NAIA Pitching Coach | Biomechanics Graduate @OleMiss | ArmCare Specialist | Largest ERA turnaround in the WHAC in 5 years | HC @GLL_Monarchs | @UM_Dearborn
I had the opportunity to spend time with my Tom House Sports and National Pitching family in Arizona last weekend. Worked with athletes ranging from MLB pitchers, collegiate, high school on down. National Pitching is an amazing group of people. Honored to be part of the family.
Uncommitted JUCO RS-So
1st team all conference | All Region | All MCCAA
Career Regular season:
89 GP | 305 AB | 113 H | .370 AVG | .469 OBP | .639 SLG | 1.108 OPS | 15 HR | 48 XBH | 95 RBI | 1.25 BB+HBP/K
Playing for the Michigan Monarchs this summer in the Great Lakes League
@GLL_Monarchs@jakepacholski22@fsuccurro20@FlatgroundBats@JUCOuncommitted@CoachRich_Rob
Championship teams don’t chase the scoreboard.
They chase the standard.
Wins are what show up on game day.
Standards are what show up every day in meetings, workouts, and practice.
Hold the standard and the wins will take care of themselves.
Dear coach:
Congrats on your playing career. It’s an amazing accomplishment to play at the level you did. All your hard work and perseverance paid off.
Now you’re working with and teaching kids. If you haven’t learned yet, you will soon. Playing and coaching (especially kids) are two very different things. The sooner you wrap your mind around the fact that coaching is ALL about them, their development and their growth, the easier it will be for you. It’s not about your “feelings” or your past accomplishments. All that matters now is how you relate to and with them, your ability to teach ALL of them, your level of patience, your understanding of development, your desire to learn what you didn’t know as a player (because you, nor I or anyone else knows it all), your communication skills, your organization skills and more than anything, the example you are for them everyday, every game, every minute, every pitch.
Coaching isn’t easy but when you are able to make genuine connections with your players, you are in and have the opportunity to make a huge impact in their life. Take this seriously.
3 commonly overlooked variables when working on mechanics:
1) Where the pitcher stands on the rubber
2) How much the pitcher bends their knees in set position
3) How much the pitcher rotates their shoulders closed in set position
Small details make a big difference.
Broken Record…
I’ll keep taking about this for as long as I’m able.
While every defensive skill in our game is important, none are more important than our pitchers being to throw strikes. Yet far too many will look past and sometimes even ignore pitchers practice and development because “it takes up too much time” or “team practice is for team fundamentals” even though those who say this seem to find time for batting practice.
We also hear “they should be practicing pitching on their own” which I absolutely agree with (all players should own their development) but that’s no excuse for ignoring everything pitching with your players. How about a quick conversation about who is practicing their pitching at home and who is not? For those that do, talk about what they are doing and give them a plan if needed. For those that aren’t, coach, find and make time to help them prepare.
Our pitchers and catchers are the only positions that are involved in every pitch of a game. These two positions should be at the top of your priority list each week to make sure they are getting what they need.
Again, if they get in enough on their own time, that great, but if they don’t, it’s time to do your part.
Parents, if your players team ignores pitching and catching practice, do some research, educate yourself on the position and help your athlete establish an at home plan to get better. Yes, there is time!!