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Podcast Episodes

'Coaching Youth Baseball'
Season  1 
Season 2 
Season 3
Season 4 

Note: Some Podcasts Only Available in my Coaching Courses

Scroll to Bottom for latest Episodes

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Welcome to the Coaching Youth Baseball Podcast line-up. Listen to the latest episodes from Dave Holt on player development 

Are you a difference maker? Want to be "That" coach when kids look back in 10-15 years and say, "Wow, did I love playing for Coach_________!" Dave Holt, from CoachandPlayBaseball.com reveals his top strategies as he coaches the coaches. 

If you are a youth baseball coach and helping kids develop in the game of baseball then this show will be right in your wheelhouse.

Dave Holt spent 19 years (16 seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization) in professional player development as a coach, field manager, instructor and scout.

Discover the baseball coaching methods , processes, and philosophies that will prepare and mentor all youth baseball coaches and baseball parents in the vitally important areas of player development.

You will hear from someone who has inside experience and knowledge on how to use some of the best coaching approaches and teach player development to your 'flock' of players.

For all baseball coaching levels and experience from T-Ball to High School. And, you might just get an edge on the ways you can help your kids survive the 60/90 'fields and reach the high school baseball funnel.

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Podcast Quick List

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CYB 001: Everyone is a Shortstop

How to Train Your Players to Play SS

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Description

Dave Holt, from www.coachandplaybaseball.com talks to youth baseball coaches, ballplayers and parents about the value and merits of developing and training baseball players via the shortstop position.

All non-lefthanded players workout at shortstop during practice. Dave gives the pros why the benefits are so high to train all your players at shortstop during baseball practices.

Avoid the ‘pigeon-hole’ approach putting your players at 2B, OF only. Expose players to the leftside of the infield at shortstop and thirdbase to develop arm strength that helps kids transfer easier to the 60/90’ ballfields.

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CYB 002: Develop an Endless Supply of Pitchers

How to Build a Deep Pitching Staff

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Description

How do you as a baseball coach approach building and developing pitchers?

One of the biggest and vitally important responsibilities of our youth baseball coaches is to develop a large amount of pitchers.

Dave talks about the importance of looking at every kid as a pitcher in 12 & under age levels and building an endless supply of pitchers at all levels. Pitching depth is vital to building a quality, sustainable baseball organization.

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CYB 003: Baseball
Coach-Parent Relations

Organizing Your Pre-Season Meeting

Make sure you take the steps to plan a pre-season baseball coaches / parent meeting.

Dave explains advising youth baseball coaches to put all their cards on the table and communicate with baseball parents.

Parents want to know who they are dropping their kids off with. This is a great time to share with parents about your style, philosophies and approach to coaching youth baseball.

As the season ebbs and flows you can always fall back on your style, approach and procedures when issues arise.

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CYB 004: 3-Team-It
Baseball Practice Plan

Best Baseball Practice Template

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

One of the best if not the best baseball practice planning tools is the 3- Team-it template.

Dave explains the way he organizes baseball practice to make coaches look like baseball experts. Your players maximize their time, get plenty of reps, touches, and swings while embedding the drudgery of drills into mini-competitions.

No standing around anymore . No boring practices that chase kids to play soccer. Highly energized practices and kids have a ton of fun at the same time.

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CYB 005: Setting Your Coaching
Style & Approach 

What's Your Coaching Philosophy

Dave dives deeper into your baseball coaching mind to see what you are thinking about your coaching approach and philosophy.

Are you going to be a difference maker and leave a life-long impression with your players?

What do you think about winning, hitting approach, playing time. baseball practice, game coaching, teaching the intangibles, communication styles, player development and what are your 'end-game' goals.

At the end of the day you are going to make a difference.

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CYB 006: Managing Your Baseball 'Flock'

Vital Classroom Management Techniques

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Maybe more important than baseball knowledge is being able to 'manage' a group of (12) players.

Being able to communicate verbally and non-verbally, teach, complement, critique without being critical and establish your rules, procedures and expectations is vitally essential for effective coaching.

Having ‘classroom management’ skills can carry a coach a long way to being a good leader and getting the most out of your ballplayers.

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CYB 007: In-Game Coaching

Baseball Coaches Role in Ballgames

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Dave Holt helps baseball coaches understand the real important stuff that coaches should emphasize during ball games.

Are you really a 'baseball coach' or are you performing for the parents. Often times much of the game coaching is just a show.

Find out how to best serve your players and give them room to do what they do. Games are the player's “time to shine”. Coaches step aside and release the kids to play the game… just like the pros do it.

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CYB 008: 'Rapid Fire Fungo Drill'

My Favorite Practice Drill for Infielders

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

How do we as youth baseball coaches provide practice opportunities to help our players build ball handling and throwing skills?

Dave Holt's Rapid Fire Fungo Drill is an excellent drill template to follow and use at any level of baseball. Our kids need to be able to perform the most basic ball handling skills at a pretty high level and at the same time build arm strength to prepare to excel in the 60 '/ 90' fields.

And, this drill is an instantly ramps up the player’s fun-level by embedding mini-competitions. Use this drill to Increase reps, build up arms, improve ball handling skills and provide an action packed, fun practice.

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CYB 009: Adding Sandlot Scrimmages

Kids Really Like to 'Play' Baseball

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

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CYB 010: Adding Competition to Your Practices

Easy Ways to Increase the 'Fun-Level'

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Dave Holt explains why adding competition to your baseball practice plans is vitally important for baseball coaches.

Many competitive baseball drills are discussed as examples of easy ways and methods to incorporate mini-competitions into your everyday baseball practice planning.

Competition in practice starts with catch and throw warm-ups and is embedded in your entire youth baseball practice, including batting practice and ending with the sandlot scrimmage. Want to make baseball fun, enjoyable and exciting… then you want to listen in.

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CYB 011: Avoid the "Daddy-Ball" Label

Easy Strategies to Coach Your Own Kids

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

It is estimated that 85% of youth baseball coaches have their own child on their teams. Everyone is familiar with the term 'Daddy-Ball'.

Dave talks about several items that can help coaches successfully maneuver the coach / parent-child / player scenario and avoid the 'Daddy-Ball' label.

Want to have a healthy relationship while coaching your child? Here arr some ideas to make it work. Dave talks about playing for his own Dad while in college and how he made it work.

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CYB 012 Walks & Bunts Beware

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Youth baseball coach should build a culture of hitting with your kids. Dave has a strong viewpoint on how to look at bunts and walks in the pre-high school player development years.

You might want to check this out and make sure you are developing hitters for high school or you might be a 'ring-chaser'.

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CYB 013 6th Tool: the 'Intagibles'

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

More viktiga than baseball's 5-tools is the 6 ^th Tool: the 'intangibles'. Great baseball coaches know what is the most important of all their duties.

Top baseball coaches use youth baseball as our vehicle to teach more than the game and always look for opportunities to share the 6^th tool.  

Want to impact your players for a lifetime? Come and listen to Dave’s podcast on how to be on the lookout for teaching moments so you can really be a difference maker while coaching baseball.

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CYB 014 Please Don't Call Me 'Blue'

How Do You Deal With Umpires?

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Youth Baseball Coaching and Umpires have been and always will be a necessary element and factor in the game. Youth baseball coaches do not always agree with their judgments or like the way they interpret the rules, but we will always treat umpires with worthy and high respect.

Umpires are not our enemy . They are part of the process and we use umpires to build character in our players and parents. It starts with finding out their names. Are you able to treat umpires with respect and disagree with them with respect? Your players and parents will follow your lead.

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CYB 015 Why Is Baseball Player Development So Hard To Coach?

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

True youth baseball player development does factor in some losses. Unless you are willing to lose some games here and there you might be a 'win-at-all-costs' coach. Now the Big-People '(adults, parents, grandparents, peers) really, really want to win games.

Oh, the parents say they want coaches to develop players but, deep down the ‘Big-People’ mostly care about winning. How can you coach youth baseball and avoid falling into the ‘win-at-all-costs’ trap? Check out this episode and see how Dave wants you to handle the situation.

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CYB 016: Baseball Parent's
Survival Checklist

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Youth baseball should be a positive family endeavor filled with mostly enjoyment and pleasure. Often baseball moms and dads get off the rails when emotions overlap into player performance.

How do we as coaches help our baseball parents keep the game in proper perspective? We have to nurture and communicate to the parents some suggested helpful tips.

Here are some informational items to share with your player’s parents to help make the youth baseball journey a positive family activity.

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CYB 017 Baseball Coaches To-Do List

What should youth baseball coaches focus on to best develop their ballplayers? Is it baseball signs?

How do the best youth baseball coaching methods propel the most kids into the 60's / 90's baseball fields?

Dave narrows the to-do list into a checklist for coaches and baseball parents to build a player development system to prepare players for high school baseball. You will get a clear idea what you need to focus on the most during your baseball season.

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CYB 018 Baseball Coaches Duties:

Helping Ballplayers 'Throw Better'


*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

One of the top responsibilities we have as youth baseball coaches is to help kids throw better. How do you help kids throw better? It just takes an easy plan and some effort to set up a warm-up throwing routine.

Want to help kids survive baseball in the 60 '/ 90' fields and make the high school baseball funnel? Well, Dave Holt helps talk us through a plan of action to maximize our kids throwing arms and ball handling skills.

If we neglect our kids throwing development it may end up at an early exit from the game.

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CYB 019: (9) Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Coaching Baseball

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

There are many aspects that go into youth baseball player's player development journey. As baseball coaches and parents, we want to follow the best methods and systems that give our players the opportunity to reach high school baseball.

Mastering the 60 '/ 90' fields is very difficult for the vast majority of players. If we follow Dave's playbook and systems we have a much better chance of helping more kids reach the high school baseball funnel.

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CYB 020: Easy Home Baseball Drills

Any time our kids can get some reps outside of organized practices and games is a bonus. If your kids are motivated ballplayers then Dave is going to give you some ideas on some home baseball drills.

Embedded in the drills are ways to make some mini-games out of the drills so kids feel more like it’s just a fun competition instead of the drudgery of doing a drill. You don’t need much special equipment. The biggest thing a parent needs is simply to set up some time to be available for your kids.

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CYB 021: More Home Baseball Drills
and Have Some Fun Too

Ideas for Practicing baseball drills at home while we are waiting to return to the ballfield. Dave has shared some additional skills and drills that kids can do at home and without the need for much equipment.

Listen for pitching and catching drills, pepper hitting for all ages of baseball. In addition, you will get some ideas on some fitness activities that can be done near home or even inside your home without any workout equipment.

Make sure it turns into a fun activity using small competitions, tracking points and reps, using a stop watch and things like that to increase the fun-level.

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CYB 022 What Is Next For Youth Baseball

When we get youth baseball back on the field, things are going to be different. What will youth baseball look like?

Dave talks about some adjustments that might come out of youth baseball as we look to play ball again.

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CYB 023 Knowing the '5' Tools of Baseball Skills

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Everyone should know the '5' tools of baseball skills. This is the basis for player evaluation and physical value that players bring to their teams.

The Major League teams use the '5' Tools to grade their players and decide which players to draft and which round. The '5' Tool player can "do it all" as they say.

One of our biggest jobs as youth baseball coaches is to provide plenty of opportunities for our players to build their '5' Tools. Once kids reach high school their '5' Tool abilities will largely determine if they will be successful in high school baseball. Five Tools

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CYB 024: It's OK to Lose a Game

Are You Embarrassed to Lose?

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

As a youth baseball coach, are you embarrassed to lose games? You are allowed to lose sometimes. In fact, it is healthy and necessary to lose some games.

In order to properly develop the most players teams will likely lose a few more games. You are using more pitchers, catchers and shortstops with kids playing multiple positions. And hitters are going to swing the bat aggressively.

All good things but raises the risk of losing. Losing is expected or you may be in the wrong league if you win all the time.

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CYB 025: Are You Over-Coaching Hitters?

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

We like to help our kids by coaching them during ballgames. Sometimes this might backfire. Especially when kids are batting.

Giving too much advice and scolding kids when they chase bad pitches can do some long-term damage to hitters. Listen to Dave and see if you might be over coaching or doing things the right way.

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CYB 026: Building Your Culture of Hitting

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Want to create a hitting environment on your teams just like professional baseball teams do it? Listen and take notice of the best ways to build a culture of hitting on your youth baseball teams.

What is more fun than unleashing your aggressive hitters and dominating the offensive game by outhitting your opponents? Hitters will have a blast and really help your kids swing-it!

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CYB 027: The Ball Never Stops

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

One of the ‘5-Tools’ is called “Fielding”. Within the content of fielding is ball-handling. The transition from the time the ball hits the glove to the release of the throw. During this time the ball never really stops.

It becomes one fluid motion from the catch to the release. Dave goes over some practice ideas and drills to help your baseball players master the vitally important art and skill of ball-handling.

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CYB 028: Coaching Your Pitchers 'Smartly'

Managing Your 'Staff' Properly & Safely

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Are you over-pitching your pitchers? There is a good chance you are or you have seen other teams go too far with their pitchers.

Dave spends some time going over the reasons why we see too much over-pitching of our youth ballplayers today.

Get some background and insight to the right Smart Pitching guidelines and get a copy to all the ‘Big-People’ (parents and coaches) today.

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CYB 029: Opening Day Checklist

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Getting your season going on the right foot takes a little pre-season preparations and planning. Dave talks about some of the main items to take care of as the season approaches.

And don’t forget the most important thing that cannot be skipped over…tune in to find out how to sell your coaching system to the kid’s parents.

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CYB 30: Why Travel Ball
Does Not Develop

Is youth baseball travel ball the best platform to develop baseball players? Dave takes a deeper dive into the perils of travel baseball and tournament travel ball.

The focus is mostly on the ages 12 and lower as we discuss the most damaging segment of travel baseball that entraps even the best of youth coach’s intentions. Coach and Play Baseball.com

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CYB 31: What's Your Plan?
Travel Ball Ideas

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

If you are involved in travel ball, tournament baseball, travel baseball especially for the ages 12 & under you may not be in the best situation to develop ballplayers.

Listen to some methods and ideas that are starting to emerge around the country that can better develop baseball players. Small adjustments and tweaks and some imagination can help set up more players for success. Coachandplaybaseball.com

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CYB 32: I Triple Dog Dare You
Player Development Challenge

It’s is time to go back to review some player development topics and strategies to refresh. This is a 10-year journey down the road to high school baseball funnel.

You are dared to implement this philosophy and incorporate these topics in your coaching approach. You might even get double or triple dog dared if you don’t watch out. Coachandplaybaseball.com

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Ep. 033 Have You Ever Played
Against “THAT” Team

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Do you know that your players and parents kind of mirror your coaching style and approach. Yes, your organization is a bit of a reflection of your actions.

Now we have to decide on what that looks like. Do we want to be known as the “classiest team” in the league, or do we want to be known as “THAT” Team…you know, THAT one that nobody likes very much.

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CYB 034: Coaching Infield Skills & Drills

How are you on your infield basic knowledge level? If a high - level baseball person rolled up on your team would they be impressed?

Check out these infield strategies with your infielders and help take your players to a higher playing level. I love working with my infielders and helping them polish their ball handling skills and I hope you do too.

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CYB 035: Coaching & Developing Youth Baseball Catchers

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Do you have a catcher? Do you have catching depth? Catching is not for everyone that’s for sure. Most kids don’t want to go anywhere near the catcher’s bag of shin guards and chest protectors.

Here is what I like to look for in a catcher. And some kids may need be nudged out of their comfort zone to try catching.

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CYB 036: Five Coaching Tips to Teach Your Hitters

What do most all good hitters do? Dave goes over a short list of tips to help develop your hitters to move up the baseball ladder into the 60’ 90’ high school baseball funnel.

See how many of your hitters can check the 5 items off their list. Our jobs as coaches is to help as many kids as possible reach proficiency in all 5 of these hitting tips.

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CYB: 037 Coaching Your Own Kid

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Thankfully we have a lot of Moms and Dads coaching our youth baseball teams. We could not provide youth baseball without the help of parents in the coaching trenches.

At the same time we want the parent/kid relationship to stay strong and healthy. It can get real blurry coaching your own kids. Dave goes over some of the issues and some solutions for you try in your baseball coaching toolbox.

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CYB 038: Baseball Signs
Get the Inside Scoop

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Get the inside scoop on baseball signs. Dave discusses the baseball scene on the topic of baseball signs and how it relates to baseball player development.

Baseball signs are a big thing to youth baseball coaches, but it may be overrated. Let’s see and tune in.

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CYB 039: MLB Draft Relates to
Youth Baseball

We just finished another MLB baseball draft. Dave takes time to breakdown the data on the first three rounds.

How does this data relate to us in youth baseball? Well, come listen in and see some astonishing data. Dave will talk about how this information directly effects on the way and methods we train youth baseball players

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CYB 40: What is Your 'End Game'?

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

My curiosity in youth baseball is often spent on the “Big-People’s” view on how far the train goes before we get to the end of the baseball road.

What is your ‘end game’? The data tells us just about all we need to know. Come and listen to my talk on my prediction to how far your child will go in baseball. Statistics tell the story.

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CYB 041: How is Your "Matheny Manifesto"?

Dave does a review of the famous “Matheny Manifesto” written by former MLB player and now manager Mike Matheny. Mike jumped into his own kid’s youth baseball world after he retired from baseball.

The “Manifesto” went viral and is now mandatory reading for all adults in youth baseball. Dave dissects part of the highlights and elaborates on why this is such a lifeline to helping parents and coaches look at youth baseball from ‘player development’ eyes.

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CYB 042: We Won the Battle but Lost the War

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

It is very satisfying to win games for sure. Winning battles is for immediate gratification, but we may be missing the ‘big picture’.

That is winning the player development war which takes several years to make happen. Our focus changes drastically when we approach youth baseball with the ‘long view’ always smack dab in front of our minds.

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CYB 043: Accelerated Player Development Game

Talk About a Game-Changer!

Are we as coaches getting the most out of the field time we have? Are we providing enough baseball plays for our kids to develop? Are we allowing opportunities for our players to really learn the game?

Try this accelerated format out in your practices and see kids build the freedom and confidence to play the game at higher levels someday. And have a blast at the same time.

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CYB 044: (5)  Ways to Reach High School Baseball Funnel

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

This podcast episode we go into some of physical areas of the game of baseball to focus our player development on. In order to sustain themselves in baseball until high school age players have to excel in various skills to be able to make the high school baseball teams.

Here we go into these areas and let players, parents and coaches know exactly what areas to focus on that will give us the edge we need to be successful on the ballfield.

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CYB 045: One Thing All Baseball Coaches Have to Do

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

This is one step we never want to circumvent. We should always make time to get together in some form or another to state our case in front of our youth baseball parents. This sets the stage for the coming season.

This gives us a sturdy foundation to work from. When the oceans get rough we have something to steady the ship. Dave goes over some information you might want consider going over with your youth baseball parents.

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CYB 046: Real Life Baseball Coaching

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

One of my baseball coaching student disciples was kind enough to share a letter to his team’s parent with me. Dave goes through the letter with his commentary with examples of best methods and philosophy to help develop your youth ballplayers.

Your coaching success increases when you have a strong philosophical foundation to build from and communicate to the players and parents.

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CYB 047: Are You Using Baseball as a Vehicle?

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Baseball knowledge and experience is nice to have as a youth baseball coach. Knowing the in’s and out’s, the x’s and o’s, the techniques of the game and all the technical strategies is a valuable asset to coaching success.

But, maybe more important in leaving a positive foot print on kids are some of the character growth potential we have. Here is one of Dave’s coaches in his own words on how he envisions impacting his players over the season.

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CYB 048: Increasing Your Players "Fun-Level"

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

What aspect of playing baseball will give players the most enjoyment? I think that ‘squaring up’ and smacking the ball perfectly on the barrel and having the ball ‘jump’ off the bat is quite rewarding.

This is where the “fun-level” meter goes way higher. This is what brings kids back year after year—being able to hit. Learn how to use PRO hitting terms to help foster a hitting environment on your ballclubs.

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CYB 049: Taking a Peek Under the Hood of Youth Baseball

USA Baseball just released a report on the status and groundwork for developing youth baseball players.

The report lacks for any real detailed plans, but it does touch on some very pertinent aspects of player development that you should hear about. Listen in to Dave’s breakdown of the report and see where this leads down the road.

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CYB 050: Youth Baseball's Dramatic Shift in Developing Players

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

We follow up again on the recent report from USA Baseball and take a deeper dive into how baseball will be affected. Can you imagine what youth baseball will look like practicing more than playing games?

This could really upset the apple cart and change baseball as we know it and for the better for kids too. Listen to see how The “Big-people” are going to make adjustments.

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CYB 051: Real Baseball Starts
at Age 13

*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Baseball played in the 12 & under ballfields can be very deceiving especially to the ‘Big-People’. In other words, we should take caution and realize that once we hit the 13 & over 60’ 90’ ballfields it’s going to be game-on.

Challenges of enormous size wait lurking for us in middle school years playing baseball. Most turn from the game because it is so difficult to perform as they once could at the smaller dimensions. Listen in to Dave’s warnings about 13 & over baseball.

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CYB 052: Creating Your Culture Statement

You Have to Have One

We know that winning is important to everyone in youth baseball. But, if we don’t win that day do we have anything we can talk about despite the game outcome.

We do if you build a culture statement about the other real important elements that represent your team. Dave will throw out some ideas for you to ponder and put together your own personal culture statement for your ballclub. Everyone needs a culture and this statement gives you goals to shoot for it.

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CYB 053: Did the 'Big-People' Hijack the Game?

Adult emotion drives almost everything to do with youth baseball. Have the adult emotions helped or hurt player development? Are we operating to cater to the adult’s emotions or are we doing all we can to make it all about the kids?

Dave talks about the situation and some ways to throttle back some of the high-octane, parent/adult emotions that drive the sport model.

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CYB 054: Time to Rethink How We Organize, Operate & Execute Youth Baseball

USABaseball in conjunction with MLB have given us plenty of suggestions on how we can turn baseball back to the kids.

Along with Aspen Institute’s Project Play and USABaseball, Dave dissects many of the creative ideas to allow youth baseball’s pendulum to swing back toward ‘free-play’ and ‘sandlot’ style, kid-centered, youth baseball organizations.

Check out what this ‘sea change’ might look like.

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CYB 055: Are You Ready to 'Rock the Boat?"

How do we know that we are doing things correctly in our youth baseball systems today? Is there improvements we can make, adjustments to make the game more enjoyable, adaptations to increase player development opportunities?

Well, listen in as Dave talks about some new ideas that might just rock the boat and may even turn the boat over. Accelerated Baseball Development is here and you can hear from those that are experiencing it now.

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CYB 056: How to Get Fifty
(50) At-Bats Per Week

The template and format for Accelerated Baseball Development is now available for everyone in youth baseball and softball. This action packed, kid-friendly youth baseball practice system and competitive games formats is in a coaching course format for easy consumption for all youth baseball coaches.

What is keeping you from implementing this new system in your local ballclubs? Let’s check it out and see what’s in it.

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CYB 057: The Baseball Road to Nowhere

The template and format for Accelerated Baseball Development is now available for everyone in youth baseball and softball. This action packed, kid-friendly youth baseball practice system and competitive games formats is in a coaching course format for easy consumption for all youth baseball coaches.

What is keeping you from implementing this new system in your local ballclubs? Let’s check it out and see what’s in it.

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CYB 058: Did You Tell them "I've Got Your Back"


*Episode Only Available in Coaching Course

Have you as one of the ‘big-people’ made it known to your kids and players that they are “allowed” to mess up? Yep, players are going to fail from time to time and we expect that.

It is very important to talk to your kids about the difficulty of playing baseball well and there will be times of tribulation. As the adults we need to listen to Dave’s approach to give the some “room’ to mess up.

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CYB 059: Turtles Can't Go Anywhere Until It Sticks It's Head Out

Who will be the first to convert their entire league format to Accelerated Baseball Development? Most of us just follow the herd and keep doing what everyone else does even though we sense that something is not right.

We just will not stick our neck out of the turtle shell and go anywhere. Here are a few options on how to bring the awesome power of Accelerated Baseball to your own teams.

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CYB 060: How to Bring Joy Back to Mudville

Let us go over and talk about a few ways that the ‘Big-people’ are notorious about stripping the joy from the ballplayers. Yes, the ‘Big-people’ have a lot to say about how much enjoyment we have in youth baseball.

Here are 6 ways to help remind us how we can increase the enjoyment level for our kids.

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CYB 061: F.O.M.O. Sucks the Enjoyment Out of Youth Baseball

Chances are you are a youth baseball parent that has experienced the FOMO. Yes, we all want the best for our kids in youth baseball but we do need to put up some bumper guards to make sure we don’t go off the rails into extreme fear that we might be missing out.

Jump in and listen as Dave goes over some ways to keep from getting overly fearful of some of the ‘myths’ going on around youth baseball.

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CYB 062: Are We REALLY Developing Ballplayers?

Take a listen to this list of current youth baseball topics and see if you are seeing the same things I am seeing.

Asking the question, “Are our kids REALLY receiving the developmental skills needed at this age to become fundamentally sound ball players and gain a high level of enjoyment playing baseball? Lets compare this list of topics and see if we can answer these questions.

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CYB 063: Youth Baseball is
"Stuck on Stupid"

Today’s youth baseball world is afflicted with the notion that we have to play ‘Real Baseball’. We have a better system to allow for increased action, more player development reps, more freedom for players to interact and more enjoyment for playing baseball.

The ‘Big-people’ are often so ‘stuck on stupid’ they don’t realize what they are missing. At least we have to try this!

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CYB 064: Do You Know the 'Elephant in the Room'?

What is it that slows down the baseball development of our kids? What is it that makes youth baseball so slow paced, lacks action, and dampens the enjoyment level?

Well, Dave discusses the ‘elephant in the room’ and give us a way to change the way we develop ball players.

CYB 065 How 'Non-Baseball' "Big People" Stymie Player Development

Where are the baseball “experts’? Where are the player development gurus? Why do we rely on non-baseball people to write the script, set up systems, make the rules, set up the programs and administer youth baseball policies?

This is the discussion today when we look into the inter workings of youth baseball systems and realize this was all invented by non-baseball people for the most part.

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CYB 066: You Go As Far As Your Bat Takes You

Hitting is a huge skill to try and master. Coaches must be able to build a culture of hitting on your teams. The ability to hit will increase the players longevity for sure.

The kids that hit the best usually play the longest and have more enjoyment playing ball. Listen in to hear Dave’s conversation on the importance of hitting development.

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CYB 067: Develop 8 OR Develop One

Ever imagined what youth baseball might look like when we focus on everyone else besides the pitchers. What if we tried to develop the other eight players and the hitters and leave the pitchers on the sidelines.

Can you visualize the amount of action, at-bats, fielding tries, baserunning turns, increased action all over the field with the pitchers staying out of the games and having machine and/or coach pitch all the time? You would have to be ‘stuck on stupid’ not to realize how much difference this would make.

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CYB 068: Youth Baseball: Is This The 'Big-People's" Entertainment?

Ever wonder why we constantly play ballgames but rarely if ever have baseball practices? Ya, me too. Let us take a look at why we are so enamored by the ballgames and go to great lengths to play ballgames but blow off opportunities to have team practices. Who is at fault?

The ‘Big-people’ (adults) or the kids? You decide after hearing the discussion on baseball entertainment.

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CYB 069 "I Barely Ever See
17u & 18u Teams"

What happens to kids when they reach the upper levels of high school? Are there any summer ball team options? Listen in with Dave as he dissects the timeline of kids playing baseball and how baseball starts running out of gas when kids reach 17 & 18.

And then we get into how youth baseball compares on the intensity level in the lower age groups but really needs a common sense approach as we get ready to “pick a fight” with traditional youth baseball.

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CYB 070: The Only Way to Change Youth Baseball is to Change Youth Baseball

Listen in to real life stories about the issues coaches are experiencing as they deal with the “Big-people” in youth baseball today. Are kids really enjoying all the adult domination and drama? Doubt it.

Listen in to hear Dave’s take on the problems and what might be a good way to inch our way out of this and into a system that is much more player friendly and enjoyable.

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CYB 071: Travel Ball: Truth or Myth?

First, we listen to an audio from HOF’er Chipper Jones on his take on approaching youth baseball. We then look at travel baseball and discuss some topics to see if it is truth or myth.

And then we talk about various possible youth baseball options to try to make our youth baseball experience make more sense for youth baseball coaches, baseball families, and baseball players.

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CYB 072: Report Card Time: Yes Baseball Coaches Are Graded

We dive into some areas of your ballclubs and do some assessment of what went pretty good during the season and maybe some areas that need some attention as we go into our next season.

We look at five areas of importance and give our coaching selves a school yard grade and then we check our GPA. Come and see what your grades look like.

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CYB 073: System is Not Going to Change, But Here is an Off-Ramp

Youth baseball has a system in place whether it is local Rec-Leagues, All-Stars or Tournament Travel Ball on the weekends. These models are etched in stone and not going away.

The question is if someone wants to opt out of this system and is there another off-ramp to get off the freeway? Well, listen in this session and see if taking the off ramp is an option for you.

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CYB 074: Baseball Practice, Practice. Practice

What would youth baseball look like if every single coach had a coaching guide that teaches them how to be in line with 100% concentration on player development? Totally in on helping and preparing the most kids to reach the high school baseball funnel.

Well, we might just have the tools to help youth coaches implement their practices and game management into a 100% player development friendly system and take the off ramp on the phony baloney systems we are using currently.

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CYB 075: Player Development: The Big Lie

When we ask the ‘Big People’ how important is baseball player development to you? The response is overwhelmingly something like, “Yes, we are all about player development—definitely our #1 goal for our youth baseball players”.

But, when we drill down and look at the body or work all we do is play ballgames. Why? Because youth baseball is largely adult entertainment.

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CYB 076 How to Convert to High Tempo© Baseball Player Development Systems

We want to play less games and practice more with our youth baseball teams. But we are not sure how to put High Tempo Baseball to action. We are not sure our facilities will be able to provide enough practice times for our baseball teams.

Well, this is the episode to tune in to and take a look at some of the scheduling situations that you might have in your own town or league. How to bring High Tempo Baseball to your own town.

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CYB: 077 #1 Thing Baseball Coaches Can Do for Their Players

There are certain skill sets that are beneficial for players to have in order to survive the game of baseball longer. Listen in and hear what you as coaches can focus on to help prep your players for the long haul.

When you have a bunch of weapons in your arsenal you have lots more opportunities to sustain your baseball careers. Coaches need to know what they need to invest their time in for their players to give them the best return.

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CYB 078: It Only Took Me 25 Years to Learn This

I have been working in baseball my whole life and in youth baseball for the last 25 years or more. I have always been perplexed at the lack of desire in the vast majority of youth baseball coaches in learning how to run better practices.

And it just hit me the reason why coaches shy away from learning. It only took me 25 years to figure it out. Come listen and find out.

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CYB 079: The Word For the Year: Baseball "Practice"

Who needs to practice? What do we do during practice? When should we practice? Where can we practice? Why do we need to practice? Finally, how do practice?

We are going to put the pedal to the metal this year and promote baseball practice this year. So, buckle up, here we go into all the reasons we need to practice in youth baseball.

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CYB 80: Measure Twice and Cut Once
Carpenters Rule Used for Baseball

Wood working carpenters have a saying, “Measure Twice – Cut Once”. Obviously the take away here is to slow down and carefully calculate your measuring prior to sawing a piece of wood. Careless measuring can cause a bad cut and a wasted piece of wood.

We carry this same metaphor into youth baseball here so listen in and see the similar saying we use in youth baseball player development. Carpenters advise applies to baseball too.

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CYB 081: Have We Been Duped?

The Youth Baseball Business Model

Youth baseball leagues and travel tournament industry has a for-profit business model. And the models work very well to make money at our kids expense.

Do you understand the business model? Once you know their methods then we soon realize the maybe, just maybe we have been duped. Come listen to see how the business model works and if should be a part of it.

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CYB 082: What If I Had a 10 yr. old Ballplayer?

Someone asked me recently, “Hey Coach Dave, What would you do in youth baseball if your son was 10 years old?”

So, here is the six things that I would use to analyze the situation and come up with my answers. What is the best-practice methods and systems to help your kids maneuver through youth baseball from 10 years old and beyond.

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CYB 083: Are We Part of the Problem of Part of the Solution

If we know the problems and issues then we can analyze the situations and find solid solutions that make the problems somewhat go away.

Here we look at our known problems and match solutions to fix them. Question: Are our youth ballplayers “getting their work in?” Not like they should and probably not even close. How do we fix the problem?….by giving youth baseball coaches easy to use solutions.

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CYB 084: Are You Getting
Laughed at Yet?

Have you been brave enough to bring up kid friendly modifications and variations to your local youth baseball leaders and travel ball coaches? Often new ideas are met with laughter and little interest.

If they are not laughing at you then maybe it is time to step up your game and get prodding. People only know if we tell them, so it’s time for those laughing at us to get educated.

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CYB 085: Looking for a Few Good Youth Baseball Leagues

What are the options for your area ballplayers when they hit the 60’-90’ ballfields at age 13? Has your organization fully prepared them for this age level?

We are looking to join in with your local leagues and teams and work with you on our High Tempo© Baseball Development System and close up all the holes in your player development model and increase the kid’s fun-level at the same time.

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CYB 086: The Perfect Hitting Technique

Listen to Dave’s suggestions on how to turn the perfect hitting technique into a full-on culture of hitting on your baseball team. You will hear how the professional baseball coaches communicate hitting methods to their players. You might be surprised to hear some hitting techniques that you have never heard before.

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CYB 087 Sorry Kids It's Out of Order

When we find something ‘out of order’ like an elevator for example it means it needs some special repairs to get it back functioning correctly. It is broken to some degree and working like it should. Is there any part of youth baseball that we can consider as ‘out of order’?

Well, here is a couple areas that we will discuss and let you decide if there might be cause for an ‘out of order’ sign.

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CYB 088: Everybody Loves a Carnival

You all have been to your town carnival or county fair right? It’s exciting and entertaining to go to a town carnival. Youth baseball has a bit of hullabaloo around it that somewhat mimics a carnival. It has an entertainment aspect to it.

But the consequences of making kids play games and never practicing on the field leaves players ill-prepared for the 60’-90’ fields. Pro baseball has a rookie level that you may not be aware of that youth baseball should take a long look at and it does not look like a carnival.

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CYB 089: Baseball the Right Way or Wrong Way

How many on-field baseball practices will a player participate in during their under 12-year-old career? From age 7 to 12 or about 6 seasons how often will kids have an on-field team practice?

In addition, how many youth baseball coaches will be thoroughly trained to conduct these on-field practices which include a large quantity of reps, wide range of throwing skills, sampling of multiple positions, many baserunning opportunities, turning double plays, catching fly balls on the run, numerous times to bat? All while having a blast!

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CYB 090: Collateral Damages from Youth Baseball

Kids who start playing baseball at age 5 or 6 then reach age 13 & 14 have played 8,9, maybe even 10 years of organized youth baseball. They should be pretty polished by the time they are 13 or 14 right? Not always the case.

Too many players are lacking baseball skills. The collateral damages of playing too many games, never practicing on the field and having coaches that are trained to organize player development minded practices are often more the norm than the exception.

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CYB 91: It's Baseball Dress Up Day

How much “player development” actually is going on in youth baseball? Is youth baseball more about entertaining the “Big-people” or giving kids vitally important reps to build and develop baseball skills?

Listen in and decide if you think we are just dressing up in our baseball uniforms or actually ‘playing” baseball. Let’s see if there are improvements to our youth baseball systems that we can implement immediately.

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Baseball Impossible: Player Development Make-Over

Build Your Own Culture of Player Development
&
Increase Your Players FUN Level

6-DVD Video Set Building Your Complete Player Development System

Click to Order

Audio CD Format Click Here

Coaching 6-DVD Box Set

Yes Dave, I Want to Help My Players Enjoy the GAME

Coaching little league baseball & youth baseball can be a blast or could be a  Tough Gig.

Who in their right mind would come back year after year and have teasing baseball practice and never improve their baseball skills? and get welled at by adults?

Baseball Coaching Videos:  Watch over 6 hours of tips on coaching approach, style, philosophy, and my unique player development system. 

Youth baseball carers are short-lived so lets make it count for our players. What do players really want out of playing baseball?

I want to find out more about the 6 DVD Player Development System

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