Umpires are expected to be perfect 100% of the time. And if you make a mistake—or are perceived as having made a mistake—you get yelled at. Who would want that kind of job? Well, I would.

And after taking that kind of job, Rob learned five things in one year of umpiring that he never learned in twenty-one years of coaching.

Also, he answers the Question of the Week (17:17) about when to pull a struggling youth pitcher. In this 23-minute episode, I share:

• why coaches don't know the rules nearly as well as we think we do (2:32)
• why umpiring is much harder than it looks (10:06)
• the sad reality that coaches and umpires see themselves, by default, as enemies (11:50)
• how becoming an umpire has changed how I coach (14:57)
• why more coaches should be umpires (16:10)

Resources mentioned in this episode: GamePlan practice planning app (Officially launched!)

Why do you coach? The answer to that question will dictate everything you do. Is there a "best" answer to that question? Keith Madison, the winningest coach in University of Kentucky history, thinks so. And he shares what it is and what it can (profoundly) do for you in part 2 of this two-part interview.

Also, Rob answers the Question of the Week (33:28) about what the rules are for coaches staying in coaches' boxes. In this 45-minute episode, you'll learn:

• why coaches coach at the youth level (1:28)
• how youth coaches can communicate that they care (7:05)
• whether it's possible for winning-minded coaches to change their mindset (9:51)
• what we can do if we say the wrong thing to our players (10:52)
• what we can do if we feel burnout (12:26)
• three things we can do to be in it for the long haul (15:26)
• two better ideas than having players set season-long goals (including "baseball math") (18:54)
• what it means to "coach the player", and three ways to do that (22:46)
• how to deal with troublemakers and me-first personality types, including an idea from Lou Holtz (24:56)
• four ideas for team bonding (28:40)
• why you should love your players (29:32)

Are there ways to improve how our practices are? Keith Madison, the winningest coach in University of Kentucky history and the publisher of Inside Pitch magazine, shares some ideas in part 1 of this three-part interview. Also, Rob answers the Question of the Week (34:13) about ideas/drills for creating pressure-hitting situations in practice. Plus, Rob gives a practice planning tip of his own (41:31).

In this 45-minute episode, you'll learn:

• how Keith got into pro baseball (2:40)
• what American Legion baseball is (9:21)
• how Keith got the head coaching job at Kentucky (10:44)
• whether Ron Polk's Baseball Playbook can work for youth baseball (24:59)
• recommended hitting tip from Baseball Playbook (28:32)
• recommended hitting philosophy to simplify hitting (29:11)

How can baseball parents help their kids train at a select/travel level? North Texas local rec league commissioner Grant Cowan shares his thoughts in part 2 of this two-part interview.

Also, Rob answers the Question of the Week (30:25) about when a 10-11U pitcher should start preparing to throw from a full-size pitching distance.

Plus, Rob makes a major announcement (35:18) you probably will like. And a bonus second major announcement (38:36) you probably will like also. In this 41-minute episode, you'll learn:

• five ways parents can help their kids improve their hitting (4:02)
• four ways parents can help their kids improve their pitching (9:21)
• four ways parents can help their kids improve their strength (10:37)
• four ways parents can help their kids improve their speed (12:27)
• one key thing to consider when debating whether to move from a rec league to a select/travel organization (13:31)
• one key thing to consider when debating whether to play fall ball vs individual training (21:49)
• one important philosophy to have when concerned whether your non-select/travel child can make his/her high school team (23:03)
• one overarching tip parents should keep in mind when training your kids (25:59)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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