 4 infield drills to use for high fielding reps as well as 3 outfielding drills for high reps.  He also talks about and directs you to his sources of information for these drills.  

This episode will probably be my favorite for a long time.  It features Brantley Freeman, Co-Owner of Atlet Sports in Midlothian, TX.  In it we discuss the common misconceptions of a High School hitter, and the progression that they take to fix his swing.  We also discuss the Atlet training facility from it's founding to now, and how to make the most of your training.  

In this episode Coach Olivera goes into detail on how to carry out his throwing program and how to begin the programing phase after the guys are done with this 8 week process.