Somewhere along the way, we started treating failure in youth sports like something to avoid instead of something to grow through. You can feel it in the stands. The tension after a strikeout. The silence after an error. The immediate search for a reason—an umpire, a coach, a bad bounce—anything that explains it away. But sometimes there isn’t a deeper reason. Sometimes they just lost. Sometimes they just failed. Sometimes they just weren’t good enough in that moment. And tha

I’ve spent 26 years running a club program. I coached 11 years at the college level and 11 years at the high school level. Each environment has a purpose. Each one serves a different role in a player’s development. When those roles are respected, the system works. When they start to blur, problems show up quickly. That’s where we are now. More and more, high school programs are being run like club programs. Easy access for families to coaches and administrators. Parents speak

There’s a tendency to explain problems in youth athletics as a lack of knowledge or experience. People say, “They just don’t understand the game.” And while that may be partially true, it misses the deeper issue. The real problem is not education. It’s character. Not everyone grows up in a competitive sports environment. Not every family understands the nuances of a game right away. That’s normal. What matters is how you respond when you’re behind. Do you lean in and learn, o

Every season, the first two weeks tell a story… the problem is, it’s usually the wrong one. We’ve all been there. You’ve got the athlete who starts out hot, thinking they’ve got it all figured out. You’ve got the athlete who starts slow and panic ensues. Early success doesn’t guarantee long term success or long term trust from coaches. Similarly, early struggles don’t eliminate it. Stats are a small sample size, but they aren’t the full story. They are not your identity. Whil

Reflection is the key to growth. How do you reflect after games? Do you take notes during the game? Do you call and debrief with your coaching staff? Do you immediately start planning your practice? Do you dive into GameChanger for the stats? Do you review video? Do you review your team’s charts? Or do you move on to your next life task without thinking about the game again? A coach should spend time thinking about the game or we’ll just nonchalantly go about our day without

Spend enough time around successful youth sports teams and you’ll notice something interesting. The best teams don’t just have talented players; they have aligned families. There is often an unspoken pact among parents about the standards that matter most. When families take ownership of team culture, coaches are free to spend more time developing athletes and leaders instead of constantly policing behavior. The Four Non‑Negotiables The strongest youth teams align around

Have you ever found yourself in the stands after a play wondering…“How is she safe?” or “Why didn’t they get him out?” You’re not alone, parents. The rules of baseball and softball can become complicated as your child grows in the game. Here are four rules that will make you feel like a pro the next time you prop up your bleacher chair in the stands. 1. Dropped Third Strike This rule is enforced when the catcher drops the third strike. The batter can then attempt to run to fi

As teams move from winter training back onto the field, many coaches feel pressure to immediately play full games. But early preseason should look more like spring training. Scrimmages should be development environments where coaches can create situations, teach in real time, and build game IQ. What is a controlled scrimmage? A controlled scrimmage is a game environment where coaches intentionally manipulate situations to create learning opportunities. Instead of simply letti

Dirt… what’s this? Fly balls… haven’t seen those in a few months. Let’s be real. Coming back outside after a winter indoors in the Midwest has its challenges. Be hopeful to see your athlete’s progress from off-season training—but be patient as they adjust to a new season. Development is a journey, not an immediate result. The Transition Back After months of indoor work, you may wonder: Will all that progress show up on the field right away? The truth: not necessarily. Skills

There are developmental coaches and then there are game coaches. Which one are you? Which way do you lean? Developmental coaches are the cage rats. They love breaking things down. They see the game through a fundamental lens and can spot the smallest detail in a swing, throw, or defensive play. Game coaches are the competitors. They love being on the field. They like play calling. They like the back and forth chess match of a game. They thrive in the energy of game day. Both