The SLIDE Podcast - Youth Baseball & Softball Podcast

Jen and Aaron are presenting a pre-recorded chat with baseball moms (Jen, Jessica, and Katie) from across the league. Jen and Aaron recently hosted The Diamonds of D2 event where they met fantastic baseball moms, so they spoke with the moms about the sport and its players. First up we discover who is appearing and what their walkout songs would be. Next is a discussion about the moms’ proudest moments in their kid’s sport. Jen has 3 kids in baseball right now, Jessica has 2 and Katy has 1. The kids have a mix of illnesses and anxieties and have overcome them through baseball. Moving on, the moms tell Jen and Aaron what their favorite part of being a baseball mom is. They agree that it’s really a highlight seeing how proud the kids are of themselves when they achieve something in the game. The topic of pressure in the game comes up, along with how they address it. We also hear about the great sense of comradery between the kids and the baseball moms. The moms discuss the great coaches they have experienced, either in their past or with the kids. A coach that takes the time to get to know the kids and treats them as individuals is always the type who will get the best out of the team. The talk moves to what happens post-game, and whether there is celebration or commiseration. Everyone makes mistakes, even in the MLB, and it’s okay! We then get insight on dugout drama and how it gets dealt with. Remember that baseball should be fun!     Find us online: Instagram: @theslidepodcastshow Facebook: www.facebook.com/theslidepodcast Twitter: TheSlidePod

This time, Jen and Aaron are talking to Grayson Knight, who has his own baseball-themed podcast called Baseball Podcasts Are Fun. Over the last few weeks, Jen and Aaron have been planning an event for the baseball and softball moms of the area that they are calling The Diamonds of D2. There will be dancing, entertainment, and prizes donated by local businesses. Keep an eye on social media for more details. Back in October, as part of a school project, Grayson created Baseball Podcasts Are Fun. The name is an homage to Brett Phillip’s company Baseball is Fun. At first, Grayson was nervous about the podcast and the guests, but now it’s just a fun experience that he loves being involved with. Before the project came up, it hadn’t crossed Grayson’s mind to start a podcast. He didn’t know where to start, but his family comes from a broadcasting background. He tells us all about the funniest moments that have come up on the show Grayson goes on to discuss his experience being interviewed live on ESPN and his goal for the podcast’s future. Then, Grayson turns the tables on Jen and Aaron by asking them some questions about the Slide Podcast. Grayson then provides insight on his Little League team and what baseball means to him. To end the show, Grayson talks about how much he loves umpires, his black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and his favorite TV shows and movies.   Find us online: Instagram: @theslidepodcastshow Facebook: www.facebook.com/theslidepodcast Twitter: TheSlidePod

On this episode, Jen and Aaron are joined by certified hitting instructor Matt Hallock and umpire Kristi Moore. Matt lives in Tampa, Florida and works as a VP in corporate. He’s always had a passion for baseball and recently found a new hobby in preparing youth baseball players for the major leagues. Matt discusses his passion in the work he does with young players and explains why it’s so important for them to hit off the tee. There are certain stages of learning which are important for developing the right skills. He also discusses one of his favourite tools for neuromuscular training. There are so many things kids can do before they get to the batter’s box to raise their ball-hitting percentages and put themselves in a better position moving forward. These practices can also increase confidence and provide anxiety relief pre-game. These practices are covered by Matt in his training camps. Midway through the episode, Kristi discusses the recent event that impacted her life. She was called in to umpire a game after another umpire called out sick. She made a call, and one of the mothers became irate. The coach refused to step in, and the interaction ended in Kristi being hurt at the end of the game. Kristi, Aaron, Jen, and Matt go on to discuss the inappropriate way Kristi was treated and why we need to do better, especially in Little League Baseball. This incident could deter females from rising up through the same ranks. The episode ends on a high note with Kristi expressing her gratitude for all the support she’s gotten since the unfortunate event.   Find us online: Instagram: @theslidepodcastshow Facebook: www.facebook.com/theslidepodcast

In this weeks’ episode, Jen and Aaron are talking with Coach Lee Isaac’s Little League team who just won 5 games over a championship weekend and took home the championship. The kids are here to talk about their experience in baseball and about their championship run. Joining the show are Atlee, Kaiden, Jackson, Nixon, and Bryson. To start off the show, Jen talks to the boys about their favorite part of a practice, which turns out to be everything from catching, sliding, and hitting. Then, the kids discuss feeling pressure and how they deal with it on the field. It comes down to buckling down and believing in yourself. Next up, the topic of conversation is the team’s winning streak. For the last 2 seasons, they haven’t lost a game and they are starting this season off strong by taking home a championship. The kids let us know their walkout songs and home run stats so far, and Coach Aaron tells the kids about his early home run record of zero. The conversation turns to favorite baseball players. The kids are fans of everyone from Freddy Freeman to Jackie Robinson. Everyone discusses the movie The Sandlot and how enjoyable, and scary, it was. Coach Jen then asks the kids what they say in the huddle and how they deal with small hitters and people’s perception of them as small hitters. To end the show, Aaron and Jen talk to the boys about their family ties in the sport and how they deal with it. The kids all get a surprise as a thanks for being our guests today.   Find us online: Instagram: @theslidepodcastshow Facebook: www.facebook.com/theslidepodcast      

In this episode, hosts Jen and Aaron are joined by Jen’s son Colton and Aarons’ son Jace. This show is meant for the fans, players, and coaches of Little League baseball. Today, Jen and Aaron take us through the creation of the podcast and what they hope people can get out of it. Starting off, Jen takes us through how they came up with the name Slide. Each letter stands for something different. S is for sportsmanship, L is for leadership, I is for inspire, D is for determination, and E stands for excitement. All these things are what the sport stands for to the hosts and what they hope to exemplify with this show. Next up, Aaron and Jen talk to Aaron’s son Jace about what he loves about baseball. At 7 years old, Jace says his favorite thing is fielding and hitting. He loves catching the ball, and he loves seeing his friends catch the ball and get people out. Colton joins in to say that he plays the same position as Jace and he loves hitting most. Can’t wait for his first dinger! Every night, Jace and his dad do squats, jumping jacks, and push-ups to keep their bodies in shape. Colton and Jen talk about what makes a good coach, and Aaron and Jen talk about coaching their own kids, what makes it easy, and what makes it hard. To finish this inaugural episode, Jen and Aaron talk about the pressures on the kids and why they started coaching in the first place. Find us online: Instagram: @theslidepodcastshow Facebook: www.facebook.com/theslidepodcast