The Youth Baseball Edge Podcast with Rob Tong: Coaching | Drills | Strategy

Grant Cowan, MBSA coach and vice commissioner, shares how to coach your rec league team like a select-level coach in part 1 of this two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (40:50) about how to manage your kids and coaching staff when losing in a blowout. In this 47-minute episode, you'll learn:

• how travel ball can do it right (12:06)
• what problems rec coaches have when leading their teams (15:19)
• how to program your pre-practice routine (19:13)
• when to schedule your pre-practice routine (25:01)
• how to plan your defensive part of practice (25:50)
• how Grant plans his team's hitting practice (27:33)
• what hitting corrective drills are and how to use them (29:45)
• how to include pitching in practices (32:59)
• how to incorporate pitchers in batting cages (35:41)
• one recommended high-energy drill (38:05)

Rob Tong shares his top seven tips for 2024 that he learned from 2023. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to teach kids situational awareness.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Joey Greany, assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, finishes up his tour de force on youth baseball strength training with a conversation about nutrition and answering listener questions in part 2 of this two-part interview.

Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (24:29) about whether rec kids should be allowed to use both USSSA bats and USA Baseball bats.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Speed (and strength and agility) is not just an asset in football and soccer. Youth baseball athletes can greatly benefit from this type of training and Joey Greany, the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, explains why and how in part 1 of this two-part interview.

Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about about how to handle a team with no catchers.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Host Rob Tong looks back on the spring and fall seasons for his three teams in 2022 and whittled down seven lessons that he thinks might be helpful to you for 2023 and beyond.

Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about about why not teach a level swing if it produces higher batting averages.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

While the majority of 1B coaches in youth baseball tend to be spectators rather than coaches, 3B coaches in youth baseball also tend to not fulfill their responsibilities well and/or not know all their responsibilities. Toby Gardenhire, manager of the St. Paul Saints, is back to break it all down for us again in Part 2 of a two-part interview.

Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about what age is appropriate for kids to focus on 1-3 positions.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

What exactly does a first base coach do in youth baseball? A LOT, actually. Toby Gardenhire, manager of the St. Paul Saints, breaks it all down for us in Part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether players can be first base coaches.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Test your knowledge of more commonly misunderstood baseball rules with Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the D1/DII/DIII level. Coaches should know these rules before going out to argue with the umpires. This is Part 4 of a four-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about what his hitting philosophy is and how to train it.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Test your knowledge of fair vs foul, batter's box rules, granting time, the infield fly rule, batted balls hitting objects, how to make appeals and the legality of stealing signs, as well as whether common arguments are myths or truths. Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the D1/D2/D3 level, is back to explain these commonly misunderstood rules coaches should know before going out to argue with the umpires. This is Part 3 of a four-part interview.

Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether to play up for challenge or stay at current level for confidence.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Test your knowledge of the rules as Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the collegiate D1/D2/D3 levels, explains more rules every coach should know before arguing with the umpires in Part 2 of a four-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to handle players who don't hustle on the base paths.

Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!