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Coaching From the Stands

September 19, 2019 By Coach Jon Leave a Comment

Little Jimmy toes the rubber. Delivers…

Ball one.

“Bend over!” his dad yells.

Jimmy gets the ball back from the catcher. Takes a deep breath. Steps back on the mound. Fires…

Ball two.

“You’re dropping your elbow!” shouts his mom.

Jimmy gets his sign. Sends in his next pitch. Runner going…

Ball three.

The throw comes quickly back to Jimmy. He turns around. Then realizes he missed his responsibility. The runner at third was caught, but Jimmy forgot to make the throw.

“Don’t walk him!” his dad yells.

Jimmy takes his time. Throw a strike. Throw a strike. He delivers…

Ball four, in the dirt.

Jimmy glances at his parents, then drops his head in disgust. His parents moan in the background. Meanwhile, the runner at third scores as Jimmy fails to cover the plate.

Coaching From the Stands

I coach, but I’m also a dad. I get it. It’s hard.

But I need to help you understand. When you coach from the stands, you are doing more harm than good. And, when out of control, you are sending a message to the coach that you may not intend.

What is Coaching From the Stands?

Coaching from the stands is giving your child direct baseball instruction when you don’t hold a coaching responsibility.

This doesn’t include simply cheering for your child and his team. You should do this! Positive messages should be encouraged.

Coaching from the stands involves specific instructions. Most often, it’s related to what they should do at the plate, on the mound, or in the field. It could be mechanical (“follow through,” “bend over,” “shorten up”) or based on a responsibility (“cover second,” “back up the bag,” or “block the ball”).

It’s Not Easy!

I know this is hard. I coached my middle son for six years, and he just finished playing his first season of high school ball — away from me. It’s been an emotional challenge for me to sit in the stands and keep my mouth shut.

I pace. I fidget. I try to keep myself busy. But I do all I can to avoid coaching from the stands.

It’s a truly emotional and helpless situation. You desperately want your child to succeed. You feel their pain, maybe more than they do. It’s part of being a parent!

You fear that they forgot that one thing. You think that if you remind them, the chances for success will increase.

It may not even be rational, but parenting isn’t always rational. And I understand.

The Problem with Coaching From the Stands

Instructions from the stands can be problematic. Let’s talk about it.

What if your instructions are wrong? The classic parental instruction that means well but is misinformed is “Keep your elbow up!” Stop saying that. It doesn’t mean anything.

But maybe what you are saying is correct generally, but it contradicts what your coach has instructed. On a 3-0 count, I often want my hitters aggressive on their pitch, particularly with runners on base. If you’re telling your kid to take (or lamenting a swing in that situation), you’re contradicting my message.

Or maybe what you are saying is completely right and in line with what your coach has instructed. Even this can create significant issues.

Your coach yells out an instruction, though he keeps it simple. Mom or dad yells out a different instruction. The child is now thinking about two different things when the coach wanted him to only think about one.

This creates an environment ripe for confusion. While trying to follow through on the instructions that were given, he forgets something basic. The count. The number of outs. Something else.

Worse yet is criticism, or negative instruction that lacks value. “Don’t walk him!” “Throw strikes!” “Don’t strike out!” “Swing at good pitches!”

Stating the obvious isn’t encouragement. Do you think he’s trying to throw balls? Do you think he’s trying to strike out?

Young Players, Their Parents, and Emotion

Your son wants to please you. He doesn’t want to disappoint you. This is more true for his relationship with his parents than with his coach.

Now the player is wanting to please his parent. The pressure is mounting. The chances for success are dropping.

So, if he knows that his parents are upset or disappointed with how he is playing, it adds more unnecessary emotion to an already emotional situation. Overwhelm, tears, and distraction become a real possibility.

No matter the value of the instruction or intention, this added direction creates chaos, noise, and confusion. It does not create an environment for success.

The Message You May Be Sending

Ideally, your instruction is background noise. That’s not meant to be mean, but a player can’t be focused on what a parent is saying.

In between pitches, does your child look back at you for instruction or approval? From the mound, in the field, or at the plate? If so, that’s a sign of a problem that has gone way too far.

While it’s likely unintentional, you may be sending a message that you don’t trust the coaches. You don’t believe your child is properly prepared for this situation or getting the correct instruction.

Because if you trust the coach and how he’s prepared your child, why is the added instruction necessary? Why risk drowning out or contradicting his message?

This is almost never intentional. The parent typically means well. But it may send a message that you didn’t intend.

When to Coach Your Child

Many parents are knowledgable about the sport and work with their kids on their skills outside of games and practices. And often times, the instruction they are giving is reinforcement of what they’ve discussed before.

This is all great! But now is not the time. Look at it in a similar light to how I do as a coach on game day. Did you prepare him? Did he retain what you taught him? Now’s the time to find out.

After the game (ideally, not on the ride home), you can discuss and coach specific situations. What happened? What did you learn from it? What would you do differently next time?

Let him make mistakes in the game. Coach and teach later.

Relax and Trust the Coaches!

This may sound easier said than done, but let go! Sit back, and enjoy the game.

You are not responsible for your child’s performance. Your instruction during the game isn’t going to be the difference between his success or failure. It can wait.

The game may actually be easier to enjoy if you remove this responsibility from your mind. He won’t be perfect. He will make mistakes. He’ll have moments to celebrate. And it’s all part of the process.

Expecting all instruction from the stands to stop is unreasonable. My request for parents is to understand the potential negative that can come from it. Limit it. Keep it simple, and focus on encouragement.

Your Turn

What are your experiences, good and bad, with coaching from the stands?

Let me know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Coaching, Parents

Travel Baseball and Burnout

September 18, 2019 By Coach Jon Leave a Comment

I’m the father of three boys, all who play or played baseball. My oldest is now in college, middle is in high school, and youngest is 11. Every step of the way, I’ve seen it: Kids burn out.

Burnout doesn’t just happen to the kids who can’t keep up. Burnout doesn’t discriminate. It happens to the best players, too.

I’ve seen kids burn out as young as 10 all the way into high school. It’s often a shock when it happens. You never expect “that kid” to quit.

Kids fall out of love with the game. It’s no longer fun for them. It’s no longer worth the time, energy, and effort that they put into it. They quit, and they never look back.

Why? What is it about travel ball that leads to burnout? And what can we do about it?

Why Do Kids Burn Out?

Even kids who get into the game because they have a passion for it can burn out. Let’s cover a few of the reasons why…

1. Parental Pressure and Expectations. This is a big one. Dad is living vicariously through his child or wants his son to be as good as he was. Screams at and coaches his son from the stands. Difficult rides home. And if that parental pressure also comes as a coach? Increase the odds of burnout 10-fold.

2. Physical Exhaustion. This is one of the potential drawbacks of travel ball. Too many practices. Too many games. Private lessons and camps year-round. No downtime. Late nights and early mornings, often combined with school. It all adds up.

3. Specialization. Travel ball players don’t have to be limited to baseball, but it is difficult to play other sports at a high level. And when you do, it makes for an insanely busy schedule that can become too much. If you do specialize, a kid can start to get sick of it if that’s all they do.

4. Mental Fatigue. The expectations. The pressure. The competition. The drama. It can stop being a game for them.

5. Team Hopping. There are many reasons why this happens, and it’s not always the fault of the child or parent. These things happen. But if you’re joining a new group of kids every year, saying good-bye, and then trying to establish yourself with a new group, it can become overwhelming.

6. Abusive Coach. The coach can make an enormous impact on a child’s love of the game. I see it as my responsibility to nurture a player’s love for the game, not extinguish it.

7. No Longer Fun. A combination of the factors above all lead us here. It’s a game, but it’s just not fun anymore. So why keep doing it?

How Can Coaches Help Prevent Burnout?

The coach is one of the primary reasons why players burn out. So, what can we do to help prevent it?

1. Be Aware of the Schedule. There are times when there could be a practice or game every day of the week. It’s getting hot. You sense the exhaustion. Take a day off. Make sure that kids get a break.

2. Keep it Fun. Find ways to make practice fun. Game-ify whenever possible. Make sure that big wins are fun, and not business as usual. Have team building events outside of games and practices.

3. Be Positive. This is an area where I’ve done my best to change and grow over the years. It’s easy to focus on the negative. You will have time for that. But balance it out with positive, too. Don’t assume everyone knows what was done well. Highlight it. Encourage it. Celebrate it.

4. Focus on Creating Memories. “Wasn’t that awesome!? You’ll remember that forever! You’re going to tell your kids and grandkids about that” game or play or at bat. Help them appreciate the really good moments so that they’ll remember them when times are tough. For years, I’d end pre-game pep talks (especially for big games) with “Let’s create some memories!” Maybe I should revisit that.

5. It’s Just Baseball. Sometimes, things don’t go your way. When they give their all and lose a big game or it seems nothing is going right, remind them that it’s just a game. It’s not life or death. You’ll be okay. The coaches may need this reminder, too!

6. Know Your Role in Burnout. You can assure a player will keep playing for years or you can be the reason they never play again. Notice when they are struggling, and help them keep their head up. Know when your tough love is becoming too much and is no longer effective. Create a bond when possible. Recognize each individual player’s hard work and performance by name.

How Can Parents Help Prevent Burnout?

I’m not going to tell parents how to parent. All I can do is explain that we have a role in this. Kids burn out because of us, and that’s not something I ever want to live with.

Take these things as friendly suggestions…

1. Don’t Coach From the Stands. You mean well. But it adds unnecessary stress for your son. Cheer him on. Cheer him on loudly! He needs your support during the game, not instruction. Leave the instruction to coaches.

2. “I Love Watching You Play.” We are quick to correct and criticize and coach. Sometimes, they only need to hear one thing.

3. The Ride Home. Make sure that you read my post on this, but the ride home itself can ruin a kid’s love for playing. Refrain from negativity about the game on the ride home. Talk about something else entirely. If you do talk about the game, let him guide the conversation. Ask what he learned. Ask what his favorite part was, or what he was proudest of. Do your best to keep it positive.

Your Turn

What is your experience with burnout and youth baseball? Any other suggestions on how we can help young players avoid it?

Let me know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Coaching, Parents

The Importance of Anticipation, Aggressiveness, and Autonomy

September 17, 2019 By Coach Jon Leave a Comment

If you’re always waiting for instruction, you’re always a step behind.

Call it the 3 A’s. Anticipation, aggressiveness, and autonomy are the keys to smart baseball.

Anticipation of the right move as the play is developing.

Aggressiveness and confidence, without hesitation.

Autonomy because the player is making a decision on his own without waiting for instruction from the coaches.

You smack a base hit to right. While approaching first base, the ball gets by the right fielder. You take a short round of first and stop.

“GO! GO! GO!” your coach yells.

The right fielder recovers, collects the ball and makes a throw to second. You’re out by a step.

The problem wasn’t that you shouldn’t have been sent to second base. The problem was that you weren’t anticipating being sent. You were a step behind because you didn’t act until the instruction was made.

I’ve long talked about not creating robots. I don’t want the players to act only on instruction from coaches. Their growth and maturity as baseball players will happen as they gain more autonomy.

Aggressive Baserunning

The best, most aggressive, and most successful baserunners are those who anticipate.

Those who await instruction don’t only waste valuable time while waiting. They also stop their momentum, making it difficult to get going again. Those who are a step ahead see the play develop and they assume the instruction is coming.

This seems to be most evident when it comes to baserunning. Another example…

Runners on first and second. A base hit goes to right. The third base coach is waving the first runner home. The second runner stops on second.

Why did that runner stop? Because he was waiting for instruction that he didn’t get. He wasn’t aware of how the play was developing and why waiting was unnecessary.

On a typical base hit to the outfield with a runner on second, there may be a play at home. The defense, particularly when the ball is hit to right, is only thinking about the runner going home.

The runner going to second may not see everything develop in front of him on a ball to right. If the coach is sending the runner home, there are essentially two scenarios for how this play is developing.

1. There may be a close play at home. If there’s a close play at home, the defense will not pay attention to that runner going to third.

2. The run will score easily because the outfielder took a while to get to it or bobbled it in the outfield. While the defense may not care about the runner going home in this case, it also means that the runner from first should have had plenty of time to reach third.

Standing on second base isn’t an option. But it happens when runners aren’t anticipating how a play develops and wait for instruction.

Our current group of Spiders includes 11 and 12-year-olds. They are still learning this. As coaches, we are trying to find ways to help them understand it.

When it comes to baserunning, we want our players to assume, within reason, that they are always going to the next base. We can always stop them. But I’d much rather stop an overly aggressive runner than try to restart a runner who stopped prematurely.

This situation creates a moment of uncertainty for all involved. As a coach, I wanted the player to go based on how the play was developing. He didn’t. A second later, he starts going. Due to his hesitation, now I’m not so sure he should go — but it’s too late.

Anticipation and Thoughtfulness

This doesn’t only happen on the bases, of course. It happens in the field, too.

We may give some basic instructions when presented with a certain situation, but we’re not going to yell out instructions for every possible variation. If the play goes differently than expected, how will the player respond? Will they freeze? Will they anticipate the play developing differently and know how to handle it?

We want thoughtful players. Instinctual players. Aggressive players who are always a step ahead. This happens when we are reacting to a play as it develops, not two seconds later.

Your Turn

How do you encourage anticipation, aggressiveness, and autonomy in your players?

Let me know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Coaching

The Drawbacks of Travel Baseball

September 16, 2019 By Coach Jon Leave a Comment

I’m biased. I’m a big believer in travel ball (though I haven’t always been). But while there are significant benefits, there are also drawbacks of travel baseball. It isn’t for everyone.

Maybe you haven’t made that jump yet. Or maybe you have, and you’re weighing whether it’s a good long-term decision for your child. Here’s a list of the drawbacks that you should consider…

1. It’s Expensive

The truth is that the cost of travel baseball is a wide range depending on what you do.

But if you want to play at a high level — and sometimes if you don’t — there is going to be sticker shock. Uniforms, indoor facility, tournaments, and more can easily add up to multiple thousands of dollars per year.

But there are also hidden costs associated with travel baseball. Baseball camps, private instruction, meals, equipment, and more all add up.

This is actually one of my biggest gripes about travel baseball. Not everyone can afford it. As a result, there are very talented players who could play, but who can’t.

And meanwhile, there are some less talented players who probably shouldn’t play (not only due to ability level, but love of the game), but do.

2. Travel

While travel is involved in the hidden costs of travel baseball that make it expensive, there’s more than just cost that makes the travel part potentially problematic.

Parents have jobs. Parents can’t always get out of work. If you play for a team that travels often, it can add a lot of stress to the family.

How will you get off of work? How will you get your work done while at the tournament? Are you losing income in the meantime?

3. School Commitments

While it’s always good to have a balance and do things out of school, the travel baseball time commitment can be significant. Will it impact the time dedicated to studies?

The week can be very full with baseball-related activities during the school year, particularly once the season starts. Practices, private lessons, league games, and more.

Even if your child has the time to get his homework done, is there a cost? Is he getting enough sleep?

4. Forget Vacations

It’s something of a joke for most travel baseball families, but the struggle is real. Finding time to do anything other than baseball is pretty difficult during the baseball season. Those who commit to this life accept it. It’s not so easy for everyone.

You can schedule vacations during the season and just accept that your child will miss a tournament or two. You can also wait until after the season, but that often means a vacation during the school year.

In our house, our biggest vacations are our actual tournament trips (we make Arizona a family “vacation” during the spring) or during the winter.

5. Exhaustion

The exhaustion level will depend on how much you play, practice, and travel, but it’s real. For players, coaches, and parents alike.

Constantly running around. Early mornings on the weekend. Hot summers when kids can play three or four games on a given day.

It’s not for everyone, and it can break you. Burnout — for everyone involved — becomes a real risk.

6. Specialization

I constantly see people bagging on travel baseball, saying that specialization is bad. The assumption is that if you play travel baseball, you don’t play anything else.

That’s not really true, at least it doesn’t need to be true. The Spiders have kids who play basketball, football, soccer, track, and cross country. It’s a tough balance, but it can be done.

That said, playing multiple sports adds stress. Playing another sport at an advanced level with a high time commitment in addition to baseball is not easy. While not easy, we’ve had players who do it.

In most cases, travel ball kids will find other sports, but play them at a lower commitment level. Rec level flag football or basketball, in particular. It can be done, especially if seasons don’t conflict too much.

The bottom line is that once you play travel baseball, it is difficult to find time for other things. You can do it, but be prepared for more chaos.

7. Cut Throat

This ain’t rec ball. Travel baseball is cut throat. You may not make the team that you want to join. You may not get to play the position that you want to play. If you don’t perform, you may not keep your spot on the team.

This is a difficult thing for players and parents to accept. But it’s the nature of the beast.

8. Drama

If you add up all of the things we’ve already listed here so far, you come to drama. It’s difficult to avoid.

It’s expensive. It’s exhausting. It’s cut throat. It’s competitive. This is a recipe for discontent, politics, and drama.

Parents get mad at coaches. Parents get competitive with each other. Coaches get burned out. Friendships are strained. Teams blow up.

This isn’t to say that you won’t find drama in rec and league ball. I’m sure you will. But the environment in travel ball makes drama difficult to avoid. It’s why the right mix of coaches, players, and parents is so critical.

There’s a certain level of natural selection in travel ball. Which teams are blowing up this year? You always hope it’s not yours.

9. Not Ideal for Everyone

It’s an unfortunate truth. Travel ball just isn’t for everybody.

Maybe your son doesn’t have the ability. Maybe he has the ability but not the passion. Or it’s a commitment that simply does not work into your schedule, his schoolwork, or your budget. That’s okay.

While he should absolutely play, there’s very little reason to spend thousands of dollars per year if your child doesn’t play at a high level or have a passion for it. This is especially the case if that’s a difficult financial commitment for you.

Just as many of our players will participate in rec basketball or flag football, rec baseball can be just as beneficial to someone who doesn’t need or want the high level of commitment.

Your Turn

As much as I love travel baseball, these are just a few of the potential drawbacks that travel ball kids, coaches, and families face regularly. Anything else that you would include?

Let me know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Parents

Calling Pitches: Part 2

September 13, 2019 By Coach Jon Leave a Comment

In a prior post, I wrote about how the Spiders coaches don’t call pitches from the dugout. We allow our catchers to call the game. Today we’ll discuss the strategies behind calling a good game.

Let’s be clear that calling a good game is an inexact science in youth baseball, for many reasons. The “right” pitch in a situation is often many different pitches, not one. What was called may not be what you’d call, but it may still work.

Also, they’re kids. They’re going to miss spots, sometimes by a lot. It creates a certain amount of chaos that can’t be controlled, no matter how much you try.

The goal is to get the hitter out. Sometimes that means simply throwing a strike and asking the batter to hit it. Sometimes it means to keep the batter off balance to get a swing and miss or a weakly hit ball.

General Approach

Before we get to the factors that determine how we adjust our strategy, let’s look at a general approach.

1. Get Ahead. The entire at bat changes after getting a first-pitch strike. It puts the pitcher in control and the hitter on the defensive.

Getting ahead typically means a fastball over the plate (though it won’t always be, depending on the aggressiveness of the hitter), but how juicy that pitch is will depend upon the batter.

2. Move Outward When Ahead. After the first-pitch strike, move to the corners. When 0-2 and 1-2, move off the plate (high, low, in or out). Make them hit a difficult pitch because they need to protect the plate.

3. Keep the Batter Off Balance. This is a matter of changing timing and eye level. Timing can be impacted with different pitch types (fastball or offspeed) as well as different pitch deliveries (quick pitch or hold for a long time, for example). Eye level is about moving the ball around to different locations so that the batter can’t focus on one spot.

4. No Free Passes (USUALLY). If we fall behind, we need to throw strikes to avoid a walk. This could mean fastballs down the middle. It could also be offspeed if the pitcher controls it well and is comfortable with it. But while we typically hate walks, there are times when they’re okay. If one hitter is at a much higher level than everyone else and is a constant threat for extra bases, we don’t want him to beat us.

Now let’s look at the factors that impact what pitch is called. These are the things you should be covering with your pitchers and catchers.

1. Strength of Opposition

Going into a game, you aren’t necessarily playing a team you’ve played before. You can look through box scores, but knowing generally how strong the other team is can help you create a game plan heading in.

If you know that the opposing team doesn’t have a particularly strong lineup, you can be more aggressive with fastballs and pitches in the zone. We want them to prove that they can hit the ball. We need to avoid putting batters on base with walks before they can prove they’re able to hit.

If we know heading in that we’ll be facing a strong lineup, we can prepare a more creative plan. That’s when we’ll stress the importance of mixing up pitches — throwing a mixture of fastballs and offspeed pitches as well as different locations (high, low, in and out). We may even come in with offspeed pitches at unusual times, like the first pitch, to keep the opposition guessing and off balance.

The strength of the opposing lineup will also help us understand if there are weaknesses to exposes. For example…

  1. Highest Level: No noticeable dropoff, everyone can hit
  2. Average Level: Some good and great hitters, then a dropoff in the bottom half
  3. Lowest Level: Maybe one or two good hitters, but no one can hurt you

At the highest level, you can’t necessarily look forward to the bottom half of the lineup. They can hit, too.

But for everyone else, you can take a more aggressive approach with strikes and fastballs on certain hitters while being more careful with the best hitters.

2. Strengths and Weaknesses of Pitcher

You can’t use a one size fits all strategy for all pitchers just as you shouldn’t do this for any hitter or opposing lineup.

If your pitcher has a good enough fastball, he may be able to use it exclusively, or nearly exclusively, against most teams. Or if a pitcher doesn’t have much velocity on his fastball, you may want to avoid throwing those pitches up.

Maybe your pitcher is still developing an offspeed pitch or he’s still struggling to control it. Or it’s possible the pitcher is simply more comfortable throwing one pitch over another.

These are all things that will contribute to what pitch is called in a given situation.

3. Spot in Lineup or Ability of Hitter

While every coach has his own reasons for how he creates his lineup, you can make some guesses about ability level based on where you are in the lineup. Your best hitters will typically be in the top half while the weaker hitters will typically be near the bottom. Best power hitters are traditionally around the three, four, and five slots (but tradition is often thrown out the window).

This is at least a starting place when evaluating what to throw to a particular batter. Know that sometimes coaches use a random order or flip it upside down. But this typically won’t happen in important games (at least if they respect you).

Before the pitcher and catcher head on to the field, they should know where they are in the order. If possible, they should have an idea of the ability of the hitters coming to the plate.

Keeping the overall ability level of the opposition in mind as discussed in #1, we may be more likely to throw fastballs or pitch down the middle to a batter near the bottom of the order. In some cases, we should challenge a batter to prove that he can hit the ball.

If it’s a batter who can hurt us, we should typically be more careful with him, mixing up speeds and locations.

4. Proven Strengths/Weaknesses/Tendencies

If a batter has proven to mash high fastballs, we should stop throwing them.

If he lays off every offspeed pitch we throw, we should only look to throw that if it’s for a called strike.

If he pulls everything and jumps on fastballs generally, we should mix in a lot of offspeed pitches.

5. Next Batter in Lineup

Sometimes how we approach a batter has just as much to do with who is up next as it does with who is up. We may be facing a good batter with a runner on base, but maybe the batter on deck can hurt us much more. We do NOT want to put this batter on base, so we may want to be a bit more aggressive.

If you know that the next batter is someone you can get out and you have two outs, you can be less aggressive with the current batter, making him hit your pitch.

The most important spot in the lineup is often the bottom. If you put those batters on base, the chance for damage when the top of the order comes up is high. You must be more aggressive with these hitters. Make them hit the ball. DO NOT WALK THEM.

6. Aggressiveness of Hitter

Oftentimes the best hitters in youth baseball are also the most aggressive ones (though the best approach is a selectively aggressive one). They can get away with swinging at bad pitches because they are simply bigger, stronger, and better than everyone else.

Sometimes bad hitters are aggressive, too. But usually, aggressive hitters are confident while passive hitters lack belief in themselves.

Why does this matter? It means that you can take advantage of aggressive hitters. You know there’s a good chance they’re going to swing at what you throw. Don’t give him something nice to hit. Mix up speeds and take advantage of his aggressiveness.

Hitters who lack aggressiveness often hope for a walk. Don’t let them get that. Pump strikes, usually fastballs, and make them hit it.

7. Count

As discussed at the top in the general approach, we want to get ahead in the count. Our approach changes as the count progresses.

We may typically be more likely to throw a fastball in the zone for the first pitch to get ahead. Once ahead, we may be more likely to work corners or intentionally throw outside of the zone as the hitter will (or should) be more aggressive to protect the plate.

If you fall behind, you’ll typically (depending on other factors) focus on throwing strikes and making the batter hit the ball.

8. Number of Outs

How you approach a single batter can change significantly based on the number of outs.

If the best hitter is up with no outs, we may be more aggressive with him than if there are two outs. Putting him on base with no outs could create new problems. But with two outs, we may be happy to work around him to face the next batter or force this best hitter to hit our pitch.

9. Score

If your team is way ahead, there’s no reason to get particularly cute with pitch selection. Throw strikes, maybe primarily fastballs. Regardless, you don’t want walks. You can still use this time to work on things, but as a general approach, throwing strikes — regardless of the batter — should be the focus with a big lead.

If it’s a close game, every baserunner and every base taken matters. Walks and extra-base hits can decide the game. So we need to be aggressive with the weaker hitters and keep those who can hurt us off balance with pitch location and type.

10. What Hitter is Doing in an At Bat

One major advantage of having catchers call a game is that they see things that a coach can’t see from the dugout. Calling pitches can and should be influenced by what a batter is doing during an at bat.

If a batter is standing far away from the plate or stepping out, we should focus on the outer half of the plate.

If a batter is pulling everything foul, it’s a good time to mix in some offspeed. On the flip side, if he can’t catch up to the fastball and is missing it entirely or fouling it off the other way, keep coming with fastballs. Don’t speed up his bat with offspeed.

If a batter swings at a high pitch out of the zone, throw it again — but higher! You can use this same approach for pitches that are low, inside, or outside.

If it’s clear that a batter can’t diagnose an offspeed pitch and is way out front, keep throwing it.

If a batter crowds the plate in an attempt to reach pitches on the outer half, it’s an opportunity to pitch inside. Sometimes a batter does this because they can handle inside pitches. But oftentimes, he’ll take the pitch on the inside part — or get jammed trying to hit it.

11. What the Umpire is Calling

This is huge and can’t be ignored.

If the umpire has a wide zone, use it to your advantage! If he calls strikes off the outside part of the plate, keep pushing pitches further out there to see what he’ll call.

If the umpire calls high or low, use that information to influence what pitches you call. While what the batter will swing at matters, what an umpire will call a strike is important — particularly when you need a strike call.

If an umpire has a tight zone, we can’t get frustrated with it. We have to be more careful about what we call, particularly if the batters are less aggressive.

11. How the Inning is Going

Is everyone teeing off on your pitcher? Did you think attacking with fastballs down the middle would work with this team, but it’s not?

Well, it’s time to adjust. Throw something else. The team has a strategy that is working, and you need to force them to change that strategy.

On the flip side, don’t change what’s working. Maybe you’re throwing more fastballs than normal. Or more offspeed than normal. But whatever it is, the other team is off balance or missing or getting out. Don’t mess with success.

12. What the Pitcher is Doing

Normally your pitcher is pumping strikes, but he’s not today. He just walked two straight batters on eight pitches. Now what?

You may need a new approach. Maybe the offspeed isn’t working today. Maybe he just needs to find some confidence. If everything is outside, move inside. If everything is high, give him a low target.

Talk to him about what he wants to throw that will get him back into the groove.

13. Runners on Base

With a basestealing threat on first base (assuming you have a legitimate shot at throwing him out), an offspeed pitch in the dirt is probably a bad pitch early in the count. If the other team likes to run on the first pitch, you may even throw a high or outside fastball on that pitch.

If there’s an important runner on third base, you should also be careful about that offspeed pitch in the dirt. Generally, you may want to stay closer to the zone to avoid giving the other team a free run.

14. Catcher’s Blocking Ability

A catcher needs to have self awareness and know his strengths and weaknesses. If you struggle to block pitches in the dirt, you aren’t alone. And you need to use this knowledge when calling pitches.

If there aren’t runners on base and it’s early in the count, there’s nothing wrong with a ball getting by you. No damage done.

But if there are two outs with a runner on third, an offspeed pitch is probably a bad idea. It increases the chances of the other team scoring.

Likewise, an offspeed pitch in the dirt with two strikes and no one on first (or with two strikes and two outs) is a bad idea because it gives the other team an opportunity to reach base, even if they strike out.

Work on this skill. But in the meantime, call pitches that you can handle in these crucial situations.

It’s Complicated — And Not

When listed out like this, it seems complicated. It is, but it’s not.

These are all factors that contribute to pitches that are called. But there’s rarely a clear “right” and “wrong” call on any given pitch.

The main thing is that catchers are thinking about as many of these things as possible, rather than making calls in a vacuum without giving them thought. If they’re thinking about what to call and why, that’s the main thing.

A catcher who is aware of the situation and how it impacts pitch selection is a mature one. Help him develop by highlighting the things that could impact what he calls.

Your Turn

I found myself adding more and more factors that contribute to a catcher’s pitch selection, and I’m sure there are more. What did I miss?

Let me know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Coaching

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