I need to get back into baseball shape. What can I do?   Coach Swift answers:I would suggest that you do exactly what you would normally do to get back into shape for any activity. Start out with a walking/running program, a stretching exercises program (something...

How can I get my team to stay motivated? After two innings we seem to lose complete focus, especially if we're behind. We start to make error after error. These are 10 and 11-year olds. We have been in every game until my players make an error or two and then the team...

I am coaching an 11-12 year old baseball team and would like to know the proper cut-offs for hits to the outfield. I have searched the internet and various baseball books but have not been able to find anything on this.Coach Swift answers:For all cut-offs there are a...

I was thinking about using some helmet decals for my team this year and was wondering what you think about using them as a way of recognizing effort, hits or whatever. What criteria would you use in giving out the decals and how would you do it? Attendance is...

Which is the best way to begin developing a young pitcher, pitching from the stretch or the wind-up? Or does it matter, as long as you teach proper mechanics? Coach Swift answers: There is little question about how most coaches teach it and that's from the full wind...

I've played travel baseball on a nationally ranked team every year for the last 6 years. I'm in 10th grade and hoping to make Varsity this year for my school. The only problem is the coach. I know I'm good enough to make Varsity and even start. But the coach doesn't...