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

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Rob Tong from the Youth Baseball Edge blog interviews experts in youth baseball and related fields as they share their practical, actionable secrets for youth baseball success. Discover coaching tips, resources, drills, practice plans, strategies and much more so that you can help develop a more complete ballplayer and team. Understand how pitching, hitting, catching, fielding, baserunning, throwing, infield and outfield defense, bunting, pre-game routines, the mental game, practice organization, in-game strategies, sportsmanship and even post-game speeches are not just separate parts but interconnected parts that should be taught from a big picture perspective. Learn from the interview guests how to distinguish proper fundamentals from fraudulent ones. Plus, exclusive segments and occasional surprises. No fluff, no promotion of other people's stuff, no wasting your time. Whether you coach travel baseball, Little League/Ripken/Babe Ruth/Pony/USA baseball/etc, or just your local park league, be inspired and help develop a love and passion for the game in the kids you lead, the next generation of baseball players.

Rob Tong: Youth Baseball Coach, Consultant and Training & Development Leade


    • Aug 1, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 181 EPISODES

    4.9 from 373 ratings Listeners of The Youth Baseball Edge Podcast with Rob Tong: Coaching | Drills | Strategy that love the show mention: tong, youth baseball, bunt, best youth, coaches and parents, youth coaches, baseball coaches, little league, baseball coaching, baseball dad, rec league, thanks rob, loves baseball, dingers, players and parents, rob does a great job, drills, work rob, great job rob, youth sports.


    Ivy Insights

    The Youth Baseball Edge Podcast with Rob Tong is an invaluable resource for youth baseball coaches and parents. As a head coach of a travel team, I have found this podcast to be the most eye-opening and helpful resource available. Rob covers a wide range of topics, including basic drills, dealing with kids and parents, utilizing coaching staff, and presenting oneself as a coach. The interviews are insightful and provide practical information that can be implemented immediately. This podcast has truly made me rethink my coaching strategies and has had a positive impact on my approach to the game.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the variety of voices heard. Rob brings in guest speakers who offer different perspectives on coaching and provide valuable insights. This diversity allows for a well-rounded understanding of the game and offers practical tips that can be applied to any coaching situation. Additionally, I appreciate that the episodes cover both mental and physical aspects of the game, ensuring a holistic approach to coaching.

    However, one possible drawback is that the episodes are not released as frequently as desired. As someone who eagerly looks forward to each new episode, it can be disappointing when they are not released on a more regular basis. Nevertheless, the quality of each episode makes up for this minor inconvenience.

    In conclusion, The Youth Baseball Edge Podcast with Rob Tong is an essential listen for anyone involved in youth baseball. The practical advice, insightful interviews, and diverse perspectives make this podcast stand out from others in its genre. Whether you are a beginner coach or an experienced one looking to enhance your skills, this podcast provides valuable information that will benefit your coaching journey. Highly recommended!



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

    YBE 168: Select-Level Coaching At Rec Levels

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 46:54


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

    YBE167: Top Tips for 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 26:30


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

    YBE 166: Youth Nutrition, Plus Strength Training Q&A with Joey Greany

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 31:00


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

    YBE 165: The Need For Speed (and Strength and Agility and Sleep) with Joey Graeny

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 44:15


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

    YBE164: Lessons Learned in 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023 32:51


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

    YBE 163: How To Properly Coach Third Base with Toby Gardenhire

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 32:50


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

    YBE 162: How To Properly Coach First Base with Toby Gardenhire

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 33:59


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

    YBE 161: Rules Every Coach Should Know Before Arguing With Umpires, Part 4, with Brandon Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 74:27


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

    YBE160: Rules Every Coach Should Know Before Arguing With The Umpire, Part 3, with Brandon Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 58:13


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

    YBE 159: Rules Every Coach Should Know Before Arguing With Umpires, Part 2, with Brandon Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 50:55


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

    YBE 158: Rules Every Coach Should Know Before Arguing With Umpires, Part 1, with Brandon Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2022 72:27


    YBE 157: How To Play Speedball with David Klein

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 36:57


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

    YBE 156: What is Speedball? with David Klein

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 44:04


    We as coaches work hard to revolutionize youth baseball practices so that it's no longer long, slow and boring. But is there a way to make games less slow and boring? David Klein is back (again) to share his idea for fast-paced youth baseball games where everyone gets lots of reps and no one sits the bench in Part 1 of a two-part interview.

    YBE 155: How To Be A Better Youth Pitching Coach with Jim Brower

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 43:34


    If a kid came up to you and asked you to help him with his pitching, would you know how to help him? Jim Brower of Brower Baseball shares his tips on how to analyze and help your youth pitchers in Part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week  about a clear plan of where to start with beginner to intermediate middle schoolers.

    YBE 154: A (Slightly) Different Take On Pitching with Jim Brower

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 41:52


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

    YBE 153: Lessons Learned in 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 29:37


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

    YBE 152: Steal More Bases with Tyler Gillum

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 40:07


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

    YBE 151: Advanced Baserunning with Tyler Gillum

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 46:42


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

    YBE 150: Growing Entry-Level Players with Justin Sherman

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 35:28


    YBE 149: Helping Entry-Level Players with Justin Sherman

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2021 41:20


    What do you do for entry-level players, be they tee-ballers or 10U? Justin Sherman from justintimebaseball.com shares his techniques for helping the kids who need the most help. This is part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether 18-20 players is too big for a varsity team. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE148: One-Knee Stances & Calling Pitches with Jay Weaver

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 34:59


    Finishing our discussion of catcher attack angle from the previous episode, Jay Weaver from catchingcamp.com also jumps into one-knee stances for youth catchers as well as simple methods for youth catchers to call pitches and pickoffs. This is part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about considerations for doing warmups and what age to start. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 147: Catcher Attack Angle: Advanced Receiving with Jay Weaver

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 47:44


    What is catcher attack angle when receiving? Why is it useful and how do I teach it to my youth catchers? Jay Weaver from catchingcamp.com discusses this significant new development in catching in part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to defend against overly aggressive 3B baserunners in 8U. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 146: Train Like A Big League Second Baseman

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 46:35


    Perry Hill, the first base coach and infield coach for the Seattle Mariners, breaks down how you can properly train your second basemen (plus the remainder of our chat on first base play). This is part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to help kids new to kid pitch get over the fear of getting hit by pitches. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 145: Train Like A Big League First Baseman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 48:24


    If catchers wear the "tools of ignorance", then first basemen play the "position of neglect" because many youth coaches don't teach much to their first basemen even though it is a highly important position. Perry Hill, the first base coach and infield coach for the Seattle Mariners, breaks down how you can properly train your first basemen. This is part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to help a kid who's hitting grounders in games but fly balls in practices. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 144: Pitching with Drive with Zak Doan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2021 42:17


    What is "drive" in pitching and is it important? Zak Doan, whose clients range from youth pitchers to Gerrit Cole, shares his thoughts on the subject as well as other pitching issues. Part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to help a kid who's hitting grounders in games but fly balls in practices. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 143: Improving Pitching Accuracy with Zak Doan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2021 53:47


    How can we help our young athletes to improve their pitching accuracy? Zak Doan, who works with youth pitchers and whose most famous client is Gerrit Cole, shares some helpful pointers to help kids throw the ball with more accuracy. This is part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about about how to get over the feeling of being under-qualified as a youth baseball coach. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 142: Creating Positive Experiences with Deven Morgan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2021 52:38


    How can we create more positive experiences in youth baseball? How do we help youth athletes are struggling to succeed in baseball? Deven Morgan, Director of Youth Baseball at Driveline Baseball, shares some ideas to help kids have more positive experiences. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether any GameChanger stats can be used to help inspire relevant coaching drills for practices. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 141: Training Youth Pitchers, The Driveline way with Deven Morgan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2021 52:35


    Training youth pitchers is not easy (safe to say that's an understatement). What does Driveline do and recommend? Deven Morgan, the Director of Youth Baseball at Driveline Baseball, shares some tips in part one of this two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to help a batter who mashes in training but is late to load in games. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE140: Lessons Learned in 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 37:46


    2020 may have been a crazy year but there were still youth baseball lessons to be learned. Host Rob Tong looks back on 2020 and distills many things he learned into eight lessons that he shares in this episode. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether 8U kids should give verbal pre-pitch defensive reminders. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 139: 3 Things Killing Youth Baseball (and How To Fix Them) with Steve Ferroli

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2021 54:41


    Steve Ferroli says three crucial things are killing youth baseball. Is the sport of youth baseball—and the millions of kids participating in it—in serious danger? Does youth baseball need to be saved? Can it be? This is part two of a two-part interview. Plus Rob (and Deven Morgan, the Director of Youth Baseball at Driveline Baseball) answer the Question of the Week about whether it matters if kids pitch from flat ground instead of raised mounds. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 138: Improving on The Science Of Hitting with Steve Ferroli

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 47:45


    What can the Science of Hitting teach you about hitting, and can you improve on the Science of Hitting? Steve Ferroli, the personally-chosen successor to Ted Williams' theory of hitting shares some of his thoughts in part one of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about what travel teams can do in-between games at tournaments. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE137 bonus #2: Tom Griffin's Christian Testimony

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2020 6:45


    Bonus segment #2: Tom Griffin shares his story of becoming a Christian.

    YBE137 bonus #1: Catcher's Mitts with Tom Griffin

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2020 3:55


    Bonus segment: Tom Griffin talks catcher's mitts.

    YBE 137: Advanced Basics for Catchers with Tom Griffin, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2020 48:20


    Learn from one of the best as Tom Griffin breaks down more advanced basics for catchers with the finer points of receiving, blocking and throwing, plus strategies, in part two of a two-part interview. Plus Rob (and Nick Esposito) answer the Question of the Week about how to help nine-year-olds build strength for pitching. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 136: Advanced Basics for Catchers with Tom Griffin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2020 40:17


    If receiving, blocking and throwing are the fundamental aspects of the catcher position, what are the key teaching points of those aspects? What information goes beyond the basics for your catchers to give them more of an edge? Tom Griffin shares some helpful tips in part one of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how many practices per week a 7U rec team should have. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 135: Smarter Practice Planning with Bo Ashabraner

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2020 53:00


    Practice planning is one of the most frequently asked topics for youth coaches. With so many topics, how do you know what to work on, and when? Bo Ashabraner has some helpful advice so you can plan smarter, not harder, for your practices in part two of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about the benefits of batting lefty instead of righty. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 134: Start With A Plan with Bo Ashabraner

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2020 53:44


    Do you have a plan when you start your team? Or when you start a new season? Aside from what drills you want to run, what philosophies do you have for your team—or as Bo Ashabraner puts it, what philosophies do you enforce or tolerate? Bo is here to help us break down some things you may want to consider for your team or season in part one of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether a 27-foot home indoor batting cage will be adequate to help a 9-10U hitter who's struggling. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 133: Advice From The Swing Whisperer with Doug Latta

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 36:58


    Taming a wild swing in your youth hitters? The Swing Whisperer is in. Giving advice specifically targeted at the youth and high school level, Doug Latta, aka "The Swing Whisperer", is back to help calm those free-spirited hitters in this finale of a three-part interview.  Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether the travel baseball landscape has improved since the early days of this podcast for 7-8 year olds. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 132: Hitting Mechanics That Crush with Doug Latta

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2020 49:13


    At some point, we're going to have to teach hitting mechanics to our kids if the kids are going to advance to the next level of hitting. Doug Latta, aka "The Swing Whisperer", returns to help give us some insight on hitting mechanics that could literally be game-changers in part 2 of a three-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to teach timing during hitting to 7-10 year olds. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 131: Talking Hitting and Going Deep with Doug Latta

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2020 39:25


    There is no shortage of hitting advice, particularly on the internet. Some good. Some not so good. And some just plain awful. Doug Latta, aka "The Swing Whisperer", helps us sort out some of the information from the misinformation in part 1 of a three-part  interview. Plus Rob (and Austin Wasserman) answer the Question of the Week about what age to teach kids to pronate when pitching, especially with a change-up. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 130: Helping Your Team Bond with David Klein

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2020 34:26


    Mental health is declining for more young people than ever before, thanks to digital technology. Is there anything youth baseball coaches can do to help young athletes? Or is this only a problem for counselors? David Klein gives practical, actionable advice to help our team grow closer together and improve our players' mental health in part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether kid pitchers should be more conscientious about hitting batters with pitches or to not worry about hitting batters. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 129: The Importance of Unplugging with David Klein

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2020 41:22


    Video screens (video games, mobile phones) are probably one of the last things we consider when it comes to baseball. Yet screen time leaves a bigger footprint in our kids' lives than we think—yes, even on the baseball field. Former guest David Klein returns to discuss this important yet under-recognized aspect of our kids' athletic lives in part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how two competitive tryout rejections in a short span might affect an 8-year-old, and how to prepare. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 128: Lessons Learned in 2019

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2020 56:51


    As we start the new year and the new season, you can make significant strides by remembering to avoid mistakes (and repeating successes) you made in the past. Rob Tong shares lessons learned from several members of Edge Nation, Pete Caliendo, and three lessons Rob learned in 2019. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (47:31) about what tee to buy for a four-year-old. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!  

    YBE 127: How Non-Elite Players Can Get To The Next Level with Joshua Band

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2019 32:00


    Most high school players are not showcase-type players. What must these players do to get to the next level? Do they have any chance? Joshua Band, founder of PlateCrate, addresses these issues and more in Part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about what one product a middle school coach on a limited budget should purchase. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 126: How Top Players Can Get To The Next Level with Joshua Band

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2019 41:00


    What must a top high school baseball prospect do to get to the next level? What is important in a player promo video? Joshua Band, founder of PlateCrate, shares his thoughts on how players & parents can help propel towards playing college baseball in Part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether a full-time travel program or a rec-based travel program is better. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 125: Hope or Hype? Evaluating Baseball Products & Protocols with Dr. Chris McKenzie

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2019 34:00


    With so many baseball products and ideologies competing in the marketplace, how do you know which ones work and which ones don't...or even worse, which ones make you worse? Are things like long toss and weighted baseballs just hype by their promoters? Are things like the Core Velocity Belt, Rope Trainer or the Durathro sock just hype by their inventors? Dr. Chris McKenzie, a board-certified sports & orthopedic physical therapist, discusses some products & protocols in Part 3 of a three-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about how to help a team when kids have quit on themselves and their teammates. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 124: Understanding Pitching Tightness & Flexibility with Dr. Chris McKenzie

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2019 44:28


    When we help our kids learn to pitch, how much does tightness and flexibility play in the kids' ability to pick up what we teach? Dr. Chris McKenzie, a board-certified sports & orthopedic physical therapist, discusses these issues in Part 2 of a three-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about the catcher position will be a waste of a skilled player's athleticism and degrade his knees and athleticism. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 123: The Kinetic Chain in Pitching with Dr. Chris McKenzie

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2019 47:08


    What is the kinetic chain? How does it work with pitchers? Is it important to know? What do we need to know about it? Dr. Chris McKenzie, a board-certified sports & orthopedic physical therapist, goes over these concepts in Part 1 of a three-part (yes, three part) interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week about drills for helping a 7-year-old work on his swing with a tee and net setup. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 122: Question Of The Week Mega Show #2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2019 52:22


    Rob Tong answers 8 more Question Of The Week submission, including some tryout questions, how to help a team frequently striking out looking, how to teach back picks to a 9U team, and more. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 121: Question Of The Week Mega Show #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2019 36:35


    Rob Tong devotes this entire episode to answering several Question Of The Week submissions and hopefully you can gain something practical & actionable from the answers. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

    YBE 120: Pro Tips For Competitive Toughness with Jake McKinley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2019 43:04


    How do you help develop competitive toughness in players who aren't by nature that way? There's no silver bullet but Milwaukee Brewers minor league pitching coordinator Jake McKinley shares some pro tips to help us help our players be more competitively tough. Plus Austin Wasserman has the Wass Strength Tip of the Week on kettle bell front rack reverse lunges. And Rob answers the Question of the Week about whether it's worth trying to hold runners on at third base. Please let us (and others) know how you feel about the show by giving us an honest review & rating on iTunes!

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