1. Coaching Clinic
Triple Play Academy

2. T-Ball Clinic

3. T-Ball / Pinto Preparation for Coaches
Rules & tips to understand & remind yourself every day
There is no score keeping in T-Ball / Pinto
There is no winning team in T-Ball / Pinto
Every player on your team needs you to instruct them
Every player on your team WANTS you to instruct them
Every player on your team bats in an inning
No T-Ball game has ever finished with every player getting equal number of at-bats
Coaches need to be prepared for & have a plan for the following:
99% of the players cannot catch
99% of the players cannot throw accurately
99% of the players have never hit off a tee
Make it FUN – this is your opportunity to make kids love baseball & want to continue in future years

4. Running a T-Ball / Pinto Practice & Game
Use visual aids & boundaries to teach proper positions & techniques
Draw a circle in the ground to designate fielding position (stay in the circle until the ball is hit)
Draw X’s or lines in the ground to show where batter should stand in the batter’s box
Draw one big line from home plate past 2nd base to show “left side” and “right side”.
Incentives go a LONG way, but give them early in the season & give reminders along the way
Double play = free ice cream
Team captain next game is best listener this game
First batter next game is best hustler this game
Rotate players to all positions in the field & all spots in the batting order every game
Great opportunity for players to get equal chances to field & to learn importance of different spots in the lineup

5. T-Ball / Pinto Tips, Tricks & Verbal Cues
“V over the C” form for gripping a baseball
“Thumb to Thigh – Ball to Sky”, when throwing a baseball
Pinkies together below the waist, thumbs together above the waist
“You can’t hit the ball if you don’t swing”
This should be a mantra from day one in T-ball through the last day of Mustang level – encourage kids to swing
Run through the bag, not to the bag

6. Pinto Clinic

7. Pinto Preparation for Coaches
Rules & tips to understand & remind yourself every day
There is no score keeping in Pinto
There is no winning team in Pinto
Every player on your team needs you to instruct them
Every player on your team WANTS you to instruct them
Every player on your team bats in an inning
Many Pinto games finish without every player getting equal number of at-bats
Coaches need to be prepared for & have a plan for the following:
Better than half of the players cannot catch
Better than half of the players cannot throw accurately
Better than half of the players have never hit live pitching
Make it FUN – this is your opportunity to set a good foundation of fundamentals for players to build on in the future

8. Running a Pinto Practice & Game
Use visual aids & boundaries to teach proper positions & techniques
Draw a circle in the ground to designate fielding position (stay in the circle until the ball is hit)
Draw X’s or lines in the ground to show where batter should stand in the batter’s box
Draw one big line from home plate past 2nd base to show “left side” and “right side”.
Incentives go a LONG way, but give them early in the season & give reminders along the way
Double play = free ice cream
Team captain next game is best listener this game
First batter next game is best hustler this game
Rotate players to all positions in the field & all spots in the batting order every game
Great opportunity for players to get equal chances to field & to learn importance of different spots in the lineup

9. Pinto Tips & Tricks & Verbal Cues
“V over the C” form for gripping a baseball
“Thumb to Thigh – Ball to Sky”, when throwing a baseball
Pinkies together below the waist, thumbs together above the waist
“You can’t hit the ball if you don’t swing”
This should be a mantra from day one in T-ball through the last day of Mustang level – encourage kids to swing
Run through the bag at 1st, not to the bag
Hustle on EVERY batted ball

10. Mustang/Bronco Clinic

11. Preparation for Coaches
Rules & tips to understand & remind yourself every day
Mustang baseball is still not “real” baseball
Wins & losses are tracked, but every team makes the playoffs
The umpires are kids – many who’ve never umped a game – cut them some slack
Every player on your team needs you to instruct them
Every player on your team WANTS you to instruct them
Coaches need to be prepared for & have a plan for the following:
25% - 50% of the players cannot catch
25% - 50% of the players cannot throw accurately
25% - 50% of the players have never hit live pitching

12. Mustang / Bronco Tips & Tricks
Use simple verbal cues when practicing
Ball hit left – move left. Ball hit right – move right
Every fielder moves every play
First move on a fly ball is back
Put extra emphasis on the following
Communication – use your “outside” voice (i.e. this is your chance to be loud & scream)
Baseball is a game of failure – 3 hits out of ten is considered HOF worthy
You can’t hit the ball if you don’t swing
The umpire is ALWAYS right
Incentives go a LONG way, but give them early in the season & give reminders along the way
Double play = free ice cream
Triple play = free B-dubs or Wings Etc.
If you want to hit this practice, you need to really focus during defensive drills
Batting order is determined by attitude and effort, not talent
In the first half of the season, rotate players to all positions in the field & all spots in the batting order every game
Great opportunity for players to get exposure at all positions & great opportunity for coaches to see what players should play each position for a successful playoff run

13. Running a Mustang/Bronco Practice & Game
Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals
Pinkies together for a grounder
Thumbs together for a popup
Hit the cutoff
Run thru first base, not to first base
Hit the inside corner of the bag
Listen to your base coaches
Let your base coaches be your eyes
Keep your eye on the ball
Incentives go a LONG way, but give them early in the season & give reminders along the way
Double play = free ice cream
Team captain next game is best listener this game
First batter next game is best hustler this game
Rotate players to all positions in the field & all spots in the batting order every game
Great opportunity for players to get equal chances to field & to learn importance of different spots in the lineup

14. Other Tips / Ideas
Don’t put a player in a situation that increases their odds of failure
For example: Mark has never thrown a strike, don’t put him on the mound in a close game
Non-verbal cues reduce the noise and stress of a game
Try and get every boy to try pitching in practice – you’d be surprised what you find & it helps reduce pressure/stress
Show up at field an hour early, if not more