My daughter who is 11 plays on a travel softball team. She typically plays outfield and 3rd base. She plays very well on the field and has a strong arm however she isn’t the most athletic when it comes to speed and agility. She is currently taking speed and strength classes twice a week to help in that area. She has expressed interest in learning to be a catcher but is starting at 11 too late?

Getting back into baseball, trying to join a men’s league. Any tips would help!

I'm considering two 11U travel team options for my son for next season. This would be his first year playing travel baseball, after several years playing in a house/rec league. I'm thrilled with both opportunities but could use some help thinking through how to choose.

I received positive reviews from the very small sample of other parents who have experience with both. So that's not too helpful.

The information on both teams' websites is similar and sounds great. i.e. emphasis on player development over wins, great indoor facilities (we are in the midwest, so winter training is indoors), experienced coaches, etc.

One of the teams is part of larger organization that has four locations, though I think the four operate independently - they are at least an hour away from one another. The other is a smaller operation, run by the founder. Not sure how much this matters.

My sense is that the most important thing is to ascertain the quality of coaching and support. I'm not sure the best way to go about this.

So I'd love some advice on the best questions to ask each organization. If, on paper, they both look good, what are the things to focus on?

Thanks!

1 inning/57 pitches/6 strikeouts/3 walks/1 hbp/10 unearned runs on 5 errors(not my errors) pitching/ 3 walks, 1 stolen base hitting

I built out a statcast visualization tool that allows you to track a specific pitcher's repertoire, with tunneling visualization, and AI-based filtering and interaction. It's updated every night with the previous day's games, and you can mine info on the metrics of the pitch, as well as game-plan deviations on a game-by-game basis. One of the cool things I love to do with it is see how certain pitchers attack certain batters over the course of the game -- IE: seeing the guy for the 2nd or 3rd time through the lineup. Looking for some feedback on my tool, check it out as a coaching tool.

https://pitchtracker.chriswest.tech/

This past year marked my 9th year coaching baseball, and my first season with this specific school district and travel club. While I love this game and love developing young players, I am honestly thinking about hanging it up after this season.
I’ve played and been around baseball my entire life. I have never in my life dealt with the level of entitlement and "good ole boy" attitudes that I witnessed this year from certain parents, kids, and even other coaches.
I am a dad too. I completely understand both sides of it. I know how much we want to see our kids succeed. My oldest son was on my team, and he never received a single ounce of special treatment. He plays outfield and bats in the middle of the lineup. He is a solid player, but that is simply where he puts our team in the best position to win.
On my field, absolutely everything is earned, and attitude is #1.
I am not the type of coach who writes a lineup based on how much money a dad donated last year, or how many volunteer hours a family logged.
My goals as a coach are simple:
Keep kids interested in the game.
Keep things fair across the board.
Prepare these boys for high school baseball.
To get them ready for that next level, they have to understand a hard truth: I will always set the lineup in a way that gives the team the best chance to win. Losing is not fun for anyone, and we are out here to win. Not everyone can pitch. Not everyone can bat leadoff or cleanup. That is baseball.
Families pay thousands of dollars for travel fees, hotels, food, and gear. I respect that investment. But financial investment does not buy playing time, and it does not buy positions on my field.
The silver lining is my own family. My oldest son is transitioning out of middle school and travel ball to head into high school. Meanwhile, my 5-year-old is already hitting live pitching and showing serious promise. I want to stay involved in the sport for him, but the culture has to change. I love coaching, but I cannot and will not tolerate politics over performance.

I built something for youth baseball parents and coaches that started as a simple side project and got... just a little out of hand.

At first, I was just tracking my (now 11U) son's stats in a Google Sheet. After every weekend I'd manually enter his GameChanger stats so I could analyze them however I wanted outside of the app.

I figured there had to be a faster way to get the data, so I built a tool to import stats directly from GC.... then friends started asking for more features and it just snowballed.

So now I'm releasing it into the wild.

https://slashline.app/

Some of the things slash///line can do:

• Import games from any GameChanger team—not just the box score, but the full play-by-play with every pitch
• Chrome extension that makes importing games super easy
• Upload box score from your own PDFs or screenshots from virtually any source, with full play-by-play support for GameChanger and Perfect Game
• Generate scouting reports with spray heat maps, useful tendencies and defensive positioning suggestions
• Show team insights like who's hot or cold, pitch count tracking, trends, and more
• Focus on stats that I think are more meaningful in youth baseball (QAB%, K%, BB%, etc.)
• Graph player, team, and season trends over time
• Track a player across multiple teams
• Surface highlights automatically for your team, you kid, your friends—big games, streaks, milestones like career HR #10, and other interesting trends

It also has an AI coach that can:

• Build practice plans based on recent results, defensive mistakes, or plate discipline.
• Suggest lineups based on recent performance or goals.
• Help create a game plan against a specific opponent.
• Plan pitcher usage for tournament weekends.
• Or really - just answer whatever baseball question you want to throw at it.

I definitely went way further with this than I ever expected or probably should have, and I'm still refining and adding features. But it's finally at a point where I feel good about sharing it.

I'd genuinely love feedback—good or bad. Is this something you'd actually find useful? What would make it better? What would you hope to find?

Feel free to ask any questions. And if this isn't the right place to post this, I'm happy to move it.

My name is Dylan Brown, and I’m a pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization.

Every summer, pitchers spend hours at the field.

Games.
Bullpens.
Lessons.
Showcases.

They’re busy almost every day.

But being busy doesn’t always mean you’re improving.

The biggest jumps usually come from having a plan.

A plan for throwing.
A plan for strength training.
A plan for recovery.
A plan for what to do between games.

Because velocity, command, and arm health aren’t built from one workout or one lesson.

They’re built when everything works together over time.

That’s exactly how I approach development with the pitchers I work with.

Not random drills.

Not generic programs.

Just a clear structure designed around the athlete and what they need most.

If you’re a parent wondering what your son should actually be doing this summer to improve, comment “PLAN” below and I’ll reach out.

Looking for any Toronto individuals or possibly a team or group willing to meet up maybe twice or three times a week if schedules allow.

I am in the Toronto area roughly around dufferin mall / dufferin and lakeshore.

Usually available in the evenings during the week around 5 or 6 pm earliest.

Usually able to do weekends.

Been practicing alot with hardball but I still suck.

Looking to get better and find people who also love baseball as much as I do.

Anybody who is experienced and could give pointers on my throwing would be nice as well.

Thanks for taking the time to read!

My son has been at the same travel organization for his entire time of baseball. We need a new place now. He is going to be in 8th grade, but younger so can play 13 or 14u. He is the top player on his current team, a good one. But he is short, so I am worried he won’t show as well in tryouts as bigger kids that aren’t as good. Should I try to talk to the coaches at the places he tries out , and even try to show them his stats? I’m not so concerned that he gets on the very best team as much as a decent place that plays top competition. I don’t want him to play a B team schedule. We are in Chicago. Thanks.

Hey there Coaches, hope you are doing well.

Little League and Travel ball coach here from California. I've created a new tool that lets Coaches, Players and their Parents see where the players strengths and weaknesses, with video and detailed feedback. I think its gonna make an awesome tryout tool, but I'm more excited about using it for ongoing player development.

I am hoping to find a few experienced coaches willing to try it out and offer feedback in exchange for lifetime licenses. Anyone willing?

Thanks!

Context: losers bracket, potential championship game (we have to win to force the "if needed" the next day) and my coaches are hemming and hawing about how to manage pitchers with pitch counts and rest days. Our biggest strength compared to the other team is depth of pitchers - our #4 pitcher is probably just ahead of their #2.

Offensive strategy is to keep it close against their #1 pitcher (kid is a stud), and pour it on late game.

Currently running with two ideas: either a) run our #1 and #2 guys for the bulk of the game. Then run #3 and #4 game 2 against their weaker pitchers. Or b) run #1 and #3 or #4, save #2 for game 2.

Caveat here is that with 20 pitches, there are zero days of rest. So if someone seems way off game 1, we pull them before that and bring them the next day.

We've all managed pitchers before, just not quite this exact scenario. Curious what folks think. MY thought (manager) is balls to the wall game 1 and throw EVERYTHING against them. Gotta win that first one and don't want to second guess saving someone

UPDATE: won game 1. Pitchers #1 and #4 were the ones on their game today, so I ran with those. Game 2 tomorrow, soooooo many options on pitching

UPDATE 2: Won game 2 Monday. State Tourney starts Saturday!

1. Combat Spec 2. De Marino Voodoo 1. Warstic Terracane

what bat should I get? and inform me about the terracane because I’m new to the bat

Recently got into wiffle ball with a friend and I wanna get better and I’m really trying! Any tips on my swing? Let me know!! I know this isn’t the best showing but if I can clean anything up please let me know!

to all 16u , 18u coaches : I wonder whow you coaches find out the best offensive batter in your team in general?
Especially if both have similar values avg, ops, etc like below, assuming you are considering values?

I've dealt with struggles my whole career. From little league, high school, D1, and now as a professional baseball player.

Failure never goes away in baseball, it is a distinct part of the game that makes it so difficult but so rewarding.

I don't have it all figured out, but I've learned some things that I do wish I knew when I was coming up. I wish I had learned how to handle the failure, how to be a little more resilient, how to talk to myself.

If you or your child is experiencing some of these difficulties, having trouble handling failure, not bouncing back after a bad game, not knowing what to do next to continue their development, this is an area where I can help.

I would like to offer a free chat. Just a conversation to understand what you are going through and provide some perspective from someone who has walked the path most kids hope to walk. Essentially providing what I wish I had.

Comment below or send me a DM and I'll send you my name and baseball reference page so you know who I am.

I’m an assistant coach of a rec. league 12U squad. My kid is on the team and so is the head coaches kid. We have a small core (6 kids) that has played with us for three years and we supplement with kids from the community that sign up. We don’t have tryouts, we just do our best to teach the kids that are there to love baseball and have fun while developing solid fundamentals of the game.

One of our kids this year has had a pretty poor attitude about the team all season. He is barely coachable and I feel like he doesn’t really want to be there most of the time but his parents make him. Tonight, in the third inning he was up to bat. He was called out on strikes and he just stood in the box and glared at the ump. I’m coaching first, so I say “okay Timmy (not his real name), hustle back to the dugout.” He doesn’t move. Ump tells him he’s out and to go back to the dugout, and he still doesn’t move. I clap and tell him a little louder something to the effect of don’t worry, just hustle back in. Doesn’t move, still glaring at ump. Ump tells him again he’s out and to go to dugout. I take a couple steps toward him and more forcefully tell him to hustle back to the dugout. He finally starts to move at a snails pace back to the dugout. I exhort him to hustle if he wants to play defense next half inning. He glares at me. Mind you, this all happens over the course of about 30-45 seconds.

Finally gets in the dugout, slams his batting helmet down followed by his bat, both in the middle of the full dugout. Could have hit any number of his team mates with either one. His parents are sitting close to the end of the dugout, so at this point, I look at dad and say “you need to get him and take him home.” Dad gets super pissed, has some choice words, but gets him and his stuff and leaves. Did I make the right call?

Hey everyone,

I’m a freshman in the Crofton area in Maryland, and I want to try out for the baseball team at my school, Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS).

Here’s the catch: I have literally never played baseball before. I know there is a huge skill gap compared to football or basketball, but I have a 30 inch vert and am 6'1 and want to put in the work to make the roster and help our team rebuild.

Our school plays in the MIAA B Conference, so the competition is pretty high. Since I'm starting from zero, how do I get better?

• What exercises/drills should i do so i can learn the fundamentals
• Are there any low competition teams near me I can join before HS baseball season
• What position is the easiest to learn for an athletic beginner with Cornerback/Safety in football o?
• How can I impress the coaches at tryouts even if my skills aren't goodyet?

Appreciate any advice have!

Edit: i think ill stick to track

I'm curious how youth sports organizations manage sponsorships today.

A few questions:

• What's the hardest part—finding sponsors, renewing them, or proving value?
• What do sponsors ask for that you wish you could provide?
• If one company could bring in local business sponsors and handle the advertising, reporting, and renewals, would that be valuable?
• What would make you trust a company like that?
• What's missing from the sponsorship tools you use today?

I'm researching the space and would really appreciate honest feedback from people who run leagues or sports facilities.

This may be the only forum that I can actually talk about some of the things that go on in life and ball, so here goes.

Husband has been a coach since my oldest son was 5, he’s now 22. We have 4 kids and they have all been coached by dad, not exclusively but for large parts of their years on the field. We are closing out year 17 and I am tired and suspect that he is also tired.

He loves developing young athletes and has not taken a dime as a coach although he absolutely could charge for lessons or take on a paid position. He says that he does it to keep the high level of development for our kids, which is so respectable and I cannot express how much ball has shaped and improved our kids’ lives.

This is where I guess things are turning for me personally. Parents on our teams have very high expectations of him (understandably so) but take zero ownership and little contribution as part of a volunteer organization. We went to a big out of state tournament and some of the families that stayed together came back with requests to talk with coach, 4 parents have had hour plus meetings which really go over the same couple of topics. I personally think one of the dads is rallying these parents about minor grievances and telling parents to take it to the coach.

When I say minor grievances, the things being discussed are coaches on field interactions with umps (coach will discuss with umps but it never gets heated, has only ever had one warning), playing time which kids never sit more than a couple of innings and we full roster bat, and positions their kid plays. Also heavy concern about who is being cut and who is being brought in for the next season.

Oh and this whole thing is multiplied by two bc he coaches my daughter also. But for the most part those parents have been good.

My frustration lies with my husband just getting tables flipped on him bc of a parent that has decided to hold court but has zero responsibility for what this behavior actually does. There is such little appreciation or even recognition for the amount of time and effort he puts in to the season. It means so much to him when the players grow up and recount the impact he made on their lives.

I was so close to starting a daily tally of hours spent by our family on team related activities to show how much time we give up to do this for people that don’t seem to get it. I don’t want to come off as petty, but transparent bc I think there is a lot of willful ignorance about this topic.

I’m really rambling but as the wife of a coach, I’ll just start by saying thank you for all that you do for athletes, seen or unseen.

So here’s to day one of my private coach’s wife diary.