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YBE 050: Overcoming Adversity: The Hunter Greene Story with Russell Greene

By Rob Tong | October 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Russell Greene, father of prep superstar Hunter Greene, explains some of the significant struggles Hunter had to overcome on his way to being potentially the #1 overall draft pick in the MLB amateur draft in June 2017. Plus Justin Stone answers the Question Of The Week regarding glove sizes for shortstops and Austin Wasserman of WassermanStrength.com takes us through Sever’s Disease in Wass Strength’s Tip Of The Week. Show notes

Cage Pro Tee Review

By Rob Tong | October 21, 2016 4 Comments

Cage Pro tees, with its breakaway tee topper and heavier base, are the new challenger to the Tanner Tee. How does the Cage Pro stack up to the Tanner?

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YBE 049: Components Of The Elite Swing with Bobby Tewksbary

By Rob Tong | October 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Bobby Tewksbary of TewksHitting.com shares what makes up the elite swing and more. This is Part 2 of a two-part interview. Plus, Wass Strength’s Tip Of The Week explains the final four youth performance principles. Show notes

YBE 048: Keys To The Elite Swing with Bobby Tewksbary

By Rob Tong | October 11, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Bobby Tewksbary, founder of TewksHitting.com, shares some important information on how to strive towards the elite swing. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus, Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the Question Of The Week about how to create interest in baseball among our youth. Show notes

Tanner Tee Review

By Rob Tong | October 6, 2016 5 Comments

Every youth baseball coach needs a tee. And every player needs a tee, regardless of age. What about the original Tanner Tee? What are the pros and cons? Would I recommend it? My review inside.

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YBE 047: Strength Training Q&A, Part 2, with Austin Wasserman

By Rob Tong | October 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Austin Wasserman of WassermanStrength.com continues to answer your questions about strength training for youth baseball players. This is Part 2 of my interview with Austin. Plus, Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the Question Of The Week about the proper approach to stealing bases. Show notes

YBE 046: Strength Training Q&A, Part 1, with Austin Wasserman

By Rob Tong | September 27, 2016 1 Comment

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Austin Wasserman of WassermanStrength.com returns to answer your questions about strength training for youth baseball players. This is Part 1 of my interview with Austin. Plus, Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the Question Of The Week about where to find instruction on fundamentals. Show notes

Insider Bat review

By Rob Tong | September 25, 2016 5 Comments

Insider Bat

The Insider Bat is a muscle memory tool that diagnoses swing flaws, and is endorsed by Carlos Correa. Would I recommend it? My review inside.

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YBE 045: More Batting Blindspots with Paul Niggebrugge

By Rob Tong | September 20, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Paul Niggebrugge, founder of Be Your Best Academy, warns us about more hitting blindspots from a coaching perspective. This is Part 2 of my interview with Paul. Plus, Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the Question Of The Week about what advantage comes with having kids play up. Show notes

YBE 044: Avoiding Batting Blindspots with Paul Niggebrugge

By Rob Tong | September 13, 2016 1 Comment

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Paul Niggebrugge, founder of Be Your Best Academy, warns us about hitting blindspots from a coaching perspective. This is Part 1 of my interview with Paul. Plus, Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the Question Of The Week about starting an 11U team. Show notes

YBE 043: Busting Strength Training Myths with Eric Cressey

By Rob Tong | September 5, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Eric Cressey, president and co-founder of Cressey Sports Performance, debunks some common myths about strength training for youth baseball players. This episode is Part 1 of our series on Youth Baseball Offseason Strength Training with three different strength training experts. Show notes

YBE 042: Avoiding The Pitching Trap with Paul Reddick

By Rob Tong | August 30, 2016 1 Comment

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Paul Reddick, founder of The 90 MPH Club, discusses the pitching trap for unsuspecting parents, coaches and players and how to avoid it. This is Part 2 of my interview with Paul. Plus Justin Stone answers the Question Of The Week about conflicting advice on the stride. Show notes

YBE 041: The Simpler Side of Pitching with Paul Reddick

By Rob Tong | August 22, 2016 1 Comment

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Paul Reddick, founder of the 90 MPH Club, explains how to make it simpler when teaching pitching. This is part 1 of a two-part interview series with Paul on the podcast. Plus, Justin Stone answers the Question Of The Week about trying other sports in the baseball offseason and how short is too short for an offseason. Show notes

YBE 040: Perfect Game Responds To ‘The Arm’ with Jerry Ford

By Rob Tong | August 16, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Jerry Ford, President and founder of Perfect Game, tackles criticisms of Perfect Game by “The Arm” author Jeff Passan. This is part 2 of a two-part interview series with Jerry on the podcast. Show notes

YBE 039: An Inside Look at Perfect Game with Jerry Ford

By Rob Tong | August 9, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Jerry Ford, President and founder of Perfect Game, takes us on a tour of Perfect Game and how it works. This is part 1 of a two-part interview series with Jerry on the podcast. Show notes

YBE 038: Lessons Learned in 2016

By Rob Tong | August 2, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Every youth baseball season is different. And in this week’s episode, I share ten lessons I learned while being the head coach of two (yes, two) youth baseball teams. Plus Justin Stone answers the Question Of The Week about whether 7 & 8 year olds should be taught aggressive baserunning or station-to-station baserunning. Show notes

Scrimmages: Good Or Bad?

By Rob Tong | July 30, 2016 2 Comments

Two Rays players chat

Are scrimmages for lazy coaches? Or are scrimmages useful? I’ve held both views over my coaching career. So do I currently consider scrimmages as good or bad, and why?

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YBE 037: Dissecting The Arm with Jeff Passan

By Rob Tong | July 27, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Jeff Passan, author of the New York Times-bestselling book The Arm, talks about pitching gurus and more about arm health. This is part 2 of a two-part interview series with Jeff on the podcast. Plus Justin Stone answers the Question Of The Week about what stuff players should know when. Show notes

YBE 036: De-escalating The Arm Race with Jeff Passan

By Rob Tong | July 19, 2016 1 Comment

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Jeff Passan, author of the New York Times-bestselling book The Arm, talks about overuse arm injuries among youth baseball players, Perfect Game’s role in that, and more. This is part 1 of a two-part interview series with Jeff on the podcast. Show notes

YBE 035: Embracing Each Child with Fernando Arenado

By Rob Tong | July 12, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Fernando Arenado, father of Rockies’ All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, discusses Nolan’s path to the bigs, how it’s different from Nolan’s siblings Cousy and Jonah, and how he embraced each child’s paths. Plus, Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the Question Of The Week about off-season pitching drills for control. Show notes

YBE 034: How To Do Long Toss with Alan Jaeger

By Rob Tong | July 5, 2016 1 Comment

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Alan Jaeger of Jaeger Sports (and the most well-known long toss advocate) describes how to do long toss properly, including pulldowns, progressions and differences between 8-12 year olds and high schoolers. He also addresses long toss detractors, plus much more. Show notes

YBE 033: The Value Of Long Toss with Alan Jaeger

By Rob Tong | June 29, 2016 2 Comments

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Alan Jaeger, the most well-known long toss advocate, explains the value of long toss and proper arm conditioning. Plus Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the Question Of The Week about what to do when a travel team doesn’t meet your player’s needs. Show notes

YBE 032: Commanding the Huddle with Michael Port

By Rob Tong | June 21, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Michael Port, author of the best-selling book Steal The Show, discusses how youth baseball coaches can command the huddle. Show notes

YBE 031: Digging Deeper Into Better Pitching (Part 2) with Ron Wolforth

By Rob Tong | June 14, 2016 1 Comment

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Ron Wolforth, founder of the Texas Baseball Ranch, digs deep to discuss how to teach better pitching to youth pitchers. This episode is part 2 of a two-part series with Ron Wolforth. Show notes

YBE 030: Digging Deeper Into Better Pitching (Part 1) with Ron Wolforth

By Rob Tong | June 7, 2016 3 Comments

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Ron Wolforth, founder of the Texas Baseball Ranch, digs deep to discuss how to teach better pitching to youth pitchers. This episode is part 1 of a two-part series with Ron Wolforth. Show notes

YBE 029: Improving Hitting Performance Through The Mental Side with Steve Springer

By Rob Tong | May 31, 2016 Leave a Comment

Steve Springer, scout and Performance Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, explains how to help kids hit better through the mental side of the game. Show notes

Minimizing Use Of The Term “Practice” For Practices

By Rob Tong | May 27, 2016 3 Comments

Huddle

Can a simple change in terminology help increase the rate at which your players improve over the course of the short season? Even without changing any of the content of your practices?

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YBE 028: The Art Of Smarter Baserunning

By Rob Tong | May 24, 2016 Leave a Comment

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I wrap up my two-part series on important baserunning fundamentals for youth baseball players to make them smarter baserunners. Show notes

Travel Baseball: A Flawed System

By Rob Tong | May 23, 2016 4 Comments

11u travel game at UIC

While the popularity of travel baseball has soared, so have the problems. Guest poster Larry Owens explains what makes travelball a flawed system.

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Hitting: The Important Sequence From Batting Stance To Foot Plant

By Rob Tong | May 19, 2016 1 Comment

Foot plant

The seeming innocuous sequence of the swing from stance to foot plant is often incorrect among younger hitters. Learn how to diagnose it and how to fix it.

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YBE 027: The Case For Smart Baserunning

By Rob Tong | May 17, 2016 Leave a Comment

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In Part 1 of a two-part series on baserunning, I talk about why teaching smart baserunning is important and 10 drills to help teach it to our kids. Show notes

YBE 026: High-Level Throwing with Austin Wasserman

By Rob Tong | May 10, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Austin Wasserman of AB Athletics and WassermanStrength.com describes high-level throwing and how to teach it to your youth baseball players. Plus, Justin Stone answers the Question Of The Week about making first at-bats in games as good as later at-bats in games. Show notes

YBE 025: Coaching Travel 101 with Ron Filipkowski

By Rob Tong | May 3, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Ron Filipkowski, one of the most successful travel coaches, explains how to start and run a successful youth travel baseball team. Show notes

YBE 024: The Elite Swing with Matt Lisle

By Rob Tong | April 26, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Matt Lisle, head softball coach at Menlo College, explains what the elite swing is and gives some practical tips on how to teach it. Plus Justin Stone answers the Question Of The Week about helping overmatched hitters. Show notes

YBE 023: Lessons From 50 Years Of Coaching with Jerry Weinstein

By Rob Tong | April 19, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Jerry Weinstein, field manager of the Wareham Gatemen and on special assignment for the Colorado Rockies in scouting & player development, explains higher-level baseball concepts and insights gleaned from 50+ years of coaching experience. Plus Justin Stone answers the Question Of The Week about hitting approach at the plate. Show notes

YBE 022: The Power Of A Wise Parent with Lorenzo McCutchen

By Rob Tong | April 12, 2016 1 Comment

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Lorenzo McCutchen, father of Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Andrew McCutchen, talks about how he raised Andrew and Andrew’s path to the Major Leagues. Show notes

YBE 021: Nurturing The Love Of The Game

By Rob Tong | April 5, 2016 Leave a Comment

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In this second part of our two-part miniseries on Walking Away, I explore four ways to nurture the love of the game in youth baseball players and help reduce the odds they will quit baseball. Plus Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the “Ask Justin” Question Of The Week about whether it’s possible to help players overcome the fear of being hit by a pitch. Show notes

Assistant coaches: like-minded with head coach, or different-minded?

By Rob Tong | March 29, 2016 2 Comments

Coach and assistant

If you are a youth baseball head coach, do you know if your assistant coaches are like-minded or different-minded? Do you care? What should they be?

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YBE 020: Why Talented Youth Players Walk Away From Baseball

By Rob Tong | March 29, 2016 Leave a Comment

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In part one of a two-part miniseries on Walking Away, I explain four evidence-based reasons why talented youth baseball players walk away from the game. Plus Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the “Ask Justin” Question Of The Week about preparing players for the next level. Show notes

YBE 019: Unlock Your Players’ Potential with Gina Parris

By Rob Tong | March 22, 2016 1 Comment

Gina Parris of Built To Win Coaching shares her tips for connecting with your players and unlocking their potential through the mental side of the game. Plus Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the “Ask Justin” Question Of The Week about aloof players. Show notes

Do you tell your kids to “get more hits”?

By Rob Tong | March 19, 2016 1 Comment

Swing

An all-too-common coach-speak after a loss is “We need to get more hits, guys!”. Few realize how foolish it is to say this. But it’s not just foolish to say; it’s actually harmful to your team. I explain why and what to do instead.

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YBE 018: Helping Kids With The Mental Game Of Baseball with Justin Su’a

By Rob Tong | March 15, 2016 2 Comments

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Justin Su’a, the Boston Red Sox Mental Skills Coordinator, shares his strategies for helping kids navigate the mental side of the youth baseball game. Plus Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the “Ask Justin” Question Of The Week about whether travel ball is required for high school ball. Show notes

YBE 017: Baseball Tricks Of The Trade with David Klein

By Rob Tong | March 8, 2016 Leave a Comment

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David Klein of the Menlo Park Legends shares his coaching tricks of the trade. Plus Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the “Ask Justin” Question Of The Week about arm bar in an 8-year-old swing. Show notes

YBE 016: Nature Over Nurture: The Ben Zobrist Story with Tom Zobrist

By Rob Tong | March 1, 2016 3 Comments

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Tom Zobrist, father of Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist, talks about how he raised Ben and how Ben got to the Major Leagues. Show notes

Why saying “Throw strikes!” is not just dumb but dangerous

By Rob Tong | February 26, 2016 4 Comments

Pitching

Tons of coaches say to their pitchers “throw strikes”. A few people know it’s dumb to say that and crack jokes about it. But did you know that saying “throw strikes” goes beyond being an odd statement and is actually harmful to your pitchers? Find out why and what you should say instead.

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YBE 015: The Dark Side Of Travel Baseball with Larry Owens

By Rob Tong | February 23, 2016 2 Comments

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Larry Owens of Bellarmine University reveals the dark side of travel baseball. Plus Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the “Ask Justin” Question Of The Week about exit speed. Show notes

It’s Time For Coaches To Stop Showing Up Kids In Practices

By Rob Tong | February 22, 2016 Leave a Comment

Coach

Every practice, every coach unwittingly shows up their kids, publicly embarrassing them in front of their friends and peers. It’s time to be aware of what coaches are doing and just as important, how we can avoid doing that.

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YBE 014: How To Teach Catching (Part 2) with Xan Barksdale

By Rob Tong | February 16, 2016 1 Comment

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Xan Barksdale concludes his master class on how to teach catching (the catcher position) to youth baseball players. This is Part 2 in a two-part interview series with Xan. Plus Justin Stone of elitebaseball.tv answers the Ask Justin Question Of The Week about hitting the outside pitch. Show notes

YBE 013: How To Teach Catching (Part 1) with Xan Barksdale

By Rob Tong | February 9, 2016 3 Comments

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Xan Barksdale breaks down how to teach catching (in the catcher position) to youth baseball players. This is Part 1 in a two-part interview series with Xan. Show notes

The Secret Alternative To Developing Pitching Prospects

By Rob Tong | February 5, 2016 Leave a Comment

Pitching

With the sharp increase in Tommy John surgeries in baseball pitchers, is there a way in developing pitching prospects that lowers that risk?

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