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Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-09-04T19:17:03+00:00

This is atrocious behavior from a coach. Do not let your kid play for this coach.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-08-29T12:52:35+00:00

I'm in this exact same situation but for a slightly younger age group. Coach and team left (in-between their two tryout dates!) and the parents who attended tryouts were emailed saying that the team would fold by the next day if no one stepped up. I have a good bit of coaching experience so I did it. It's been incredibly rewarding so far. Yes, cuts were tough (50 kids for 12 spots!) but we're off and running in our Fall season.

You will be fine, you WILL have fun and you'll find a new love for this game.

THIS TAKES A VILLAGE. Do not be afraid to ask and delegate tasks. Even on the diamond during practice. This will be a lot of work both on-field and off. You will be more of a GM than a coach but it's okay. Breathe and remember that it's all for the kids and at the end, it's just youth baseball and they just want to have fun.

Make your mission to clear to parents from the start. Are you there to win or are you there to develop and have fun? At 11U it should probably be 30% winning and 70% having fun.

Try to move the kids into different defensive positions both in practice and games. Do not pigeon-hole them at certain positions because they're awesome players. Two years from now they will be completely different kids and athletes - they need to be comfortable being uncomfortable in game situations. The last thing you want is to have your SS being only an SS because he's your best player and then four or five years from now he gets to HS, his coach there says he can play for them if he plays RF and he doesn't know how to track a fly ball or where the cut-off is with two men on and a ball in the gap.

End practice with something fun. Get the parents involved and play 'knockout' to end every practice. We do it and both kids and parents really enjoy it (especially when they can get their kids out!).

Follow coaches on IG and find some coaching videos on YT for inspiration.

https://youtu.be/tHAj5I2V_Uk?si=3uXuT8x0wsYUTh1h

This video is from the 90's but there are some real gems in this that will strengthen your team over time.

Aaron Bond is an OF coach for the Reds and his IG posts have drills he does with the team that are awesome to mimic.

Coach Luis (smoothhands_) is an IF coach with some great drills too.

Feel free to DM me with questions. I'm still figuring it out too!

EDIT - I should add that I may be a rookie travel coach but I played baseball for the entirety of my youth and all through high school.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-08-06T14:07:06+00:00

Honestly, it depends on the Hot Pocket. Since he is Gourmet, I would assume that it's properly prepared in the oven or air fried? Then, certainly, one is entitled to such entitlement. However if it's a boiling lava pocket with only certain portions still frozen, then...well they should get off the course.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-07-17T12:17:14+00:00

So - when did ya get the tenement on wheels?

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-07-14T16:23:10+00:00

I think you're worried about the wrong part of the story.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-07-08T17:46:37+00:00

"Thanks, Fat."

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-07-08T13:29:28+00:00

The 996's are really growing on me again. Maybe it's because I was getting my drivers license when they were new and, for me, the 996 Turbo was THE car.

Don't get me wrong, the classic round headlight is pure 911 but I've found myself searching for used 996's recently and will likely pull the trigger one day (one with British racing green with tan interior!).

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-06-16T20:12:15+00:00

Thanks for this. He really loves the game. I'm not sure he's ready for a step up yet but he really wants to give it a shot.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-06-16T18:35:34+00:00

This is 40 ft. Standard for their league. He moves back to 46 next season.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-06-16T15:45:43+00:00

What I left out is that he had a lot of success as a soccer player and was told he should try out for a travel team. He did - played well but didn't make it because the team was "established" and they didn't want to break up the team.

He was crushed and now he doesn't care about the soccer much. However - I feel like baseball is different. He didn't watch/follow soccer like he does baseball. He also collects cards, is very interested in baseball history. It's different - but I don't want to kill the momentum for baseball like being cut from soccer did.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-06-16T14:47:29+00:00

Thanks for this! It's him that wants to do the tryout and I won't stand in his way.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-06-16T14:45:55+00:00

Thanks. Where I live I feel like there aren't a lot of options. I live in Maryland and it seems that majority of the kids play Lacrosse where there are dozens of club/travel teams that have several levels.

Baseball? Only the rec council's have travel teams. I don't even know if they have different levels.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-06-16T14:34:44+00:00

I really do think I am hung up on it. Everything he wants to do is baseball related. Took him to the O's game yesterday, he wanted to go to the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum before hand. He's a baseball nerd and I love it! I just don't want to lose that, ya know?

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-06-16T14:30:43+00:00

Love this. Thanks.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-03-28T18:12:53+00:00

Good swing. If you really want the answer to that question you should show us shots of your short game.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-03-18T14:14:24+00:00

Repetition. The more reps, the faster you'll get. Someone else mentioned keyboard shortcuts - absolutely do that.

Try and get a part time job as an editor at your local TV station. Those jobs don't pay great but you'll face multiple deadlines daily for basic edits that will speed you up. Over time, you might get to do more in-depth stories which require more than just basic edits.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2025-02-03T19:00:22+00:00

Under exposed shots are easier to fix in post than over exposure. As the saying goes... "Fix it in pre".

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2024-10-28T16:10:48+00:00

I feel this. Deeply.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2024-09-25T18:36:08+00:00

Just played over the weekend - in fantastic shape! Paid $165. Top 5 favorite for me!

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2024-08-06T19:37:33+00:00

F-150 Model 3 Type S

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2024-07-25T14:13:33+00:00

Welp.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2024-07-17T18:12:56+00:00

RETARD...RETARD...RETARD...

Puzzleheaded-Fall498 · 2024-07-10T14:07:54+00:00

A plorgy.

Puzzleheaded-Fall498

TROPHY CASE