Tips From Coach John Peter
The game of baseball is infinitely more complex than most give it credit for. Most that I have learned about baseball is common sense.but each lesson took someone with more common sense than I to point it out.
For Dads
Do not count on your High School coaches to be of great assistance in obtaining a scholarship for your son. Remember, these are school teachers first, many of which have only a year or two more playing experience than their own players.
You can hope they have knowledge, passion and foresight but sadly, as in any group, many are no more than average, with decision-making skills which do not always reflect the best options.
Hint: Good programs are usually near the top of the standings. Poor programs are usually nearer the bottom. So...Winning coaches like to show their won-loss record. The subject seldom comes up with the less-successful coaches.
For Coaches
Good players will get you a winning record. Good coaches will win you the playoffs and the championships.
For Hitters
Practice with wood...Win with aluminum!
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Baseball Banter: Tips From Top Coaches
From the book Dugout Wisdom
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Set Process-Oriented Goals
Andy Lopez, University of Arizona
"We don't really set goals per se, we just set a goal to get better each day. Right before practice starts, every day, I tell them, 'let's get better today.' And I'll grade them every day after practice. 'Fellas, today was about a B, or today was a C. It was an average day for you guys. We've got to be better tomorrow.'
For me personally, I try to get to four players a day, affect four players a day. It might be just, 'How's your girl,' or 'How's you mom,' or 'How's your class?' In the morning, Ill go through my roster and pick out four guys, look at who's going good and who's not, and talk to them. If a guy's going good I'll tell him, and I'll tell him to write it down - how he's feeling, what he's been doing. I tell all of my guys to have notebooks. 'File it, because it might not be going good in two weeks and you'll be able to refer back to when it was going good.'"
Excerpt from Ch. 6, pg. 85
Andy Lopez coached Pepperdine to the 1992 College World Series title, the smallest NCAA Division I school to ever win it all in Omaha. He is currently the head coach at the University of Arizona.
Developing Team Unity
Ron Delmonico, University of Tennessee
"We talk about it. You might not like somebody here but you have to accept him. We won't have any cliques. For me, I don't have Tennessee kids, Florida kids, Latin kids - we're all a team. I don't let those cliques go. I'll tell our Latin kids, 'You hang with somebody else besides kids from Miami.' And I'll tell our Tennessee kids, 'You hang with somebody besides Tennessee.' Team chemistry is huge. You can't have a bunch of individuals. I'll tell our guys, 'We got one guy out, he's out in a boat by himself. We either got to get him in here or get rid of him.' I'll tell the kid, 'Either you come in, be a part of the team, or you get the heck out of here.' But I'll challenge our kids, we've got to bring him in, we're pretty good with him. We got to keep chiseling away, get him into the team concept."
Excerpt from Ch. 4, pg. 61
Ron Delmonico is the winningest coach in Tennessee baseball history. His teams have won two SEC championships and have twice advanced to the College World Series. He was named Baseball America's National Coach of the Year in 1995.
Dugout Wisdom - Only $19.95
This is a book seeking excellence and focuses on the ten principles of championship teams for baseball coaches. Each principle relates to motivation and getting the most out of each player on every pitch at every moment. Interviews have been conducted at length with 39 legendary managers and MLB executives, including Sparky Anderson, Dusty Baker, Skip Bertman, and Art Howe. They offer their insight on how to build individual champions, coach the details, practice under pressure, and much more.
"Dugout Wisdom....has done for coaches, players, and fans what we all would love to do: pick the brains of the top managers in the game and ask them their secrets, their philosophies." |
| - Davey Johnson |
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New Products at Baseball Tips.com
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Order online in our secure shopping cart or call me toll free at 1-800-487-7432 (9-6 EST).
The Armed and Ready Program by Alan Jaeger
Arm Health & Strength Conditioning Program
 A systematic throwing program designed to help players and coaches understand what steps must be taken to develop and sustain a strong, durable, accurate, and injury-free arm. Adopted by over 100 professional players, including Cy Young winner Barry Zito.
4 Phases of Arm Exercise Covered
Arm Circles | Surgical Tubing | Throwing Mechanics | Long Toss
Gary Adams, UCLA Head Coach: I would urge any coach, any parent, any player to take up this program -- start it today because you are going to see amazing results, amazing development and it's also going to prevent injuries.
Stay Back Hitting Tee - Training CD included
Improve Bat Speed
Teaches the proper stride -- a reach with the weight still back, not a step into the ball. Breaks down in seconds, making it very portable. Use in the backyard, the ballpark, or anywhere you can think of.
Coach JP: Learning to lead with your hips and turn into the ball will make it easier to catch up to the fastball, while staying ready for offspeed pitches.
The Ultimate Coaches Package - Featuring our Fungo Bat
Tools For A Better Practice
The drills are tried and true and designed to make better coaches, which in turn makes better teams. Our fungo bat is the one product that every youth coach and dad needs. 3 Combos to choose from.
Coach JP: These videos are from the best in the business and feature numerous drills you can instantly implement into your practices, many with the use of our fungo bat.
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Featured Article
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Coach's Responsibilities Go Beyond the Playing Field
by Coach Rick Steen
The most important lesson I can offer as a coach is the particular value system that I represent, and that which I feel is important for my athletes to practice.
Though many of you coach or are parents in programs younger than this author's High School age level, there are some great points to consider. It is a well-worth the read!
-- Coach JP
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Featured Drill
"50" by Coach Bill Hutton
This is an infield drill. Players at their spots, one coach fungoes, another times how fast the fungoed ball reaches first base. Players must make 50 straight plays in less than 4.5 seconds each. Any mistake returns count to zero. You can make the time whatever you want. It represents the average runner's time to first base. You also can decide the number of successful plays needed. It doesn't have to be "50".
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Coach's War Club Fungo Bat - $39.95
Every Youth Coach & Dad Needs One
Our fungo bat is specifically designed to hit a tossed ball for infield and outfield practice as well as pre-game drills. It is very light (only 19 ounces), so coaches can hit hundreds of balls very accurately without getting tired! Available in 4 colors.
Coach JP: What makes sense about a grown adult coach hitting infield, pop flies or a pre game workout with the same bat his players use? .Nothing! Use our fungo bat for hundreds of easy swings without trying.
Baseball News
Diamondbacks Make Signing Autographs Mandatory
The Arizona Diamondbacks will have a mandatory 10-minute autograph session before all 60 night home game at Bank One Ballpark in 2003. All team members except that night's starting pitcher will be required to sign for the fans. "We ought to be thankful for who we are and what we have and we can't forget the people who pay our way," said managing general partner Jerry Colangelo.
Batting practice will begin 10 minutes early and finish 10 minutes before the visiting team practice starts. A scoreboard clock will tick off the 10 minutes while the players sign autographs.
The initial reaction from players seems to be relatively positive, although some have privately expressed concerns since the February 18th announcement.
"I don't mind," pitcher Matt Mantei said. "I sign anyway. The fans are the reason we're here."
"I don't have a problem with it," said Randy Johnson.
If you are in Phoenix this year make sure to get to the game early. With a usual starting time of 6:35, the Diamondbacks will sign around 4:45. Each player will be down the left and right field lines complying with the club policy, although there will be no assigned stations.
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BESR Certified Wood Bats
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Brett Stealth & Hoosier Woodforce
For those players who prefer a wood bat, Baseball Tips.com does carry the Hoosier Woodforce and Brett Stealth bats, which are both BESR certified for high school and NCAA play. The Hoosier boasts of an astounding 7" sweet spot (a normal wood bat is only 3"), while the Stealth is the brainchild of Hall-of-Famer George Brett.
Why does a bat need to be BESR certified?
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Baseball Quotes, Wit & Wisdom
It takes pitching, hitting and defense. Any two can win. All three make you unbeatable.
Joe Garagiola
Show me a guy who's afraid to look bad, and I'll show you a guy you can beat.
Lou Brock
Little League is great because it keeps parents off the streets.
Yogi Berra
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The price is always right, so take advantage of our free services:
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Your Turn - Questions or Comments
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Thanks - Coach JP
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Baseball Instructors
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