Elbow Up Youth Baseball

11/26/2022

Thank you to all who have followed my youth baseball articles and podcasts. After some time off, here's last week's edition recapping the past three years. Please continue to let me know what you want to hear about (and please share with a friend...or three). Thanks!

Newsletter, podcast, and community for youth parents and coaches by Kevin Burke - dad, coach, and fan.

11/24/2022

If you’ve been looking for more content…check your email…Let’s go! 👊🏼

07/11/2022

Oh. My. Gosh. Poor lady! 😱😳

06/28/2022

🚨 Youth coaches, don’t blow this off! 🚨

Take your responsibility seriously. This isn’t about winning youth baseball games.

You personally can be (and usually are) responsible for whether or not a kid enjoys the game.

Parents, you too!

06/27/2022

Whether you’re 7U or 12U, the best teams have the best defense.

Despite this, you’ll still see most youth practices consisting of on field batting practice while everyone stands around.

Spend more time on defense at practice. Spend time away from practice getting swings.

06/27/2022

I haven’t always agreed with everything Tom House says, but he’s spot on here.

Batting practice is fun, but the best young teams work on picks, cuts, PFPs, bunt coverages, situations, and more. No exceptions.

06/26/2022

We’re giving up on kids at 8 years old. Why?

All to win a plastic ring and post it on Facebook.

06/26/2022

Yesterday, our 10U team played up in an 11U one-day tournament. It was a local tournament where we should have gone 5-0. We went 1-3, made 15 errors, didn’t hit well, walked 14. Looked like we forgot how to play.

But guess what? They’re 10. It’ll be fine. And today we’ll spend time with this guy, have fun, and nobody will remember yesterday.

Don’t lose sight of what’s important, and keep everything in perspective!

06/20/2022

Start having your catchers shake the umpires hand and introduce themselves before the game, and then do it again after the game, telling the umpire “great game, thank you.” Build character and show respect.

After a walk-off loss in the state tournament, West Springfield catcher Eric Fila shook hands with the home plate umpire. The video went viral, even appearing on an MLB broadcast.

05/01/2022

It’s a Sunday baseball kind of day! ⚾️

04/25/2022

If I could let youth baseball parents see one thing right now, this is it!