US Sports Basketball: How To Teach The ‘I’ Generation of Basketball Players and #4 PACERS at #1 THUNDER NBA FINALS GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

 

• By Grant Young

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Youth basketball coaching has never been more difficult than it is today; especially when it comes to the ‘I’ Generation (the term used to describe children born between 1995 and 2012 who are growing up in the Internet age (therefore the letter I)).

With the access that these young kids have to the internet, it’s easy for them to convince themselves that they’re experts on the sport and don’t need to learn from their coaches. This, combined with the internal and external pressures that over-exposure to social media provides, makes them incredibly difficult to teach. 

Yet, there are coaches in the basketball world who have found ways to negate these negatives that the ‘I’ Generation has grown up with. One of those coaches is Jenny Boucek.

Coach Boucek is currently an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers. Boucek, has been on the Pacers staff since coach Rick Carlisle took over coaching Indiana in 2021. Before that, Boucek was also on Carlisle's Dallas Mavericks staff, becoming the NBA's third female assistant coach in 2017. She was on WNBA coaching staffs from 1999-2017, including three years as head coach of the Sacramento Monarchs (2007-09) and three for the Seattle Storm (2015-17). As a player, Boucek played 10 games for the Cleveland Rockers in 1997, and professionally in Iceland. She played at the University of Virginia.

When Coach Boucek isn’t helping the Pacers prepare, she’s studying creative ways to teach the ‘I’ Generation. We have pulled some insights from her ‘What You Need To Know About Coaching The `I Generation’’ course, which was recorded when Coach Boucek was still with the Dallas Mavericks and which will give you useful tips on helping the next wave of basketball talent develop.

“I Generation” - Characteristics

The first component of Coach Boucek’s course is detailing some of this generation’s characteristics. 

“We cannot be a great, great, elite leader if we don’t lead from a place of compassion and empathy. And we don’t have empathy if we don’t understand,” Coach Boucek says. 

She then notes how this generation is experiencing spikes in depression, anxiety, suicide, and mental health issues, more generally. And there is a direct link between how much all people (not just ‘Generation I’) spend on social media, and their depression levels. 

Furthermore, Coach Boucek then discusses how, despite how “connected” members of this generation may be, because of their heightened internet presence, they’re extremely disconnected from not only other people, but also from themselves. 

This is important to understand because it can allow coaches to unlock empathy when trying to teach these players. Realizing that a player’s resistance to your wisdom and other selfish tendencies on the court may be because they’re dealing with anxiety or depression. Understanding that there’s usually more to a story than what you can see on the surface (and then showing compassion toward your players) will enable them to trust you, and allow themselves to accept your words. 

Some Suggestions

Coach Boucek offers a few fantastic suggestions when trying to get this generation of players more engaged and receptive of your teaching. Here are a few: 

- No phones allowed in the locker room or on the bus.

- Invest in them individually (spend more 1 on 1 time with each of them)

Taking the time to get to know each of your players not only helps you better coach them on the court, but it will also allow you to make a bigger impact on them off the court. If you show these players that you truly care about why they are as a person, rather than a contributing member of your basketball team, they will learn to trust you more. And the only for you to do this is by making a genuine effort to get to know them better. 

- Create an environment where it’s safe to make mistakes, and where players can be honest with themselves and with others. 

- Promote communication and ownership.

One way that Coach Boucek recommends to accomplish this is by breaking them up into small groups during practice or film sessions. Once you’ve done so, give them small assignments that require them to collaborate and problem-solve together. School teachers often utilize this technique. And while you don’t want basketball practice to feel like a school session, promoting communication is a great way to bring your team closer together.

- Ask them questions before you give them solutions.

Internal Feedback - Learning From Themselves

“The more the feedback can be internal, instead of coming from you as a coach, the more effective it’s going to be.”

Coach Boucek says that any time that the feedback you’re trying to instill within your players is coming from their peers or from the drill is extremely valuable. In addition, having peer leaders who share your values, and can communicate and exemplify those values to their teammates, is also extremely beneficial. 

What Coach Boucek means by making feedback internal is that, rather than just throwing instruction or critique at your players, make them recognize the critique themselves. 

For example, if you want a player to shoot with more arc, don’t just tell them that. Instead, try challenging them to make three straight shots, with the ball touching nothing but net.

This will subconsciously force the player to shoot with more arc. And it also makes for a fun task that will facilitate enthusiasm and engagement from your players. If you can get teammates to institute these types of challenges upon each other, then the culture you’re creating will inspire the “I Generation” to teach themselves.

US Sports Football: The Chess Match: Win on the Perimeter (Part 1) and The Chess Match: Win on the Perimeter (Part 1) and CFL 2025 Recap: Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan Preseason

 

The Chess Match: Win on the Perimeter (Part 1)

• By Coach Grabowski 

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In an era of spread football, it became common to hear a coach say “Bubble Screen” is my perimeter run game.  Without tight ends or wings on the field, that was definitely a sound way of getting the ball to the perimeter.

With a surge in the use of 11 and 12 personnel, the true perimeter run game is back into many playbooks and has become a staple of getting the ball to the perimeter, especially against even fronts utilizing a 7 technique defensive end, and against the highly popular odd front.

In my own experience, we initially put the play in as an answer to the odd front which was gaining popularity in what was primarily an even front conference.

Today we will take a look at the chess match involved in stopping the pin and pull and utilizing it to pick up yardage on the perimeter when defenses align to shut down the interior run.

Attack the Perimeter with Pin and Pull

Eric Marty has had success on every level, now taking his offense to the professional level for the USFL Michigan Panthers after spending 2021 as the OC at Grambling State.  He explains the rules for how they man block the pin and pull to get the ball to the perimeter here (click on image for video):

Have a Plan to Run to the Boundary

Perimeter runs would logically attack the field as there is the most space there.  However, numbers and angles can give the play an advantage to the boundary side.  Here Coach Marty explains how they approach running the Pin & Pull to the boundary (click on image for video):

Leverage and Pursuit

Jeff Dittman bases his defense out of an even front but also uses some odd front changes.  Against a TE/Wing, he loosens his Sam linebacker and plays quarters behind with a flat foot safety technique.  Sam is the force player who will have to take on crack blocks at times, and the safety’s responsibility is to make him right.  The cornerbacks, to take away the play-action posts will play inside leverage.  Coach Dittman explains it here (click on image for video):

The other element needed in any defense is a relentless pursuit of the ball.  Coach Dittman has seen more and more perimeter run, so having defensive linemen and linebackers who can run and pursue to get hats to the edge is important.  He also points out his adjustment to a nub side TE Which teams will use to attack the boundary and try to get the corner into the run fit.  He shows his defenses pursuit and alignment to a nub in this video (click on image for video):

Play Great Technique

In this example, Coach Dittman shows how they G the front.  It does create a nice angle for the tight end, but when you have a “dude” like he has, the technique of the DE can really help against the play as he defeats his block (click on image for video)

Isaac Newton’s third law of motion states, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”  That’s true in the chess match of football as well.

Studying how a team will think about and adjust to your schemes and calls will allow you to stay ahead in the chess match that takes place on the gridiron.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski 

 

US Sports Baseball: 5 Outfield Drills to Work on in Season and #4 Auburn vs NC State Regional Final 2025

 

5 Outfield Drills to Work on in Season

• By Alec Burris

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Developing your outfield doesn't stop in the offseason.  Continuing to work on new drills with your team during the season is crucial as injuries and fatigue begins to set in. 

Implementing new drills in practice will keep your players on their toes and constantly improving as the wear and tear of a grueling multi game week starts to affect their performance. 

Let's take a look at 5 outfield drills you can put your players through when getting ready for a big game. 

Jake Boss Jr. . was appointed the 16th head coach in Michigan State baseball history on July 1, 2008, and has quickly become one of the most successful coaches in the program’s 131-year history. Coach Boss is constantly coming up with new drills to keep his outfielders prepared for any type of ball that comes their way. In the clip below, check out his different drills including diving for fly balls and tracking angles. (click image for video).

Darren Fenster became the Boston Red Sox's Minor League Outfield & Baserunning Coordinator in 2019. Coach has become known for his innovative drills and philosophies when training outfielders to get the most out of their athletic abilities on the field in game situations. One of his favorite daily drills in practice is “Tapbacks” which is done consistently right after stretches and warm ups. 

John Marshall is the former varsity baseball coach at Kinnelon High School in Kinnelon, N.J. and also played at Harvard University and then for the semi-pro Paramus Pitbulls of the North Jersey Amateur Baseball League.  He believes that footwork is the key to consistent outfield play, and is a simple but effective concept that you can work on with your players in the middle of the season. Here is a look at some of the drills he uses that can be replicated in your own training sessions. 

Former head baseball coach at Indiana University Bob Morgan knows all about turning your outfield into a well oiled machine. In his course "Outfield Play: The Defense's Secondary", Coach Morgan covers the  crucial components for the last line of defense including throwing grip, stance, creep steps, and proper techniques and footwork for catching the baseball. In the drill shown below, he talks about creep steps and stance techniques he worked on at the division 1 level.

Former Detroit Tiger Kevin Hooper has preached TEAM DEFENSE since he got into coaching. His course on team defense includes things like:

Pop Fly Priority

Cuts & Relays

PFP

Pickoffs and Rundowns

Scripted Plays

Having your defense act as a single unit is key to saving runs and getting the team off the field to go hit. This clip covers the proper cut and relay drills for empty bases and a ball down the left field line. 

Keep in mind that a lot of outfielders rely on instinct when it comes to in-game situations they find themselves in on the field. When you continue to pump in new drills each week before the game, you are adding to their muscle memory and increasing their chances of success when the game is on the line and you are in need of a big play.

Fundamentally sound players WIN!

US Sports Martial Arts: Muay Thai Fundamentals: Your First Steps into the Art of Eight Limbs and Wildest First-Round Finishes In ONE History 🔥🤯

 

Step into the world of Muay Thai and build a strong foundation in the "Art of Eight Limbs." This beginner-friendly course is designed to introduce you to the fundamental techniques, movements, and mindset needed to start your Muay Thai journey with confidence. Whether you're looking to train for fitness, self-defense, or competition, this course will equip you with the essential skills to get started. What You'll Learn:

✅ Fighting Stance & Footwork – Learn how to position yourself for balance, mobility, and power.

✅ Striking Fundamentals – Master the mechanics of punches, kicks, knees, and elbows with proper form.

✅ Basic Defensive Techniques – Discover how to block, check kicks, and evade strikes effectively.

✅ Essential Training Gear – Understand what equipment you need and how to use it properly.

Led by the experienced Washington Dos Santos, this course combines step-by-step instruction, practical drills, and insights into Muay Thai culture and training etiquette. By the end of this course, you'll have the skills and knowledge to step into any gym with confidence and begin your Muay Thai journey. Start training today and experience the power, discipline, and excitement of Muay Thai!

The Coach

Washington Dos Santos

World Champion Coach

I'm Washington dos Santos –

• a six-time Brazilian Kickboxing National Champion
• three-time U.S. Muaythai National Champion
• the top-ranked WCB Muaythai fighter at 175 lbs.

 

US Sports Volleyball: Dominate the Net – 5 Must-Try Drills for Pin Hitters and Mol, A./Sørum, C. vs. Åhman/Hellvig - Gold Match Highlights

 

• By Sam DeJoseph

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Swing to Deep Corners 

What You’ll Need: 

A regulation volleyball court, net, volleyballs, and a partner to toss or set for you. Get ready to bring the heat! 

Let’s Get Into It: 

Mark off each deep corner of the court using tape, cones, hula-hoops—whatever you’ve got!  These are your target zones, your bullseye. 

Start at one pin and crush the ball into the opposite deep corner. Then move to the other pin and do it again—back and forth, like a machine. As you get comfortable, ramp up the power with every swing. Your goal? Precision and power, from both sides of the court. 

Want to spice it up? 

Set a personal challenge—maybe 10 perfect hits in a row. Or better yet, go head-to-head with a teammate and race to see who can nail the most hits into the corners first. Winner gets bragging rights (and maybe the loser does pushups). 

This drill will sharpen your control, boost your accuracy, and build your confidence on both pins—so you can become a more balanced, dangerous, and unstoppable player. 

Game on.  

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High Ball Out of System Hitting 

One of the main things that pin hitters are tasked with is getting kills in bad situations and ending long rallies! This drill caters to that need by giving players a chance to gain the ability to hit high out-of-system sets to gain ball control and power to be a terminal player. 

What You’ll Need: 

A regulation volleyball court, net, volleyballs, and a partner to toss or set for you. Let’s Get Into It: 

Time to turn tough situations into point-scoring opportunities! Your setter starts in the middle back, launching a high ball out to the pin. As the hitter, your job is to wait it out, close to the set with control, and then bring the heat with a high, powerful swing—even when it’s not the perfect setup. 

This drill is all about making something out of nothing. Master your timing, adjust your footwork, and become the kind of hitter who scores when it really counts. DON’T HIT TO  ZONE 6!!! 

 Level Up the Challenge: 

Dial in your accuracy—pick a zone before you swing and hit it with purpose! Want even more of a test? Throw a blocker in your face and learn to tool the block, hit around it, or go high hands to make your shot count.

Being great isn’t about perfect sets—it’s about what you do when things get tough. This drill builds your confidence, your vision, and your ability to deliver under pressure. Become your team’s go-to in the chaos.

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Transition Hitting 

Every hitter will need to be able to be effective in transition to be great, This fast-paced drill will prepare you for in-game action! 

What You’ll Need: 

A regulation volleyball court, net, volleyballs, and a partner to toss or set for you.  

Let’s Get Into It: 

Start up at the net like you're about to shut down a hitter—hands up, eyes locked in. The moment you hear the smack of the ball on the other side, explode off the net with three quick,  powerful steps backward—this is your backwards approach into attack mode. 

Your setter is waiting. As you plant, they’ll toss or set the ball—then it’s go time. Swing hard,  swing smart, and keep moving. The drill is fast-paced—reps come one after another, so stay light on your feet and ready to fly!

This drill sharpens your transition footwork and builds your ability to hit effectively off the net, just like in a real game. 

Level Up the Challenge: 

Aim to hit every zone on the court—line, cross, deep corner, and short tip. Make it a game: 

- 3 clean kills in a row 

- Hit all 6 zones before you stop 

- Race a teammate to complete the challenge first 

Push your speed, precision, and power. Become the transition hitter no defense wants to face.

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3 Shot Sequence 

All hitters need to have a deep bag of tricks that they can go into throughout a game. Whether this is crushing a ball, tipping it short over the block, or having a super good roll shot, there are many ways that great pin hitters will score. The aim of this drill is to develop your ability to score in many ways. 

What You’ll Need:

A regulation volleyball court, net, volleyballs, and a partner to toss or set for you. 

Let’s Get Into It: 

Start in your normal attacking position, locked in and ready to strike. Your setter will toss or set you a ball—go off! Choose any attack you want: a full-power swing, a sneaky tip, a crafty roll shot, or even a bold opposite-hand smack. Once you land, don’t stop—the next two balls are coming fast! 

You’ll get three attacks in a row, and each one should be a different shot. Mix it up, keep it unpredictable, and work on being the kind of hitter defenders hate to read.

 Level Up the Challenge:

Make it tougher (and more fun!) by setting up target zones on the court—cones, hoops, tape,  whatever works. Try to land each of your three attacks in a different target. This pushes your accuracy, creativity, and court awareness to the next level. 

This drill trains you to get your feet to the ball and build a killer arsenal of shots, so you can score from anywhere, at any time. Get versatile, get dangerous, and get ready to dominate the net! 

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Pass/Dig to Swing 

One of the BIGGEST keys to being an elite all-around pin attacker is mastering the art of transitioning from passer to powerful hitter — and this drill is your ticket to leveling up!

 

What You’ll Need: 

A regulation volleyball court, net, a few volleyballs, court tape, and a partner to toss or set to you. Bonus points if you’ve got a block or full defense to test your skills! 

Drill Breakdown: Let’s Get Moving! 

Start by taping out your transition pathway on the court:

 

- Straight line for your shuffle after the pass. 

- Slanted line for your explosive approach into the hit. 

Think of it like a runway for your attack!

After each pass, explode off the line, plant, and attack with INTENT — whether it’s a high-powered swing, a deceptive tip, or a cheeky roll shot. Gradually increase the tempo of both your approach and the set to simulate real game speed! 

 Crank Up the Challenge: 

- Pick your target zones and try to nail them consistently — don’t just hit, place with purpose. 

- Add a blocker and practice hitting around or tooling the block like a boss. • Have extra players?

Run it live with a defense and test your decision-making under pressure! 

Why It Matters: 

This drill is your game-changer. It trains your body to react quickly and efficiently, helping you become a lethal threat on the pin. With clean footwork and killer shot selection, you’ll be unstoppable from both serve, receive, and defense. 

Now go own that court and turn every pass into a point!

 

If you want to level up your game as a hitter or want more volleyball drills, check out Play Better Volleyball Hitting featuring Coach Santiago Restrepo! This is a great clinic that will allow any player or coach to up their game to the next level!

 

The Rock Almighty: America Has A Choice To Make And Train Your Children, The Rewards Are Heavenly

 

• Author Edward Mrkvicka

The First Amendment of the Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The genesis and purpose of the First Amendment, as it pertains to religion, was to protect people and churches from the State, not the other way around. But the Christian underpinnings of America can not be allowed to stand if the Left is going to reach its objective of making America a godless nation that places man’s baser instincts above the holy Word of God.

The end result? No-fault-divorce, abortion, gay marriage, all manner of financial support for those who can but will not work, schools that no longer teach but rather indoctrinate, and another generation of statists who believe free higher education, a high paying job, and a luxury home are "rights." And the list goes on.

Through an evolution pursued by liberal Progressives and sanctified by a Supreme Court that all too often plays politics, the clear intentions of our Founding Fathers has morphed into "the separation of church and state," a phrase not found in the Constitution.

The hypocrisy of the Left is mind-numbing. They demanded the State neuter Christians, and then turned the Constitution on its head to do so. Hence we have the invention of subjective "hate speech" that discourages pastors from speaking the Word of God from the pulpit on subjects like homosexuality. This denies our right to free speech and exercise of our religious beliefs.

Worse yet, while they are demanding to be "shielded" from our country’s Christian foundation, they, in contradiction to the First Amendment, have imposed a religion on the rest of us. It’s called secular humanism. They are as devoted to their "religion" as we are to ours. We worship at the altar of Almighty God. They worship at the altar of the State.

There is a dynamic confrontation taking place and in the balance is the future of our country. We are at a critical juncture, in every sense. For instance, even most of those on the Left have to admit now that we can no longer sustain the financial irresponsibility we have wallowed in all these many years. What they have trouble admitting is that our tenuous position is in large part because of their quasi-socialist beliefs, one of which is to remove God from every fiber of the tapestry that spells A-m-e-r-i-c-a.

Whatever direction we choose, we must choose. As the Bible correctly notes, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24 NKJV)

When I was a child back in the fifties we were taught right from wrong. Now children are taught that the world is made up of gray areas. Such muddling allows secular humanism to trump the Word of God, which then allows all manner of perversions as well as the death of common sense. Making the point, government strongly encouraged, and ultimately demanded that banks make housing loans to virtually everyone, some of who had no job. Even worse, in some cases the mortgages were in excess of the home’s value.

Common sense says you can’t make immediately underwater loans to people without the ability to repay without substantial negative repercussions - but our government said not to worry, they would insure any loss. Citizens bought the lie, forgetting that we are the government, so the government’s loss is our loss. This is a classic example of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

So with bailout after bailout we’ve mortgaged our future with nothing to show for it, except a debt that cannot be paid -- and never will be. Yet the Bible says, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8) If only we had listened to God!

This, of course, is only one example of what happens to a nation that turns its back on the teaching of the one true God. It is ultimately destroyed.

How sad that we have stood by and let God be banished from what was once our proud Christian nation. How hypocritical that we call on Him when disaster strikes, as we did in the aftermath of 9/11.

Some may say that we have not turned our back on God. But that false claim can be made only by a secular humanist with an agenda. For the rest of us, the standard is simple and direct and disposes of the "gray-area" theory that we’ve come to embrace. Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." (Matthew 12:30) America is either with the Lord or we are against Him. We cannot be lukewarm on this. America cannot set God aside, to be used only in an emergency, for if we do we become His enemy by not standing with Him 24/7.

America, as the Bible suggests, is being "scattered abroad," and it’s because we have made the wrong choices. Thankfully God is lovingly longsuffering -- "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) But while the Bible says no one knows when the end will come, we are, in the meantime, playing Russian-Roulette with this country that we love so dearly.

Ask yourself this: Is it better for America to be with God or against Him?

Edward Mrkvicka is an award winning Christian author, lay minister/counselor, and lifelong Bible student.

His newest book, "The Prayer Promise of Christ," has been named Christian Book of the Year by Books & Authors.net.

His web site is located at: www.EdwardFMrkvickaJr.com

 

US Sports Softball: How to Find and Develop Elite Softball Pitchers, Minnesota being sued for Boy dominating Girls Softball, and Oklahoma vs. Tennessee: '25 Women's College World Series Game 2 Highlights

 

• By Grant Young

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Countless youth and high school softball pitchers have impressive talent. But there’s a major difference between a pitcher who can perform at the game’s lower levels compared to one who is prepared to excel in college. 

And it can often be difficult to discern between a sure-fire college prospect and a pitcher who isn’t likely to succeed past high school. In fact, many of the tell-tale signs don’t be seen while the pitcher is performing on the field.

This is why it’s crucial to understand what to look for in a pitcher when it comes to recruiting them to the next level. 

And Texas high school softball coaching legend Amanda Wolf-Schramm is the perfect person to help coaches figure that aspect of their job out. 

Coach Wolf-Schramm is currently the head varsity coach at Smithson Valley High School in Texas. This past year, she earned the 400th win of her high school softball coaching career. Prior to her becoming Smithson Valley’s head coach in 2019, Coach Wolf-Schramm created successful programs at Texas’ Bastrop and Elgin high schools.

While Coach Wolf-Schramm is a high school coach, her ‘Pitching’ softball course from the Texas High School Coaches Association & Coaches Education Foundation contains a masterclass of wisdom for softball coaches of all levels. 

But Coach Wolf-Schramm’s lessons aren’t just for college softball coaches. Those coaches looking to develop pitchers at every level can gain wisdom on how to develop and hone their own pitching staff to make them more appealing to collegiate coaches and increase their chances of fulfilling their dreams of playing at the next level. 

We have taken some of the best nuggets from Coach Wolf-Schramm’s course and distilled them into bite-sized lessons that you can benefit from today. 

What to Look For in a Pitcher

Before a softball coach even begins to assess a pitcher’s ability on the field, Coach Wolf-Schramm believes the first thing they should be looking at is the pitcher’s positive work ethic. 

What exactly does this mean? It means that a pitcher should have the same work ethic regardless of whether there are eyes on them.

Coaches should want to recruit pitchers who are working just as hard in the bullpen by themselves or taking notes for their teammates in the dugout during the game as they are when their coach is standing right beside them. 

While this can be difficult to discern (most players have a good idea when they’re being watched, even if it’s subtly so), taking a bit of extra time to watch a player’s work ethic out of the corner of your eye can tell you a lot about whether they’re the type of person you can build a positive culture around. 

You also want to keep a keen eye on whether a pitcher is showing negative emotion when on the mound. Because pitching is such a rollercoaster ride, the most successful pitchers will remain even keel in the good moments and in the bad. And if a pitcher is reacting negatively to an umpire’s call, a teammate’s error, or any of the other negative things that can occur during a softball game, this should come off as a red flag. 

And another thing Coach Wolf-Schramm believes coaches should consider is whether a pitcher is a good athlete. She loves to see a pitcher playing another position when they’re not pitching. And at the very least, she wants to see that her pitchers at the high school level are also hitting, as well. If they are then they’re likely a good athlete, which is one of the best factors in assessing a player’s ability to perform at the collegiate level.

The Pitching Coach’s Role

Coach Wolf-Schramm believes that there are a few non-negotiable components that go into making a good pitching coach. 

The first one is communication. Coach Wolf-Schramm believes that every pitching coach should be calling constant, daily meetings with their pitching staff in order to assess what is going well, what must be worked on, and any challenges or hurdles that the pitching staff wants to address.

In addition, the pitching coach must act as a liaison for their pitchers and the team’s catchers. A ton of important information must be relayed between pitchers and catchers to maximize the chances of success in a game. And it’s the pitching coach’s responsibility to make sure that information is being discussed. 

In addition, pitching coaches have to be able to communicate and build relationships with their pitchers on an individual level. Why would a pitcher listen to their coach’s suggestions if they don’t trust them as a person, or feel like the coach doesn’t care about their best interest? 

All of these reasons show why communication is paramount to being a good pitching coach at any level of the game. 

Pre Season Workouts For Pitchers

Coach Wolf-Schramm has a few great pieces of advice when it comes to a pitcher’s workouts during the pre-season.

One is that, whenever they’re playing catch, they should do so with a home plate at the feet of who/whatever they’re throwing to. 

Because pitchers are inherently competitive, having a (likely rubber and transportable) home plate at their target’s feet is guaranteed to make them want to execute strikes. 

However, this doesn’t mean their target or catch partner should remain in a squat. Rather, just by having the home plate there, the pitcher will remember the purpose behind their play catch. They will pay more attention to detail about what they’re feeling while throwing and will be more keen to correct their mistakes. 

This leads to a more intentional, focused play catch that isn’t merely going through the motions. 

US Sports Golf: Secrets of Successful Golf How to Break Par featuring AJ Bonar and NCAA Golf Highlights: 2025 Men's Individual National Championship

 

Join AJ Bonar as he covers the essential shots that you will need to improve your golf game and finally break par. He shares many important swing concepts and tips that will help golfers of all skill levels. Among the topics covered are: how to master the driver and put the ball in the fairway, a variety of short pitch shots near the green that will enable you to consistently save par, longer pitch shot techniques that will help you to hit the ball closer to the pin and putt for more birdies. This video is a must have resource for any serious golfer.

The Coach

AJ Bonar has revolutionized the way to a better golf game through his years of experience as: Head Teaching Professional, AJ Golf School; Teaching professional for players on the PGA, LPGA, and Buy.com tours; Contributing editor to numerous Golf Magazines; 12 years as Golf Director of the San Diego Golf Academy; and eight years as a Division I NCAA Golf Coach at the Bowling Green University.

Book this course.....