Catching ♦ Coaching ♦ Drills ♦ Health ♦ Hitting ♦ Mental Game ♦ Pitching
Ask the Coach ♦ Baseball Equipment ♦ All About Baseball
Baseball Instruction, Advice and Tips from
Pros and Coaches
Baseball tips and instruction tools to improve your game. Learn health tips and how to master the mental game. Answers to questions you may have on how to best work the game of baseball. Our baseball instruction articles share great tips to help you improve.
Catching
It is certain that no matter how good a catcher is, balls will get past him and roll to the backstop. You can call them wild…
A catcher’s throw down to the second base is usually evaluated by determining the elapsed time from the point the pitched ball hits the catcher’s…
It seems that many players and coaches recognize how little time is allocated during practices for baseball catchers to work on their baseball catching skills,…
Don’t Ever Let Your Catchers Frame a Pitch! I suspect the title of this article might have got your attention. It would seem that I…
Blocking Is The Easy Part – It is common knowledge among youth baseball and softball coaches that the one play most responsible for scoring runs…
Coaching
Great Baseball Infielders Have 3 Things in Common Baseball infielders are steady with the glove, they have strong arms, and they have good range.…
ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD BASEBALL SHORTSTOP Baseball shortstop anticipates all defensive plays that could involve him; ready to throw to a right base or home.Stays…
Any Pitcher Can Learn The Change Up I have a vivid recollection of a great coach, John Scolinos of Cal Poly Pomona (CA), teaching our…
I was recently asked by a friend for some tips about how his sons should approach their upcoming Little League baseball tryouts. They wanted to…
Aluminum vs Wood Bat … consistent sweet spot hits are a player’s key to continuing to play Coach JP’s Note:This older article from renowned baseball…
Dear Coach, I am a middle school baseball coach in North Carolina. Early in the season our weather is miserable and often cannot practice outdoors.…
I run a 10 week baseball practice camp every year for our local baseball organization. This year we have added a very young group (age…
In most youth baseball tryout leagues, autumn is the time of year that baseball leagues have registration and also assign players to teams. Tryouts and…
Drills
Dear Coach, I am a middle school baseball coach in North Carolina. Early in the season our weather is miserable and often cannot practice outdoors.…
I run a 10 week baseball practice camp every year for our local baseball organization. This year we have added a very young group (age…
Catch: During batting practice shag all balls in your position! The READY POSITION is one of narrow stance with the weight on the balls of feet…
Technique, Strategy, and Tips for Third Base Playing third base requires the player to change his fielding position depending on the situation the hitter is…
Player’s Love To Compete! This baseball drill emphasizes fielding skills & competition. It’s fun & a good test of players’ fielding skills & reaction! Add…
Blocking Is The Easy Part – It is common knowledge among youth baseball and softball coaches that the one play most responsible for scoring runs…
Health
Proper hydration during any exercise or sports activity is important for optimal performance Why is it important to stay hydrated playing sports? Performance in any…
George Carlin did a classic bit of comedy on the differences between the sports of baseball players vs. football, giving the impression that the two…
For many youth athletes, the start of a new sports season may be right around the corner. Many of these athletes will experience aches, pain,…
In many circles, concern about the stress placed on youth sport participants seems to be the most frequent topic of discussion when youth sports is…
How Much Is Enough, How Much Is Too Much? The past 25 years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of sports programs being…
It’s Little League season again, and if you’re a coach, there are 10 health tips you should know to help keep your players healthy. “The…
Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day? We all know that water is important, but have you ever seen it written…
Blocking Is The Easy Part – It is common knowledge among youth baseball and softball coaches that the one play most responsible for scoring runs…
Hitting
A Note About Buying A Batting Cage The reality is that any batting cage is the most impactful baseball training equipment any player could possibly…
How to Choose a Pitching Machine Before we dive into pitching machine features & benefits, allow me a coach’s perspective on how I believe ballplayers…
Aluminum vs Wood Bat … consistent sweet spot hits are a player’s key to continuing to play Coach JP’s Note:This older article from renowned baseball…
I run a 10 week baseball practice camp every year for our local baseball organization. This year we have added a very young group (age…
Which Iron Mike Pitching Machine Do I Buy? Probably the greatest tools a team could want that will make the single biggest impact on a…
Bunting is a very big part of the game of baseball. And when a bunt is laid down the right way, it is very difficult…
You’ve reasonably heard someone say, “hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult things to do in sports.” They weren’t exaggerating. Hitting a baseball…
Swinging late is often a problem with young players. One reason for swinging late involves the hitter not knowing where he is supposed to make…
Mental Game
In many circles, concern about stress placed on youth sport participants seems to be the most frequent topic of discussion when youth sports is mentioned.…
Pitching is the most important aspect of the game! A dominating pitching staff can make all the difference in determining a team’s success. Practice and mastery…
Here are some thoughts on the above topic from a buddy of mine. The guy’s name is Steve Springer. “If baseball is 90% mental, why…
Ever notice how some teams who play close games end up winning those games in the late innings at the plate. Good teams who are…
Don’t yell out instructions.During the game, I’m trying to concentrate on what the coach says and working on what I’ve been practicing. It’s easier for…
The ability to play well under pressure is one of the most desired qualities for any athlete in any sport, and a player who can…
The following is something I came up with for my Legion players so they could see just how much mental errors make a difference in…
The term will most often is used in outlining the desires of a person who has passed away and left this world. A will, in…
Pitching
Any Pitcher Can Learn The Change Up I have a vivid recollection of a great coach, John Scolinos of Cal Poly Pomona (CA), teaching our…
I. When to Teach the Throwing The Curveball Throwing the curveball properly breeds many questions. Of course a lot depends on the physical development…
Andrew Tinnish – Toronto Blue Jays When running instructional clinics for young players I am often asked by coaches and parents “When should my son…
How many times within a game do you as a coach ask yourself this question: Why is my pitcher throwing that pitch in that situation? We…
Pitching is the most important aspect of the game! A dominating pitching staff can make all the difference in determining a team’s success. Practice and mastery…
As a minor league pitcher and as a coach the difficulties in properly maintaining and managing a bullpen are many. At high school and college…
“FLYING OPEN”Flying open early during the stride and cocking phase is a common fault experienced by all pitchers no matter of age or experience. Young…
The most common causes of pitching arm injuries to high school, college, and professional pitchers are overload, overuse, lack of proper conditioning, and improper throwing mechanics.…
Ask the Coach
Ask The Coach about Hitting Slump Terry asks: I’m in a hitting slump right now and it’s more mental than my swing. I’m not sure…
A Note About Buying A Batting Cage The reality is that any batting cage is the most impactful baseball training equipment any player could possibly…
I was recently asked by a friend for some tips about how his sons should approach their upcoming Little League baseball tryouts. They wanted to…
I’m sure you heard this question many times before, but here goes. First, here’s some background info 10 years old 5’3” 130# Cal Ripkin league-…
Dear Coach, I am a middle school baseball coach in North Carolina. Early in the season our weather is miserable and often cannot practice outdoors.…
Is it legal for the first baseman to have his feet, one or both, in foul territory while holding a runner at first base? Kevin…
I coach baseball at the 13-15 Babe Ruth level. We work hard with our pitchers holding runners on to avoid giving up really easy stolen…
I have coached baseball for years and have told my kids that baseball and golf do not mix. A lot of golf can be a…
Baseball Equipment
Baseball Foul Poles & Softball Foul Poles – The Details! Baseball foul poles & softball foul poles are generally chosen by their height.Here are other…
Aluminum Bleacher Buying Basics – For Spectator Seating Here is the aluminum bleacher buying information you need to make your best decision for optimized spectator…
A Note About Buying A Batting Cage The reality is that any batting cage is the most impactful baseball training equipment any player could possibly…
How to Choose a Pitching Machine Before we dive into pitching machine features & benefits, allow me a coach’s perspective on how I believe ballplayers…
Which Iron Mike Pitching Machine Do I Buy? Probably the greatest tools a team could want that will make the single biggest impact on a…
IMPORTANT NOTE: Not recommended on any PRE-OILED GLOVES After 30+ years of playing & coaching baseball, I have tried many different methods of breaking in…
Most good gloves are built from good top grain leather. They become “truly personal” items to many ball players. If you treat it just like…
All About Baseball
Reproduced with permission from www.heckledepot.com Pitcher Heckles Hey, pitch! Why do you keep hitting our bats? You can fill a closet with all those hangers!…
At ’em ball — A ball hit right at a defensive player. Baltimore Chop — A ground ball that hits in front of home plate…
Here’s a fun page of baseball terms for you to enjoy – Coach JP ace — A team’s best starting pitcher. alley — The section…
Here’s the official glossary of baseball terms as compiled by STATS, Inc. – Coach JP Baseball Glossary Part I: Definitions of Abbreviations You probably know…
Here you will find many baseball FAQs (frequently asked questions), baseball trivia and baseball statistic calculators and tools to help improve your team stats. According…
