Whether we like it or not, there indeed exists a stigma in athletics that players and coaches must be “mentally tough”, and that discussing mental illness is taboo. As a result, those who are struggling do so in silence for fear that they will be labeled soft, incompetent, or mentally weak. Recently, I posted some…
As most high school coaches have probably noticed, each year travel baseball has taken a greater foothold on the high school baseball landscape. Travel-ball has become a staple for nearly all ballplayers — what was once a summer-only tour for most, for many it is now a nearly year-round endeavor. While the travel circuit has many inherent advantages ,…
In my coaching career thus far, I’ve been fortunate to collect diverse, yet highly concentrated experience in athletics; I’ve spent the better part of 8 years coaching a single population of athletes — baseball players — yet, have done so at various age and competition levels. Between the high school level, the travel-ball circuit, collegiate…
In a professional sense, 2017 was certainly a fulfilling year for me. But, it wasn’t without challenge or struggle. In fact, both in professional and personal terms, this year was also one of the most challenging I’ve gone through yet. Considering all that 2017 had to offer — the good and the bad — I…
Read enough of my writing and you will notice a couple of recurring theme: at the high school level of the game, general training should always precede advanced methods, foundational strength should trump specialization. While this is a vital concept to understand, something that cannot be refuted is that individualization — or the accommodation of a…
This piece was originally written for one of my science writing courses. I enjoy writing and sharing, so I figured why not share this one. I have made some minor edits before posting here. Enjoy! *** For those working in the game of baseball (at every level), these should be exciting times: youth participation rates…
In Part I of this series we discussed some of the initial considerations that must be made by sport coaches before designing a strength training program for their high school team (that is, without the help of a certified strength coach). To reiterate some of the main points from Part I here are some important questions…
Baseball is a sport of timeless tradition, and while many of the game’s greatest qualities are born out of these traditions, many unfortunate stigmas within the sport have held over today from days gone by. One of the oldest and most misguided pieces of dogma plaguing the sport is that strength training is inherently bad…
At first, I believed my deepest passion was baseball, and that this, alone, was what drove me. But, in reflection, I have learned that it is about something different entirely: developing relationships with others. And, at the foundation of every interpersonal relationship is communication. Despite being tasked with coaching athletes my own age (and sometimes…
As the early stages of the fall and the new school year begins, many high school sport coaches around the country will now take up a pad and pen (or keyboard) to devise a strength training plan for their team. In a perfect world, every high school would have a full-time strength and conditioning professional employed…
One of the most common questions that I field in terms of baseball training programs comes in the form of a high school coach, player, or parent requesting a “pitcher-specific” training program. While it is admirable to try to provide the best and most highly-applicable resources possible for young athletes, oftentimes the perception of “pitcher-specific…
In Part I and Part II of this three-installment series we discussed the importance of nutrition and hydration, respectively, over the course of a hot, busy, and demanding travel-ball summer. Today we will dive into another vital consideration for the summer, this one taking place outside of the foul lines: physical training. Coaches, players, and parents all…
