Elbow Up Youth Baseball: Recent Episodes
Kevin Burke
Tips, advice, experience, and observations, for parents and coaches, to help get the most out of the youth baseball experience!
www.getelbowup.com
I've long been a proponent of young athletes playing multiple sports. There are so many benefits to learning different skill sets, playing with different teammates, and taking mental and physical breaks from the daily grind.
As summer and fall youth baseball seasons were winding down, I received a lot of questions about what to do in the off-season to help get ready for next season.
I always begin my answer to this question with "take some time off" followed closely with "play another sport." And then of course we talk about lessons, strength and conditioning, family time, etc.
I recently saw a Facebook post in a youth baseball group essentially downplaying the importance, or need, for playing other sports. I use this episode to refute his claims and explain why your son should be playing multiple sports in the baseball off-season.
What Comes First, the Chicken or the Egg?Kids aren't just born elite athletes. Sure, there are freaks of nature that are born with more natural size, strength, speed, and agility than others, but they don't just come out of the womb ready to play in the MLB, NFL, or NBA.
They are elite athletes because they played multiple sports early and often - and mostly with less structure and training than we have today.
Again, and as I always say, there are exceptions. But these guys were born into families that encouraged being outside playing with balls of all sports, spent the time learning by doing, and kept their bodies moving at different speeds and in different directions for much of the year.
There are others that spent their time outside the house playing football, basketball, baseball, or any other ball that would keep them away from their unfortunate situation inside the house. Often it kept them out of trouble. And the byproduct was becoming a better athlete.
What if my son doesn't want to play other sports?Why even give them the option when they're young?
It's not an option at my house. I literally tell my son every year, "I don't care what you do or play, but we're going to do some activity that keeps you moving and busy."
Can we just do strength and conditioning?Well, you can. But there are at least two likely issues with this.
One, it's expensive. The average parent, myself included, does not have the expertise or the facilities to do this correctly. To get what you need out of it, you need to go at least 3 times per week.
That's going to run you MINIMUM $100 a week.
Why not pay $150 for the whole basketball season, practice or play 3 days a week, learn new skills, put them outside their comfort zone, get coached by new unfamiliar coaches, and do something different?
For way less money.
My opinion based on experienceBottom line, your son might actually end up a Major League Hall of Famer having only played baseball his entire life.
But in reality, there's a close to zero percent chance he ends up a Major Leaguer anyways, no matter what he does.
Just as high schoolers aren't equipped to determine their ultimate career path, nine year olds aren't equipped to know what's best for their athletic development.
Get them experience in uncomfortable situations. Let them practice playing for coaches they don't know. Encourage them to do things they aren't really good at. Put them in a position to learn to compete in many different situations.
There's very little downside to playing multiple sports, and t
If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate the podcast and leave a comment. I would appreciate it more than you know.
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It's been just over three years since I published the very first Elbow Up newsletter email. In that time there have been more than 300,000 website visitors, 59,000 emails sent, and nearly 180,000 podcast downloads.
While I feel like I've become more polished in my delivery of the message, the message largely hasn't changed. And actually, I'm ready to double down on a few things (definitely controversial).
Three Years in Review
Looking back at the opens, downloads, comments, questions, and responses, I thought it would be good to revisit the top four topics I've written about over the last three years.
These topics generated the most buzz, the most feedback, and frankly the most interest from all of you.
⚾ My Oldest Son Turns 18 Today: What I Would Have Done Differently
⚾ Coaches are Ruining Young Arms
⚾ Over-coaching Ruins the Fun Youth Experience
⚾ Weekend Tournaments are Ruining Youth Baseball Development
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If you like my content, please help me by doing the following:
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As always, thank you for listening and supporting Elbow Up Youth Baseball!
🚨 You don’t want to miss this one! In addition to loads of useful information, Jaeger Sports has given me 5 sets of J-Bands along with their Throwing Manual to give away to my listeners! 🚨
Parents and Coaches,
Today’s message is partially in response to my recent episodes Coaches are Ruining Youth Arms and Protecting Young Arms in Youth Baseball.
I’m excited this week to bring you China McCarney from Jaeger Sports.
Jaeger Sports is considered by many to be the industry leader in Arm Health, Arm Conditioning, and Mental Training for baseball players.
And if you look around, you’ll see their flagship J-Bands at parks and fields all across the country.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the interview, although you’ll miss out if you don’t listen to every single second of this one (plus, you want to know how to win a set of J-Bands and their throwing manual):
0:56 - Introduction
3:35 - Interview starts with China McCarney from Jaeger Sports
4:42 - What is Jaeger Sports?
6:15 - How early should we start thinking about arm health and arm conditioning?
8:42 - What is arm care?
9:48 - Warm up to throw, don’t throw to warm up!
11:20 - Explaining the WHY!
12:45 - What is a throwing program?
15:04 - Watch out for gimmicks and advertisements promising quick and unrealistic returns!
15:45 - Should you be worried if your child throws slower than his peers at a young age? (IMPORTANT!!)
21:00 - Does Jaeger Sports have a youth specific throwing program?
23:00 - How important is time off? And a discussion on year ‘round baseball.
26:00 - The mental aspect of taking time off.
28:45 - Jim Vatcher, Jaeger Sports CEO and former Major League outfielder, and how he approaches his teenage son’s baseball experience.
30:00 - Kids should have fun now so they’ll still want to be around later to develop.
30:50 - China actually founded the Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation in 2017 after his own experience with being a competitive athlete.
32:32 - How important is wearing sleeves and staying warm in cooler weather?
34:10 - Pitch counts, pitch counts, pitch counts! What does Jaeger Sports think about pitch counts?
37:17 - How can you get a J-Band or the Jaeger Sports throwing manual? Also, more information about free resources for parents, coaches, and players at Jaeger Sports!
41:21 - Closing thoughts from China McCarney:
Take action!
Introduce arm care and arm health to your son and your team.
Keep the game fun!
Be a human being.
Remind your kid of the WHY.
I really hope you enjoyed this interview. Leave a comment below, a rating in iTunes, and share with a friend or fellow parent and coach!
🚨 To be eligible to win one of the five sets of Junior J-Bands and Annual Throwing Manual (pictured below and $65 if you bought them yourself), you must be a member of our new Facebook group, Youth Baseball Parents & Coaches. I’ll announce the winner in the group on Saturday! 🚨
If you don’t have Facebook, email me at elbowup@substack.com and let me know.
Thanks again for making a difference in youth baseball, and for supporting Elbow Up!
If you’re new, consider subscribing so you won’t miss another episode or email!
Talk soon.
Kevin
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Hello parents and coaches!
It’s been a few weeks, but I’m back and ready with some great stuff.
I shared a Facebook post a couple weeks ago teasing this topic. I had more comments than usual, so I knew it would be 🔥.
This week I’m going to gain or lose subscribers (probably some of both) - and that’s okay. I’m not here to make friends (although it is a perk), rather to share my experience and positively impact kids and families through youth baseball.
(Listen above or through your favorite podcast app, or continue reading below.)
Everyone is Thinking About Next Season
As the current season winds down, coaches and parents get to work figuring out what next year will look like. It happens earlier and earlier every year.
Everyone has an angle.
Many coaches are looking to “upgrade” their team.
Some parents just want to win more.
Some parents aren’t happy with their son’s playing time or position, so they’re looking to see which area teams will have openings.
Here’s the thing…None of those things are bad on the surface.
I mean I’m not here to say you shouldn’t want to be better, win more games, and do what’s best for your kid(s).
But what about the cost? What about the collateral damage? What about the big, long term picture?
And is it even worth it?
Here’s a screenshot of the Facebook post I came across.
Now let’s unpack all of that and talk about what nobody wants to hear.
The Reality
I know some guys who have played and coached at really high levels.
Off the top of my head, we had an 11 year big league vet on the show, my brother was a first round draft pick, and then just the other day a kid who played on our 9U team 9 years ago was taken in almost the same spot in the draft (I’ll talk about him and that season more below).
All those guys got (or will get) big money relative to what most of us will ever make - especially playing a sport.
But here’s the thing - that’s not realistic for 99% of us. It’s just not.
It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our best and help our kids succeed, but it means we shouldn’t treat youth baseball like we’re playing for a World Series and our career is on the line.
In fact, what’s on the line is much much more important - the future of our kids.
The Root of the Madness
There are two main reasons daddy’s become youth baseball General Managers and parents jockey to find the ‘best team’ for their kid.
For those that may not know, a General Manager in Major League Baseball is the person responsible for building the best team possible, making trades, drafting and cutting players, and ultimately is held accountable for an organization’s success or failure.
Now, if you find this part offensive, send me an email. But I’ve been both of these, so I can say it. And if it hurts, it’s probably true.
For coaches, they just want to win. Period. I don’t know how else to say it.
Sure, most coaches I come across are good people. They care for the kids. They want them to be as successful as possible. But the desire to win and be the best rises above all else. This is true even for most that would say it’s not.
For parents, we can’t stand for our children to fail, be uncomfortable, or face adversity, and it’s natural for us to want to intervene.
Unfortunately, that’s not really how life is going to be. These kids have to learn how to lose, how to struggle, how to sit the bench, how to be good teammates, and how to not play the position they want to play.
Coaches
The post above is accurate. Many (entirely more than you might think) youth coaches act as a General Manager and use their players as chess pieces.
What’s wild, is most off-season “upgrades” only yield a few more wins each season.
A few. A FEW?! Say that out loud. You’re going to cut one or two kids so you can win 5 more games next year? Trust me, I’ve been there before. But if 5 more games is what you’re trying to accomplish, you should step back and just be a parent.
What in the world are we doing?!
We fail to set goals, develop players, actually teach them how to be better, and then when one or two of them doesn’t meet our ‘performance standards’ we cut them for someone better.
Parents
Pump the breaks on changing the environment so your son can be successful instead of preparing them to adapt to and deal with the environment they find themselves in.
Kids are leaving teams left and right because they aren’t playing the right position, or the team didn’t win enough games or rings.
There are legitimate reasons to leave a team (and I’ll get into it below), but avoiding failure and adversity are not two of them.
Back to the Basics
We have to get back to the basics of what we’re trying to do each week on the ball field, and let that guide us in all that we do related to baseball.
Remember, I’m focused on younger guys - ages 6 - 12.
If you haven’t, go back and read one of my very firsts posts (or listen to it here), and I talk about what I believe we should be focused on.
As youth coaches and parents we should be focused on three things, and I personally don’t think it should even be a conversation:
Have fun
Get better
Learn life lessons
If you disagree, email me. I’d like to hear what would go ahead of those three things for a 9 year old baseball player.
So back to what I said above. If those are our goals, why would we look to “upgrade” one of our players to get a few more wins?
Why would we look to jump teams that we are otherwise happy with to get a couple more rings or trophies.
What to do Instead
This is a tough one to tackle because every situation is different. There are teams with 50 wins last year trying to eek out a few more, and there are teams with 50 losses looking to just have a chance (and even more somewhere in the middle).
Even with the disparity of teams and talent, I believe we as coaches and parents have a duty, a responsibility, to get back to the basics of what’s really important and let that guide how we act, how we coach, how we parent, how we win, and how we lose.
Coaches
It’s hard, but you must suppress the desire to put winning above all else. This clouds judgement, decision making, and how you coach your team.
You begin to make decisions that favor short term gain as opposed to long term gain for the players and the team.
An example of this is over-pitching your top 2 or 3 pitchers. You do this because you don’t think you have an opportunity to win otherwise. So the short term potential upside gets in the way and you stick with your top few guys.
The irony is, you may win that one game, but the long term downside is far greater to both those individual pitchers, all the other kids, and your team as a whole.
Those guys that you over-pitch are more likely to have arm problems as they get older. The kids you never give an opportunity to are going to be behind, and your team is actually NOT going to be as good because you haven’t developed the talent and they’re not going to be as deep as they could be.
Another example is moving guys around to different positions. The best teams NOW are the teams who play their best players at the most important positions. The best teams in 2 and 3 years are the teams who move guys around NOW and develop baseball players instead of shortstops, first basemen, and outfielders.
But we don’t think like that because we become a General Manager and want to win now, now, and now. So we make poor choices.
Parents
Same thing for parents.
We look at what might be the most beneficial for our kid in the moment.
We look for what’s going to keep them from experiencing adversity.
We look for ways to set them up for the most comfortable experience.
We have to let our kids learn to figure some things out for themselves. It’s never too young to start teaching them these life lessons.
We also have to be careful not to place the entirety of our kid’s worth in how they perform on the ball field. Your kid might just not be very good. Your kid who is good today at 9 might turn out to just not be very good when he gets to middle school.
And that’s okay. But we can’t tie their value and their worth to how they perform. I don’t think most of us do this intentionally, but we are doing it without even realizing it. If they feel that from us, we’re setting us and them up for a very disappointing and unfulfilled childhood.
Legitimate Reasons
Just to be clear, and to avoid some hate mail, there are a few things that I think qualify as legitimate reasons for coaches to part ways with a player or for parents to find another team for their son.
The details of this are for another episode, but could include (but not limited to):
Behavior issues
Commitment issues
Non-baseball related issues
Goals and objective differences
These, and others, could be legitimate reasons for coaches and families to part ways with one another, but it should rarely (or never) be just because we want a few more wins or my kid is facing adversity.
Let’s Do Better
At the end of the day, we can only control ourselves and how we handle these situations.
As the 2021 summer season comes to a close and we all look towards next season, I challenge you to go back and write down your WHY. Revisit your family’s goals for youth baseball in whatever situation you’re in.
I challenge you to keep those goals at the forefront of everything you do as a coach, or as a parent.
If this message hits home to you, don’t let it define you.
I too was this parent or coach at one time, and it took me doing it the wrong way to change and try to do it right.
The time we have with our kids playing a game we all love is short, so let’s not waste it. Do it right.
Have fun. Get better. And use baseball to prepare your team (or son) for life!
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Parents and Coaches,
This week I recorded a version of a written article I wrote back in 2019. Not only is it still relevant, it’s something I personally still struggle with and see every single week on every single team.
Please take the time to read below or listen above, and I’d ask that you share this either on social media or with 2 or 3 other parents or coaches today!
Thank you for being a part of the Elbow Up community, and if you don’t get these in your inbox each week, what are you waiting for? 😉
Eight year old Tommy steps into the on deck circle and takes a couple of swings, halfway distracted by the young child crying in the stands through the fence.
One of his coaches (who is also his dad) looks over at him.
“You’re dropping your hands. Come on, swing like you will in the game.”
Tommy tries to refocus but before he’s able to swing, the previous batter is out and he’s up to bat. He trots out to the batter’s box, excited for the opportunity to hit!
“Back up in the box! Look at your feet! Now get that elbow up!”
Swing and miss.
“You’re pulling your head out. Keep your head down”
Foul ball.
“You’re stepping out. You have to step to the pitcher or you’re never going to hit it!”
Swing and miss. Strike three.
Tommy trots back to the dugout only to be met by his coach (and dad) who repeats everything he said over the past three pitches.
Tommy’s disheartened. Not because he struck out. Because he just received 7 different instructions during a live at bat, he struck out in front of everyone, and worst of all he feels like he’ll never be able to do everything his dad told him all at once.
It’s a vicious cycle that will only get worse.
Over-coaching is one of the worst things you can do as a parent or coach. It’s something I’ve fought myself for years.
It really becomes debilitating to the player and amplifies any failure they may experience on the field.
At this age, if they don’t have it, or know it, before they get into the batter’s box, they’re not going to.
Keep in mind, there are certainly times to teach during a live game. Situational learning happens in a game because it’s very difficult to replicate in practice, especially at a young age.
Working on who covers second, who the cut man is, where to throw the ball in a certain situation. Those are all things I may mention to a player between batters or innings in a positive way so they get feedback as soon as it happens.
Hitting and pitching mechanics aren’t that easy to learn during the middle of a game. These are things that should be practiced over and over before the game, so that when they get in the game it’s a learned movement or skill that comes natural.
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How to Avoid the Over-Coaching Trap
First, just stop. And relax. Let the kids enjoy the game. Remember my number one goal? If they aren’t enjoying the game, they’ll lose interest and never get any better.
Secondly, focus on one small thing at a time (but not during the game!) and practice it over and over and over. I’ve often wondered how many of those dads and coaches barking multiple commands during an at-bat actually spend several hours a week working on those same commands.
If you practice your spelling for 5 minutes each week, how is your child going to do on the spelling test?
Baseball is no different. If you go to one team practice in a week, and then spend 5 minutes talking about the swing in the car on the way home, how can you expect different results?
Focus on one small incremental improvement at a time, and actually spend time working on it.
Third, realize and come to grips with the fact that your child is 6, or 8, or 10, or 12. They’re still kids and they don’t pick up everything quickly. Many baseball movements are advanced, and can be difficult to replicate even for kids who are advanced learners.
I consider my own son to be very smart. He’s like a sponge and remembers everything. But as a 7 year old, he doesn’t have the body control to execute some of the baseball movements we work on.
That’s okay because one day he’ll have that body control. And as long as I haven’t pushed him away from the game, he’ll figure it out.
Next time you catch yourself over-coaching, just stop - sit back, relax, and enjoy the game! Work on incremental improvements during the week, and watch your son get better over time!
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Parents and Coaches,
This week I’m talking about umpires.
Before I jump into it, if you haven’t already subscribed, do so now so you don’t miss any future episodes. It’s free, and I’ll send you an email when I post an article or new episode!
Umpires are just as much a part of baseball as are hitters and pitchers, but in almost every game I coach I see other parents and coaches interacting with umpires in ways that not only won’t help them get any future calls but also sets a bad example for their kids and players.
In this week’s episode, I talk about what makes a good umpire, my own experience with umpires (I’ve shown myself a time or two), how to interact with umpires, and how to talk to your kids and players about how to handle bad (or questionable) calls.
Enjoy the episode, and leave a comment with your feedback, questions, or your own experiences.
Thanks for listening - see you next time!
Kevin
P.S. Would you take a few seconds and share this with a friend? Use the button below or just forward the email!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Parents and Coaches,
In this episode I finished up the Mike Steele interview from last week, and just as in part one - he didn’t disappoint.
If you missed part one, go listen to it first, then come back and catch part two here!
Please let me know what you think and if you’d like to hear more from Mike.
He’s committed to joining me again, as well as collaborating for a monthly listener-generated Q&A session - just for you!
Thanks again for listening. Would you consider sharing Elbow Up with a friend?
⚾ 0:00 - Audio Clip from Part One
⚾ 1:51 - Introduction
Mike Steele played high school, college, and pro ball. He spent 7 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitching coach.
He’s also served as the pitching coach at three Division I universities - Michigan State University, Long Beach State University, and Wichita State University.
Mike is now based out of Phoenix, Arizona with the Cleveland Indians as a minor league pitching coach. He works during Spring Training with all levels of Indians’ pitchers, and then remains in Phoenix throughout the rest of the year with their Rookie level minor league team.
In addition to his lengthy baseball career, Mike’s most important job now is being a father, which also includes coaching his son’s 13 year old summer team.
I know a lot of youth league coaches that have played the game at a high level, but I’ve never come across a professional baseball coach who also coaches his son’s team (at the same time).
⚾ 5:50 - We’re Forcing Kids to Play Scared
The fear comes from a lack of competitiveness. They haven’t done it enough to be confident, so we should focus on competing and how to bounce back.
Kids are too young to have the right level of confidence, but we’re also not encouraging them to compete. Instead we’re trying to build mechanical machines.
⚾ 9:11 - Epidemic of Parents and Coaches Focusing on the Wrong Things
Specifically, parents and coaches are more worried about winning than developing boys to be men.
We should be developing the person first, and then the players.
⚾ 11:15 - Risk of Boys Growing Up Having a Transactional Relationship with Everything in Life
This includes baseball, work, women. And if they don’t see immediate positive results, they’ll quit, or give up on it.
⚾ 13:52 - Being Good Doesn’t Always Equal Development
Most of the best teams at the young ages just have the best athletes, and is not a good predictor of long term baseball success.
The two guys from his 12U little league state championship team, the two guys that ultimately played professional baseball were the last two guys anyone would have thought of when they were 12U.
[Timeline generation in progress]
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Parents and Coaches,
This is one of my favorite episodes so far! It was an hour long, so I split it into two parts. Be sure to subscribe to my free emails so you won’t miss part two!
This is definitely one you need to listen to, but here’s an outline of the episode and part one of my interview with Cleveland Indians pitching coach, youth baseball coach, and dad, Mike Steele! (remember, you can also subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast player)
⚾ 1:00 - Introduction
Mike Steele played high school, college, and pro ball. He spent 7 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitching coach.
He’s also served as the pitching coach at three Division I universities - Michigan State University, Long Beach State University, and Wichita State University.
Mike is now based out of Phoenix, Arizona with the Cleveland Indians as a minor league pitching coach. He works during Spring Training with all levels of Indians’ pitchers, and then remains in Phoenix throughout the rest of the year with their Rookie level minor league team.
In addition to his lengthy baseball career, Mike’s most important job now is being a father, which also includes coaching his son’s 13 year old summer team.
I know a lot of youth league coaches that have played the game at a high level, but I’ve never come across a professional baseball coach who also coaches his son’s team (at the same time).
⚾ 3:30 - Interview Starts
Mike was a good player, not a great player
He was middle of the pack compared to his peers
Didn’t get any offers out of high school; went JUCO
Played 6.5 seasons in pro ball
Had Tommy John and shoulder surgery
Start coaching career at Michigan State once he got married
Left coaching to work for Bo Jackson and John Cangelosi with the Illinois Sparks
Went back to the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitching coach and a scout
Pitching coach at Long Beach State and Wichita State for two years each
Was offered a job and currently coaches with the Cleveland Indians
⚾ 10:50 - Why Mike Reached Out
Mike came across my episode about how Weekend Tournaments are Ruining Youth Baseball Player Development
Commented and agreed saying the current youth baseball environment is destroying our kids’ development
Mike recently realized after coaching a tournament, parents have so much anxiety around their kids’ performance
And how much pressure is put on our kids during their teenage years
And all of it is for the purpose of winning a ring that really means nothing
⚾ 13:55 - Thoughts on Rings for the “Toilet Bowl” Bracket
Mike talked about the difference between getting trophies and rings for participating vs the rings he got growing up as a player
Rings meant more than just playing, but represented the blood, sweat, and tears of the grind throughout the season
⚾ 17:25 - Transactional Relationship w/ Baseball
We don’t talk to young players today about controlling what they can control
Parents just hope their kid messes up less than the other kid; not developing players who can deal with adversity
⚾ 18:25 - Getting Lessons Too Early
Why are parents taking kids to work on skills when he doesn’t even know how to catch the baseball
“Parents want to buy a good delivery”
Players are learning skills but not how to play the game
Historically, players learned how to play the game, not go to lessons
They also learned how to handle adversity
More important to learn fundamental athleticism and how to compete
Parents, and the lesson, tournament, showcase industry teaches kids to use measurements and rings to determine how “good” they are
⚾ 18:25 - Tournament Baseball
Mike could not think of a worse setup to develop baseball players
It’s win at all cost
The mindset and rewards for youth baseball are not like any other level of baseball
⚾ 25:40 - What do we tell parents who are afraid their kid is going to be left behind?
First, what is ‘behind’? What’s your goal?
The chances you really have of playing past high school.
The chances of playing Division I.
The reality of where kids end up and how that should direct goals and resources.
The chances of playing pro ball are low.
The chances of being a husband, father, employee are closer to 100%.
What are those attributes that good husbands, fathers, and employees have that match up with baseball, or sports, and what you can control.
⚾ 29:41 - The importance of learning how to handle adversity.
Mike was Gerrit Cole’s first pitching coach in pro ball.
He worked with Jameson Taillion and now with Daniel Espino.
These guys are just better than everyone else, and there’s not much you can do to be better than those guys.
‘Gerrit Cole can fall out of bed at three in the morning and he’s throwing 95.’
⚾ 29:41 - The bigger picture
Sure, your kid can play pro ball.
But would you do what it takes to get there at the detriment of him being a good father to your grandkids?
What good is it if he gets to pro ball and he actually hates baseball, which Mike sees all the time.
Pro ball is life. It’s every single day.
Pro ball is a war of attrition.
You still need all these non-baseball ‘qualities’ whether your kid is going to be like Gerrit Cole or not.
How self-aware are these players?
⚾ 35:30 - Understanding how boys learn
They don’t get better by sitting there being told what to do
They learn through experience and play
Parents and youth coaches are equally to blame
Rod Olson: ‘don’t be coach obvious’
Look at the ingredients behind what is happening and address those
Parents are so afraid of their kids having failure and pain
Too high is just as bad as too low
The interview was so good, we went over by 30 minutes, so I split it into two episodes. Subscribe to hear the last 30 minutes of the interview when it’s published next week! It’s free, and I’ll send you an email when it goes live!
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Every week I write an email and record a podcast discussing how we can make youth baseball better for our kids. If you would like to receive it directly in your inbox, subscribe now. Read this week’s email below, or listen to the audio version with more detail above.
In my last episode I was extremely blunt about how youth Coaches are Ruining Young Arms.
I knew it had the potential to be a controversial post, but instead of controversial, it seemed to have resonated with thousands of parents and coaches across the country - so I decided to do a follow up with some information on how to protect these young arms.
In less than a week, it’s already my second most downloaded episode since I’ve been doing the show. It’s also the most shared on social with more than 500 shares, more than 1,500 comments, and more than 3,000 reactions - on Facebook alone!
99.9% of everyone that commented or responded agreed with my message, which is great news for the future of arm care! Now we just have to keep the momentum going, and continue to shine the light on this epidemic.
I also plan to do additional episodes where I interview professional coaches and sports medicine doctor’s to discuss at a more granular level. I already have an SEC pitching coach and SEC team physician (from different schools) lined up to appear on the show.
If you’re not subscribed, do so now for free, and I’ll send you a quick email when those are published!
After reading and responding to hundreds of comments, emails, and messages, here’s a few additional thoughts regarding arm health in young baseball players.
What About the Parent’s Responsibility?
The most common comment in response was that parents are more to blame. They should step up and not allow coaches to continue overusing their kids.
While I agree with this in theory, here’s why I’m targeting coaches.
Coaches are the ones in a position of authority. Coaching a team of children (yes, that’s what they are) is an enormous responsibility, and not one we should take lightly.
Coaches are the ones making out the lineup. I may have been influenced by parents a time or two in my early coaching days, but I’m the one that penciled in the lineup - not a parent.
As coaches, we’re supposed to know better. A parent literally hands their kid over to us for many hours every single week. It’s our responsibility to keep them healthy and safe.
Now, parents do play a major role. Parents should not stand idly by while coaches abuse young arms.
As I mentioned in the last episode, there’s a way to handle parent-coach communication, and I would ALWAYS start with handling this like adults and away from the field.
But if a conversation about arm health and overuse doesn’t work, you must put your foot down. If that means finding a new team, then so be it.
It’s Not Just Pitching
There are many more factors that should go into keeping an arm safe and healthy than just pitch counts on game day. Other throws matter too! For example, catchers are at high risk for elbow problems as well
Here’s a few things to keep in mind to maximize arm health and minimize injury risk:
Understand what the kid does during the week. Does he take a pitching lesson? I’m not a fan of pitching lessons during the season for ‘most’ kids, but for some it’s okay. As a coach, get to know your players’ routine. Talk to the parents and try to get the lesson on a day that optimizes rest.
It’s not just pitches. When looking at overuse, you must look at the entire body of work - or throws. A guy that plays first base only, or maybe outfield, who comes in to pitch probably can have a little longer leash than the kid who played shortstop in game 1 and plans to catch in game 2. He probably shouldn’t pitch much (or any) in game 3. Look at ALL throws. I don’t mean add them to the pitch count, but consider other stress on the arm.
Age, body type, athleticism, development, conditioning - these all play a role in the arm health and overuse conversation. Simply put, some 9 year olds are okay throwing 60 pitches on a Sunday. Others might need to hang around the 40 pitch mark. Maybe even less than that for others.
Use common sense. Incorporate a good warm up and arm care routine, and use common sense when it comes to pitch counts and potential overuse.
As a reference, here’s the link to the MLB Pitch Smart guidelines I referenced in the podcast.
Be Proactive Instead of Reactive with Arm Care
The one thing I always hear when talking about arm care is rest. Rest is ABSOLUTELY the right thing to do, but that’s after the arm has been used. What about before?
This is definitely an age-specific topic as these programs can become more advanced as kids get older.
But even for the young guys, there are several things coaches and parents can do to promote healthy arms that are more resistant to pain and long term issues and injuries.
All players, not just pitchers, should have a solid and consistent warm-up routine that prepares their body for pitching and playing. The guys over at Ultimate Baseball Training have a great video talking about arm stretches during warm ups.
Resistance training (don’t think lifting weights) can increase arm strength and help the body protect its elbow and shoulder. Besides injury prevention, this aids in recovery after pitching and playing. One of my favorite tools for this are the J-Bands by Jaeger sports. While there are several knock-off versions, Jaeger also provides tons of resources to increase your knowledge of arm care, injury prevention, and recovery. Here’s a quick link to some J-Bands on Amazon - they also come with a workout sheet to make things easier (pictures below)!
Communicate. Make sure and spend time talking with your players about arm health and the importance of taking care of their arm. It’s THEIR arm and they must let you know how it feels. Coaches and parents should ensure players feel safe and comfortable letting you know if there is ANY pain at ANY time. Also, talk about your approach to arm health and make sure expectations are set prior to having any issues.
Here’s the J-Bands by Jaeger I mentioned above. You may have seen them at the ball field.
They also publish quite a bit of educational content about arm care for baseball players. Here’s an example of the workout sheet that comes with a set of their J-Bands:
Accountability
This is the hard part, but parents, coaches, tournament directors, and anyone else with influence must hold each other accountable and protect the future of our young baseball players.
Tournaments not currently using pitch count guidelines should begin to do so immediately. Tracking innings pitched is essentially useless.
Coaches, you should educate yourself on the dangers of overuse and the importance of proper arm use and care. Put your players’ futures ahead of winning today.
Parents, educate yourself on the same dangers of overuse and the importance of proper arm use and care. Often coaches coach a kid for one season and they move on. You’re that kid’s parent forever!
Also, at any point if you notice anything that doesn’t look, sound, or seem right, bring it up! Have conversations early and often and ensure you’re on the same page!
Our kids’ futures will thank us later!
Talk to you next time!
Kevin
P.S. If someone sent this to you, be sure to subscribe so you’ll get the next one right to your inbox! Also, check out my new Instagram account where I post box scores showing extreme examples of overuse in young pitchers.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
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As we (hopefully) begin to move out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have an epidemic right here in youth baseball - and it’s worse than ever!
This is a relatively new issue that has been exacerbated by the increased participation in “travel” and “select” baseball, and coach’s increasing desire to chase wins and trophies (or rings).
I talked a few weeks ago about how weekend tournaments are ruining youth baseball, and a large part of that is how chasing wins leads irresponsible coaches to overuse young pitchers.
If you missed that one, go back and check it out, but subscribe now for free so you won’t miss anything else!
I’ve had this on my mind a recently, and I’ve seen example after example of overuse being shared on social media.
GameChanger box scores are being shared showing 9 and 10 year olds throwing 80+ pitches. 9 year olds are throwing complete games on Saturday and then again on Sunday.
I see it here locally all the time. And it’s not just one team or coach. There are some that are worse than others, but the bottom line is, we have to do better!
⚾ Why is it bad?
There are volumes and volumes of research and publications from orthopedic surgeons calling for less use and plenty of rest in young arms, so I won’t bore you with the details - but the bottom line is elbow surgeries in young baseball players have skyrocketed.
Sports medicine experts have called it an epidemic driven by the expansion of youth sports leagues, the rise in the number of kids focusing on just one sport and playing it year-round, competitive pressure, and myths about the procedure.
The bigger issue for younger players is they probably won’t see the negative effects right away. In fact, it could be years down the road.
That’s what makes this even worse to me. Youth coaches are so selfish, they’re abusing young arms in games that don’t matter, and when the kid gets to a level where it does matter, his arm (and possibly his career) is ruined.
⚾ How to stop it?
The best way to handle this is for coaches and parents to just use common sense.
Throw a responsible number of pitches and then ensure there is plenty of rest before throwing again.
But let’s talk about some specifics.
Pitch Counts
The very first effort to limit overuse came in the form of regulating innings pitched. A few leagues and tournaments still do this, but a lot of leagues and tournaments are using pitch count guidelines.
Even if a tournament only tracks innings pitched, we should all be using our own pitch count tracking as well.
I’ve added a nice inexpensive pitch counter to my product idea list on Amazon. Check it out here.
While some flexibility can be given depending on the kid and the circumstances, there are plenty of guidelines available that you can use.
Major League Baseball has a Pitch Smart program where they list the following notes for coaches and parents of 9-12 year olds:
Focus on athleticism, physical fitness, and fun
Focus on learning baseball rules, general techniques, and teamwork
Do not exceed 80 combined innings pitched in any 12 month period
Take at least 4 months off from throwing every year, with at least 2-3 of those months being continuous
Make sure to properly warm up before pitching
Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods
Avoid throwing pitches other than fastballs and change-ups
Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time
Avoid playing catcher while not pitching
Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day
Play other sports during the course of the year
Monitor for other signs of fatigue
Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers
No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts
They also have a table that shows maximum pitch counts and how many days rest a pitcher should take after pitching. Here’s a screen shot:
Pitcher Development
This is a tough one. Everyone, even adults, want a quick win, instant satisfaction.
Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen when developing pitchers.
While I understand all 11 or 12 guys may not be pitchers, you’d be surprised how consistently teaching and practice can develop some of the guys you didn’t think were pitchers.
What happens is your best pitchers at these young ages are typically your best athletes. That’s it. So of course they tend to be the best candidates for overuse.
But as coaches, it’s our job to develop other guys who can come in and fill up some innings.
Don’t wait, start this week in practice working with 3 or 4 more guys who might be able to give you some innings during the week.
Find a New Team
Here’s the controversial last ditch effort option.
I’m a huge fan of good parent-coach communication, and if there was ever a time for it, this is it!
The first step is to have a conversation. Do it right. Try to call during the week away from a game and away from other players. I like to always assume the best in people. Let’s hope the coach just doesn’t know any better (even though that’s highly unlikely).
I would shy away from saying anything during a game, however if your child’s daily max is exceeded, there’s nothing stopping you from telling the coach in the middle of the game. This is almost one of the ONLY times I would EVER condone talking to a coach during the game.
Even then, I would only do this if there was a trend emerging. If the “guidelines” say a daily max is 65 pitches, I wouldn’t go down and talk to the coach when your kid hit 66 for the first time without a history of this type of thing.
Just be smart and use common sense.
And if this doesn’t work, it’s time to find a new team. Any coach that puts short term youth wins and trophies ahead of player health and safety shouldn’t be allowed to coach. And as a parent, you shouldn’t put up with that!
⚾ Let’s Recap
Use common sense with safety first
Limit pitch counts
Intentionally develop additional pitchers
Communication, then find a new team
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Hit reply or leave a comment and let me know what you think!
If you have a crazy story about pitch counts or arm health, share that as well!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
I’ve spent the last two articles/episodes talking about how weekend tournaments are ruining youth baseball player development.
Just to clarify one last time - I didn’t say weekend tournaments are ruining youth baseball - I said they are ruining youth baseball player development!
This time, I want to talk about a few things you and I can do to help fix this and allow our players and teams to get the most out of their current experience without sacrificing their long term development.
Listen 🎧 above or read 📖 below! Enjoy!
Also, subscribe for free so you don’t miss any of my articles and episodes!
Quick Recap of the Problem
The thing is, it’s not really just the tournaments. It’s how we as parents and coaches are doing it. And remember, there are exceptions, however we’re all at risk of falling into this trap.
I went into detail of the issues in part one here and part two here.
Don’t just take my word for it. Check out this comment on the original post that came from a current pitching coach in the Cleveland Indians organization (who is a former college coach and also a dad of good youth baseball players):
Here are the headlines, but listen to the audio version for a quick summary of each:
⚾ Coaches (and parents) chase the wins instead of long term development.
⚾ Young players are not ready for this type of baseball.
⚾ High costs keep many from being able to play.
⚾ Week after week grind monopolizes time.
⚾ Being good and winning doesn’t always equal development.
⚾ It’s not like any other level of baseball.
⚾ Kids don’t get to learn how to be baseball players.
How to Fix or Avoid These Pitfalls
I’ve got a few ideas, and I could talk about this for days.
For now, I’ll break this up into two sections - what I like to call the the strategic and then the tactical approaches.
The Strategic (or Philosophical) Approach
This is your mental approach - your philosophy as a parent and/or coach. Literally how you think and approach the season, the games, the practices, the ups and the downs. This is the culture you have on your team, or in your house.
To figure out what your approach is, and more importantly what it should be, ask yourself, and answer, these questions:
⚾ What are your goals? (check out one of my first episodes about this)
⚾ Is winning going to be the priority?
⚾ What about development? Where does that fall into the priority list?
⚾ How about fun? Where does that fall?
⚾ What do we want to get out of all this time, energy, effort, and money?
⚾ Would I rather be the best team now, or have my players ready for later?
It’s important to actually think about all those questions. Write down the answers. Talk about them as a family. If you’re a coach, talk about them with your team and parents.
Talking about this will help with accountability as you move into the tactical approach, which is by far the hardest, and what I’ll talk about in a minute.
After you’ve answered the questions above, drill down a little further and answer some of these questions.
⚾ Am I okay with a team loss if we’re getting better?
⚾ Will I sacrifice the arm safety of my best pitcher if I get into a situation where not pitching him might cost me the game?
⚾ Am I willing to put the same amount of energy into practice as the games?
⚾ Am I willing to not follow the crowd?
The Tactical Approach (Actually Doing it)
Now, most of us say the right things when asked about the above.
Oh yeah, I am 100% about development. I want to teach the game and ensure my kids are having fun. Winning is great, but not the most important thing.
That’s where the tactical approach comes in, and this is where most of us run into trouble.
It’s always easier said (or thought) than done.
Assuming you answered the questions above correctly (😁) here are some practical things you can do to escape the weekend rat race and avoid being lured into doing things detrimental to long term development for your kids and team.
Be Intentional With Your Schedule
This one sounds easy, but can get out of control quickly.
There are two areas of focus here:
Frequency
Purpose
Frequency
I’m not going to recommend a hard and fast rule on the frequency at which you should play in weekend tournaments. Just keep it balanced.
It’s okay to play a couple, or a few, in a row, just be sure to allow enough time for rest and practice, before, after, and in between.
Considerations should be arm health, burnout, cost, and enough practice time to actually work on things experienced in the games - not just batting practice and some bullpens.
So often team practices aren’t focused on team practice. They’re geared towards individual work - most of which can, and probably should, be done away from team practice.
The other risk here is being lured into the fear of missing out. Fight the urge to join a tournament on a week off just because all the other teams are playing in it or they have cool trophies/rings that go to the winners.
Purpose
This one is harder than the frequency.
Now, I talk a lot about putting development over winning, but let’s face it - we all love to win! And I don’t know about you, but I want to develop winners in the game of life. So it’s okay to want to, and even try, to win!
We should play to win every time we step on the field. I just think we can be selective in choosing when we sacrifice the potential chance to win for the greater cause of player and team development.
We can still pitch our 6th best pitcher and try to win. We just have to have realistic expectations going in, and be okay with the potential short term pain, long term gain outcome.
Here’s what I recommend:
Pick a few tournaments that have more competitive teams, higher team entry fees, and cooler awards for the winners and put your best team on the field. Short of sacrificing arm health and player safety, go ahead and do what you can to win.
Then, pick a few tournaments with less competitive teams, lower entry fees, and closer in proximity to your home, and take a little different approach.
You’re still going out to win every game, but you’re okay with sticking to the plan even if the immediate outcome isn’t favorable.
Doing this will not only boost the energy and enjoyment of the kids who get to move around a little, but you’ll be creating depth and a better chance of overall team development in the long run!
Again, this can be difficult. It means you are okay missing the Gold bracket by a run or two in order to get a few kids some innings on the mound.
It may mean risking a few errors in the infield so your backup second baseman can get some meaningful game experience.
I can’t stress enough how important and valuable this game experience is. Little Johnny who plays outfield all the time, gets a few ground balls in practice, but never sees game experience, is not going to be much help when you really need him in the infield one day.
He needs to experience more than one inning at that position, where he can develop some comfort of the position, the role, and situations that he may find himself in.
Think about it - put yourself in your 9 year old’s shoes who has never really seen much game experience in the infield. All of a sudden he finds himself at second base with runners on first and second.
He’s got the coach yelling at him to move in and out, keep the runner close. Then the ball is hit to the right center field gap. Where does he go? He’s nervous. 75 people are in the stands watching him not know where to go while four different coaches are telling him where he should be and what he should do.
And then when he doesn’t do the right thing because he’s never been in that situation before, the coach gets onto him in front of those same 75 people.
Does he want another ball to come his way? No thanks…
How terrible is that?
So find some of these tournaments, and commit to developing your “second and third string” guys, getting them meaningful game experience. Imagine how much good that’s going to do for both them and the team 3 months from now?!?
Communicate this with your parents too! The worst thing that can happen is everyone’s not on the same page! Ensure there is alignment throughout the organization on goals and development!
What’s the Worst that Can Happen?
Seriously, what’s the worst thing that can happen? If the answer is I get to spend two days with my son playing four games and getting better, then that’s a pretty good weekend!
I’m not saying at 16U when you’ve paid $5,000 for the season! But at 9 or 10U when we’re just trying to get better and learn the game, that’s a good weekend for me!
Consider League Play
This is something that does exist in some parts of the country but not in others, although it’s beginning to become more mainstream.
While it can be fun to play in those multi-game tournaments on the weekend, the structure of them forces coaches to make decisions based on more than just winning that game or development.
Playing in a local or regional league with teams of similar skill level can help balance this.
Every other weekend play a league game or two.
Or once every other week play in a league game.
However it’s structured, that allows coaches to focus on that game alone.
To use the example I’ve used earlier - your team may be up by 12 runs in a tournament and Little Johnny who is your 7th best pitcher is finally going to get some innings. He gives up a couple of runs so you make a pitching change.
Not because you’re afraid you’ll lose the game, but because you’re worried about giving up too many runs and not making the bracket.
Playing in single games like this eliminates those conditions that might lure us into making short term decisions.
In that example, Little Johnny needs the reps and he also needs to experience some adversity so you as a coach can see how he reacts.
Start Your Own League or Series
Some areas have their own leagues for “select” teams to play in during the week.
Other areas have rec leagues that allow “select” players to play in their leagues during the week. This allows them to maybe play with other kids, other positions, etc.
But some areas don’t have or allow either.
So start your own!
In fact, I’ve talked to our head coach about this. What’s stopping us from just hosting our own round robin once a month?
We invite a couple other teams, split the cost of fields and umpires, and play each team on a Saturday. No rings or trophies. Just good old baseball!
What’s the downside?
I honestly can’t think of one.
What’s the upside?
Well, how about you aren’t making poor coaching decisions based on bracket play. You get a less pressure situation to move some guys around. You actually get to pick who you play instead of being at the mercy of some random (or not so random) draw. You can even talk to the other coaches and agree to use this as a development opportunity.
This is a no-brainer to me! Why not do it? If you have a reason to not do this, please leave a comment or send me an email.
Think About Practices Differently
As usual I could talk about this for hours, but I know I’m getting long.
While the structure of tournaments may be more difficult to change, we should focus on what we can 100% control - our practice time, and how we use it.
The hard part about this is balancing individual vs team needs.
The younger the kids, the harder it is to get them to work out on their own at home. I understand that, but it’s a must if they want to get better.
There are only so many minutes I as a coach get with my team during the week, and I need to make sure and get the most out of it.
Kids can hit, throw, field ground balls, and work on many individual skills on their own away from team practice, however they can’t work on the team stuff alone.
Be sure to take notes during every game. Debrief afterwards with your notes and coaches and rank the issues that came up in order of importance.
Choose carefully what you’ll do at the next practice based on that importance as well as what will give the team the most bang for the buck.
It might be situational. It could actually be individual. If you had 9 errors fielding ground balls over the weekend, then maybe that is an individual skill you should work on.
But if your team was confused when the other team bunted with a runner on second, I’d probably work on that. Simulate it and do it over and over.
If you had trouble with pitchers covering first on a ball hit to the right side. Send everyone through some PFPs (Pitcher’s Fielding Practice) for half an hour.
Rarely use team practice time for batting practice. If you want to spend some time running through some hitting stations, I can get behind that. But it’s very hard with one or two practices a week to take team batting practice on the field and it be a good use of your time.
Have one coach throw BP in a cage during the practice rotating kids one by one if you need to hit. I’m not saying to disregard hitting, but you’ve got to spend the time on teaching the game and learning new things to be ready to go again the next week at the next tournament.
Plan your practices - every single minute of them. Have a reason. Have a plan. And then go execute it.
Conclusion
Like I said, we could talk about this for hours. These are just three BIG things you can do RIGHT NOW to make an impact and help your player, team, and family get the most out of this season immediately!
If you have specific questions or would like me to go deeper on one of these, please ask!
Hit reply if you’re getting this in email, or leave a comment using this button:
If you know someone that might enjoy the podcast, please send it to them! The more people I can reach, the better chance we have of changing the game and experience!
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🛑 This is a follow up article and episode to my last post where I explained why weekend tournaments are ruining youth baseball player development. Don’t worry, there will be a third part where I outline some ideas to fix this!
You can click play above to listen 🎧 or scroll down to read 📖 the article below.
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Wow! 😮 🤩
What a response to last week’s episode on why weekend tournaments were ruining youth baseball player development.
At the time of this recording, which is about 80 hours later, there have been over 32,000 views and more than 29,000 podcast downloads. So before I go any further, thank YOU for reading, listening, and subscribing so you don’t miss the next one!
The purpose of Elbow Up was to share my experiences in hopes I could help a few parents or coaches get the most out of their youth baseball experience.
What’s great about the response to this topic is not just the views and downloads, but the fact that so many people are passionate about this topic.
I even appreciate those that disagree with me. The conversation is what’s important, and that’s the first step!
Now, I really was planning to publish a part two where I outlined some of the ideas I have for fixing this systemic issue I outlined in part one.
But after reading literally more than 2,300 comments on various social media posts, groups, and threads, I decided I needed to go a little deeper into the issue.
I want to explain a few of the things I said in part one, and then add a few more things that I’ve been thinking about since.
Let’s Clarify a Few Things
⚾ There are always exceptions.
It’s important to note that teams who I believe do it the right way really do exist. They’re just few and far between.
A few folks left feedback saying they never had an experience like I had explained. Or their coach focused on development first. Or they only played in a tournament every other weekend.
That’s wonderful! Unfortunately though, that’s the exception and not the rule.
⚾ I’m not Hating on Tournament Directors
It’s not tournament directors’ job to develop our kids, nor did I say it was!
I believe most of the feedback that had to do with this was people reading the headline and not listening to or reading the context and details.
Most of the tournament directors I know do a fine job. There’s nothing wrong with hosting a tournament every single weekend throughout the summer - but that doesn’t mean as a coach I have to play in it.
In fact, more tournaments allow teams to be flexible with their schedules instead of having to play on specific weekends just to get their games in.
The tournament directors cannot be blamed for the issue, and I certainly didn’t mean for it to come across that way.
⚾ There is Nothing Wrong with Travel Ball
One of the most common responses I heard from those disagreeing was how they enjoyed travel ball, or that travel ball was more competitive which allowed their kids to learn even more.
Here’s the thing - I agree with that!
I’m not anti-travel ball, nor am I anti-winning. The issue is how we as parents and coaches abuse what travel ball has to offer by pursuing winning ahead of development (even if we mean well).
What is Travel Ball?
First of all, I’m using travel ball and select ball interchangeably for the purposes of 7U through 12U. While there are a small number of teams that may travel, I’m really referring to the teams who no longer play rec, and play in the various weekend tournaments in their local area or withing their geographical region.
As kids get older, the more competitive teams will travel more and more. It’s not uncommon for the better teams at ages 14U and up to travel hundreds and thousands of miles to play other top-level competition.
I’m not talking about those teams, and I’m not talking about those ages.
I’m talking about the younger ages - 7U through 12U - where the majority of teams play on the weekends within a 50 miles radius or so.
Why Play Travel (or Select) Ball?
Due to many of the reasons I outlined in one of my very first articles, there has been a mass exodus from local little leagues into travel ball over the years.
I encourage you to read it, but I’ll sum it up in just one sentence:
Most of those leagues are too restrictive, and lack competition.
Being able to play when you want against who you want and with whom you want is attractive.
I’m not arguing with that! I like it too!
I like being able to schedule my season like I want it to be. I like being able to freely pick up players if someone has a scheduling conflict.
Players and families who are at different skill levels and who have different goals are forced to do the same thing. That’s not good either!
⚾ (Most) Parents and Coaches Just Don’t Know Any Better
And that’s normal!
I’m not here to condemn anyone for doing something differently than what I think its right. I just want to shed some light so we can help make it better.
While a few coaches and parents know exactly what they’re doing, many, if not most, parents and coaches just don’t know any better.
They do what they think is best because everyone else is doing it. As I mentioned previously, there is a real fear of missing out.
Everyone else is leaving the local rec leagues, I better take my son out too!
These other 5 teams are playing in a tournament in the second week of February, I better get my team entered as well!
Our rival is playing 6 weekends in a row. I better get my team in those too so we don’t get left behind!
First, we have to educate.
And secondly, we need to change our mentality and approach!
And that’s what I’m here trying to do.
More Reasons Why Weekend Tournaments are Ruining Player Development
Now that I’ve clarified a few things, I want to hit on a few more reasons why I believe the current state of the youth league circuit is hurting long term player development.
⚾ Being Good Doesn’t Equal Development
A common misconception is that teams who win a lot or are the best in their area are doing it the right way.
That is not necessarily true.
As I’ve said before - at the younger ages, the better teams are often the ones with the better athletes who are just more physically advanced for their age.
In a lot of areas look for the .500 teams that seem to perform just at or above average but who can sneak up and really hang with the “better” team every now and then.
Those are the teams who are more than likely doing it the right way.
Often it’s because they’re forced to. They don’t have the same gifted athletes and can’t rely on bad habits. It forces them to teach things the right way and focus first on development.
This doesn’t mean all good teams aren’t focusing on development. There are exceptions - but look deeper than wins and losses - especially when choosing a team to play for.
Everyone wants to play for the team who wins the most rings.
Playing in the weekend tournaments week in and week out breeds this type of mentality.
Instead, you need to be looking for the team that has a development first mentality balanced with good athletes. They’ll win their share of games and rings, but the individual players and the team will be better in the long run.
⚾ It’s Not Like Any Other Level of Baseball
No other level of baseball plays 6 games in 2 days week after week after week and then sprinkles a few practices in.
Middle school, high school, college, and professional baseball don’t do it this way.
In every other level of the game, you play a game or two and then you go practice.
Naturally, there is time between games to work on things that were identified during the game. It’s somewhat of a continuous improvement cycle that allows for discovery, instruction, and practice.
This type of baseball would be perfect for the younger ages.
We are introducing so many new things to them in a weekend over 4-6 games it’s nearly impossible for them to remember it all.
And even if we write it down as it happens, there’s nowhere near enough time during two practices during the week to cover it all.
So one, how are we going to really teach the things they’re experiencing during the weekend tournaments?
And two, why would we spend years doing it this way, which is different than every other level of baseball thereafter?
It doesn’t make any sense.
Note: Game reps are important, and I’m not arguing that. But we have to be able to take those reps away and see how we did, improve on them, and then go do it again.
⚾ Kids Don’t Get to Learn to be Baseball Players
While similar to several of the other issues, this one is specifically how we as coaches coach during the games and tournaments.
So much of development is learning how to react in, and to, certain situations, but because we’re worried about giving up that one run to make it to the Gold bracket, we don’t allow our players to learn on the job.
They need to experience certain situations and figure things out themselves. Of course we coach them afterwards, but allowing them to try it - and even at times fail - is good for their development.
One comment I got from the last piece was from Christopher (I’m not sure where he is from):
It absolutely stunts the growth of the player and his ability to play ball on his own without being told what to do every single pitch. We’re creating robots, not baseball players…today’s tournament ball creates an environment where players don’t learn how to play the game and think for themselves. They must be told everything to do. Move over a step. Do this on this next swing. Look for this pitch. Get another step on your lead. It breeds robots…instead of capable, independent ball players learning about themselves and how they can contribute and do their job in a specific role on their team.
He’s absolutely right.
We’re playing in an environment that doesn’t allow for error. It doesn’t allow for a little on the job training like our kids need.
I’m not a proponent of equal playing time at every position, but at the early ages we need to allow enough versatility to happen naturally to see who can actually do what, and then see how the kids respond.
Of course we can’t move little Johnny from right field to second base even though we’re up by 10 runs because he might not know how to react in a certain situation.
And instead of giving him the chance to learn, we’re worried about giving up 2 of those runs and not making the gold bracket for Sunday.
That’s not developing baseball players. That’s coaching for the short term gratification of playing in the Gold bracket in a small regional tournament that doesn’t even matter.
Heck, chances are you’ll get a shot at winning the Silver bracket anyways and by Monday your kids will have forgotten where they even put the ring.
What Can We Do About It?
This is not going to be fixed over night, but we need to get moving in the right direction.
There are so many kids either getting left out at a young age, or losing interest too early and never recognizing their full potential.
There are millions of kids getting to middle school and high school baseball unprepared because we were too worried about winning that ring in the Gold bracket instead of the Silver.
It’s taken almost two decades to get here, and it’ll take some time to get out of it.
But that’s why we’re here, and that’s the whole reason behind Elbow Up!
I’ve got some ideas that you can consider and implement now to make a difference with your child and your team!
⚾ Take Action!
Make sure you’re subscribed so you’ll see Part 3 on Wednesday. I’ll send you an email when it’s live. You can also subscribe in iTunes Podcast, Spotify, and Google Podcasts to be notified when future episodes are available.
Thanks again for continuing to support my work. I really appreciate all the reads, listens, and shares!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
🛑 Before you go any further - this is part one of a two part series. Links for parts two and three are at the end of this!
You can click play above to listen 🎧 or scroll down to read 📖 the article below.
If you enjoy my content, consider subscribing for free. You’ll get an email every time I release a new article or episode, and you’ll have access to my archive of public posts!
This may be one of the most controversial posts I’ve written or recorded since my Dizzy Dean post that helped kick off the Elbow Up era!
In that article I argued that they, and many other ‘Little League’ type organizations, had doomed themselves with a failure to evolve as the youth sports landscape had shifted.
Now, as those organizations have seen a mass exodus of young players, the pendulum has swung in the completely opposite direction. All we have now are two day tournaments every weekend for 9 months out of the year that is killing youth baseball player development.
The answer is not to go back to the old way of recreational leagues and all-stars, but to find a middle ground that promotes player development AND competition, while remaining flexible and affordable. And that’s going to be difficult.
⚾ The Problem
I’ve been thinking about this for some time, but didn’t really know which angle to tackle it from.
Simply put, the current “select” or “travel ball” environment fails at player development because it puts coaches in a must-win mentality every game, every week.
Coaches are constantly thinking about seeding, the elimination bracket, who they’re going to play next, how many runs can they give up, who might pitch next, and who would be available to pitch then.
None of that is really something that should be a priority week in and week out for youth coaches.
Now before everyone gets upset and sends hate mail, I’m not against tournaments. I’m also not against winning, or playing to win. As I’ve stated on here regularly I want to win every time I step onto the field.
⚾ Young Players Aren’t Ready for this Type of Baseball
Let’s start backwards with the older age groups and more advanced baseball. I’m talking 15U and above select, or travel, baseball.
Weekend tournaments are fine. Teams are typically built for them. By this age, the player pool has been somewhat filtered, and the talent gap has closed (relatively speaking).
Coaches know who pitches and who doesn’t, and the focus begins to shift from fun and development to competition and working on playing in college.
At this age, most kids still playing are playing in high school, they have a primary position or two, and they understand the game (again, relatively speaking). You’ll even see quite a few POs, which is short for ‘pitcher-only.’
Compare that to the 9U and 10U landscape today.
Coaches have zero clue who will be pitchers, players haven’t matured enough mentally or physically to know where they might fit best on the field, and they certainly don’t know the game.
The best teams typically have the best athletes, which is not a good predictor of who will be the best baseball players when they’re 16 or 17 years old.
⚾ Coaches Focus 100% on Winning
This is a tough one. Even the most objective coaches are lured into this trap - myself and my team included!
And when you do find that rare coach who sees the long game and tries to have a development-first mentality, the parents can’t stand it.
We want to win! Why aren’t we doing this? Why aren’t we doing that?
Then they move on to another team and coach.
When you understand the first issue of players not being ready, it’s easier to understand this issue.
Short Term Gain, Long Term Pain
Coaches should be moving guys around, letting many kids pitch, teaching the game. It’s hard to do this when you’re constantly worried about seeding for the next day.
What’s even crazier is how most coaches can’t see the forest for the trees. They stick with their number one shortstop over and over because they need him there.
Then what happens when that shortstop needs to pitch? Now that coach doesn’t have a shortstop because he never developed one.
So instead of moving guys around and getting reps at other positions, you keep your best 9 on the field.
Guess what? The team wins the game and possibly the tournament, and then the players don’t develop and the team suffers in the long run. 🤷♂️ Makes no sense.
Coaching for the Game Win, Every Week
In these weekly tournaments, a coach will make a major coaching decision based on not giving up another run when the game is already locked up. Seriously, who cares if you win 12-2 or 12-6? Well, if you want to be the number 1 seed and not play the early Sunday game, then you do.
Or maybe you’ve got the game locked up but giving up one more run eliminates you from the championship bracket.
How is this helping develop players? You would have won either way.
(Hint: it’s not.) 😡
Not Teaching the Game
Instead of teaching situation baseball, and laying down a sacrifice bunt when the lead off runner gets on first and steals second, the coach tries to steal 3rd because the catcher isn’t very good. Over and over and over.
That only works for another year or two. Then that kid gets thrown out, the hitter never learns how to bunt or what to do in that situation, and the team can’t compete long term. Again, makes no sense. 🤷♂️
How is this helping develop players? You win the game, but then your team/kid falls behind by the time he’s 13.
(Hint: it’s not.) 😡
⚾ Exorbitant Cost
There are many studies that show high costs are a very real barrier to entry for many families in baseball.
I spent $60 a season when my now-18 year old played 7U rec ball.
I spent $95 a season when my now-9 year old played 7U rec ball.
Now our individual player fees are in the hundreds (many teams are in the thousands) and our team will raise thousands more in fundraising.
Why do we need $8,000 - $12,000 as a team?
The number one culprit is tournament fees. For a 9 year old team the average tournament entry fee will be $200-$300 EVERY weekend, not to mention the gate fee of at least $10 per person per day.
Added together, the average cost per player for a season must be well over $1,000.
I don’t have to tell you that millions of Americans just simply can’t afford that.
(this doesn’t even touch on gas money and food while “traveling” for a young baseball team)
⚾ Monopolizes Time
This one is going to ruffle some feathers.
Prohibits Family Time and Vacation
The common response to this is, “well we love being on the ball field all the time!”
Well I do too, but it’s not relaxing to do it 30 weeks in a row. I need a vacation. I need to sit on the beach. I need to spend time with my family in a more intimate and relaxed setting with no scheduled ball game to get to, no herding cats between games in an overcrowded park, dodging foul balls and getting soaked in a rain delay.
I love being on the ball field more than anyone, and I love spending time with my son and family doing it. But we all need a break.
It’s not healthy to play this long every single week without a break.
Breaks are good for the kids too. Every time we’ve ever taken a break, my son (and team) comes back refreshed and better than ever.
Limits Time in Other Activities
This is one that I really do think parents overlook.
Sure, it’s healthy to be outside playing ball. It’s great to be around other kids, learning how to win and lose, how to compete, how to be a good sports. There’s a lot of life lessons in sports (which is one reason I really like kids playing them)!
But it’s also important to do other things.
My son loves to fish, ride four-wheelers, and shoot guns. He even started a YouTube channel where he tracks some of these activities. He’s learning so much recording videos, publishing them, and interacting with others.
It’s also important for these kids to be involved in other activities so their identities aren’t 100% ties to baseball. As I’ve stated over and over, the chances of your son playing after high school are slim, and the chances of them playing after college are even more slim.
What happens when baseball is over for them and they have no interest or experience in anything else?
That’s a real issue, and often the result isn’t positive.
⚾ What’s the Answer?
That’s a great question! And it’s a difficult and complex one to answer.
I have some ideas, but they aren’t easy to implement unless everyone buys in. And the fear of missing out (FOMO) is real. Parents and coaches play earlier, more often, and longer because they’re afraid their son or team is going to get left behind.
There’s also the issue of money. And this time I’m not talking about the team expenses.
These tournament directors are making it - a lot of it! And full disclosure, I’m not against this. They provide a service, and should be compensated for their time. But the more tournaments they have the more money they make.
That’s just not always best for the kids.
That being said, I do have some ideas. I wish I could wave a magic wand and fix the whole situation. Unfortunately, the best I can do is record another podcast and share those ideas!
So tune in next time for a rundown of how I think we could at least start to turn the ship around, and how each of you can make a positive impact on your team and in your community!
What are your thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment and hit the ❤️ button!
Then head over for part two where I talk about a few more reasons why weekend tournaments are ruining youth baseball player development.
And if you read both of these, here’s part three where I gave some practical advice on how to avoid this trap and do games and tournaments better!
If you haven’t already be sure to sign up to get my free updates so you won’t miss future articles and episodes! I really appreciate the support!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
What’s up, youth baseball nation!
On today’s episode I spend about 20 minutes talking about communication between coaches and parents - communication that’s a two-way street.
We had our first team practice of the season last night and kicked it off with a parent meeting. While I had another topic teed up for today, I felt like this was a great topic for everyone to see/hear at the beginning of the season.
While I keep saying there’s no magic pill for success, your youth baseball experience will be greatly improved if healthy communication remains a priority for you and your team!
If you can’t listen, the audio transcript will be available online by end of day!
Thanks again for being a part of the community. Please leave a comment, like the post, and share with a friend.
Kevin
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
While this is a podcast episode, I’ve provided the written form below in case you’d prefer to read. Thanks again for supporting Elbow Up Youth Baseball!
I’ve also changed it up a little moving into 2021. This episode is only 6 minutes long! Less time per episode allows me to publish more content and cover more topics. It’s also easier for you to listen to the whole episode during your commute or quick break. Give it a few weeks and let me know if you like it!
It's Monday, February 22, and Spring baseball season is all but here. Major League pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training last week, high school's can now officially practice in many parts of the country, and youth teams are ready to begin.
While we all want to be successful - whatever that means - there's something important I want to remind you of.
Every youth player, parent, coach, and team is different. There is no one size fits all.
Skill level is different. Talent level is different. Success has a different meaning for each of you. And that's okay! That's what I want you to remember as this season gets underway.
I try to talk about topics at Elbow Up that most of you can relate to, or that have the best chance of helping the majority of my audience. That being said, there will always be some of you that can't relate to what I say….Or maybe my advice won't help in your specific circumstance....and that's okay too!
Just as each of you listening is different, we must remember the kids we are coaching are different as well. And we should keep that in mind when teaching, coaching, and mentoring them.
Some come from affluent two-parent families where baseball is just another fun activity. Others come from families where they get no support or encouragement from their home, and the baseball field may be their only chance at getting that, or seeing success.
Think about this - as a coach or parent on a team - you may be the only encouragement that kid may get for the entire week. Don't miss the opportunity to tailor your approach to make the most positive impact on that kid's life.
As usual, I like to relate everything to sports. I use this approach at work with my employees. Every person's circumstances are different. Every person has a different background and set of life experiences that shape their outlook, and I have found the most success in approaching them all differently.
This doesn't mean we have different standards across our teams. We should maintain high standards for all of our players, parents, and coaches...It's just important to remember that how we influence and approach each of them must be different in order to maximize the experience and outcome!
If this email was forwarded to you, join the community for free and get notified when the next episode or article is published!
For parents - Don't get caught up in comparing your child to others. Sure, it's important to have a realistic view of where your child may stand, but that should not be what drives or motivates you as a parent.
Compare your kid to themselves! Compare your child this year to your child last year. How have they improved over time? How did they improve just since last practice? It's dangerous to expect the same outcome from every player on your team, and it's certain to end in disappointment.
For coaches - We should take the same approach. Not just for our own kid, but for every player! Kids react differently and we need to remember that. Some kids won't even notice you congratulating them on a base hit the opposite way.
Other kids will light up after they struck out after a 9 pitch at bat where they battled the pitcher when you tell them nice at bat! Take the time to learn what makes each player on your team tick. How do they respond to encouragement, correction, and even discipline?
And for everyone - Let's not lose sight of what we're trying to accomplish! If you're listening to this podcast, I have to assume you want your son and family to get the most out of their youth baseball experience. That doesn't just mean becoming a better ball player.
We're preparing these kids to succeed in the game of life.
In 2018, there were an estimated 25 million kids who played youth baseball or softball. Compare that to the 1,000 or so players that will begin the season on an opening day Major League Baseball roster. The chances of your kid - and my kid - making any meaningful money from baseball is virtually zero.
The chances of them using what they learn playing youth baseball has about a 100% chance to carry over into how they approach school, relationships with others, employment, and life.
Don't miss out on making a positive impact by having a one size fits all approach!
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing with a friend, coach, or fellow parent! Also, I’d love to hear your feedback. Use the button below to leave a comment, or just hit the reply button and let me know what you think.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Happy New Year!
2021 is here, and the Spring baseball season is right around the corner.
How have you handled the off-season?
Do you have a plan for your son or team for the next couple of months?
If not, it’s not too late!
Click play to listen 🎧 or read below 📝!
First, some housekeeping. Everyone’s schedule is crazy towards the end of the year, so in case you’ve had other things on your mind, here’s a few updates:
⚾ If you missed my last podcast with 11-year MLB veteran turned youth baseball coach and dad, Shawn Kelley, you’ve got to go back and listen. I can’t wait for part 2!
⚾ My youth off-season throwing program went live. Premium subscribers should have received it in their email and can access it here. If you’re not a premium subscriber but still want the program, you can purchase it here.
⚾ As you prepare for the upcoming season, I’d like you to revisit one of my favorite posts - Focusing on Winning is a Race to the Bottom.
The off-season has always been important, but it’s more critical than ever now that young kids are playing organized baseball 9 and 10 months out of the year.
As we approach the end of 2020, there is still time to take advantage of the off-season, and get ready to show up healthy, refreshed, and improved for 2021.
A successful (and healthy) off-season includes three key components:
Time Off / Rest
Developing a Plan
Accountability (Sticking to the Plan)
Time Off
Young guys are playing longer than they ever have before. Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons run together, and arms are being overused everywhere and at all ages - but especially the younger ages!
While it can be tempting to continue to throw into the winter months, it’s extremely important to take some time off and let the body rest - specifically the arm.
It’s also important to do other things. Clear the mind of baseball and get another hobby, spend family time together, learn something new. Enjoy it!
Common myths, or excuses, I hear from parents who continue to work without rest often include:
“My kid just loves it so much. He wants to be out there throwing every single day.”
I understand this, however you are the parent and adult. Rest is important, and taking weeks (even months) off from throwing is healthy and needed.
Your child also loves playing XBox but you don’t let him do it all day and all night without a break. I’m sure he’d eat snacks and candy for dinner if you’d let him. But you don’t because you’re the parent and you know what’s healthy.
There’s no difference in baseball when it comes to arm health.
“You don’t understand. To stay competitive we have to keep working. We only do a lesson or two indoors each week.”
No, I do understand. The fear of missing out (FOMO) or getting behind is real for you, but not for the kid. Put the baseball gear up for a couple of months and go play basketball, flag football, or indoor soccer. They’ll become a better overall athlete, I promise.
Go back and listen to my last podcast with big league veteran Shawn Kelley. We discussed the importance of taking time off and playing other sports, and he specifically talked about how most of the guys he played with at the highest level played other sports during other seasons growing up.
Playing non-stop with no break and without getting involved in other activities leads to tying your son’s identity to baseball. And at some point, he will not be able to continue at that level (maybe in middle school, high school, or beyond). And when it happens, he’ll have nothing else.
“Our coach makes our team continue to workout indoors during the winter months.”
Maybe it’s time to find a new team. Working out during the off-season is fine (and encouraged), but only once 6-8 weeks of rest has been given. Again, see above, you won’t get left behind at the age of 10.
You and your team also won’t get behind. I’d argue the opposite. Let those 10 or 12 kids go have fun doing something else for two months. When they come back, they’ll be fired up and ready to get focused on baseball!
Developing / Having a Plan
Taking a break should definitely be part of the plan, but once the break is over, there should be goals and a plan to help you achieve those goals.
Even if your team has an off-season plan, it needs to be specific to each player. While everyone may need to go through the same overall throwing or hitting program, each player has their own needs and opportunities for improvement.
Your son and team’s plan should include at least the following:
Goals
Actions
Accountability
The goals should be team and individual specific. They should include basic preparation for the upcoming season as well as address opportunities for improvement.
Some kids need to fix their swing. Others may need to correct throwing mechanics. All of them should learn something new and be mentally prepared for the season.
For young guys who have any interest in pitching, having a plan is even more critical. I recently published my youth baseball off-season throwing program. It’s great for pitchers and overall arm preparation for the upcoming season.
Premium subscribers to Elbow Up can access the guide here. There’s also a 20-minute audio recording available with additional details and info.
If you’re not a premium subscriber, there are two ways to get the guide:
You can become one today here for just $6 per month or $60 for the entire year. You’ll get access to this guide, future guides, premium content, additional podcasts, and access to my private Facebook group.
You can also purchase the throwing program by itself here for $15.
However you decide to access it, I appreciate the support. It helps offset the cost of publishing these newsletters and podcasts. If you have questions, just hit reply!
Sticking to the Plan
This is definitely the hardest part! There’s a reason why most new year’s resolutions fail. It’s hard to STICK TO IT!
This is going to be no different for the youth baseball player.
School, other activities, and just life in general can easily get in the way. Not only do you have to hold yourself accountable as the parent, but you’ve got to keep your son focused as well.
I’m a big proponent of making “at-home” work kid-driven. If your son feels like it’s a job or a punishment, they won’t do it.
Start by explaining the benefits of the plan. Go over the opportunities and the goals. Talk about how it’s going to look. Put something in place to hold you and them accountable, and to measure results.
For something like the throwing program mentioned above, print out a monthly calendar and mark the days you’re supposed to work on something. As those days come and your son puts in the work, let THEM mark that day off. Keep the calendar visible so they can see the progress!
If you’re a coach, share the plan with the parents on your team. If you’re a parent, find another parent on the team who can be an accountability partner.
Kids like to play with other kids, so even partnering up with a teammate can help energize them for the work, and then hold them accountable.
Either way, stick to it. Getting ready for the new season is like an oven not a microwave. Ease into it. Slowly warm up. Understand (and be okay with it) it’s going to be a slower process that will take some time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Now, what’s next? You tell me. I’d love to hear your plans for the off-season! Click the ❤️ below and leave a comment letting us know about your off-season plans.
Also, share this with other parents and coaches. You all need to be on the same page going into the new season!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
All subscribers get my weekly article or podcast delivered directly to their inbox. If you are reading this and aren’t subscribed, what are you waiting for?
Shawn Kelley played 11 seasons of Major League Baseball from 2009-2019, pitching in 493 games with 6 different teams. Now he’s a dad coaching his son’s 9 year old baseball team. We spent half an hour talking about his youth baseball experience and now his experience coaching his son. And it’s pure gold!
So far I’ve written 20 email newsletter articles and recorded 10 podcast episodes telling you many of the things I’ve learned as a player, coach, and dad. This week I recorded my first interview on my quest to share other perspectives and provide you with as much information as possible.
I couldn’t think of a better one to start with than a guy who had a successful career at literally every level of baseball, retired, and now coaches his own son’s team.
His transparency and frustration with today’s youth game is compelling, and it makes sense.
We talked about…
his youth baseball experience;
his son’s youth baseball experience;
playing multiple sports;
playing baseball year ‘round;
parent and coaches having a fear of missing out;
learning/having a high baseball IQ;
how to handle your son not being the best player;
his thoughts on the current state of youth baseball;
and much more!
Click the play button above, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts to this week’s interview. If you like it, be sure to share with a friend!
If you enjoyed this format and new perspective, hit the ❤️ button, leave a comment, and share with a friend.
Thanks again!
Kevin
P.S. The first premium content is ready. Thank you for your patience! The off-season throwing program will be sent out to premium members tonight.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Good evening!
As we enter our third week of the off-season, I’m really looking for topics that challenge the way everyone does things. There are so many examples in youth baseball of coaches and parents doing things just because everyone else does.
Instead of falling in line and being like everyone else, let’s look at how we can do things differently, and better, and create a better experience for our kids and families.
There are many factors that influence how fast (or slow) a player and team develop. One often overlooked factor is team size - how many kids are on the team.
This week I talk about the right team size and how it impacts player and team development - both for the good and the bad.
Are you carrying too many kids on your team? Listen above for my thoughts, and then I’d love to hear your comments, questions, and feedback. Hit reply and let me know.
You can also like and comment with the big blue button at the bottom of this email.
Thanks for supporting youth baseball and the Elbow Up community.
I hope you have a happy, safe, and healthy Thanksgiving!
I’ve been talking for several weeks about my youth off-season throwing program and other resources to help youth baseball coaches and parents. I’m finally ready to make some of those available! Look for an email Thursday night or Friday morning with more info!
Premium subscribers will get access to everything at no additional charge. If you’re not a premium subscriber, consider supporting my work for just $6 a month or $60 a year. It’s easy, and something every parent and coach should have!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
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If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Most teams have finished up their fall baseball seasons, while a few lucky enough to have good weather may have a few weeks left.
Either way, it’s time to start planning for the off-season.
In preparation for next week’s episode where I’ll focus solely on the off-season, this week I give you some homework to be done before the next episode.
Also, I answer three questions I’ve received from readers and listeners over the past couple of weeks.
Topics include:
❓ AA, AAA, Majors classifications
❓ How much it costs to play and operate a team
❓ Factors to consider when choosing a team
Please take a listen, leave a comment, reply with feedback, and tune in next week as things are really picking up in the Elbow Up Youth Baseball community.
As always, thanks for listening, and please consider sharing with another parent or coach!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Happy Tuesday, and happy Election Day! I will not discuss politics except to say, go vote! And no matter who wins the election, we’ll continue to play youth baseball, and I’ll continue to do Elbow Up!
Before I get into this week’s topic, I wanted to clarify something from last week. If you missed it, you can go back and listen here. I talked about not coaching mechanics during games.
I got more push back last week from parents than I have with any other topic so far. Push back isn’t necessarily bad, but let me clarify.
I’m not saying you should never mention mechanics in a game. There are small things or simple cues that you can mention during a game in some situations and depending on the skill level and ability of the child/player.
You’ll treat this different if you coach a more advanced 15U team than you would a 9U team.
The point is to let them play. Focus on playing the game, the situations, how they react. Video and take notes so you’ll remember and can show them later. Use individual practice time to work on mechanics.
Now, this week’s episode may seem to be geared towards coaches, but it’s just as important for parents to hear. In fact, developing your child into a better baseball player is a partnership.
I encourage you to listen for the full details, and here’s a few of the things I hit on:
Quick clarification of last week
Disagreeing with me is not bad
We don’t practice enough
We need team practice to practice ‘team things’
Individual practice doesn’t really happen at team practice (for most)
Coaches need to schedule planned team practices
Coaches should partner with parents, set expectations, and encourage work at home and on the side
Parents also need to understand and have realistic expectations
Keep listening to and reading Elbow Up for how to help get this done
Become a premium subscriber for even more help!
Obviously there are exceptions, but this is all accurate for more than 90% of 12U and younger teams unless you have a very large coaching staff, a lot of time, and many practices
I loved all the feedback from last week. Hit reply to this email, click through to leave a comment, or look me up on Twitter or Facebook to let me know what you think!
Thanks for reading and listening! Have a great Tuesday!
Kevin
About Kevin
Kevin Burke is a dad and coach, having coached baseball at all ages tee ball through varsity high school over the last 18 years . He currently coaches his younger son’s 9U “travel” team, Tennessee Prime, based out of Chattanooga, TN.
Get in Touch
Follow on Twitter
Contact directly in Messenger
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
My weekly article and podcast will always be free, but if you find value in the work I do, consider becoming a premium subscriber today for the full experience!
We all do it. We have the best intentions, but unfortunately we’re not helping.
We’re hurting.
Stop the in-game coaching mechanics, and let them play. Let them use what you’ve taught them during the week, what they already know. Let them have fun. Don’t criticize everything. Don’t turn what should be a fun game into a negative experience.
NOTE: There are times when making a simple correction is okay, especially for older players. But not a weekend goes by where I don’t see multiple coaches and parents making multiple adjustments during the game to their kids and players.
As always, listen to the podcast above or on your favorite podcast player here.
I don’t think most of us realize how turning a youth league baseball game that’s supposed to be fun into a near-constant negative experience can negatively impact a player’s development.
What we say is intended to adjust and help.
What they hear is “I’m doing it wrong again…”
I really wish you would listen to this week’s episode. Writing it out just doesn’t do this one justice.
Here’s a quick overview that may help with navigation if you’d rather not listen all the way through:
0:39 - Episode Introduction
3:19 - My Weekend Recap: 93-pitch complete game by 10U pitcher 🤨
9:03 - Coaching mechanics during the game, and why it’s bad
16:39 - How many things a human brain can focus on at one time
19:50 - My personal story related to this
Once you listen, please consider sharing with other parents and coaches that you know. If you’re receiving this email from a friend, subscribe so you don’t miss future emails and episodes!
Click the ❤️ below and leave a comment 💬 to let me hear from you and what you thought about this week’s message.
Thanks again for your support and helping make youth baseball better!
Kevin
About Kevin
Kevin Burke is a dad and coach, having coached baseball at all ages tee ball through varsity high school over the last 18 years . He currently coaches his younger son’s 9U “travel” team, Tennessee Prime, based out of Chattanooga, TN.
Get in Touch
Follow on Twitter
Contact directly in Messenger
Like Facebook page
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Elbow Up is a free weekly newsletter and podcast for youth baseball parents and coaches. I recently launched a premium subscription with a few extra benefits. Check it out!
Playing year ‘round baseball is a rather new phenomenon. I’m 36 years old, and 20 years ago playing outside of Spring and Summer was not mainstream.
Now, you’d be challenged to find a “travel” team that doesn’t play a fall season and workout during the winter months.
If we consider playing a fall season is a given for most “competitive” teams and players, what should the off-season look like? And by off-season, I mean November through February.
Take Some Time Off
First, it’s really important to take some time off. Don’t take a week off. Take two months off!
Let your body rest, relax, and heal
While younger athletes’ bodies don’t necessarily need as much time to recover than older players, it’s still important to let our bodies heal.
Baseball is particularly tough on joints like shoulders and elbows. Playing March through October can really put a strain on these joints. Take some time (months!) completely off from throwing.
Give your family a break from the grind
We all LOVE spending time on the baseball field. Our family loves the other families we play with. They’re really our big extended family.
But we still need a break from the multi-day baseball commitment each week. Spend some time outside, doing different things, hanging out with different people, and catching up on everything you got behind on since baseball season started.
Work on other sports, and being a better athlete
Besides resting your body, this one is the next most important reason to take time off from baseball.
Young players especially need to do different activities. Play flag football, play basketball, do a non-sports activity, just do something.
Kids need to learn how to compete in other activities. Being exposed to new and different challenges, learning how to compete in a different environment, and experiencing new coaches and teammates will ultimately make them a better baseball player in the long run.
Put in the Work to Get Better
For players under 13 (and maybe even older), I’m a big fan of taking November and December completely off. Once the holidays are over, it’s time to get back to work.
Establish goals and focus on YOU
When the time does come to start back, focus on YOU.
Listen, if you plan to chase the best players at a young age, you’re probably going to be disappointed. Work on what YOU need to work on.
Create specific realistic goals, and then work towards accomplishing those goals.
If you’re 9 years old and in the bottom third of the pitchers on your team, it’s unrealistic to think you’re going to come back in March as the number one guy.
Focus on throwing strikes, getting comfortable on the mound, learning how to pitch. As your body catches up, you’ll work your way up that ladder. Plus, as you’ll begin to find out quickly, the best pitchers won’t always be the ones that throw the hardest.
Have the right equipment and facility
This is one of those things that really depends on your situation. If you have access to an indoor facility, then great! If not, that’s okay. Make do with what you have.
Don’t use your $400 bat in cold weather. Get an inexpensive wood bat and use it for off-season BP.
Don’t throw outside in the freezing cold in short sleeves. If you don’t have use of an indoor facility, put on layers, go for a jog to warm up, and be smart not to overdo it when throwing.
Don’t let limited resources hold you back. Is having a mound better than not? Sure, but it’s not required. Is having a batting cage better than not? Sure, but who cares if you don’t.
There are plenty of ways to get the work in without all the fancy equipment and facilities.
Tony Gwynn, one of the game’s all time greatest hitters, learned to hit at a young age with his brothers using balled-up socks and wads of tape.
There are guys playing in the big leagues today that didn’t even have gloves when they were younger.
Use the resources you have, and make the most of them!
Here is a link to the pop-up net I have and mentioned in the podcast. Also, for a batting tee, here’s an inexpensive option, and here’s the best value. It’s more expensive but will last forever.
Ease back into it - especially throwing
I can remember when my brother played professionally for the Chicago Cubs. Before Spring Training and as a pitcher, he would have to get started on his off-season throwing program.
Keep in mind, most players didn’t play fall ball in the minor leagues. He was done in September, and they didn’t want him throwing the rest of September, October, and November.
Here’s a blurb from his MLB program that started the second week in December:
Week 1, only 2 days: 10-12 minutes of throwing - distance should range between 45 and 90 feet. Take short breaks when needed.
And that’s for a PROFESSIONAL in incredible physical shape! The program gradually worked them back into playing shape with the goal of having them ready by Spring Training - that’s 3 months of prep!
Now how do you expect your 10 year old to be ready in 2 weeks?
Whether your son pitches or not, premium newsletter subscribers get access to my youth off-season throwing program as well as other guides and documents as they are developed. This alone is well worth the price of admission for the premium subscription.
The point is, start easy and take it slow. It’s a lot like lifting weights. You don’t go from out of shape to power lifter overnight. It takes starting small, staying consistent, and sticking to the plan.
Off-Season Team Practice
Everything above is really geared towards individual improvement and preparation. That being said, younger teams may want to get together during the off-season to work as a team.
I totally support this, however there’s a few things to keep in mind.
Don’t overdo it. I don’t recommend getting together more than once per week. Kids may be playing other sports, and families have other commitments.
Keep it short, but take advantage of the time. I suggest keeping the time spent at these practices to no more than an hour. Have a plan, get the work done, and get out.
Encourage self-study. Make use of the hour practices, and then encourage self-guided work during the week (as noted above). This time together is really more of a touch point to work on team learning and hold everyone accountable.
Now Go Do It!
Listen, this is just like everything else, it’s not an exact science. Just remember to take some time off, establish goals for the off-season, and ease back into it with a plan!
If you have specific questions, feel free to leave a comment! Premium subscribers also get access to my members-only Facebook group where I’ll answer questions and have discussions as well.
Have a great week!
Kevin
About Kevin
Kevin Burke is a dad and coach, having coached baseball at all ages tee ball through varsity high school over the last 18 years . He currently coaches his younger son’s 9U “travel” team, Tennessee Prime, based out of Chattanooga, TN.
Get in Touch
Follow on Twitter
Contact directly in Messenger
Like Facebook page
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
This week’s podcast took a slightly different format. Instead of a specific topic, I answered five questions I’ve received from the Elbow Up community over the past couple of weeks. I’ll do this again next month, so hit reply and send me your questions!
I’ve included a list below of each topic and the time in the episode where you can find my answers and discussion. I spend between 2 and 5 minutes on each.
1:59 - Making defensive substitutions when a player makes an error
5:54 - Teams making noise while the other team delivers the pitch
9:57 - Should batters take the first pitch?
14:06 - How many players should you carry on your team?
21:01 - My thoughts on playing up an age group
I appreciate everyone who participated in my last 3-question survey. It really helps developing content and direction for the newsletter.
Would you take 15 seconds and answer these 3 questions? It’s quick and anonymous. Thanks in advance for your help!
And if someone forwarded this to you, make sure and subscribe so you get the next one!
Thanks!
Kevin
P.S. In case you missed them, my last two episodes have over 20,000 downloads. Get them here:
003 - My Oldest Son Turns 18 Today: What I Would Have Done Differently
004 - The Little Things Matter the Most
P.P.S. Don’t forget today is Amazon Prime Day - tons of deals to be had!
About Kevin
Kevin Burke is a dad and coach, having coached baseball at all ages tee ball through varsity high school over the last 18 years . He currently coaches his younger son’s 9U “travel” team, Tennessee Prime, based out of Chattanooga, TN.
Get in Touch
Follow on Twitter
Contact directly in Messenger
Like Facebook page
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Elbow Up is a free weekly newsletter and podcast for youth baseball parents and coaches. I recently launched a premium subscription with a few extra benefits. Check it out!
Happy Tuesday, and thanks again for reading and listening to Elbow Up Youth Baseball! Last week more than 15,000 people read or listened thanks to all of you sharing the article and podcast. If you missed me talking about the things I would do differently now that my son is 18, you can read or listen here.
This week I talk about how important the little things are. Read below for a short version, or listen to the podcast for more details!
Our 9U team traveled about an hour south to north Atlanta this weekend and played a couple of good teams we haven’t seen before. We ended up going 0-0-2 in pool play, tying both teams 7-7.
We blew a 6-run lead in the first game starting the last inning up 7-1 before ultimately giving up 6 runs and finishing with the tie.
The second game went back and forth, with us scoring a run in the last inning to end in the tie.
Looking back on the game there were several things we did that might have cost us a run here or there. A dropped fly ball that should have been caught. Several strikeouts in key situations. An throwing error. Several walks and passed balls.
But it wasn’t just those things. Looking back at all 12 innings we played, there were 15-20 small things that happened that contributed to the final result of each game.
As one of our coaches said after the game, “We probably made 15 mistakes today. If we take just a couple of those away, we probably win those games.”
Now what you didn’t hear is the context of the conversation. It wasn’t to point out the mistakes and blame them for the loss. It was to continue to stress the importance of the little things at practice like we do every week.
For young guys, that’s hard to do! Everyone wants to hit and throw. Everyone wants to pitch. But paying attention and focusing on the little things is key to success.
Remember, the whole equals the sum of all the parts. The end result of a game or a performance isn’t how well you hit or pitched. It’s the sum of every little thing that happened during that game.
The next time a player points out an error by his teammate late in the game, or the next time you hear another parent in the stands talking about a mistake one of the kids made, remind them that one play didn’t cost the team the game.
Every little thing along the way added up to the outcome. Things like base running mistakes, missed signs that nobody but the coach saw, missed cutoff man from the outfield that gave up an extra base, etc. Those things add up and can be just as costly as a good old fashioned error or strikeout.
If you’ve never heard it, I encourage you to watch retired Navy Admiral William McRaven’s 2014 commencement speech to the University of Texas. The speech was made into a book called “Make Your Bed - Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World” and I highly recommend you getting it!
In it he says, “If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.” That’s a lesson we can teach our kids on the ball field that will translate into their school, work, and life!
Have a great week, please forward to a friend, and as always, I’d love to hear your feedback. Hit reply or leave a comment here
About Kevin
Kevin Burke is a dad and coach, having coached baseball at all ages tee ball through varsity high school over the last 18 years . He currently coaches his younger son’s 9U “travel” team, Tennessee Prime, based out of Chattanooga, TN.
Get in Touch
Follow on Twitter
Contact directly in Messenger
Like Facebook page
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
In addition to the weekly podcast, I’ll be publishing a weekly tip that can help you immediately. I’ll provide a small actionable tip for you to implement in your next tournament or games. Read below and/or listen to the podcast by clicking play above!
When talking to parents and coaches, I find two common problems:
Coaches don’t have a good plan for their practices (or a plan at all) so they default to the standard taking a round of infield/outfield and batting practice (which is typically not a good use of anyone’s time).
Parents want to help, but don’t know what to work on with their kid.
Coaches and parents don’t mean to allow this to happen, but it can significantly hinder development of a team or player. Taking notes during games can help with each of these.
For Coaches
Taking notes during the game is critical for getting better during the week. If you’re like most teams, you’ll play at least four games over two days during a summer tournament, or anywhere between two and four games over the course of a one-day fall tournament.
It’s easy to say, “we need to work on hitting,” or “base running killed us this weekend so we should work on that at practice.”
But what exactly are you going to work on? And who needs to work on it? What was the situation you need to recreate to drive home the lesson?
Also, even if you make a mental note during one of your games of a specific player or situation that needs to be addressed later, chances are you’ll have twenty more of those mental notes by the end of the tournament. Then, three days later when you’re thinking about practice you can’t remember them all!
Don’t overthink this, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are two EASY options, both of which I have done. Choosing between the two comes down to personal preference.
Get a card stock piece of paper and keep in your back pocket along with a pen. When something happens you want to refer to later, simply write it down. Any paper will work, but I have found a thicker card stock is easy to handle and lasts throughout the game and tournament.
Use your phone. If you keep your phone in your pocket, take it out and use a note taking app to keep track of your thoughts and observations. This option is also good if you want to easily share with other coaches later on.
TAKE ACTION: This weekend, take notes. Spend your brain power managing the game, not remembering all your mental notes. Then when it’s time to plan practice for next week, take out your notes and put them together. You’ll be amazed at how it all comes back to you!
For Parents
While the overall idea is similar, there are a few key differences.
Taking notes specific to your child as things happen can help. You’re typically focused on your child more than the others, so you’re paying closer attention to the little things.
If something sticks out to you, jot it down. If you observe something happening over and over, jot it down. If you notice something GOOD, jot it down too!
IMPORTANT - DO NOT REVIEW ANYTHING NEGATIVE AFTER THE GAME!
The purpose isn’t to point out all the things a player is doing wrong, rather to look back on themes, issues, tweaks that could be brought up during a practice, lesson, or in the driveway doing some individual work.
For those of you that are more knowledgeable about the game, go ahead and take notes accordingly.
For others, there are “non-baseball” things you can look for that can actually make a big impact, especially for young players:
Observe body language.
Is your child being a good teammate?
Are they the last one out of the dugout every inning?
Are they constantly looking for their hat and glove when it’s time to take the field?
Do they take every first pitch? Do they swing at every first pitch?
How do they respond to their coaches?
TAKE ACTION: Take notes this weekend, and spend a little time next week reviewing SOME of your observations. It’s okay to review a thing or two, but please do not approach your child with a list of 12 things you noticed. Start with something that is small but could have a decent impact. See how they react. Stay positive and encourage. This is to HELP them, so it shouldn’t feel like they’re sitting in their principal’s office!
Please help us grow the Elbow Up community by sharing this email or podcast with your coach, other parents, and friends. Also, please leave a comment and hit the like button!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Elbow Up is a free weekly newsletter and podcast for youth baseball parents and coaches. I recently launched a premium subscription with a few extra benefits. Check it out!
How time flies! It seems like yesterday I was coaching him in 5 & 6 year old coach pitch! Now here we are on senior night a couple of weeks ago…and he’s an adult!
I’m currently coaching my 9U son’s team, and fortunately for him (and you) I have the advantage of looking back on my entire body of work as a parent and coach for my now 18 year old son. Here’s what I learned, and here’s what I would have done differently. The list is below, but details for each are included in the podcast!
If you’re new here, I do at least one newsletter and one podcast per week.
NOTE: I should clarify that our older son did not have a terrible experience, but now I know I could have set him up for better long term success while enjoying it a little more along the way. While he would tell you he enjoyed playing baseball and hanging out with his friends in those younger years, I know there were days (games and practices) where he and his teammates just did not enjoy being there.
I certainly don’t look at this as a regret, but as an opportunity to share what I learned with other parents and coaches. 10/10 high school, college and professional coaches would agree with these things, so if you want to ignore them, fine. But do so at your own child’s detriment.
My 25 year old self might look at my 36 year old self and say I’ve become soft! I think I’ve just grown wise to what’s really important and how things work. In no particular order, here’s what I would have done differently (more details on each in the podcast):
I would have put much more of an emphasis on development than winning.
I would have reacted much differently to errors and poor performance.
I would have paid closer attention to my own body language during games, especially when our team or my son was faced with adversity.
I would have spent more time at home working with my son 1-on-1.
I would have never missed an opportunity to teach a life lesson.
I would have only told my son after his games that I enjoyed watching him play, nothing related to an out, error, poor hitting or pitching performance, etc.
I would have planned practices better, focusing on a more well-rounded development of all players.
I would not have made cuts in 9 and 10 year old “select” baseball.
I would not have hosted tryouts for my 9 and 10 year old “select” team.
I would have moved players around much more, sacrificing short term team success with longer term team and individual development.
I could probably list 10 more, but you get the point. I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions, so leave a comment here and hit that ❤️ button!
If you know other parents or coaches that might enjoy this piece, please feel to email them or share using the button below. Feel free to send it to your entire team!
About Kevin
Kevin Burke is a dad and coach, having coached baseball at all ages tee ball through varsity high school over the last 18 years . He currently coaches his younger son’s 9U “travel” team, Tennessee Prime, based out of Chattanooga, TN.
Get in Touch
Follow on Twitter
Contact directly in Messenger
Like Facebook page
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
The first time I wrote about why I started Elbow Up, it was just the second ever newsletter, and it only went to 61 people.
Now that I’m on my second podcast episode and have over 1,000 subscribers, I thought it was a good opportunity to explain my why.
Take a few minutes and listen to what happened between me and my 7 year old that really got me asking myself, “why am I doing this, and what am I really doing?”
This is an important message that we need to share with everyone! Please share with your coaches and other parents on your team!
I’d love to hear from you after you listen. Just click the button here and leave a comment!
If you’re new, welcome! If someone sent this to you or you found it through social media, please take a quick second to subscribe so you don’t miss another episode!
Lastly, I’d really like future podcast episode content to be driven by you! If you have questions or topics that you’d like me to discuss in future episodes, please leave it in the comments below!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com
Finally! My first youth baseball podcast episode is now live! If this was forwarded to you, or you found this from an external source, subscribe now so you won’t miss future episodes!
Check it out by clicking play above - or you can listen in your favorite podcast player such as iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, etc.
If you prefer to listen to podcasts in a podcast player, just be sure to click “Listen in podcast app” above, and be sure to subscribe and rate once you get there!
Please like this email and comment with your feedback (I need the good and the bad). As I get more comfortable and receive feedback, I’m sure the content and quality will continue to improve!
Lastly, use the comments below to let me know what you think of the podcast artwork that will show up in all of the podcast directories:
Thanks for listening! Make it a great weekend on the ball field! Stay safe!
Kevin
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.getelbowup.com