The Youth Baseball Edge Podcast with Rob Tong: Coaching | Drills | Strategy

How can baseball parents help their kids train at a select/travel level? North Texas local rec league commissioner Grant Cowan shares his thoughts in part 2 of this two-part interview. Also, Rob answers the Question of the Week (30:25) about when a 10-11U pitcher should start preparing to throw from a full-size pitching distance. Plus, Rob makes a major announcement (35:18) you probably will like. And a bonus second major announcement (38:36) you probably will like also. In this 41-minute episode, you'll learn: five ways parents can help their kids improve their hitting (4:02) four ways parents can help their kids improve their pitching (9:21) four ways parents can help their kids improve their strength (10:37) four ways parents can help their kids improve their speed (12:27) one key thing to consider when debating whether to move from a rec league to a select/travel organization (13:31) one key thing to consider when debating whether to play fall ball vs individual training (21:49) one important philosophy to have when concerned whether your non-select/travel child can make his/her high school team (23:03) one overarching tip parents should keep in mind when training your kids (25:59)

Grant Cowan, MBSA coach and vice commissioner, shares how to coach your rec league team like a select-level coach in part 1 of this two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (40:50) about how to manage your kids and coaching staff when losing in a blowout. In this 47-minute episode, you'll learn: how travel ball can do it right (12:06) what problems rec coaches have when leading their teams (15:19) how to program your pre-practice routine (19:13) when to schedule your pre-practice routine (25:01) how to plan your defensive part of practice (25:50) how Grant plans his team's hitting practice (27:33) what hitting corrective drills are and how to use them (29:45) how to include pitching in practices (32:59) how to incorporate pitchers in batting cages (35:41) one recommended high-energy drill (38:05)

Rob Tong shares his top seven tips for 2024 that he learned from 2023. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to teach kids situational awareness. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Joey Greany, assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, finishes up his tour de force on youth baseball strength training with a conversation about nutrition and answering listener questions in part 2 of this two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (24:29) about whether rec kids should be allowed to use both USSSA bats and USA Baseball bats. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Speed (and strength and agility) is not just an asset in football and soccer. Youth baseball athletes can greatly benefit from this type of training and Joey Greany, the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, explains why and how in part 1 of this two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about about how to handle a team with no catchers. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Host Rob Tong looks back on the spring and fall seasons for his three teams in 2022 and whittled down seven lessons that he thinks might be helpful to you for 2023 and beyond. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about about why not teach a level swing if it produces higher batting averages. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

While the majority of 1B coaches in youth baseball tend to be spectators rather than coaches, 3B coaches in youth baseball also tend to not fulfill their responsibilities well and/or not know all their responsibilities. Toby Gardenhire, manager of the St. Paul Saints, is back to break it all down for us again in Part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about what age is appropriate for kids to focus on 1-3 positions. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

What exactly does a first base coach do in youth baseball? A LOT, actually. Toby Gardenhire, manager of the St. Paul Saints, breaks it all down for us in Part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether players can be first base coaches. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Test your knowledge of more commonly misunderstood baseball rules with Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the D1/DII/DIII level. Coaches should know these rules before going out to argue with the umpires. This is Part 4 of a four-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about what his hitting philosophy is and how to train it. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Test your knowledge of fair vs foul, batter's box rules, granting time, the infield fly rule, batted balls hitting objects, how to make appeals and the legality of stealing signs, as well as whether common arguments are myths or truths. Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the D1/D2/D3 level, is back to explain these commonly misunderstood rules coaches should know before going out to argue with the umpires. This is Part 3 of a four-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether to play up for challenge or stay at current level for confidence. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Test your knowledge of the rules as Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the collegiate D1/D2/D3 levels, explains more rules every coach should know before arguing with the umpires in Part 2 of a four-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to handle players who don't hustle on the base paths. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Admit it. You think you know the rules as much as the umpires do. I'll bet you don't. Brandon Jackson, former umpire at the D1/DII/DIII level, explains some rules coaches ought to know before going out to argue with the umpires. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to control young teams in the dugout. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

David Klein explains the details of how the game of Speedball works and what its unique rules are in Part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob (and Austin Wasserman) answer the Question of the Week about whether jump ropes are beneficial to 8U players. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

We as coaches work hard to revolutionize youth baseball practices so that it's no longer long, slow and boring. But is there a way to make games less slow and boring? David Klein is back (again) to share his idea for fast-paced youth baseball games where everyone gets lots of reps and no one sits the bench in Part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to manage rotation of a lot of kids in and out of games. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

If a kid came up to you and asked you to help him with his pitching, would you know how to help him? Jim Brower of Brower Baseball shares his tips on how to analyze and help your youth pitchers in Part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about a clear plan of where to start with beginner to intermediate middle schoolers. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Jim Brower of Brower Baseball explains why he values training accuracy over training max velocity, plus more of his philosophy on training youth pitchers and how to get started in Part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus, Rob answers the Question of the Week about practice plan help for head coaches who don't have any helpers. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Reflecting back on the past year is a productive way to see what went well and what could have been better. Consider doing that with your own team to get your own specific lessons learned! In the meantime, Rob shares seven lessons that he learned this past year that may help you for the upcoming year. Plus, Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether to strictly train your kid to hit against the travel tryout pitching machine speed for the upcoming tryout or let the kid hit faster speeds.

Is stealing more bases as simple as telling your kids, "Be aggressive! They can't throw you out!" As kids move up the ranks, defenses CAN throw you out. Then what? Tyler Gillum of South Mountain Community College and the Savannah Bananas tells you what—and how—in part 2 of our two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (38:11) about when your kid should play up. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

Can advanced baserunning be taught to youth players? Tyler Gillum from South Mountain Community College and the Savannah Bananas says yes, and explains how to teach advanced baserunning to your kids in part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether establishing concrete rules of thumb would be better than trusting your gut when it comes time to pull a pitcher out of an inning. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!