TIPS FROM THE COACH

I recently spoke with parents at a "select" team tryout. The all told me pretty much the same story. They each employed private hitting instructors and pitching instructors for their sons, had batting cages in their backyard complete with Jugs pitching machines. They all had paid 3-5000 dollars the previous year on their son's baseball activities. And contend they knew people that had spent as much as $40,000! I checked their son's bat bags. Each had 2-3 $250 bats, a couple of pro line gloves, 4-5 pairs of batting gloves etc. These kids were 8 years old!

I wonder how I managed to get my sons' to accomplish being All State and All American in HS, Jr. Team USA and Olympic Festival, play major D1 baseball on scholarship and one is still playing pro ball and I don't think I spent $2000 on baseball combined for both of them?

When the eldest was in Pee Wee league, I produced the BASEBALL SKILLS AND DRILLS video series. From the experience, I learned all the baseball knowledge necessary to instruct my sons, myself. This baseball experience is a short and precious period of time that YOU get to share with your sons. Why farm it out to some private instructor? The BASEBALL SKILLS AND DRILLS video series is available at http://www.tipsfromthecoach.com/index.php?description&id=SandDDVD for less than the cost of 2 private lessons.

I built a Tee Station in the garage by attaching a tarp to the roof. I attached a pole to the bottom so that it could be rolled up and secured with a chain, out of the way. This Tee Station is where they honed their swing mechanics with thousands of hours of work.

I used to throw BP to them at the local field until one of them drilled me in a very tender spot with a line drive and I sang soprano for a week. After that I refused to throw hardballs to anyone unless I had an L screen. Then I discovered Pickleballs. With these plastic balls, I can throw quality BP in the front yard without worrying about breaking the neighbors windows or endangering myself. Pickleballs are available at http://www.tipsfromthecoach.com/index.php?description&id=pickleBall.

I videotaped every game and afterward, we would analyze their ABs. When they had a good game they were eager to watch. When things didn't go so well, they might not want to watch for a couple of days. What is important is to ask questions not point out mistakes. They are the one playing the game. They are the ones that are going to have to analyze and make adjustments. I would ask, 'what happened on that swing? Where was that pitch? What was the count when you swung at that curve?'

You will want to hit ground and flyballs to your sons. Get a FUNGO! There is nothing so pathetic as some coach/daddy hitting to a kid with his son's 29 inch bat except the dork using one of those things that looks like tennis racquet. I offer a nice Fungo at http://www.tipsfromthecoach.com/index.php?description&id=fungo.jpg. It should last a lifetime.

A 9 year old doesn't need a pro line glove. He will probably leave it out in the rain and ruin it or the dog will eat it. I have found some excellent, inexpensive gloves made by Akadema http://www.tipsfromthecoach.com/index.php?description&id=atm92.jpg . By the same token, it isn't the bat. It's the batter. One of the greatest 12 year old players I have ever coached, hit 50 HRs using a bat he found in a dumpster behind the school. It looked like a pipe with all the writing worn off and the handle taped. Akadema also makes an excellent bat that costs about ½ what the big name bats cost. These items are available at http://www.tipsfromthecoach.com/index.php?description&id=batter.png.

I have loved every minute of this baseball lifestyle. After my sons finished college ball, I decided to share some of the experiences and wisdom I have amassed from the experience. So I wrote a book, A PARENTS GUIDE TO BASEBALL-Surviving And Thriving Youth League To College. It is a humorous and informative ode to a lifestyle in baseball. It too is available at http://www.tipsfromthecoach.com/index.php?description&id=bookCover. I envy each and everyone of you because I know how rewarding and how much fun you are going to enjoy in the next few years while Feb. 23th, my last ballplayer will report back to Spring Training and I will not get to hit him Fungos or throw him Pickleballs for the rest of the summer but until then he still asks 'Dad, will you throw to me?'

Yours in Baseball
Bruce Lambin
THE COACH