Ahead Of The Curve with Jonathan Gelnar

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Summary: In this episode, I speak with former major league all star and current high school head coach Billy Wagner. Billy gives some great insight on what he learned in his career that he brought back to The Miller School. Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Summary: In this episode, I of speak with the University of Virginia Head Coach, Brian O’ Connor. In short, Coach O’Connor and I discuss what championship culture vs regular culture looks like from every aspect of the program. Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Summary: In this episode, I get the privilege of speaking with LSU head baseball coach, Paul Mainieri. We hit on what he’s learned in his almost 40 years of head coaching experience. We talk about the value of relationships with our players and our coaches. And we get into his best advice for assistant coaches who would like to be head coaches someday. #VBCA2018 Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Summary: In this episode, I will be going solo! This was a talk I gave at the Virginia Baseball Coaches Association on Nov 30. I hope you can take 1-2 things away from this, just like I usually take 1-2 things away from all of you! Here is the accompanying powerpoint. Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Summary: In this episode of Ahead of the Curve, I talk with Troy Cameron, past professional baseball player in the Atlanta Braves farm system. Today, Troy gives back to the community as Head Coach St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Troy shares his tips on how he develops a killer training program for his team on and off the field Show Notes: Guest: Troy Cameron, professional baseball player who is now sharing his passion and helping others as a Coach What coaching looks like for a team of 100 kids How Troy develops a conditioning program for his kids Why Florida's new regulations are not hindering the teams practice during the fall Why fall training focuses on baseball fundamentals and building fitness Troy has 14-15 coaches during baseball season Coach- player ratio of 1:4 Why Troy relies on the power of his coaching team and network What a typical spring practice looks like for Troy´s team We do situations a lot Why Troy focuses on bat control during BP Why Troy focuses on bunting even when he doesn't believe in it How Troy structures his team tryouts What Troy wish he would have known before becoming a coach How Troy handles parent communication with his athletes How Troy prepares assistant coaches to be head coaches What changes Troy makes in his program from year to year 3 Key Points: In the offseason, it is important to encourage overall health. Troy does this through a conditioning program and focusing on fundamentals. Having an integrated support team which includes coaches and teachers allows Troys team to succeed in baseball and academics. Beyond technical training and fitness, communication is key for having a successful team. Tweetable Quotes: “If you create the right culture, and that culture can kind of grow in a direction that you see it and wanted to be in every year, you have your chance to put your stamp on it.” – Troy. “You gotta have your top guy that everybody looks up to on your team as the man, this guy is the guy. If he's too good to sweep the sheds, or he's too good to pick up the helmet back, then you're in trouble.” – Troy. “We try to find as many things we can off the field to get these guys together. And that challenge is certainly one of the things I look forward to every year.¨–Troy “Our situations are what we really focus in on.¨–Troy “Play to your strengths and and you'll be able to play the game as long as you're meant to play it.¨–Troy “One of the core strengths was the communication.¨–Troy ¨I don't want them to feel like they're forced to have to play for me because I'm their coach. I want to know they want to play for me¨–Troy Resources Mentioned: Ahead of the Curve Troy [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Summary: In this episode, I talk with Ryan Chapman, professional baseball player turned Coach. Ryan focuses on helping players reach their full baseball potential at the Chapman Baseball Compound. He observes, supports, and trains baseball players while imparting his professional expertise. Show Notes: Guest: Ryan Chapman, professional baseball player who is now sharing his passion and helping others as a Coach How Ryan became a baseball coach When Ryan got drafted and his experience in pro-ball Why the pro-ball journey was more important than the destination for Ryan Why Ryan quit pro-ball to pursue helping others How the Chapman baseball compound is different from other training centers Why Ryan spends the first day of his training observing and learning about the players How Ryan structures his hitting and pitching programs How coaches can fix common and technical players in problems Why consistency over the season is important Why issues are not with hitting and pitching but rather movement How mobility tests can be a good tool for players How are offseason and season training are different How training in the weight room changes from off-season to season playing How technology can make a difference in a players game Why one metric isn't more important than another Techniques that build a better pitcher Why it is important to expose players to varying situations Dynamic vision training is on the horizon 3 Key Points: Ryan played professional baseball but now he is leveraging what he knows to help others as a coach. Movement and mobility are important pieces of improving hitting and pitching, more-so than specific techniques. It is important to practice on-field techniques more-so than sprints and weight training. Though holistically, they are important. It is more important to be able to hit the ball. Tweetable Quotes: “So in my opinion, a lot of movement issues aren't so much swing issues or pitching issues, they are overall just movement issues.” – Ryan. “There is no true offseason.” – Ryan. “We're definitely striving to make sure that we're we're challenging them and making it a fun environment at the same time.¨–Ryan “So, you know, we only know what we know. And it's up to us to be able to better ourselves.¨–Ryan Resources Mentioned: Ahead of the Curve Ryan Chapman Instagram Twitter Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Quotes If you’re not sleeping, recovering and taking nutrition seriously, you won’t peak at your highest performance. Im a true believer of lifting in season. Most of our guys were stronger at the super regional than at the beginning of the season. If you’re not competitive you’re not going to be very successful Our rules in the weight room. Always bring enthusiasm and hard work unknown to mankind. Our pitchers do speed work. They may not run the bases but making them more athletic and help them on the mound by understanding his body If you want to be fast then you have to run fast The longest period of time we have to train our players in the weight room is in season. We train in the offseason for the in season and we train in the in season for the post season Resources Rugby strength coach podcast Tobias Jacoby Zach Dechant Contact @StrengthBk37 Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Quotes Surround yourself with people, treat them right. Work as hard as you want them to work. Care as much as you wan them to care and you've got a chance to have a really good program Sloppiness and lack of discipline turns into losing. If I'm asking my players to be disciplined, then i better be disciplined. I cant ask my players to do something I'm not doing myself. If you cant hustle, I cant play you. Being able to communicate with your players is one of the best assets of being a good coach Even though times have changed and kids have changed a little bit, they’re still the same. If have high expectations for them, you’re gonna get it. Contact Jackleggett.com Twitter IG FB Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. iTunes Stitcher Google Play Spotify Quotes You’ve got to surround yourself with really good people. Thats one of the biggest reasons I’ve had success. Every coach has to coach to their own personality. Number one- Our players need to understand we’re there for them. We need to do things in practice that will prepare our players for the game so when they’re in a game they will tell themselves that they’ve been there before over and over again. Practice preparation is the most important thing a coach can learn We need to spend most of our time in practice doing stuff that actually happens in the game. Contact Twitter Website Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud. Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Spotify Quotes If you’re the head coach then you need to be able to do everything. You obviously need to delegate but you also need to have an understanding of every aspect on the field. In the end you’ve gotta be committed to winning. Its not the 9 best its always the best 9. Baseball is a relationship game. Its not about your agenda or your wins and losses, its about the player. A bad swing on time has a chance. If we’re going to be good, we need to tell everyone what they need to hear not what the want to hear. Theres nothing more common than a man with talent who has failed and at the end of the day you aren’t going to tell yourself you wish you hadn’t worked so hard. Resources https://www.weinsteinbaseball.com/ Mike Maack Email Contact @JWONCatching Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram @aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes We vary a lot with tasks, environment, unstable surfaces and bats and we fatigue parts of the body By changing things constantly the body has to find a new solution every time to come up with a good swing. We use alot of variety and we make the enviroment chaotic. The first thing I look for is the endpoint of the swing When we hit batting practice, we never tell them what pitch we’re going to throw. We’re trying to go away from looking at fixed movements because they dont happen in a game. Resources Frans Bosch book Attention and motor skills learning Gabriel Wolfe Rob Gray podcast Dynamics of skill acquisition Contact Twitter- @BartHanegraaff Email- [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

http://www.slugfestcoachesclinic.com/ Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes (On decision training) Athletics is just a series of good decisions, so how can we train that? The thing with weighted bats is they help us to solve problems. The bat itself is a teaching device. Contact @RA_Parker Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

http://www.slugfestcoachesclinic.com/ Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Having a high Level swing doesn’t necessarily make you a high level hitter. Creating a culture of buy in and development comes down to being able to talk with your player. Contact @JD_Hitting [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes The difference between good and bad hitters is their ability to time. Our BP is like what they see in the games, they dont go 10/10 and they struggle a little bit. Contact Twitter- @swingrehab Insta Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

http://www.slugfestcoachesclinic.com/ Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Decision making in practice is a non negotiable for me. We have to get guys off cruise control and just taking swings to take swings while not being engaged. Every time I step into the box im expecting to do damage. We dont want to produce timid hitters, we want confident hitters expecting to do damage Contact @DLawson_Astros Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

http://www.slugfestcoachesclinic.com/ Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Its a priority for me to never lose sight of what its like to be a player. The game REQUIRES us to make adjustments and adaptations based on how they're trying to get us out. Contact [email protected] @mattlawdog Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes We test 3 things for power. A vertical jump A seated med ball chest pass and sit up med ball throw So many times in my career I would try and get kids to do a certain movements and I’d get frustrated because they couldn’t figure it out. Now I’ve come to the realization that everyone moves differently. Rotational strength and velocity is one of the most important things there is in throwing and hitting. If you aren’t strong and you dont have the intent to throw/swing hard, not alot else matters because those are the two big foundations. I love using a broomstick or PVC so the kids can actually focus on moving better rather than trying to hit all the time. I think external cues within a team setting would be the way to go. Tell them to hit oppo home runs Resources Baseball Savant Driveline TPI Altis Contact @sabercoach insta Website Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Building a baseball player isn’t always exciting, so getting them to internally compete with themselves and the game has to be a priority. We teach our upperclassmen to bring the next group along. The older kids job is to get the younger kids as educated as quickly as possible. Its important for kids to ask questions. #1 in building a better baseball player is getting them to love the game. They learn to love it so they can learn to love the work. The first 10-15 minutes of our practices, the players are on their own. So they’re expected to have a plan each day on what they’re wanting to work on. We almost never take traditional rounds of BP. Our guys are just up there to crush a baseball. Hit it where its pitched and run like crazy. Resources Craig Hyatt Rob Friedman Twitter Ted Williams Book Moneyball Baseball Coaching Bible Oregon State Practices Casey Fisk Ryan Parker Connor Dawson Steve Carter Donald Ecker Dustin Lind Contact Twitter Email 541-908-3622 Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Doug Quotes We dont chase results. We chase the ability to move in balance and take an effortless swing. The human body is the strongest and most efficient in a position of balance. Curt Quotes The more information we can spread about good swings, the more our game is going to progress in the right direction and especially for the players which is what its all about. Timing is the most important thing, always Cody Atkinson We’ve got to learn to time for best fastball and adjust on the fly without taking panic swings. An athlete will self organize if you give them the right things to focus on. Contact Doug Latta [email protected] Curt Nelson [email protected] Cody Atkinson [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

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Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes We play wiffleball in the fall. One because its fun and two because it helps our kids be competitive. We chart with a point system in batting practice 4 points for a home run 3 for a gap shot 2 for a line-drive You’ve got to hit the ball well to be able to get your points We have big brother/little brother program. Every senior gets 3-4 kids and the seniors have to communicate and and all expectations of the program. (On player responsibility) I tell our guys that we dont punish you, but we do hold you accountable to be a better man and a better baseball player. Until we start scrimmages, all of our teams practice together. We break them up into 4 groups and they rotate around to 4 different stations coached by 2-3 different coaches. That way all of our players get coached by all of our coaches. We all want our players to go out and be leaders, but what have we done to teach them what that looks like? Its really hard to lead if you’ve never been taught Resources Heads up baseball and 2.0 Craig Groeschel leadership podcast 7 keys to leadership Contact [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Not all throwing is created equal, so we want to try and track every single high intent throw. Its easy to tell kids we want them to be leaders and be responsible, but you’ve got to give them some opportunities to mess it up and grow. The only way kids will learn to be responsible is to have some responsibility. I try to be the best example possible for my players. You want to know what the problem with “kids today?” Its not the kids. Its us. If we want to win long term, we have to understand the game within the game. (On command) Its about how good are our misses not necessarily how man hit spots we have. Resources www.Drivelinebaseball.com HTKC Lantz Wheeler Ben Brewster Dr Stephen Osterer and his recovery book Mental ABCs of pitching The complete guide to pitching by Derek Johnson ABCA calls from the clubhouse Other coaches Contact [email protected] @coachjames_3 Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Make yourself worth following. We compete every day in the fall. You have to earn the right to compete for championship and that starts in the weight room. Leadership and mental toughness are behaviors and behaviors can be developed. When we get on first base, were either stealing or were anticipating ball in dirt. I want our practices and our program to be the best part of the players day. Resources Above the line- Urban Meyer Email and Call other coaches Contact @joshgar [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes (on hitters) We need more guys that use the big parts of their body and use their stride foot with a purpose Hitters have to test themselves and challenge themselves daily. That's what it takes to get better Sometimes hitters get caught up in the results from the weekend and, as a coach, i'm focusing more on on where they'll be in a few months. We start every batting practice with gap to gap rounds. I don't want them trying to push balls oppo if I throw the ball inside One of the ways we win games is by raising pitch counts early I see a lot of programs that are training players to win games. But I want our players to excel at the next level. Resources Social Media Youtube Watching baseball games Starting9 Contact IG Twitter Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes The key to this for me is relationships The first thing we have to do is understand what these kids are thinking. Once we understand what they’re thinking, then we can take our teaching methods and plug them in Pitcher development is not a problem to be solved, its a bunch of individuals that we need to try to grow and be the best players they can be and go win games. I think that bullpens can be the biggest waste of time ever. We need to have performance level bullpens and track to see if they can on throw with velocity, movement, and location on purpose. The best way to save pitchers arms is to teach them to get hitters out faster Of course I want my kids to throw as hard as they can, but i also want them to get hitters out. If your job is on the line, you want the kid who can execute pitches and give your team the best chance to win. Competition is preparing for the things that have to go right, but at the same time preparing for uncertainty. That's what separates the best players. Resources Mental ABC's of Pitching- Harvey Dorfman Baseball Dads Podcast The power of healthy tension- Tim Arnold Contact http://www.starttpitching.com/ http://pitchermatch.com/ [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes It pays to be a winner. And it pays to be a loser too, just not the kind of payment you want. Competing does not just mean competing against another person, its also competing against yourself to get better. You may be having a bad day but Ken (Ravizza) used to say all the time to “Give me 100% of your 50% today.” Thats competing. You’re making the choice to compete even though you don't feel great, The power of choice is always there. The great ones make the right choices. We believe that failure is an opportunity to learn. If something is hard that means only a few people are doing it. Lets just say the kids today are different, well what if they are? Its our job as coaches to adapt and coach them. Resources Heads up baseball Legacy Daniel Coyle- talent code and culture code Contact [email protected] @16RobCooper Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Everyone wants to be data driven and science based but skill acquisition science is the science that all of this is undergirded by. Its not that you should never use verbal cues its just that words mean different things for different people. There’s no such thing as a best swing, they’re all snowflakes and every single one is different with some sort of variance. Instead of chasing repeatable mechanics, we need to learn to be real time adjusters. Every time someone says “this is something everyone should do.” Then I’m out. There’s not much that everyone should do. When you use variability to enhance command, you’re training adjustability. Velocity, arm health, command and secondary stuff dont have to be mutually exclusive. Contact http://floridabaseballranch.com/summit FBR Twitter Randy Twitter Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Having played for Jerry (Weinstein) and coached with 11 (Mike Martin), its a constant learning experience with those guys and both have an uncanny ability to know whats going to happen in the game before it happens Communication and having a plan in the fall is vital, especially with incoming freshmen. We tell them 'If you’re going to be successful for your team you have to do A,B,C. And in the mean time we need to increase D,E,F.’ Just to make sure were on the same page. As long as everyone is on the same page, player development plays right into team development. One of our first conversations is “why do you swing like this?” We’re trying to figure out their process but also whether they’re analytical or they just see the ball and hit it. The biggest things we see between HS hitters and college is adjusting to velocity, adjusting to differences in velocity and hitting when they’re uncomfortable. So we have to train in an environment that mimics the game. Winning teams don't win unless they’re developing their players. Resources Twitter Hitting biomechanics The way of baseball- finding stillness at 95 by Shawn Green Driveline Jerry Weinstein Contact @clydekeller [email protected] Ckbaseball.com Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Contact Info @AHmulebaseball Facebook [email protected] Contributors @coachbennyb @NWBandits Daryl Hernandez @BKERA_IRISH_RKG @Maciejewski24 @JeffSherman26 @CoachWilliams Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes We want to train efficient, explosive, multi planer, multi joint movements to create explosive athletes. We're looking at the spectrum of athlete and where they need the most work depending on their experience and where they’re at in their career. There’s so much to mechanics and its so much fun to try and dig through everything to find the contributing factor. Giving players options of exercise based on mobility and in the range of the exercise will go a long way for helping individualize movements. At the end of the day its your career, so what do you feel like you need to do and how can I do to help you? Pitching is not like basketball, you can’t go max effort every single day. You have to have deload days, recovery days, command days, etc. Resources Starting strength- Mark Rippetoe Dynamics of skill acquisition Frans Bosch Applied sprint training- James Smith Mathletics Robin Lund Velocity Article(s) Contact Highlevelthrowing.com Wassermanstrength.com @wass_strength Facebook @wassermanstrength Instagram @wassermanstrength Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes No two athletes are the same, but a vast majority of amatuer hitters need to develop batspeed Young hitters are "cued" so much to put the ball in play, that they don't develop the coordination to move fast and swing with intent. Baseball hitting is one of the only skills in the world that trains in an environment that's easier than the game. A lot of our training is trying is trying to replicate game conditions and even making it harder and letting guys fail, because thats what theyre going to see in a game. If you are hitting 700 in practice, you're doing something wrong. What a coach says is important but what a coach doesn't say is equally important Resources TPI Altis P3 Dynamics of skill acquisition Rob Gray Contact @JasonOchart [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Email Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Daws We want everything to be player driven, once you make something important to you it now becomes yours As coaches, we know that players have to acquire certain skills, but players need to establish what they want to work on as well. We want them to be their best coach. We have to make sure our players are moving properly. But we also have to help them understand how they feel when they're moving properly and when they're not. Park The first time you do something shouldnt be the first time you do it. As a coach, I need to be able to speak the players language When we're working on the swing, its like trying to find your favorite flavor of ice cream. You're going to find one you like, and you're going to find some you cant stand. Resources Like minded coaches and #hittingtwitter Megaman Vid Ian Renshaw Keith Davids Carl Newell constraints Contact Connor @coachdaws Facebook Instagram Parker @RA_parker Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Contributors This Week Jesse @diamondbbclub @gmanoneone @DtrickN @Hitithere50 @coach33_410 Mike Reed Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes I think my why when I first started was winning ballgames and now all of my focus is on impacting young men. We raise pitch counts by swinging I often get asked, "what's you're two strike approach?" we don't have one I don't have a staff that works for me, i have a staff that works with me You never know what you can learn about your players until you start asking the right questions. We want to manage our drills so we can get maximum volume, maximum variances with attention to the individuals within the context of practice. Resources Eugene Bleecker Craig Wollenbrock Lind google drive Pitching Ninja Phone calls and conversations The obstacle is the way by Ryan Holliday Legacy by James Kerr Jon Gordon Contact @brownie_gb44 [email protected] @nsu_baseball Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Baseball is going to be data driven and we as high school coaches have to evolve. We have to know our players. We have to know who can do what, where and how and what they're good at because everyone learns and develops differently. A great program starts at the home We take these at bats, throw these pitches, and field ground balls with these kids because we want it so bad for them. We want them to see the success that we know they're capable of. By the time our kids leave here, we want to say we did everything we could for them internally, externally, and competitively. We have 2 rules Be on time Do things right Were gonna teach you how to play the game the right way but we're going to have to act the right way. Resources Driveline Connections/relationships Twitter Heads up baseball Contact [email protected] @coachkay13 @JSerraLionsBB Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes 3 years into coaching I tried to forget everything I knew about hitting. Now I try and continue to make sure everything I do makes sense, is backed up by video and biomechanical movement. There’s a better way to develop players in a team setting. We want our swing to be such that we launch it based on reaction, not anticipation. We chart everything in batting practice. I want every training session to be harder than what you are going to see in a game. Our number one goal as hitting coaches: We have to make players successful in the game, not just in practice. Sometimes what you feel isn’t real Resources Anson Dorrance Eugene Bleecker Ryan Parker #hittingtwitter Dustin Linds Hitting Drive Craig Hyatt Joan Vickers- Perception, cognition and decision training Contact @zona_baseball Zona Baseball Instruction http://www.zonabaseballinstruction.com/ Favorite resource for less than $100 Mirrors PVC Pipes Therabands Shortbats Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes The more I learn, the less I know. Its really interesting to look at this 4 things during an entire season. Energy Soreness Stress Sleep We need to educate athletes on what should be done outside of practice and games so that it can create a world where the athlete is recovered and ready to play everyday Alot of kids have developed compensatory patterns where they complete the intended task but they're doing so in a wrong way. I look at movement as a language of our brain In order for the body to function properly, there must be a cohesiveness between the muscles, joints, and neuromuscular system. Resources Dr. Keith Pyne Gee Voyeur Scott Kelso Contact 108 Research and Development Joe Cancellieri- IG Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Diamyn Hall Suggestions 360 Leader Culture Code Talk like Ted The Leader Phrase Book Talent is never enough 7 habits of highly effective people The team captains leadership manual Social Media for Diamyn Instagram Twitter Facebook Leadership resources Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast Brian Kight Focus 3 Brian Cain Stephen Mackey Above the line Legacy Joe Ehrmann Tim Corbin- What Drives Winning Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Recover for baseball: Key concepts, thoughts, and practical applications by Dr. Stephen Osterer Coupon for $15 off- AOTCrocks Quotes You can get away with throwing year round as long as we’re managing how much throwing we’re actually doing. I take the vantage point of pitchers being a lot less fragile than we give them credit for. One thing we focus on more is quantifying and qualifying range of motion. Its fairly easy to gain strength but a lot of people don’t fully appreciate how difficult it is to make changes in range of motion. At the end of the day we’re creating more movement options for hitting/pitching coaches to use during skill acquisition. There are some things we need to look at more with a critical lens. Just because it works for a specific individual doesn’t mean we need to throw everything at everyone. Whats the purpose, whats the rationale, why are we doing this and is it doing what we intended it to do? I used to throw everything at everyone because someone was doing it and saying it worked. I think we can be better than that. How we recover in season should be significantly different than how we recover in the offseason Resources Link to CARs article Eric Cressey Driveline Fangraphs Motus Routledge Textbooks Rob Grey Contact baseballdevelopmentgroup.com @drosterer Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Are you looking to increase practice performance or are you looking for skill transfer into the game? We want to replicate the game as much as possible and help our players to determine what movement works best for them given their body type, flexibility and mobility and perception of whats happening in their environment. If your in an environment where you aren’t learning, how do you expect to pass the test on game-day? Until you explain the why to players and coaches, it doesn’t matter what you’re trying to do. Create environments in practice where its ok to push yourself and to fail because that's where the learning happens We want optimization not just organization Resources Social media Shawn Myska Rob Grey The Hoops Whisperer- Idan Ravin Motor learning and performance- Richard Schmidt Contact @slarkin04 Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Training is a trial and error process I was on the low part of the totem pole walking on in college, but it kept me hungry. I also got to see everyday that the other guys weren't superhuman. They were either just a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, better mobility or better mechanics. It wasn't just a genetic thing. You have the freedom to do things outside of practice. Most think its show up to practice, do what you're told and then leave. Everybody is doing that. So what differentiates you? Gaining velocity is not an easy or linear process. Much of it is plateaus and you can't frustrated. You have to keep on trying, keep on failing, keep on testing and keep on evaluating until you get through that plateau. In college, we had a structured snack break before batting practice everyday to help guys gain weight. It was mandatory for everyone to bring something to eat for practice every single day. There's this conventional baseball wisdom that says "if you aren't doing the exact same stuff as everybody else at every single moment of the practice, you aren't a team player." Baseball is an individual sport played within a team setting. For all of our kids to develop to their potential, they need an individualized program. If everyone develops to their potential, that's going to help the team win. Most everything i tell the guys i work with is just a suggestion with an explanation behind why i'm suggesting it. Some things repeatedly work for some guys and don't work for others. Resources Building the 95 MPH body Myfitnesspal Eric Helms Mike Israetel John Berardi Precision nutrition Renaissance periodization Brian Mann and velocity based training Jim Wendler Martin Berkhan Rob Friedman Paul Nyman set pro Best under 100 purchase Plyocareballs- Discount code for 10% off- (tread10athletics) Pocket radar (although not under 100 bucks) Discount code- (TreadBaseball) Contact www.Treadathletics.com IG Twitter [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Contributors this week @diamondbbclub @codbra @brose2344 @rweaver23 @Gawbage29 @HyattCraig @jleroux33 @gmanoneone @SHS_baseball @NYFrank27 Alan McDougal Resources Cody Atkinson at UTRGV Wes Brooks Episode- MBP Craig Hyatt Episode Trent Otis Team Stuff Dan Heefner ABCA (both of them) Nino Giarratano (San Francisco ) Offset BP Jason Ochart CoachRodrigues2 Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast Mini Clinic Monday Signup

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Whatever it is in life you are going to do, you need to be fully engaged in it We post everything. Either on social media for motivation and celebration or in the locker room so that kids always know where they stand. They also get to learn their game and how it can benefit the team. At the end of every season when we look back, we never say "man i wish we had taken one more round of BP" But I have said "If we could have reached one or two more young men, that would have made the difference. The better our kids get at the "life skills" part, the better baseball players they're going to be. When you grow as an individual, all those around you automatically grow too. When you become more, we all become more. Baseball is what you do, its not who you are. Who you are is far more important than what you do Resources Optimize with Brian Johnson Extreme Ownership- Jocko Willink Periodization training for sport Periodization theory and methodology of training Patriot Reign 12 rules for life Contact @bryanconger31 [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes There's a difference between kids who play baseball and baseball players More than anything we believe in individuals. We believe that the only thing you can do wrong as a coach/trainer is to make everyone do the same thing. We need to figure out what the players need and not just what it is that we want to teach them. If we make it more about our players and less about our programs, were going to get more out of them as individuals and as a results were going to win more games. There's 5 guys on every team that if they think “swing up” they’re going to have a bad season. There's also 5 guys that if they think “swing down” they’re going to have a bad season. We’ve gotta figure out what each guys needs Its not about the best “cue” its about getting the best results. I grew the most in my career when I stopped looking for what everyone did the same and started looking for what they did different. Players will not always say what you say but they will do what you do. If you aren’t their first example in life on who you would want them to be, then you need to do some things differently. You have a huge impact on them, as a coach, on how they are going to act as a man later in life. Resources #Hittingtwitter Open minded guys that you can share stuff with Connor Dawson Wes Johnson Rick Strickland Ryan Parker Dustin Lind And his google drive Steve Johnson (leg kick nation) Trent Otis (ZBI Baseball) Nonlinear Pedagogy Contact [email protected] 951-354-2589 Twitter IG Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes It's not just about putting time in the weight room and on the field, it's a lifestyle. You've gotta make sure your priorities are right in the kitchen, in the classroom and in the weight room. With the data driven/technology driven way the game is going, we try and track everything. Take your body weight and half it and that's how much water you should be drinking a day. Add 6-8 ounces of additional water for every 15-20 minutes of exercise Theres alot of people that can put together a great program for someone. But I think it takes a special person to sit down and have a conversation to get a grown man/woman to buy in to what they're talking about. Being able to communicate to everyone from all types of different backgrounds defines you as a a coach. We mold our coaching to the players, not the other way around. Resources Conscious Coaching- Brett Bartholomew New Functional Training for Sports- Michael Boyle PRI Driveline Baseball Eric Cressey Contact Twitter @j_kesel @p3_stl Instagran @j_kesel @p3_stl Website http://www.p3stlouis.com/ Email [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes We expect our players to be tough, to play hard, and to compete but also be leaders in our school and community. We care about them as people more than we care about them as players. Kids start throwing in January and then all summer, so we completely shut arms from August until fall break halfway through October. Then we start our long toss program. We’ve seen a huge benefit from doing this and it’s been tremendous for our program. If a kid comes into our program and they haven’t left as a better man, we haven’t done our job. Any rule that you put into place, you have to be willing to lose your best player. Consistency is a big deal to us. Nothing infuriates me more than wasted time at practice. We play music, we have fun, and we don’t have 4 hour practices just to say we practiced for 4 hours. We’re going to be fast paced and get after it. Resources Vanderbilt University Energy leadership- Bruce Schneider The mental game of baseball- Harvey Dorfman Contact @davidsharp455 Facebook IG d4sharp [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes I love baseball but it's something I had never done in my life. That allowed me to look from the outside and get a fresh look on why I think the best players are getting injured so much and what could be improved in their training. Diversity breeds immunity. Every great system also creates great deficiency. Most people think strength is always the answer. But we believe there are many things that come before strength. We first work with coordination, then when we get more organized we find a rhythm. Then that rhythm leads us to more kinetic potential and kinetic potential leads to power exploration. Power exploration then leads us to strength training. We want baseball players bodies to work in one rhythmic unit spending less energy on moving and putting more energy on where to react properly and making the right decisions. My background is in art, and what is the most important thing in art? Staying creative. We need to always stay creative and find new alterations We all need to improve our training methods. We're kind of sleeping there because we have good training methods. What blocks us just being good to getting better? We need to be pushed to look past what is obvious. Resources Fighting Monkey Baseball Contact https://fightingmonkey.net/ Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes What typically happens is players get into a game and the game speeds up. So what are we doing as coaches to help them slow the game down. A lot of times we preach that but we don’t teach it. We speed up practice so much that the game slows down. One thing that Coach Garrido and Coach Graham had in common that really resonated with me was that we got into this business to be teachers. To teach these young men to be better people, ballplayers, brothers, and husbands. We typically have 3 objectives First and foremost we’re going to work individually with each player and look at them as individuals Next we’re going to work collectively (as a team) Then we’re going to work competitively We have to be well rounded. There’s so many different ways to win ballgames. We owe it to our players to give them different skills. At the end of the day if we have the chance to go to Omaha and we have to get a bunt down but the player can’t do it, if we haven’t given them the necessary skills to do that, thats on us. Same thing with a runner at third and less than 2 outs. We’re all in this together. At times, coaches want to build walls to separate themselves. Our goal should be to build relationships for 30 years. I didn’t get into coaching to win baseball games. In reality are we defined by that? Yes. But I think its important to understand that when we take the result out of the equation, we start to grow as a coach and as a person. Resources Telephone (calling other coaches) Fiction books Contact @clayvanhook [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes For the most part we understand how to make players better and progressing them on the field, but the next frontier in sports and player development is understanding individual human behavior Great coaches have great discernment, They know when to push, when to pull, when to backoff, when to jump someone or when to let it simmer. I can talk mechanics and game strategy all I want, but if the athlete isn’t taking it and owning it, then its just my words. Their not engaged. Coaching is an incredibly dynamic social activity. It varies from situation to situation. Coaching isn’t just teaching, just psychology or just mentoring. Coaching is all of those. Its in our nature to try and create friendships and relationships. When kids want to hang out with you or stand by you when you’re hitting fungo and talk to you. Thats a sign of a great relationship. When it becomes an issue is when we can’t hold them accountable. If we can discipline when we need to, then its an issue. We need to be able to adjust our coaching strategies based on the environment, the athlete and the setting that you’re in Resources Slides (tools 1-5) Conscious Coaching Team of Teams What to say when you talk to yourself Contact Info @24jono [email protected] Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play Quotes Our guys that are elite, whether thats pro/college, we can give them a 5 oz ball or a 14 oz ball, and they have the same arm mechanics every time. That allows us to see the repeatable mechanics. I think its important to make this distinction. We are building athletes that happen to play baseball, we’re not building just baseball players If we view our athlete their own unique being, then I think thats where we get really good results and really quickly. If you dont have any movement restrictions and you can hit all of the metrics of the 90 MPH formula wit h quality form you are exponentially less likely for injury and exponentially more likely to throw 90 I think as a coach we can all agree that 2 of our goals are, how can we keep everyone healthy and how can we win a ton of games. As far as in season lifts go, we lift heavy. We do a lot of 3x3. They get volume of work from playing, so we challenge them with power and get them out so they can go home and eat and recover. Resources Eric Cressey Spin Rate Driveline Local Strength coaches Contact @drheenan IG @josh_heenan joshheenan.com www.Advancedtherapyperfromance.com Website and Social Media sites for the show www.aotcpodcast.com Twitter @aotc_podcast Facebook Ahead of the Curve Coaches Facebook group Instagram aotc_podcast