coaching management 17.2

Coaching ManagementB A S E B A L L P R E S E A S O N E D I T I O N 2 0 0 9

VOL. XVII NO. 2 ■ $7.00

■ Being a Great Recruiter ■ UNC’s Strength Program

PERFECT TIMINGThe art of situational hitting

www.turface.com

Save the Game in Just

10 MinutesPrevent rainouts by working smarter, not harder. Just spread Turface evenly onto muddy, wet areas and wait 10 minutes to let it absorb the puddle and the moisture out of the mud below. Then simply rake it smooth for a safe, playable surface. With Turface’s full line of products — including Quick Dry, MVP® and Pro League®for your infi elds, as well as Field & Fairway™ for your turf areas — there’s no better way to Keep America Playing.

Let Turface® do the work for you.

TIP #14

Save the Game and Get a Free T-Shirt. Sign up on our web site and we’ll e-mail more tips and special offers directly to you. When you do, you’ll get a free Turface or Keep America Playing t-shirt. A free shirt, plus free tips and special offers. Only from Turface.

A003-013420-9 (Turface Spring Promo)Color: 4/colorSize: T - 8.125 x 10.875 B - 8.375 x 11.125 L - 7.375 x 10.125

profileturface80v0.indd 1 1/30/09 2:51:41 PM

Circle No. 100

CONTENTSCoaching ManagementBaseball EditionPreseason 2009

Vol. XVII, No. 2

COVER STORY

Perfect Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Situational hitting is all about executing the right hit at the right time . It also takes a lot of patience to teach its nuances . Here, expert coaches share their tips and strategies to coaching this subtle art form .

RECRuiTing

In Their Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24How do you make high school prospects picture you in their future plans? By being a great salesman .

STREngTH & COnDiTiOning

Swinging For The Fences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29The University of North Carolina’s recent resurgence is fueled by a progressive multi-phase conditioning plan that develops the specific speed, power, and agility needs of its players .

29

LOCKER ROOM Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Oklahoma State player sues NCAA … Alumni weekend a success … Starting a program from scratch … Making a co-op work … H .S . player grants his own wish .

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Mike Chiapparelli, Head Coach at Mamaroneck (N .Y .) High School, won his first state championship in 2008, while also coaching the boys’ ice hockey team and assisting the foot-ball team .

CONTINUED ON: WEB SITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

On the cover: Long Beach State university All-American Shane Peterson’s exceptional situation-al hitting was vital to the team last season. Head Coach Mike Weathers talks about his strategy in our cover story, which begins on page 16.

COVER PHOTO: LONG BEACH STATE MEDIA RELATIONS

24

CoachingManagementOnline .com 1

3

The Coaching Management Baseball edition is pub-lished in February, September, and December by MAG, Inc . and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and

Canada . Copyright © 2009 by MAG, Inc . All rights reserved . Text may not be reproduced in any man-ner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the pub lisher . Un solicited materials will not be

returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope . POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Coaching Management, P .O . Box 4806, Ithaca, N .Y . 14852 . Printed in the U .S .A .

Mailing lists for Coaching Management Baseball are provided by the Clell Wade Coaches Directory .

Publisher Mark Goldberg

Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel

Associate Editors Dennis Read, Greg Scholand

Assistant Editors R .J . Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Abigail Funk, Kyle Garratt, Mike Phelps

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer

Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano

Business Manager Pennie Small

Art Director Pamela Crawford

Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell

Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

Circulation Director Dave Dubin

Circulation Manager John Callaghan

Production Director Maria Bise

Prepress Manager Neal Betts

Assistant Production Director Jim Harper

Production Assistant Natalie Couch

Ad Materials Coordinator Mike Townsend

Advertising Sales Associates (607) 257-6970Diedra Harkenrider, ext . 24Pat Wertman, ext . 21

Business and Editorial Offices31 Dutch Mill Rd ., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-6970, Fax (607) 257-7328 info@MomentumMedia .com

INFIELD MIxES & SOIL ADDITIVES . . . . . . . . . 34NETS & CAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37BASEBALL FACILITY EqUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . 38

TEAM EqUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42PRACTICE AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Wind Weighted® BASEBALL TARPS

LOWERED PRICES FOR 2009

These are the original, real McCoy, triple-patented, virtually WIND-PROOF tarps that are now used by the thousands by teams including Little League,

Jr. & Sr. High Schools, Colleges*, Minor and Major Leagues.

The secret of Wind Weighted Tarps: Galvanized steel chain in its entire edge hem is precisely WIND-ENGINEERED to the correct ratio of circumference ballast versus fabric weight

TO KEEP WIND FROM GETTING UNDER AT ANY POINT. Field proven in winds of 65+ mph.

INSTALLER™ DEVICE This optional accessory allows two players to

cover a mound or home base in less than 30

seconds. Aluminum + PVC pipe with handles at

each end, plus handles at end of 5’ stainless steel

aircraft cables makes carrying & roll off/on easy.

*COLLEGES INCLUDE: Arcadia, Arkansas, Barry, Baylor, Brescia, Briar Cliff, Cal-Berkeley, Cal-Irvine, Cal Poly-SLO, Cal-Riverside, Cal State-Chico, Cincinnati, Citadel, Coastal Carolina, Colby, Columbia, Connecticut, East Carolina, East TN State, Florida, Grinnell, Hawaii, IL-Chicago, IPFW, Jacksonville, Johns Hopkins, Kent State, LA Valley, Louisville, Memphis, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Navy, New Mexico, Nevada-Reno, New Orleans, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oglethorpe, Oklahoma, Ozarks, Penn, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Portland, Princeton, Rutgers, St. Bonaventure, San Jose, Seton Hall, Shenandoah, Southern Cal, Southwestern, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, TX-Brownsville, Texas Christian, TX-Tyler, Troy State, Vassar, VMI, Washington, Wayne State, Western Kentucky, Westmont, Xavier, Yale

SPECS: Fabric: Industrial grade 16 mil vinyl polyester with UV and mildew inhibitors added for outdoor durability. Stock diameters: 12’, 18’, 20’, 26’, 30’. Squares: 8’, 10’. SHIPMENT NORMALLY WITHIN 24 BUSINESS HOURS. Standard Color: Forest Green. Custom colors and sizes are readily available for quick shipment.

Additional information and pricing is available on website. US PATENT NUMBERS: 7270617 D516360 D7270617

ALL PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS ARE PROPERTY OF AER-FLO, INC. © 2008; AER-FLO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com

SOLD BY THE BEST SPORTS EQUIPMENT DEALERS

Rain Covers that Stay Put in High Winds

WITHOUT STAKES OR SANDBAGS

Circle No. 101

Oliver Challenges NCAA Agent RuleIn his first two years at Okla-homa State University, pitcher Andrew Oliver enjoyed great success on the mound, going 13-3 and striking out 138 batters in 142 innings. But whether he’ll have a chance at another successful season in 2009 remains to be seen. Oli-ver is currently in the middle of a lawsuit against the NCAA regarding his eligibility—a suit that has far-reaching implica-tions for both high school and college coaches.

Oliver’s story begins in the spring of 2006, when he was drafted in the 17th round by the Minnesota Twins after graduating from Vermilion (Ohio) High School. His lawyer at the time sat in on a meeting Oliver and his father had with the Twins. Oliver turned down the Twins’ contract offer and elected to attend Oklahoma State instead.

NCAA rules state that only athletes and their parents are allowed to have direct contact with professional teams. If an advisor, such as an attorney, has direct contact with a pro-fessional team, they are con-sidered an agent. And having agent representation makes the athlete a professional in the eyes of the NCAA, and thus ineligible for collegiate competition.

In May 2008, the NCAA learned of the lawyer’s pres-ence during Oliver’s meeting with the Twins, and began an investigation. After late night interviews with Oliver and his father hours before the start of an NCAA regional game, Okla-homa State decided to declare Oliver ineligible. The Cowboys then lost the game to Wichita State University, sending them into the losers’ bracket, where they were eventually elimi-nated.

After an Oklahoma State appeal, the NCAA reduced

Oliver’s total ineligibility for 2009 to 70 percent of the sea-son, making him eligible for a potential postseason run. But Oliver wasn’t satisfied with the compromise.

Oliver and his current attor-ney, Rick Johnson, a legal mal-practice lawyer in Cleveland, sued the NCAA in August, challenging its authority to prohibit high school athletes from having a lawyer commu-nicate directly with profession-al teams. The suit also claims the NCAA illegally interferes in the attorney-client relationship and limits an attorney’s abil-ity to properly represent his or her clients.

After failed mediation attempts between Oliver and the NCAA, his case was heard in an Ohio court in January. Within a week, both Johnson and the NCAA’s lawyers rested their respective cases. At this maga-

would tell you that your lawyer can’t do that? Nothing.

“When Andy signed his National Letter of Intent, there was nothing in the 10 pages of materials saying, ‘Here are the rules you have to follow,’” Johnson continues. “The National Letter of Intent form says you may jeopardize your amateurism if you have an agent—it doesn’t say that you will—and that’s in one small line of five-point type. How about actually enclosing the rules that would tell you how amateurism is defined and what you have to do to follow the rules? That way, if Andy wanted to hire a lawyer to rep-resent him, he would have at least known he was risking his amateurism if he had the law-yer do his job.”

Although he would not talk about the Oliver case itself, Scott Williams, Associate Ath-letic Director for Compliance at Oklahoma State, says the school tries to educate incom-ing student-athletes about NCAA rules. “The NCAA has ramped up the educational material it provides,” Williams says. “We have also created our own educational materi-als that include common rules every high school student has to deal with, which we distrib-ute once a student has com-mitted to Oklahoma State University. That way we can at least give them a head start on things that could become stumbling blocks before they arrive on campus.”

Both Johnson and Williams say it’s important for high school coaches to learn about the eli-gibility rules so they can help their players during the recruit-ing process. “High school coaches need to get the spe-cific rules that their kids are supposed to follow,” Johnson says. “And I think there should be some sort of educational program that can be given to athletes in high school. That way, coaches can educate their players on what they have to do if they want to maintain

CoachingManagementOnline.com 3

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD

Oklahoma State University’s Andrew Oliver throws a pitch in a nine-inning shutout game against the University of Nebraska this past April. Oliver sued the NCAA in August after being ruled ineligible for having a lawyer present at a meeting with a profes-sional team the summer after graduating from high school.

zine’s press time, there is no decision from the judge.

If the judge rules in favor of the NCAA, Oliver will likely face the major suspension orig-inally assessed to him by the NCAA. And if Oliver wins the case, he will likely be reinstated and the NCAA will have to revisit its rule pertaining to high school athletes’ lawyers having direct contact with pro-fessional team officials.

The timing of the NCAA’s investigation proved to be a sore point. “Some people think Oklahoma State lost its chance to win the College World Series because Andy did something wrong, but Andy didn’t do one thing wrong,” Johnson says. “How is Andy supposed to know that a sports advisor, which is legal under NCAA rules, isn’t allowed to talk to a profes-sional team? What on earth JA

MES

SC

HA

MM

ERH

OR

N/O

STA

TEPH

OTO

.CO

M

Wind Weighted® BASEBALL TARPS

LOWERED PRICES FOR 2009

These are the original, real McCoy, triple-patented, virtually WIND-PROOF tarps that are now used by the thousands by teams including Little League,

Jr. & Sr. High Schools, Colleges*, Minor and Major Leagues.

The secret of Wind Weighted Tarps: Galvanized steel chain in its entire edge hem is precisely WIND-ENGINEERED to the correct ratio of circumference ballast versus fabric weight

TO KEEP WIND FROM GETTING UNDER AT ANY POINT. Field proven in winds of 65+ mph.

INSTALLER™ DEVICE This optional accessory allows two players to

cover a mound or home base in less than 30

seconds. Aluminum + PVC pipe with handles at

each end, plus handles at end of 5’ stainless steel

aircraft cables makes carrying & roll off/on easy.

*COLLEGES INCLUDE: Arcadia, Arkansas, Barry, Baylor, Brescia, Briar Cliff, Cal-Berkeley, Cal-Irvine, Cal Poly-SLO, Cal-Riverside, Cal State-Chico, Cincinnati, Citadel, Coastal Carolina, Colby, Columbia, Connecticut, East Carolina, East TN State, Florida, Grinnell, Hawaii, IL-Chicago, IPFW, Jacksonville, Johns Hopkins, Kent State, LA Valley, Louisville, Memphis, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Navy, New Mexico, Nevada-Reno, New Orleans, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oglethorpe, Oklahoma, Ozarks, Penn, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Portland, Princeton, Rutgers, St. Bonaventure, San Jose, Seton Hall, Shenandoah, Southern Cal, Southwestern, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, TX-Brownsville, Texas Christian, TX-Tyler, Troy State, Vassar, VMI, Washington, Wayne State, Western Kentucky, Westmont, Xavier, Yale

SPECS: Fabric: Industrial grade 16 mil vinyl polyester with UV and mildew inhibitors added for outdoor durability. Stock diameters: 12’, 18’, 20’, 26’, 30’. Squares: 8’, 10’. SHIPMENT NORMALLY WITHIN 24 BUSINESS HOURS. Standard Color: Forest Green. Custom colors and sizes are readily available for quick shipment.

Additional information and pricing is available on website. US PATENT NUMBERS: 7270617 D516360 D7270617

ALL PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS ARE PROPERTY OF AER-FLO, INC. © 2008; AER-FLO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com

SOLD BY THE BEST SPORTS EQUIPMENT DEALERS

Rain Covers that Stay Put in High Winds

WITHOUT STAKES OR SANDBAGS

4 CoachingManagementOnline.com


their amateur status and get athletic scholarships.”

Williams believes college coaches can also serve as good resources. “They have a little bit better handle on what the rules and regulations are, and that’s who high school coaches will have the most contact with, especially if they have a prospective student-athlete on their team,” he says. “Talking to college coaches can also open up a communication ave-nue through the school’s com-pliance office, and someone there can provide good infor-mation.”

Calling All AlumniEntering his 38th year as Head Coach at Clearfield (Pa.) Area High School, Sid Lansberry has seen his fair share of play-ers come and go through the Bisons program. Recently, however, he’s begun seeing more and more of those grad-uates come back, thanks to an alumni game turned alumni weekend.

Five years ago, Lansberry was in a coaches meeting discuss-ing fundraising opportunities when a member of his staff suggested coordinating an alumni game. As the discus-sion grew, plans for the game turned into plans for a week-end-long experience. “We tried to make it more attrac-tive so people who live out of town would have a reason to come back,” says Lansberry, who graduated from Clearfield in 1964. “The first year or two, it was mostly local guys, but now after our fourth year, we’re drawing more players who graduated and moved outside the immediate community.”

Lansberry estimates that close to 70 former Clearfield ball-players came back this past fall, traveling from as far away as Virginia and as far back as the class of 1957. Each attend-ee gave a $50 donation, which paid for food and drinks dur-ing the weekend as well as an

alumni game T-shirt and cap. The weekend raised upwards of $2,000 for the school’s baseball program.

Starting on a Friday afternoon, the weekend kicked off with a golf outing at a local coun-try club, followed by batting practice and a picnic at a near-by park. Saturday’s festivities included an old timer’s game

for players who graduated prior to 1990, a youngster’s game, and home run derbies for both groups. A catered din-ner in the park followed with a DJ and 50/50 raffle.

The golf tournament wasn’t part of Clearfield’s weekend until last year and batting prac-tice was added in the event’s second edition. “Batting prac-tice has been a real drawing card,” Lansberry says. “Former players want to get swings in so they’re not embarrassed the next day at the actual game.”

Many current players’ fathers play in the games, so much of the team comes just to watch.

“The players enjoy being able to talk to the alumni, especial-ly ones they’ve heard about who have gone on to play at a higher level,” he says. “There was one guy who came last year who was a minor leaguer for several years. It helps us build a sense of tradition.”

To work the event, Lansberry relies on his coaching staff

and volunteers from the com-munity. Several local umpires give their time to work at the games and other volunteers man the PA system and inter-view players from the dugouts during the game to give the event a big-time feel.

Lansberry also tries to honor a past Clearfield team each year. In 2008, he recognized the 1978 team for its district title and for being the first squad to take the now-annual southern trip, and the 1988 team that won the district championship in a wild, 15-inning game—still the longest contest in Clearfield history. “We made a banner and took

a special picture of the guys from those teams,” Lansberry says. “We also had retro hats designed from 1978, which were a hit. We ran out, and I still have people asking me if they can get one.”

For next year, Lansberry is hop-ing to contact more local busi-nesses about donating door prizes. Prizes were given away

this year at the golf outing, and each participant in the home run derby donated $5, with the winner taking home half of the pot. After each game, awards were also handed out to the most valuable player, best rookie, and a gold glove win-ner on each team.

The only problem Lansberry has faced in putting together the event each year is keep-ing track of all his former play-ers. Clearfield has fielded a baseball team since 1939, and while Lansberry has rosters for every team, locating play-ers has been tough. To help, he publicizes the event on the radio and in the local newspa-

Clearfield (Pa.) Area High School alum Merrill Dunlap (class of ’57) connects during the baseball team’s 2008 alumni game. Head Coach Sid Lansberry has turned Clearfield’s annual contest into a weekend-long event. “We tried to make it more attractive so people who live out of town would have a reason to come back,” says Lansberry, who graduated from Clearfield in 1964.

Powered by

Keeping You Ahead of the Game.

MY SCHOOL. MY TEAMS. OUR WORLD.AM

National Media Affiliate

Score big with HighSchoolSports.net!

Get the latest Schedules - Scores - Team Rosters – and Stats on your team’s OWN web site - all FREE at HighSchoolSports.net!

Go to www.HighSchoolSports.net and click on Coaches.

sc re.

800-258-855024/7 Customer Support

Powered by

Keeping You Ahead of the Game.

MY SCHOOL. MY TEAMS. OUR WORLD.AM

National Media Affiliate

Score big with HighSchoolSports.net!

Get the latest Schedules - Scores - Team Rosters – and Stats on your team’s OWN web site - all FREE at HighSchoolSports.net!

Go to www.HighSchoolSports.net and click on Coaches.

sc re.sc re.sc re.

800-258-855024/7 Customer Support

Circle No. 102



per, but mostly relies on word of mouth.

“We have a database of names and addresses, but it’s not nearly complete,” he says. “It’s one thing I’ve definitely been paying more attention to these last four years. We make sure to keep close tabs on the guys who have graduated recently.”

The players who attend praise the event and are always ask-ing when the next year’s alum-ni weekend will be held. Lans-berry says the weekend has been a great fundraiser for his program and is always a lot of fun.

“A lot of these guys haven’t seen each other in a long time,” Lansberry says. “It’s also a fun weekend for me, because I see players that I haven’t talked to since they graduated. It makes me feel

good when they come back and play, and it’s been a boost to the program by drawing so much interest.

“I would recommend it for any coach,” he continues. “It’s eas-ier for me because I’ve been here so long, but almost any program that’s been in opera-tion for a few years could do it. It’s a good fundraiser and a great way to build morale.”

Bakersfield Hits the Big StageIn 2008-09, California State University-Bakersfield began a new chapter in its athletics history, moving from NCAA Division II to Division I. The jump in divisions involved rais-ing the curtain on its baseball team’s inaugural season, and because launching a new team with new players, new tradi-

tions, a new facility, and, well, a new everything is no easy task, Bakersfield needed a coach undaunted at having to start from scratch.

Having successfully led the California State University-Northridge baseball program from Division II to Division I in 1991—including finishing that season one game shy of com-peting in the College World Series—Bill Kernen had the resume Bakersfield was look-ing for.

Kernen, however, had switched gears from base-ball to broadway and had a career writing and directing plays and screenplays in New York City. “I was in the middle of my writing career,” Kernen says. “Plus, I didn’t want to get back into coaching just to have a job and do something at a mediocre level. At that

point in my life, the only way I would return to coaching is if I thought there was a viable opportunity to play in a power conference, get on the map, and compete nationally.”

To test the waters, Kernen served as a volunteer assis-tant coach at the University of California State University-Ful-lerton under George Horton for one year in 2007-08 before deciding to apply for the job at Bakersfield. “I wasn’t 100-percent sure I would even get the Bakersfield job, but I was thinking I wanted to give coaching another shot,” Kernen says. “I knew getting a taste at Fullerton would help me make the right decision.”

Kernen was offered the Bakersfield job, and days after accepting the position in June, he hit the recruiting trail. Pull-ing players from a number of

The dugout organizer that holds it all in a big league way!

Brand for the 2009 SeasonNEW

3.4375”

4.8125”

1/4 page The Bench Coach AdFebruary/Baseball issue of Coaching Management

Enter coupon code CMM during checkout to save $10 when you order online (offer expires 5/31/09)

GLOBAL ONLINE

TAKE YOUR CAREER

TO NEWHEIGHTS

CALUCalifornia University of PennsylvaniaBuilding Character. Building Careers.

www.cup.eduA proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

100% ONLINEMS in Exercise Science & Health Promotion

• Four degree tracks- Performance Enhancement & Injury Prevention- Wellness & Fitness- Rehabilitation Science- Sport Psychology

• NASM certifications in PES, CES, and/or CPT

MS in Sport Management Studies• Three degree tracks

- Intercollegiate Athletic Administration- Facility and Event Management- Sport Management

BS Program in Wellness and Fitness• NASM Certification in CPT

Phone: 1-866-595-6348 or visit: www.cup.edu/go

Untitled-2 1 3/13/08 1:53:34 PM

Circle No. 103Circle No. 104

California State University-Bakersfield freshman Martin Medina bats during the team’s inaugural intrasquad scrimmage this past fall. As part of its move to NCAA Division I, Bakersfield is adding baseball as a sport in 2009. Head Coach Bill Kernen was charged with starting the team from scratch.

csu

B s

POR

Ts IN

FOR

MA

TIO

N

western states, he assembled a 25-man roster comprising 13 freshmen and 12 junior college transfers. Unable to hire an assistant coach until the school year started, Kernen single-handedly recruited each player.

“I recruited all the freshmen during the early signing peri-od, then I spent the rest of the spring on the JC trail,” Kernen says. “I did nothing but recruit during that time—I was some-where new every day.”

Bakersfield has one of the smallest rosters in Division I, but for Kernen a small roster is nothing new, nor is it nec-essarily a handicap. “In 1991, our first year in Division I at Northridge, we had 18 players on a team that finished 10th in the country,” he says. “We will make up for our lack of num-bers here by having a bunch of two-way guys who can hit


1700 DELAWARE A

Arkansas T

FAIR-PLAY SCOREBOARDS

You want the best and brightest on your team. Get it with LED scoreboards, message centers and video displays from Fair-Play Scoreboards. Coaches and athletic directors know: Fair-Play brings you legendary design excellence in one stylish package.

Catch the spirit of Fair-Play atwww.fair-play.com or call 800-247-0265for a free catalog.

Nothing but Fair-Playon your fi eld or court.

Circle No. 105

We have over 55 years of experience in providing coverage for specialty sports, leisure and entertainment organizations like yours. We are the leading provider of insurance for sports camps, clinics, tournaments, events, sports instructors, and facilities.

When it’s time to purchase insurance, choose K&K Insurance.

Amateur Sports, Teams, Leagues, Camps, Clinics, Tournaments,Events, and Sports Instructors

800-426-2889School Athletics, Facilities, and

Sports Complexes800-441-3994

Sports | Leisure | Entertainmentwww.kandkinsurance.com

Circle No. 106



Illinois high schools Georgetown-Ridge Farm and Chrisman combined to form a co-op baseball team in 2004. The team competes as Georgetown-Ridge Farm, but Head Coach Ryan McFarland decided to have the team uniforms be a combina-tion of both high schools’ colors—black and purple, seen above.

and pitch and guys who play multiple positions.”

Putting together a schedule was Kernen’s next big chal-lenge. Because of its jump to Division I, Bakersfield isn’t eligible to join a conference or participate in postseason play until at least 2011. Still, Kernen used his connections and put together a challeng-ing schedule that includes five Big West teams, UCLA, the University of Nebraska, the University of Missouri, and 2008 NCAA Division I National Champion Fresno State Uni-versity.

“I talked to colleagues and coaches I had competed against years ago—there are three coaches in the Big West who played for me at North-ridge—and I basically demand-ed they play us,” Kernen says with a laugh. “For example, Mike Batesole at Fresno State used to assist me at North-ridge, so I called and asked him to put us in their tournament. We’re also scheduled to play them three more times here and twice at their place, so we play the defending national champs seven times next year. I don’t think a first-year program has ever beaten a defending national champion, so if we can win just one of those games it would be pretty big.

“When people see who we’ve got on our schedule, they know we’re not messing around,” Kernen adds. “We’re in the deep end of the pool and our guys are going to have to learn to swim right away.”

Since Kernen took the job at Bakersfield, everything has been in fast forward. From recruiting to building facilities to fostering relationships, he says every step has been done at warp speed. “After recruit-ing, the next most important thing was to cultivate relation-ships in the community—par-ticularly business relation-ships,” he says. “There isn’t a state university in California

that can support a program on its own, so you have to have community involvement.

“For example, the guy who is building our playing facility donated the first million dol-lars toward the project and oversees the day-to-day oper-ations of the construction,” Kernen adds. “He is going out of his way to make sure we play our first game on cam-pus in February. It takes those kinds of relationships to make something like this work.”

With his plans in motion, Kernen’s expectations are lofty. “I don’t think a post-season appearance in 2011 is out of the question—in fact, I fully expect it to happen,” he says. “It took us 30 months at Northridge to have a situa-tion where I thought we were on the map. I’d like to do it little faster this time around.”

United in BaseballAlthough not a new idea, co-op teams are looking more and more attractive to high school athletic programs that are struggling with declining enrollments and tighter bud-gets, but don’t want to cut their programs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm and Chrisman High Schools in Illinois came together to form a co-op in 2004 because both schools were having trouble fielding full teams, and the fused pro-gram is a great example of how to make a co-op work.

“It started with concern about participation numbers,” says Head Coach Ryan McFarland. “The year before we started the co-op, I coached at George-town-Ridge Farm. We had 17 kids in our program while Chris-man had maybe 10. In 2004, it was possible Chrisman wasn’t going to have enough kids to play at all, so they approached us about a co-op. I was all for it because I thought we could pick up four or five good play-ers, and it would also allow us

to field a j.v. team.”

A model was already in place since the two high schools have had co-ops for cross country and track since 2000. The team goes by the name Georgetown-Ridge Farm, and GRF calculates the cost of the entire baseball program, then divides the total by the num-ber of players, and Chrisman pays GRF per player (Because of Chrisman’s small size, the combined enrollment is still

low enough to keep the squad from moving up to a larger enrollment classification).

Practices and home games are held at GRF, and Chrisman busses its players the 11 miles that separate the schools. For away games north of GRF, Chrisman transports its players to GRF and the team leaves from there. When the team heads south, GRF picks up the Chrisman players on the way.

“Everything has worked out really well,” says McFarland. “It lets us buy equipment that I don’t think we would other-wise be able to afford, it gives kids an opportunity to play who otherwise wouldn’t, and it’s made us a lot more com-petitive.”

The co-op team went 18-8 in its first season, and last year captured its regional title. McFarland says the biggest benefits have been a more

complete lineup and the abil-ity to develop younger play-ers. The starting first base-man, catcher, left fielder, and top pitcher will all come from Chrisman this year.

“The year before the co-op, our bottom three batters would come up and we would say, ‘Let’s hope this isn’t three outs in a row,’” says McFar-land. “Now, every time a play-er comes up to the plate we

We have over 55 years of experience in providing coverage for specialty sports, leisure and entertainment organizations like yours. We are the leading provider of insurance for sports camps, clinics, tournaments, events, sports instructors, and facilities.

When it’s time to purchase insurance, choose K&K Insurance.

Amateur Sports, Teams, Leagues, Camps, Clinics, Tournaments,Events, and Sports Instructors

800-426-2889School Athletics, Facilities, and

Sports Complexes800-441-3994

Sports | Leisure | Entertainmentwww.kandkinsurance.com

Building Upon a WishWhen Sam Bridgman tried out for the baseball team at Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School in 2006, Head Coach Keith Bosley noticed some clumsiness in his base run-ning and did not select him for the squad. For Bridgman, who had always dreamed of playing in the major leagues, being cut was the biggest dis-appointment in his life.

Before the end of the sum-mer, the news grew much, much worse. Bridgman was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive nerve degeneration, lack of muscle coordination, hearing loss, and slurred speech. Doctors told him he’d never play baseball again. Although this meant

know we can do something. We can bunt and run, hit and run, steal, and squeeze. Not having any holes in the lineup is very helpful for a small team.”

McFarland did little to assimi-late the players, mostly because he didn’t have to. He says many of them already knew each other and hung out together outside of practice. The schools are not natural rivals because GRF is tradition-ally a football school and Chris-man is known for having strong basketball teams.

One change, however, was made to promote unity among the team members. Chrisman’s school colors are red and black while GRF dons purple and gold. So the base-ball team sports purple and black uniforms with a styl-ized B, for Buffaloes, the GRF mascot.

“Changing the colors was important so that both schools could say, ‘Those are our col-ors when we’re playing base-ball,’” says McFarland. “We also try to put Chrisman’s name or a C on as many things as we can, like warmup shirts, to make their kids feel like they’re part of this team.”

McFarland says the only prob-lems with the co-op are logis-tic—getting both teams fit-ted for uniforms, keeping track of absent athletes, and other communication issues—but they are minor. “The big thing is getting practice and travel plans worked out beforehand,” says McFarland. “When I looked at the pos-sibility of making our varsity team better and being able to field a j.v. team, I said, ‘That’s worth any inconvenience we might encounter.’”

there was no way Bridgman could ever make the team as a player, Bosley did the next best thing and named him team manager.

“It was an easy decision,” says Bosley, who is beginning his third season as head coach. “Sam was willing to do any-thing to be part of this team, and even though we’d never had a manager, we were happy to create the position for him.”

As manager, Bridgman keeps statistics, writes game sum-maries for the school Web site, and spends time with the team before, during, and after every practice and game. With the exception of the run-ning drills, which he can no longer perform, Bridgman consistently participates in team warmups and batting, throwing, catching, and field-ing practice. And even though



Circle No. 107 Circle No. 108

he’s never played a game for the Raiders, there’s no question he belongs.

“I feel like I’m just one of the guys,” says Bridgman, who expects to graduate in May. “They’re my friends, and being part of this team allows me to relax, forget about everything else that’s going on, and just have fun. My teammates have helped me through the process of letting go, so I’d like to give back as much as I can.”

Last year, Bridgman approached the MakeAWish Foundation with a proposal to renovate Nathan Hale’s ballfield, which is badly in need of improvement. The $450,000 pricetag turned out to be far too expensive for the Foundation, but last August, they granted Bridgman a simpler wish: to throw out the first

pitch before a Seattle Mariners home game at Safeco Field.

“It was a dream come true,” says Bridgman, who got autographs from the entire team, met his heroes Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez, and watched the game from a suite with 20 of his friends. “It was one of the best experiences of my whole life. I took batting practice, played catch, and as I was walking out to the pitcher’s mound, I had 400 friends cheering really, really loud.”

Having seen one wish come true, Bridgman has moved on to the next. As his senior project, he and his mother have taken the lead in raising funds to renovate the Nathan Hale ballfield themselves and have been making steady progress toward their goal. The engineering and landscape architecture firm that designed

Safeco Field has agreed to donate its services to the renovation project, dubbed Sam’s Dream Field, and over $200,000 in goods and services has been raised.

In November, voters approved a $146 million tax levy to improve Seattle’s public parks. Bosley would like some of that money to be used for Hale’s home field, and though similar fundraising projects to renovate the ballfield have failed twice in the past, he remains hopeful Bridgman can succeed. “He wants his friends to play on a new field, and if he has to lead the project himself, he’ll do it,” Bosley says. “That’s how much he loves baseball and this team.”

Although most people with Friedreich’s ataxia require a wheelchair by their early 20s and die in their mid30s, Bridg


man is still healthy enough to go to the gym every other day. He has college plans in the fall, and has applied to Gonzaga University and the University of Portland, which have both offered him positions managing their baseball teams.

He intends to pursue a degree in athletic training, physical therapy, or sports management, and ultimately dreams of becoming a baseball coach. “Even if I can’t play it,” says Bridgman, “I can still love it.”

“Having Sam on our team is a daily reminder that there’s more to baseball than just winning and losing,” adds Bosley. “As coaches, we’re here to mold young athletes as people and provide a sense of belonging. By demonstrating how to handle a lifethreatening situation, Sam has become a real role model.”

THE

Tuffy® WINDSCREENUNQUESTIONABLY, THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST WINDSCREEN

Offers the unparalleled durability of VIPOL™ Matrix Material. Exclusively ours, this super tough fabric outperforms all other windscreens because more micro-fibers are woven into its web. Virtually tear-proof and the highest puncture resistance available. Tuffy is the ONLY windscreen featuring LOCK STITCH finishing to assure that its sides and corners do not unravel, a problem with all other windscreens. Made on 2008-new equipment in our Florida factory with 100% quality US workmanship. Backed by a true 4-year factory warranty. 13 Colors: Black, Midnight Green, Medium Green, Navy, Royal, Orange, Maroon, Beige, Burnt Orange, Red, Purple, Light Grey, White. Tuffy Windscreen’s durability provides unmatched longevity that saves money in the long haul. ULTRA-PREMIUM WINDSCREEN, BUT SURPRISINGLY VALUE PRICED. QUICK DELIVERY.

IMPRINTING Our in-house skilled painters use a special surface-bonding paint and computer generated stenciling to produce vivid, custom, multi-color imprinting. Fields can now have large concise images on outfield and line windscreens. Tennis courts can feature striking team emblems and messages. QUICK DELIVERY.

800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com © 2009: Aer-Flo, Inc. All products made by AER-FLO, INC. in Bradenton, FL Trademarks are property of Aer-Flo, Inc.

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM QUALITY SPORTS DEALERS.

Circle No. 109

Great For Anybody’s Game!

Company DescriptionProGrass LLC is a relationship driven company specializing in the design, manufacturing, installation and service of synthetic infilled turf systems.

Product DescriptionProGrass should be your first choice when deciding to use synthetic turf on your baseball field. ProGrass can create a product tailored to your needs. ProGrass can also mimic the natural transition from the outfield to the infield by using two turf heights. Call ProGrass when you want a superior field.

960 Penn Avenue, Suite 810Pittsburgh, PA 15222

1-866-270-6003www.prograssturf.com

Circle No. 110

CM: What did winning the first state championship for any boys’ team in Mamaroneck history mean for you?Chiapparelli: It was great for our commu-nity. We played up in Binghamton, N.Y. The whole town was on their cell phones and computers trying to find out how the championship game was going. When we came back at 2 a.m., 400 fans met us at the high school. People were going crazy.

There was a parade for the whole team with 2,000 people on the side of the road. Then at Mamaroneck’s fireman’s parade, they put us up on a fire truck and took us through the village. It was great for the young kids who are the future

Q AMike Chiapparelli says he doesn’t like to sleep much—which is a good thing, because he doesn’t have a lot of downtime. For the past 30 years, “Coach Chap” has been the Head Coach at his alma mater, Mamaroneck (N.Y.) High School, where he is also a phys. ed. teacher and Head Coach of the boys’ ice hockey and j.v. foot-ball teams.

It may sound like Chiapparelli is spread thin, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the record books. Chi-apparelli entered this season in 10th place on New York’s all-time high school hockey coaching wins list, has amassed 14 league championships and two section titles in baseball, and has won over a dozen Coach of

the Year awards. This past season, his baseball team won the state title—the first for any boys’ sport at Mamaroneck.

Chiapparelli also received the prestigious Frank McGuire Award in 2008, an honor given to high school coaches who exemplify the coaching ideals of the legendary coach. Chiapparelli was a guest of honor at the awards dinner in New York City, and received $5,000 for the baseball and hockey teams as part of the award.

In this interview, Chiapparelli discusses his first state title, the challenges of coaching two varsity programs, and how he helps his players with being recruited.

& Mike ChiapparelliMamaroneck (N.Y.) High School


of the program to see that happen and think, “I can do that.”

In 2007, your team entered sectionals as the top seed, but was upset in the first round. Did you use it as motivation in 2008?It was a devastating loss, but that was a young team with a lot of sophomores. Afterward, I just said, “That was a hard game, wasn’t it?”

I told them they had to use that loss and come back next year to work harder, play smarter, and be better prepared for the playoffs—and they were. We played that same team in the first round again, and

we beat them. We scored 81 runs in the playoffs and only committed two errors. Our rallying cry all year was “unfinished business,” and the kids answered the call.

When you were a student at Mama-roneck, you played football and baseball, but never hockey. How did you end up coaching the hockey team?When I was in school, all my buddies played hockey, but I wasn’t a very good skater, so it was something I couldn’t really get into. But I was watching all my friends play, and when I went to college at SUNY [State University of New York] Cortland, a bunch of my friends were hockey players, so I went to a lot of games.

My first year here, we needed a hockey coach. I said I couldn’t skate, but they told me I already knew how to coach, and I could learn how to skate. That first year, we went 18-0 and won the section championship. I haven’t looked back since.

You also coach the j.v. football team. Is it difficult coaching so many sports?It’s very tough. I’m really never without coaching. I have about 10 days off at the end of the summer, but that’s about it. That’s how I like it. I have no problem getting up at five in the morning for work or practice. In February, the baseball team starts running at 6 a.m., and I’m coaching hockey at the same time. The days are a little bit lon-ger, but the fire’s still there and I’m still hungry.

Led by Head Coach Mike Chiapparelli (kneeling far left), the Mamaroneck (N.Y.) High School base-ball team won the school’s first ever boys’ state championship last season.

Great For Anybody’s Game!

Company DescriptionProGrass LLC is a relationship driven company specializing in the design,

of synthetic infilled turf systems.

Product DescriptionProGrass should be your first choice when deciding to use synthetic turf on your baseball field. ProGrass can create a product tailored to your needs. ProGrass can also mimic the natural transition from the outfield to the infield by using two turf heights. Call ProGrass when you want a superior field.

960 Penn Avenue, Suite 810Pittsburgh, PA 15222

1-866-270-6003www.prograssturf.com


I’ve always felt that if you want to do the job right, you have to give up certain things. It works because I don’t really like to sleep anyway, my kids understand my situation, my wife helps, and I get a lot of support from the school. They know I’m here for the kids and they give me the resources I need.

What is your coaching philosophy?My philosophy is very simple and it’s the same for every team I coach: I go out and play the best opponents I can. I’m not afraid to lose, and playing a tougher

schedule has made my teams better physically and mentally throughout the years. We might get slaughtered the first time we play a top team, but year after year the score gets closer and closer, and eventually we will beat them.

After a couple years at Mamaroneck, we were floundering around .500. I met the baseball coach at North Rockland High School, which had a powerhouse team. He told me that in order to get better, I had to play better competition. So I played his team, and they beat us 25-3.

Eventually, I won my first sectional title with a win over North Rockland. It was fit-ting. We came a long way.

Does the team travel to play competi-tion outside of New York?This year, we are taking another trip to California to play some of the toughest teams out there. We haven’t won a game out there yet. In the last six years, we’ve played the number-one team in the coun-try three times, and we haven’t beaten one yet, but we’re going to keep trying.

How do you fundraise at Mamaroneck? We raise about $30,000 for the baseball team and $10,000 for the hockey team every year. We do floor hockey clinics at the elementary schools and baseball clin-ics almost year-round.

For example, on Columbus Day we had 100 kids here on the baseball field. Groups of 10 led by two baseball play-ers rotated through 10 stations teaching diving catches, ground balls, pitching motions, and running the bases. The par-ents get their kids out of the house for the day, the kids are active, and we made around $3,000 in one day.

We do it mostly with kids’ activities. We don’t sell a lot of stuff. This way, our play-ers are giving back to the program by teaching future players proper technique. It’s a nice cycle.

As a multi-sport coach, are you an advocate of multi-sport athletes?The better athletes play three sports in high school. If you’re a baseball player, and you play baseball year-round, next season, the kid who played football and hockey in between will be a better baseball player than you.

Playing multiple sports forces kids to be competitive all year. They have different coaches who have different coaching techniques, they’re competing against dif-ferent kids, working on different skills, and working different muscles. I think you’re better off doing that than playing baseball all the time, which is only throwing, hitting, and light running. I don’t mind kids doing a little baseball work in the off-season, but they should play other sports, too.

Is there a lot of player overlap between the hockey and baseball teams?Right now, I have six who play both. We were 23-4 in hockey and 30-2 in baseball last year, and because of our success, I think those players have confidence in me and I have confidence in them. You have to want to play for your coach and believe in your coach.

“Over the years I’ve developed good relationships with many college coaches because I don’t oversell my athletes. I won’t put a kid in a place where he won’t be able to play. That not only hurts the player, but can also hurt me later on when that coach won’t talk to me again because I sent him a dud.”

Project2 1/28/08 3:39 PM Page 1

THE HOME OF SPORTSTURF MAGIC www.sportsturfmagic.com

Groomer Prices

Start At $2,995

BannermanIsland.indd 1 1/30/09 2:04:52 PM

Circle No. 111

Q A&How else do you get your players to believe in you?I’m honest with them. After I make cuts one week into the season, I sit down with each kid who made the roster and tell them where I think they stand in terms of

coaches to try to sell my kids. I also find out whether the school is a good fit for my player. If my kid is a second baseman, the first question I ask a college coach is, “What’s your second base look like?” If that school already has a freshman

not only hurts the player, but can also hurt me later on when that coach won’t talk to me again because I sent him a dud.

One of the players who moved on to college is your son, Michael. What was it like to coach him?I treated him a little tougher than anyone else. I probably should have moved him up to varsity as a sophomore and I didn’t, in favor of a senior. The senior ended up hitting .178 and my son hit .456 on the j.v. team. Politically, it was a tough call. After that, my son played so well under pres-sure that I could play him without worrying about what other parents would think.

Do you think about coaching at a higher level?I wanted to pursue coaching at the pro-fessional level when I was younger, but my wife wanted to stay in Mamaroneck, so I started coaching in high school, still trying to be the best coach I could be.

I’m very happy being a really good coach here in Mamaroneck. I like seeing our kids grow. When I’m done, I hope to leave the program in really good shape so some-body can just step in and keep it going.

or sophomore in the position, that’s no good, because my kid would be blocked.

I tell players to find six schools they might want to go to, and I work with those six schools to find the best fit. Over the years I’ve developed good relationships with many college coaches because I don’t oversell my athletes. I won’t put a kid in a place where he won’t be able to play. That

“Over the years I’ve developed good relationships with many college coaches because I don’t oversell my athletes. I won’t put a kid in a place where he won’t be able to play. That not only hurts the player, but can also hurt me later on when that coach won’t talk to me again because I sent him a dud.”


playing time. They can always prove me wrong, but I don’t want them to come to me later and say, “Coach, you told me you were going to play me.” I just try to be honest with the kids and tell them where I think they’re going to fit.

How involved are you in the college recruiting process for your players?For most of the kids, I’m pretty involved. I make highlight videos and call the college

Circle No. 112

ike Costanzo was a first-team all-ameriCan at Coastal Carolina University when the Philadelphia Phillies selected him in the second round of the 2005 amateur draft. He was the 2004 and 2005 Big South Conference Player of the Year, hitting 21 and 16 home runs in those seasons, respectively. He’s the kind of player you plug into the three-hole to watch pile up RBIs.

He’s also a lefty pull-hitter and other teams took note. Three times during his All-American season, Costanzo came up to bat with a man on third and less than two outs, and opponents employed an infield shift against him anyway. All three times Costanzo laid down a bunt. Result: three RBIs and three infield hits for one of college baseball’s best power hitters—just another season in the life of a slugger at a program keen on situational hitting.

Kyle Garratt is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: [email protected].

Situational hitting is all about executing the

right hit at the right time. It also takes a lot

of patience to teach its nuances. Here, expert

coaches share their tips and strategies to

coaching this subtle art form.

PERFECT TIMING

M16 CoachingManagementOnline.com

BY KYLE GARRATT

COVER STORY


Long Beach State University All-American Shane Peterson bunts in a game last season. Long Beach State puts a big emphasis on situational hitting, and Peterson was a major contributor in 2008, leading the team with a .510 on-base percentage and driving in 50 RBIs. Photo by Long Beach State Media Relations


COVER STORY

“You can’t win if you can’t situationally hit,” says Gilmore. “Without it, you limit your ability to compete with the teams that can do it. When you play only by the three-run homer, sometimes it’s good to you and sometimes it’s not. But when we peck away at you, getting one run here and there, the energy level in our dugout is amazing compared to the heads in the other dugout that drop every time we push one across.”

Getting SituationalDefining situational hitting is no easy

task. A sacrifice bunt to advance a runner from first to second is an example of situ-ational hitting. So is a line-drive double to right field that scores a runner from second. So is a ground-out to second base that advances a runner to third.

“Every at-bat is situational hitting to some degree,” says Gilmore. “Every time a pitch is thrown, the situation changes and we stress that a lot. Players can’t be mentally locked into batting with nobody on, nobody out, or have just one mindset about how to get on base. We want to be

very knowledgeable and flexible, think-ing ahead of the game.”

Situational hitting is often associated with a game’s defining moments, though they may not seem major at the time. “When two good baseball teams play each other, there are usually three or four plays that either get your team over the hump to a win or cause them to falter, and settle for a loss,” says Craig Coheley, Head Coach at Farmersville (Texas) High School. “By teaching your team how important good defense and situational hitting are, kids understand that they have to concentrate in practice and bear down in those situations.”

Getting your players to recognize key moments and execute within them is the foundation for successful situational hit-ting. “It gives us a game within the game, and teams that master that win cham-pionships,” says Mark Johnson, Head Coach at Sam Houston State University. “At the end of the game, we recognize certain points that turned the corner for us that a casual fan didn’t see.

“Learning to play that game within the

“Here’s a guy who hit 20 home runs a year,” says CCU Head Coach Gary Gilmore. “But he would look to me for the bunt sign when the proper situation presented itself. People criticized me for having him bunt, but the kid wanted to win. Obviously, he would rather be swing-ing away, but he also knew that if they were handing us a run, we’d take it.”

Home runs are glamorous, and also a luxury for many teams because, after all, you can’t teach power. But situational hitting—bunting, hitting ground balls to the right side of the infield, driving balls to the middle-opposite field, lifting a sacrifice fly—are all skills any player is capable of learning. These plays also get the job done at a higher rate than waiting for the big hit.

Through repetition, player buy-in, and knowledge of team personnel, any coach can position their team to get the right hit at the right moment. Teams with good pitching and defense that have the ability to produce runs in any part of their lineup tend to win, not teams with one home run slugger on the roster.

Teaching players the intricacies of situational hitting has changed over time and coaches often find themselves working on skills once assumed to be common knowledge, even at the college level. Club and travel teams, the professional game, and television have all had their hand in re-adjusting the learning curve.

“Kids don’t do a lot of situational hitting with these elite teams, or at showcases and tourna-ments,” says Mark Johnson, Head Coach at Sam Houston State University. “When you play 130 games a year through winter, summer, and spring leagues, the games run together and you lose focus on the little things.

“It used to be common knowledge that sometimes you sacrifice and hit to the opposite field,” Johnson continues. “In professional baseball, there used to be more guys who made a living playing in the middle of the infield and who couldn’t hit much, but they could move runners around the base paths. Now that has to be taught and we do it every day.”

The way young players watch the game—or don’t—could change the way you approach them. “This genera-tion—I call it the microwave generation—wants everything explained to them in 30 seconds,” says Gary Gilmore, Head Coach at Coastal Carolina University. “They watch the highlights, but they won’t watch a whole game. Consequently, they miss some of the finer points that my generation was lucky to see.

“So much of travel baseball is about winning, but it’s not the kind of winning we’re doing in college,” continues Gilmore. “It’s more about showcasing the players than winning. Guys paying $1,500 to play for a travel team don’t want to lay down five sacrifice bunts over the weekend. Those kids come here and have to learn how to play as a unit with a common goal.”

BACK TO BASICS DIAMOND PRO®

Red Infi eld Conditioner

Gray Infi eld Conditioner

Professional Vitrifi ed Infi eld Conditioner

Calcined Clay Drying Agent

Calcined Clay Top Dressing

Calcined Clay Professional

Clay Bricks

Home Plate / Mound Clay

Professional Mound Clay

Athletic Field Marking Dust

Diamond_Pro_Coaching Management 1/2_page.indd 1 8/21/08 2:54:08 PM

game makes it more intriguing for the players,” Johnson continues. “It’s some-thing they weren’t aware of when they first got here, so they relish the execution and joy of it.”

While some coaches define situation-al hitting as what players do in pivotal moments, others define it as treat-ing every at-bat like a crucial one. “Situational hitting is about going to the plate each time with a plan and a purpose,” says Jeff Kane, Head Coach at Westford (Mass.) Academy. “Your player must understand what his team and coach expect out of him in certain spots and how to be pro-ductive in those spots.”

Part of making situational hitting work is creating produc-tive outs. “Sometimes we look at making our best possible out,” says Mike Weathers, Head Coach at Long Beach State University. “That may sound strange, but we talk about making good outs all the time. Baseball is a game of failure, so we stress skills like bunting,

slashing, and hit-and-runs to put pressure on the defense.”

One thing most coaches agree on is that solid situational hitting is essential to beating the best teams and pitch-ers. “When you get to the playoffs and ‘Charlie Ace’ is on the mound, you better

be able to play situational baseball,” says Johnson. “You don’t need a high batting average to win those games provided you can match ‘Charlie Ace’ and play defense. From there, it comes down to your ability to situationally hit.”

Sales TimeCoaches wear many hats. You can be

teachers, counselors, and surrogate par-ents all before noon. Add salesperson to that list. Coaches must sell their philoso-phies and gameplans to their players, and situational hitting is no different.

“We do everything we can to scrap for runs, and that approach has to be very, very clear to our guys,” says Gilmore. “It’s of paramount importance that the head coach and assistants preach that philoso-phy every day.”

COVER STORY

Selling situational hitting to your team isn’t just about emphasizing that it is important, but also why. “If a player is batting 0-for-20, or going against a dominant pitcher, maybe a drag bunt is the best way to get a big inning started,” says Weathers. “Maybe that rattles a pitcher and he can’t recover.”

DIAMOND PRO®

Red Infi eld Conditioner

Gray Infi eld Conditioner

Professional Vitrifi ed Infi eld Conditioner

Calcined Clay Drying Agent

Calcined Clay Top Dressing

Calcined Clay Professional

Clay Bricks

Home Plate / Mound Clay

Professional Mound Clay

Athletic Field Marking Dust

Diamond_Pro_Coaching Management 1/2_page.indd 1 8/21/08 2:54:08 PM

Circle No. 113


Selling situational hitting to your team isn’t just about emphasizing that it is important, but also why. “If a player is batting 0-for-20, or going against a domi-nant pitcher, maybe a drag bunt is the best way to get a big inning started,” says Weathers. “Maybe that rattles a pitcher and he can’t recover. You never know the psyche of the game, and that’s why we have everybody practice bunting. We explain that the practice may be for one bunt a year for some guys, but that bunt could be a game changer.”

Reinforcement from a credible coach can go a long way, but noth-ing sells like results. Players are more likely to practice what you preach if they see it work. Coheley coached his 2006 team at Rogers (Texas) High School to a state title before arriving at Farmersville, and believes that team won at least 10 games that season because of good situational hitting.

“If you score every inning, the per-centages say you’re going to win,” says Coheley. “If you get that message across,

the kids are more likely to go to bat every inning thinking, ‘We need to win this inning. We need to get a run across.’ When they go out there and win a one-run game, it makes it easier for them to

concentrate on the idea of situational hitting in practice because they saw what the end result can be.”

Coheley isn’t the only coach to preach the importance of scoring every inning to keep pressure on opponents. Coastal Carolina Assistant Coach Kevin Schnall

researched CCU’s games over the past decade or so and found the team won roughly 95 percent of its games when it scored seven or more runs. Now stick-ers and posters displaying the number

seven adorn the team’s locker room and clubhouse.

“Every game begins with the push to get to seven,” says Gilmore. “That track record is why our kids are willing to peck at other teams one run at a time. We’re hoping we get seven opportunities and

COVER STORY

The greatest benefit of building your team around situational hitting may be that it breeds accountability and motivation. “Our core players have seen the value of it,” says Johnson. “They’re so motivated to be the guy who everybody can trust. That’s when you have a winning team.”

Batting CagesProtective Screens

Backstops & Barrier NetsField Maintenance Supplies

Pitching Machines & AccessoriesCustom Size Netting Available

Or Shop Online at

Call Toll Free:( 8 6 6 ) 2 4 3 - 6 3 8 7

for a Free Catalog

Untitled-11 1 8/20/08 12:46:59 PMTeamPacks_CM1513.indd 1 10/22/07 4:54:20 PM


COVER STORY

we will do whatever we have to so we don’t leave runners on base.”

Once a few of your players are sold on situational hitting and are contributing at the right times, it can become highly contagious. “Our number one goal is get-ting the runner in scoring position across the plate,” says Johnson. “I give my batter a sign with a man on second and no outs and they have to physically return the sign to me. That tells his teammates, ‘I’m giving my at-bat for the team even if it’s just to move a runner over.’”

Many coaches find that strong situ-ational hitting makes an impact in more places than just the scoreboard. Stringing hits and runs together, and making sac-rifices helps build team unity in a way that waiting for the star hitter to come through can’t. “When a guy battles and scratches his way to a ground ball to the right side with a runner on second, and then 15 guys bounce off the bench to pick him up, that certainly shows team chemistry and camaraderie,” says Kane.

Building a team of situational hitters demands that every player be capable

of executing. When every player knows they could be called on to sacrifice, it reinforces the team concept. “We always talk about the idea that we’re all in this together,” says Gilmore. “I expect my players to look at me and see that I work as hard on the field as the assistants and vice versa. Our freshmen do every bit as much work as the seniors and no one is above doing their job.”

The greatest benefit of building your team around situational hitting may be that it breeds accountability and moti-vation. “Our core players have seen the value of it,” says Johnson. “The demand from within becomes the most important motivation because our play-ers know they are accountable for each other. They’re so motivated to be the guy who everybody can trust. That’s when you have a winning team.”

Another selling point for coaches comes when star players take one for the team. Weathers has coached elite players who have gone on to successful professional careers like Troy Tulowitzki, shortstop for the Colorado Rockies, and

Evan Longoria, third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays and 2008 American League Rookie of the Year. He put them through the same daily drills as the rest of the team and uses them as examples that every player is equal.

“Tulowitzki became our best drag bunter, not because he drag bunted much, but just because he’s so com-petitive,” says Weathers. “Every day in practice he wanted to be the best guy in the bunting station. All of our better players have been our better bunters and it’s because they want to be the best. As a coach you couldn’t ask for more than your best players to be your most com-petitive guys.”

Gilmore also uses Costanzo as an example. “I reference Mike all the time,” he says. “He was pretty much the lone power hitter on our team, but he was also the guy everyone wanted on their team for bunting competitions. The fact that he bought into small ball and situational hitting really sold it.”

The team that executes in tough situa-tions reacts without thinking and sees the

CoachingManagementOnline.com 21Untitled-1 1 12/28/06 5:22:48 PM

Circle No. 116


COVER STORY

value in repetitious situational practice. Coaches on the same page as their play-ers will have an easier sell.

“A player’s willingness to hit situation-ally comes down to your relationship with him,” says Kane. “If your kids trust that you have confidence in them, they will do what you ask. I put a lot of emphasis on making sure my players know that we are helping them achieve their personal goals while still trying to do what we need to as a team.”

Practice What You PreachWhen it gets to the late innings

against the best pitcher in your con-ference, the difference between a win and a loss could be determined by which side of the infield your number eight hitter grounds out to. An out to the second baseman might advance a runner to third who scores on a wild pitch, while an out to the third baseman leaves the runner at second and his teammates wondering what could have been.

“We practice for our moment,” says Johnson. “The ball will eventually find us defensively or offensively, and put us in a spot with the game on the line. We practice those key moments so we’re

ready for them, and so we can visualize ourselves executing.”

Recreating that moment and that pressure in practice is impossible, but preparing your players to get the right hit in game-changing moments comes down

to simulating game scenarios—a lot of game scenarios.

“The key is to be mentally ready for every situation that arises,” says Coheley. “By practicing these situations over and

over, the wheels are already turning in the players’ heads before the play starts. It’s like putting little file folders in their head so when they get ready for action, they open the folders up and know exact-ly what to do.”

Most coaches agree that practice is less about fine-tuning mechanics and more about exposing players to a wide variety of game-type situations ... Repetitive practice, player buy-in, defined roles, and psychology are all a means to the end of having players who are mentally and physically capable of getting the hit that sucks the life out of the other team.

INCREASE YOUR BAT SPEEDAND MEASURE IT OUT FRONT,IN THE HITTING ZONE, WITH ACCURATE DOPPLER RADAR.It’s not how hard you swing,but how well you swing!

Works great for golf, too!

IT’S A DOPPLERRADAR DOUBLE PLAY!

SPORTS SENSORS, INC., 11351 EMBASSY DRIVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45240

For more information, call toll-free: 1-888-542-9246. Or, visit our website at: www.sportssensors.com

“IMPROVE YOUR THROWINGSKILLS WITH ACCURATEDOPPLER RADAR SPEED MEASUREMENTS!”– Ken Griffey, Jr., All-Century Centerfielder

Over 27,000 Glove Radars Are In Use!

Circle No. 117Circle No. 118

cover story

CoachingManagementonline.com 23

Coheley runs a controlled inter-squad situational hitting drill for most of his Wednesday practices. Players are put through a multitude of game situations, which he dictates from the mound. He has them execute hit-and-runs, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies, and plenty of other specific situations. He frequently uses his j.v. team as the opponent in this drill—a move that yielded an unexpected benefit last year.

“In 2007, we went 36-2 and then lost eight senior starters,” says Coheley. “In 2008, we had eight new starters who all came from the j.v. We turned around and went 28-10. A big reason was that those kids got experience with the varsity every day, and it got them ready to take over.”

Gilmore emphasizes how quickly the game changes from pitch to pitch by running a rapid fire inter-squad game. He gives the two teams an inning, pitch count, runners, and number of outs, and has them execute a play in 90 seconds before clearing the bases and announcing a new scenario.

“Until they get in a situation and have a little success, the game is going to be rac-ing like a rat in their head,” says Gilmore. “There’s no easy way to slow the game down to a snail’s pace. They have to expe-rience some things and fail, and my job is to do as much of that in practice as I can. That way, even if we physically fail to execute a play in a game, we’re mentally trying to do the right thing.”

Gilmore also makes sure his batting practice is about more than just hitting for the sake of hitting. He gives each player 30 swings and six or seven different game scenarios to execute with those swings. He awards points for each successful hit, and a certain number of points keeps the play-ers from running or doing sit-ups at the end of practice.

Johnson also uses a modified scor-ing system for his inter-squad games. If a player fails to advance a runner from second with no outs, his team loses a run. Players are also assessed a negative run by popping up or striking out with a runner on third and less than two outs, or failing to reach first base in five seconds after put-ting the ball in play.

Striking out looking with a runner on third and less than two outs will cost a team two runs. Each seven- or nine-inning game is broken into three smaller games of two or three innings with a winner of each. This magnifies each at-bat and inning. The shortened games become a

best two-of-three series, and the winning team gets to watch the other team run.

Most coaches agree that practice is less about fine-tuning mechanics and more about exposing players to a wide variety of game-type situations, with as much pressure as possible. “In terms of mechanics and attacking the baseball, nobody is reinventing the wheel,” says Kane. “We emphasize the same sort of mechanics all coaches do, just with an added emphasis on hitting with a plan.”

Repetitive practice, player buy-in, defined roles, and psychology are all a means to the end of having players who are mentally and physically capable of get-ting the hit that sucks the life out of the other team. “Each team and each pitcher is different, and that’s the beauty of this game,” says Coheley. “My players under-stand how to react to every situation and win games together. Get your head right, get your job done, and understand what you need to do to win.” n

YOUR COMPLETE BASEBALL SUPPLY HEADQUARTERS

We specialize in secure online sales of sporting goods and sports equipment for individuals, teams, and schools.

Netting Baseballs Bags Bats

Gloves Field Equipment Mounds Softballs

Bases & Plates Batting Cages Pitching Machines Training Aids / Books / Videos

Quick service and quality products are our trademark. In business since 1993, we have 10,000 customers and would be honored to add Y-O-U. Most orders shipped within 24 hours by UPS. Come join our team and play BetterBaseball!

Visit our online auction at: www.BetterBaseball.com

800-997-4233

BetterBaseball_CM1509.indd 1 9/19/07 2:55:19 PM

Circle No. 119

ne of the most challenging aspects of being a coach today is that you have to be good at so many different things. You need to be up-to-date on the latest training techniques, able to commu-nicate well, organized, in tune with kids, and full of

new ideas. If you’re a college coach, you also need to be a first-rate salesperson.

Dan Tudor is the founder of Selling for Coaches, a program designed to help coaches improve their recruiting, marketing, and communication skills. He conducts personalized on-campus workshops for colleges across the country and can be reached at: www.SellingForCoaches.com.

IN THEIR DREAMS

RECRUITING

CH

RIS

GA

SH

A salesperson? Yes. To effectively recruit the student-athletes you want in your program, you must learn the art of selling.

Your first thought is probably, “No way! Sales is the last profession I’d enter.” But I’m not talking about becoming the pushy car salesman who sold you your Ford Focus. I’m talking about under-standing how to sell a Cadillac to even a reluctant buyer.

You may not like to think of recruit-ing as selling, but it is. You are trying to convince a young person to choose your school over others. You are promoting yourself as a great coach and parent fig-ure. If you don’t use effective sales tech-niques, you are entering the recruiting game without a gameplan.

Buyer’s MarketBusiness author and sales guru Jeffrey

BY Dan TuDor


new ideas. If you’re a college coach, you O

How do you make high school prospects picture you in their future plans? By being a great salesman.

PAgE ToP HEAd

Gitomer has a saying: “People hate to be sold, but they love to buy.” That’s a great thing to remember when you’re recruiting student-athletes. Ask yourself this question: What is it you’re selling, and is that what they really want to “buy” from you?

A common answer to the first ques-tion is “a scholarship” or “my college” or “our program’s successful history.” While those are all adequate answers (and answers most of your competition would give), they aren’t the best answers.

It’s a little like asking a car salesper-son what they’re selling. If I heard them answer, “I’m selling a car” or “I sell Fords” I would guess that they’re a mediocre salesperson. On the other hand, profes-sional, successful salespeople will answer the same question by saying, “I’m sell-ing the dream of owning a new Ford Mustang convertible” or “With gas prices going through the roof, I’m selling my customers on great-looking cars that get fantastic gas mileage, which saves them lots of money.”

As a college coach, you’re selling a

lot more than a scholarship or a college. You’re selling the dream of competing at the college level. Or the dream of having college paid for and getting a great start to a successful life. Or the dream of being wanted and appreciated for all of their hard work and sacrifices.

A key to signing recruits is finding out what your prospect’s dream is. If you can discover what they want to buy, you can offer it for sale.

When it comes to approaching indi-vidual prospects, I find that today’s col-lege coaches tend to have one standard approach, which doesn’t vary much from athlete to athlete. But every recruit—just like every customer in the business

world—is different. They have different needs and motivations. In sales, these are called “hot buttons”—the things that get a customer’s attention and cause them to buy. Coaches who don’t take personalized approaches with athletes, and don’t take the time to understand why an athlete

would choose their school, are probably going to be unsuccessful when it comes to consistent recruiting success.

Don’t get me wrong—you’ll still sign recruits. Probably even enough to fill your roster and be competitive year in and year out. However, you will never really understand why one athlete responds to your message and another doesn’t. And odds are, the one who doesn’t respond

RECRUITINg


MONDAYRain

TUESDAYRain

WEDNESDAYRain

THURSDAYRain

FRIDAYRain

SATURDAYSunny

Don’t let a rain soaked field prevent you from playing. Pro’s Choice® soil conditioners eliminate rain outs, saving you time, money, and cancellation headaches. Make winning simple – let Pro’s Choice sports field products be a part of your regular field maintenance program. Never again be at the mercy of Mother Nature.

Call Pro’s Choice today to learn how we can help your field stand up to pounding rain – 800.648.1166

S P O R T S F I E L D P R O D U C T S

choice®

Pro’s Choice Sports Field Products • 410 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 400, Chicago IL 60611 • www.proschoice1.com • [email protected]

You can’t win the game, if you can’t play the game.

GAME DAY

GAME CANCELED

DUE TO RAIN

Untitled-2 1 1/30/07 5:54:46 PM

Circle No. 120

Connecting with a prospect may be as simple as taking note of the trophy in the living room. But don’t just say, “Beautiful trophy.” Ask them about the tournament where they won it.

PAgE ToP HEAd

or during a visit. (See “Best Questions” below for examples of how to get pros-pects talking.)

Of course, the questions shouldn’t only be for the prospect. Coaches actually need to make multiple sales pitches when recruiting a player. Not only do you have to connect with the athlete, you have to connect with the athlete’s parents. Furthermore, you’re probably going to need to sell to the athlete’s high school coach, too.

Along with asking questions, you can get to know your prospect by looking for clues around them. The first thing good salespeople do when they walk into a new client’s office is take a mental inventory of the surroundings. They notice any pictures

wished the guy would stop talking long enough for you to look at the car.

Compare that to professional, success-ful car salespeople. They ask questions right off the bat. They spend time getting to know their customers—their needs, wants, and how the car is going to be used day to day. They then mold their sales approach to the customer.

Coaches who struggle at recruiting are often too busy rattling off facts and figures. Instead, they should be doing more listening than talking. When I work one-on-one with coaches to help them develop winning recruiting strate-gies, I recommend they try to talk only 20 percent of the time when they are engaging a prospect over the phone

will be the one you really, really want.

Getting To Know ThemFor coaches to make the most of their

time with a prospect (whether it’s an hour with an entire family or 10 minutes over the phone), they usually talk. A lot. They talk about their college. Their team. Themselves. They spew facts, figures, sta-tistics, winning percentages, and more.

Going back to the car example, an average car salesperson would make the most of their time by quoting engine size, horsepower, stereo features, and on and on and on. If I’ve jogged a memory or two of a past agonizing car buying experience, good. Remember how you felt? If you’re like me, you probably just

RECRUITINg

26 CoachingManagementonline.com

BEST QUESTIONS

What prompted you to consider our program?How they answer allows you to find out what they’re thinking and why they’re thinking it. You can then use that information to further the recruiting process. It’s a great question to begin to understand their dreams, and can easily lead to lots of good follow-up questions. Listen to their answers carefully, and find ways to point out why their interest is justified.

What are your expectations of our program?You’re looking for a “to-do” list here. From this ques-tion, prospects may tell you exactly how to recruit them, and exactly what would cause them to choose you as their college coach.

What thought process Will you go through to determine hoW you’re going to choose a college?You may have to press your prospect on this one, since they probably haven’t verbalized it to anyone before. You’re trying to see who else is involved in the decision, how serious they are about assessing different options, and specific things they will be looking for in a program.

What are your thoughts right noW in terms of Where you Want to continue your athletic career? Okay, this one takes a little guts, but can yield a gold mine of information. It’s important to note that you aren’t asking them for a commitment. You’re just asking for their “thoughts” at that moment. That’s a big dif-

ference, and should give your prospect enough wiggle room to feel comfortable answering honestly.

What challenges does the recruiting process create for you and your family?This is what I call a wildcard question. It might yield very little information, or you might get a wealth of insight into the family dynamics associated with the stressful recruiting process. It’s also a question that will frame you, the questioner, as someone who is concerned about the entire family.

What are the best parts of the recruiting process? Their answer to this might be an important key in uncov-ering your prospect’s “hot buttons.” Once they tell you the best things about the process, make sure your recruiting efforts touch on those positive aspects.

What other items should We discuss?Let your prospects bring up anything that is on their mind. This is a great question to prompt them to talk about any concerns so that you can address them as soon as possible.

hoW Will you make your final decision?Make sure they give you specifics. Ask follow-up ques-tions to their first answer. You can simply say, “And then what?” over and over again until you get to the real source of their decision—a school’s major, the coach, their parents’ input, their coach’s input, or even what kind of uniforms you have. The bottom line is that you’ll know what their decision rests on.

When trying to connect with a prospect, the more they tell you about themselves, the closer you get to really knowing how to recruit them. How do you get them talking? The key is asking open-ended questions that will provide more than a yes or no response. Here are some suggestions:

PAgE ToP HEAd


a personal sales approach, it tells the prospect you care about them. And the two need to constantly be intertwined.

In Your CourtEven though you want to tailor your

approach to each individual prospect and let them do most of the talking, that doesn’t mean you give up control of the

recruiting/selling process. In fact, the opposite is true.

It’s important that as the coach, you guide the prospect through an orderly, planned, systematic process. That begins with getting to know each other, then talking about why your program is best suited to their needs and goals.

You can also use what are called “trial

RECRUITINg

on the wall, whether the desk is messy or organized, and if a hobby is evident.

Connecting with a prospect may be as simple as noticing a picture and ask-ing them about it. Or taking note of the trophy that sits prominently in the living room. But don’t just say, “Beautiful tro-phy.” Ask them about the tournament where they won it. What was the ballpark like and how did their team perform?

Observing how the student-athlete interacts with his family can also provide clues to help you tailor your approach, as can their economic situation. For exam-ple, a prospect with a single mom living in a two-room apartment will probably have a different motivation for deciding which school to attend—and why—than a pros-pect living in a six-bedroom house.

Along with asking questions and noticing clues, you have to find out what the prospect’s hesitations might be. Every athlete has some objection to what you’re offering, from “I don’t think you focus enough on my event,” to “Your school is too far away.”

If you don’t ask recruits what their res-

ervations are, you’ll be clueless about why they don’t sign with you. If you do ask, you can address their concerns. Even if you can’t change the fact that your school is far away from their hometown, you can talk about how your team is a family itself and how your current athletes stay in touch with their families.

Think back to a prospect you lost to

a competitor last year. Do you know why they didn’t sign with you? I do. You left an objection unanswered. Addressing nine out of 10 concerns isn’t good enough. Every objection has to be answered, and you need your prospect’s assurance that it has been answered well.

Asking questions and noticing their surroundings not only helps you build

Once you find an athlete who you know you want for your team, it’s never too early to ask if they are ready to commit to your program ... You’ll be surprised how often you get a positive response.

®

* For free shipping on orders placed online use code: coach2009 *

Circle No. 121

PAgE ToP HEAd

close” techniques throughout the sales process. That means asking questions like, “When you sign with us, do you have any requests for a specific dorm or roommate?” Controlling the process means gently directing the conversation toward the outcome you desire.

A key to the whole formula, of course, is then “asking for the sale.” However, many coaches neglect to do this very simple thing. In my opinion, once you find an athlete who you know you want for your team, it’s never too early to ask if they are ready to commit to your program. If you’ve built trust, gained an understanding of the athlete’s needs, and successfully addressed any objections, the next logical step is to ask for the sale. You’ll be surprised how often and how early you get a positive response from your recruits.

One tactic that usually backfires, how-ever, is using threats to get their commit-ment. When you say, “We’ll need you to give us a yes or no by Wednesday or the scholarship is off the table,” you’ve come on too strong for today’s athlete.

It’s also poor form to use further threats—or any sort of negative response—if the prospect’s answer to your offer is, “No thanks.” I recently read an article that detailed the story of a very well-known sports program that black-balled a local high school coach when a prized recruit chose an out-of-state school instead of the local university. All this did was build a bad name with people the college coach should be counting on for “sales leads.”

Instead, what if the coach sent a letter of congratulations to that athlete and their family (and high school coach), wishing them best of luck in the future and thanking them for the chance to speak with them? That leaves the kind of impression that will help a coach have future sales success. Plus, if the athlete ever thinks of transferring to a different school down the road, the coach who congratulated them will be the one they remember.

Act like the professional you are, and lose with grace. Good salespeople do it all the time. It will pay off for you

later, and more than that, it’s the right thing to do.

Be NaturalBy now, I hope I’ve convinced you to

embrace the strategies of the best sales-people in your recruiting gameplan. But you may wonder: Can these ideas mesh with who I am? Definitely.

Coaches need a firm understand-ing of their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to recruiting, and must approach their prospects in a manner that seems genuine. Being “real” with a prospect is the key to connecting, and the best way to do that is to be aware of your own unique sales personality and how it is viewed by prospects.

This approach is not about changing your style or your personality. It’s about recruiting that leads to the best results. It’s about finding your own natural sales approach and letting it flourish. n

A version of this article is appearing in other sport-specific editions of Coaching Management.

RECRUITINg

28 CoachingManagementonline.com

Keep your field in top notch shapewith 4 great products

Game-On

Game-On Red

Game-Dry

Game-OnSports Field Conditioners

Game-OnSports Field Conditioners1-888-593-0395

Game-On

Game-On Red

Game-Dry

And Warning Track blendAnd Warning Track blend

Distributorships AvailableDistributorships Available

digagg.com

Untitled-4 1 1/11/08 6:54:00 PM

Circle No. 122

here was a time when strength and conditioning for the University of North Carolina team could be described as somewhere between haphazard and non-existent. Players weren’t required to strength train or com-plete conditioning workouts under any organized program, so most trained on their own with little

guidance. the few team conditioning sessions that were held consisted of long-distance running that disregarded

the specific needs of baseball. and most years, the team’s on-field performance was good but not great.

ten years ago, however, that all changed. New head Coach mike Fox brought with him a serious emphasis on strength and conditioning, and my staff and i designed a sport-specific program that would address all the key areas of development for optimum baseball per-formance.

today, our team trains with a purpose throughout the entire academic year.

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING


T By GREG GATZ

AP

PH

OTO

/TE

D K

IRK

swinging for the fences

The University of North Carolina’s recent resurgence is fueled by a progressive multi-phase

conditioning plan that develops the specific speed, power, and agility needs

of its players.

Greg Gatz is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports at the University of North Carolina. He can be reached at: [email protected].

Coach Fox is adamant about players completing workouts and making con-sistent progress in their conditioning, and the players accept that being in great shape is part of being a tar heel. and it’s no coincidence that we have ended two of the last three seasons playing in the NCaa Division i College

World Series championship games.I believe in breaking down the train-

ing calendar into several distinct phases. We begin with general conditioning and strength building, and as we get closer to opening day, our focus shifts to the specific skills and types of power needed to excel on the diamond.

Philosophy & BasicsOur training philosophy isn’t com-

plicated: We want to develop all the athletic qualities important to baseball success, and create players who are fully prepared for every situation that might occur in a game. That simple approach guides every decision we make in our strength and conditioning program.

Baseball is primarily a power sport. Each pitch is an exercise in accelera-tion and strength. Each swing of the bat

attempts to generate force to put the ball in play, and most swings attempt to generate maximum force. The infield and outfield players anticipate and react explosively in order to field hits, make throws, and prevent runners from advanc-ing. Everything involves short bursts of intense effort, as the ball is almost never in play for more than a few seconds at one time.

Taking these specific needs into account, our program focuses on improv-ing strength and power, speed and agil-ity, and flexibility. While doing so, we need to beware of overtraining, since the NCAA Division I baseball season typi-cally exceeds 60 games, and most play-

ers follow that up with summer league play for another two months. Although the game has a slow pace with frequent “down time,” this grueling competition schedule takes its toll on players both physically and mentally. For that reason, we always strive for maximum efficiency in our workouts.

Most players enter our program with some general knowledge of foundation-al exercises—they might have played high school baseball for a coach who prioritized conditioning, or played a sec-ond sport that required strength train-ing. But we leave nothing to chance and always assume we’re working with a blank slate when we welcome a player to our program. Every responsible coach knows that improper technique in the weightroom is an easy way for an athlete to end up injured, so we begin each

year with an emphasis on evaluation and teaching good form.

When we perform ini-tial evaluations, we look for any movement flaws or functional weaknesses, then work with athletes individually to correct them before increasing resistance or load. For example, the majority of our incoming players suf-fer from tight hamstrings and overdeveloped ante-rior muscles of the upper body (chest, anterior shoulders, and biceps). We test for this by having them perform an over-head squat using a wooden stick. As the athlete moves

through a full range of motion, we can observe movement flaws in all major joints, and this helps us pinpoint specific areas to address through individualized training protocols.

Early FallOur program follows the basic prin-

ciples of overload, progression, and specificity. We rely heavily on multi-joint, multi-directional, and ground-based exercises along with core training, because we know these activities transfer to the field and help us accomplish sev-eral training goals at once.

The structure of the college baseball calendar makes steady improvement a

challenge, so we have to plan our sched-ule very deliberately. In the fall we have 12 weeks, but must work around the fall baseball practice season (five to six weeks), fall break, and Thanksgiving break. To promote reliable progress despite these interruptions, we break our fall training into specific cycles, each with its own primary goal.

The first three weeks consist of gener-al physical preparation. Whether they’re freshmen who took the summer off from baseball, or returning players who spent June and July in a summer league, we assume that most players arrive for the fall semester needing to make a gradual transition back to serious conditioning.

Each workout at this time of year begins with a dynamic warmup that includes some form of flexibility work, such as hurdle walks using adjustable hurdles. This allows players to perform step-over and step-under maneuvers at different heights, putting the legs and hips through a full range of motion. We also use medicine balls for rotations, swings, chops, and throwing movements to develop flexibility from top to bottom. We like medicine ball work because it develops the linkage between the upper body, core, and lower body. Coordinated strength in these areas is essential for many baseball-specific movements that we’ll be developing later on.

Workouts during this phase combine basic movement patterns to challenge total-body parameters. For instance, we might combine a light-weight squat with a lunge and a squat jump—typically in two to three sets of 10 to 12 repetitions each. Combinations like these increase the body’s overall conditioning level, which will help the athletes perform more intense work later on. Rest inter-vals are kept short to further enhance the conditioning benefit, and weight loads remain fairly light (50 to 70 per-cent of one rep max).

In addition, at this time we begin to introduce acceleration training and starting mechanics, since short bursts of speed are important to successful field-ing and base running. We emphasize maintaining proper body position to apply force to the ground quickly and explosively, using hill running, ramps, stair climbing, 50-yard sprints, and shuttle sprints. We pay little attention to prolonged top-speed running, since baseball players don’t run long distances



Each workout at this time of year begins with a dynamic warmup that includes some form of flexibility work, such as hurdle walks using adjust-able hurdles. This allows players to perform step-over and step-under maneuvers at different heights, putting the legs and hips through a full range of motion.


for a single stretch. Our typical distance for intervals does not exceed 60 yards.

Late FallOnce fall practice begins, we reduce

training volume to accommodate daily practices and scrimmages, and our focus shifts from general conditioning to devel-oping strength and power. For instance, to build leg strength that translates into swinging power, running acceleration, and throwing force, we use squatting, stepping, and lunging exercises. We also use jumping as a training mechanism for functional leg development, performing exercises such as single-leg and double-leg jumps and hops with various bound-ing challenges to mimic the demands of explosive starting speed.

For the upper body, we take a some-what unique approach—each pressing movement is matched with two pulling movements. As mentioned earlier, many baseball players tend to be front-side dom-inant, because most of their upper-body strength training experience has involved pressing movements, such as push-ups

and bench presses. The underdeveloped posterior musculature, particularly in the back and shoulders (posterior deltoids and rhomboids), results in increased inju-ry risk because the accelerating muscles of the front side produce throwing forces that are difficult for the back-side muscles to absorb during arm deceleration.

We correct this imbalance with exer-cises for the posterior musculature using dumbbells, barbells, and medicine balls, augmenting them with pulling move-ments using cables and stretch bands. We want all of our players—pitchers and fielders alike—to exhibit a proper throw-ing motion with support from primary muscle groups and stabilizers, all the way from acceleration to follow-through.

The core muscles are also a focus during this strengthening phase. We use a combination of crunches, rotations, and twists with exercise bands, cables, and medicine balls to create overload. A typical core workout segment might include standing rotations, multiple sets of hanging knee raises, and medicine ball pull-over sit-ups.

As fall practice winds down, we take the last three weeks of the semester—roughly between Thanksgiving break and winter break—to optimize “specialized” strength, or the types of power most important for baseball. At this time, the main goal for the lower body is to gener-ate speed strength with the hips and legs in a way that will transfer to game-like movements.

Acceleration training continues dur-ing this phase, with a focus on base stealing starts, infield/outfield runs that mimic field play, and high-speed curve running around the bases. Running a curve at full speed places different stress-es on the hamstrings and foot muscles than straight-ahead running, so we want players to train for speed under sport-spe-cific conditions. One of our favorite drills involves repetitive sets of rounding one, two, or three bases at sprinting speed to develop muscle memory and maximum efficiency.

For the upper body, we build spe-cialized strength using dumbbells. Dumbbell exercises allow for greater


HomePlateBY SPORTS TUTOR

TM

• THROW A DIFFERENT PITCHEVERY 7 SECONDS!

• Fastball, Curves and Slidersup to 90 MPH

• Chose from 80-ball auto-feedor hand-feed models

The PROGRAMMABLEPitching Machine

1-800-448-8867 FREE brochureSports Tutor, 3300 Winona Ave., Burbank, CA 91504

From $5,295

TRIPLEPLAYBY SPORTS TUTOR

• Hitter sees ball from handfeed to pitch

• Fastballs, Curves & Slidersup to 90 MPH

NEW!

$2,895

SPORTSTUTOR

The Sports Machine Company

The only thing closer to a live pitcherThe only thing closer to a live pitcher.. .. . is a live pitcher.. is a live pitcher.

NEW!

SOFTBALL

TOO!

SOFTBALL

TOO! Pushbutton Simplicity!

www.sportsmachines.com

Untitled-16 1 11/20/08 1:13:22 PM

Circle No. 123

USE LESS... PLAY MORE

because field practice is now the top priority. Each workout contains some form of conditioning, acceleration, or agility movements. After warmup, a typical workout involves 10- to 15-yard starting drills and fast-footwork drills, followed by strength and power exer-cises. We finish up with shuttle sprints, hill or stadium stair intervals, or three-minute runs.

The strength and power work dur-ing these sessions focuses on explosive movements like dumbbell hang cleans into split jerks, which use the hips and legs in a combined effort. We also use dumbbell squats combined with jumps (squat jump, tuck jump, ice skater, or split jump), along with resisted multi-directional lunges and step-ups using dumbbells or weighted vests.

The players also continue to per-form upper-body exercises that sup-port anterior and posterior shoulder stability, mainly using dumbbells, exer-cise bands, and cables. Pressing, pull-ing, reaching, and rotating movements keep the upper body and core muscles



freedom of movement, rather than locking athletes into a single plane of motion. This in turn forces the hands, wrists, and forearms to stabilize the weight while also developing grip strength, something all baseball players love to work on.

We combine the specialized strength work during this phase with more speed and agility training, consisting of hill sprints, starting drills, footwork drills, and reactive agility drills, along with interval training and shuttle runs. These exercises challenge the athletic qualities needed for key baseball-spe-cific movements.

Over winter break, we put the onus on our players to continue training on their own. I prescribe workouts for each player as an extension of the specialized strength phase, focusing on any areas where they need improvement. We also ask all our players to condition them-selves through interval sprints, shuttle runs, and hill running, using whatever facilities are available to them during the time off.

Spring & The SeasonIn mid-January, when our athletes

return to campus for the spring semes-ter, we immediately transition into a preseason phase aimed at building game readiness. This lasts until the season begins in February.

Preseason is an ideal time to perform baseball-specific drills that don’t heav-ily tax the body, so we implement things like coach- or partner-assisted reactive drills using tennis balls to develop hand-eye coordination in a fast-paced environ-ment. Our movement drills at this time of year deal largely with lateral and angular movements, so players can fine-tune the agility patterns developed in the fall and prepare to implement them in game situations. Agility sessions consist of drills incorporating agility ladders and mini-hurdles, rope jumping, and footwork drills on a mat. These are short in dura-tion, with an emphasis on quality and intensity.

During preseason, we continue to strength train three times a week, but the sessions are reduced to 45 minutes

Untitled-11 1 1/22/08 10:56:06 AM



conditioned for the rapid movements required on the diamond.

Once the season begins, we shift into maintenance mode, typically using just two short training sessions per week. Workout planning at this time is largely dictated by our game schedule and travel.

During a stretch of home games, Monday is our heavier training day. This session has a strength theme, and typically includes a squat movement (DB squat, leg press, or weighted vest squat) combined with a lunge series in three directions (front, side, and rotational), pressing and pulling exercises, and two to three core exercises. The second session, usually held on Thursday, is more explosive in nature with a power theme, using speed ladder drills, total-body power throws, plyomet-rics, and core training.

If we are traveling for a weekend series, we’ll still do our typical Monday workout, but the second session will be combined with a team practice—we’ll usually conduct it on the field immedi-ately beforehand. At these sessions, the players perform power exercises and

core work with weighted vests, bands, and medicine balls.

Year-Round PrioritiesEven with specialized phases of the

year, there are certain areas in which we’re trying to improve all year long. Total-body fitness is the best example—even though baseball players rarely run long distances, we know that a condi-tioned athlete has a better chance of avoiding overuse injuries caused by a breakdown in mechanics due to muscle fatigue. General fitness work also trains our players to be mentally ready, dis-ciplined, and tough enough to push through any difficult situation.

A full conditioning workout for our team, which we’ll implement through-out the year as needed, typically consists of sprint intervals from 20 to 60 yards, 100- and 300-yard shuttles, and three-minute intervals that alternate 30 sec-onds of running at 80 percent of max effort with 30 seconds of jogging at 50 percent effort.

We use a modified version of this

conditioning workout to test the players in the fall when they arrive on campus, and again at the start of the spring semester to see how hard they worked during winter break. It’s our way of validating each athlete’s commitment to fitness, and showing that we expect them to take that commitment seriously all year long.

At North Carolina, our baseball team has recently ascended to a level of con-sistent performance that’s allowing us to build a tradition of success. Our players realize that maintaining this level takes dedication and lots of hard work. Putting the necessary effort into training for strength, skill, and fitness prepares our team to perform at its best, and hopefully, with a little luck, to realize our dream of winning an NCAA championship. n

A version of this article was previously pub-lished in Training & Conditioning, a sis-ter publication to Coaching Management. More articles from T&C can be found at: www.Training-Conditioning.com.


USE LESS... PLAY MORE

Circle No. 126

34 CoachingManagementOnline.com CoachingManagementOnline.com 35

DiGeronimo Aggregates, LLC888-593-0395www.hayditegame-on.com

Game On Soil ConditionerBlend Game On into your infield soil for increased drainage and reduced compaction.

Game On RedTopdress your infield at 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch for a consistent playing surface and a deep red color.

Game DryApply Game Dry to puddles for quick absorp-tion, and blend it into your infield after it dries.

Game On Warning TrackInstall this mix at your preferred depth for a professional-looking warning track.

Customer PortfolioOhio Dominican UniversityUpper Arlington High School, OHOsceola Softball Complex, FLChicago Sports Fields, ILAshland University

Circle No. 500

EP Minerals, LLC800-366-7607www.epminerals.com

PlayBall! Infield ConditionerPlayBall! is made from 100-percent calcined diatomaceous earth for maximum durability.

Its low density, large pore space, and 10-percent-by-volume application rate allow you to effectively condition more field for less money. PlayBall! is highly absorbent, taking in up to

130 percent of its weight in water. Use it in your infield mix to permanently reduce com-paction, increase drainage, and create a more playable surface, or use it as a topdressing to control puddles and eliminate rainouts.

AXIS Premium Soil AmendmentsUse AXIS in your turf root zones to increase porosity, air and water holding capacity, and available plant water for a healthier and more resilient turf grass system. Its unique shape and large pore size allow irrigation savings of up to 30 percent.

Customer PortfolioHillsboro Stadium Athletic Complex, ORIndianapolis Colts Practice FieldIrvine High School, CA3 Creek Ranch Golf Club, WYWalt Disney Concert Hall, CA

Circle No. 501


Pro’s Choice800-648-1166www.proschoice1.com

Pro’s Choice RedThis infield conditioner is designed to meet the challenges of wet, dry, or compacted infields. It manages the moisture on your field, keeping the field in top playing condition.Pro’s Choice SelectThis premium infield conditioner has a unique particle size blend that gives you the look of a professional ballpark, making it the perfect infield topdressing.Pro MoundThis packing clay delivers all-star perfor-

mance on the mound and in the batter’s box by bonding to form a

solid sub-surface that players can really dig into. It holds up season after season. Rapid DryThis drying agent quickly wicks away excess water from your playing field and helps improve soil consistency. Just pour it on any wet spots and get back in the game, fast.Pro’s Choice Pro RedThis infield topdressing is specially formu-lated and boasts Pro’s Choice’s deepest red color to give your fields the long-lasting color you want and the conditioning you need.Customer Portfolio

St. Louis Cardinals New York YankeesFlorida Marlins Colorado Rockies

Profile Products, LLC800-207-6457www.turface.com

Turface Quick Dry By eliminating puddles and standing water,

Turface Quick Dry rids infields of muddy, slip-pery conditions—just apply it and rake it into the ground for long-lasting performance.

Turface ProLeague RedThe first and only patented red clay condition-er, Pro League Red combines rich color with proven infield conditioning benefits to create an excellent sliding and fielding surface.

Turface MVPTurface MVP absorbs more water per pound than its competitors, improving drainage, reducing bad ball hops, and helping keep athletes safe.

Turface ProLeagueUsed as a topdressing, ProLeague saves games and turf by preventing the slick and muddy conditions that destroy turf and make fields unsafe and unplayable.

Customer PortfolioSeattle MarinersArizona DiamondbacksBoston Red SoxBaltimore Orioles

Infield Mixes & AdditivesPersonal Pitcher ProNow 20% OFF for

Coaching Management Readers

You & your team will really benefit from the PERSONAL PITCHER PRO Portable Pitching Machine! Develop your team’s game and hit with more power & confidence! Great for pre-game warmups! Visit personalpitcher.com & see why the Personal Pitcher is GUARANTEED to improve your game!

THE NEW SCOUTWATCH !Introductory offer for Coaching Management Save $20... Now

only $29 ! (+$4 shipping)

Great tool for Coaches looking to get an Edge !

Your Package Includes:Personal Pitcher Pro w/Curveballs, 48 Golf-sized Polyballs, Tripod, Autofeed, 4-hour Rechargeble Battery, and AC Adapter/Charger !

The Patented ScoutWatch is a Radar Gun*, Pitch Counter, Umpire Clicker & Stop Watch in an All-In-One Device, Custom Designed for Baseball!

Limited Time Save 20%Now $175

Use Redemption Code “CM1” & Receive 2 Dozen Free Balls! Shipping only $15!

To Order Call (800) 474-8243 or Visit www.personalpitcher.com

Don’t Forget to Use CM1 in the Redemp-tion Code For 20% Off & 2 DZ. Free Balls !

Visit www.timit.com orCall 1(800) 474-8243

Don’t Forget To Use Your Special Dis-count Code: CM2 when Ordering.

*ScoutWatch does not use radar. It takes elapsed time and converts to MPH.

MPH

Stop Watch...and More!

Pitch CounterOnly $29 with Discount Code CM2

Measures Pitch Speed !

Ball/Strike Pitch Counter For Both Home and Away !

CALL 800-474-8243

Used by ML Pro Chris Richard

Personal Pitcher Pro_Color.indd 1 1/30/09 11:20:04 AM

Circle No. 127


Infield Mixes & Additives

Circle No. 503

BEAM CLAY800-247-BEAMwww.beamclay.com

BEAM CLAY® Baseball Diamond MixThis premium infield mix provides a consistent playing surface that’s firm yet soft, with great drainage and color.

BEAM CLAY® Regional Infield MixesThese mixes are blended at bulk plants nationwide to meet the unique needs of every state and climate.

BEAM CLAY® Pitcher’s Mound MixThis mix is an extra-firm mound clay, available in red, orange, brown, tan, and gray. Mound and batter’s box bricks are also available, along with red polyurethane pads that give the feel of natural clay.

BEAM CLAY® Red Warning Track SurfacesUse this material for premium long-lasting warning tracks—firm yet crunchy with low main-tenance, great drainage, and excellent color.

Customer PortfolioCleveland IndiansNew York MetsNew York YankeesTampa Bay RaysToronto Blue Jays


Southern Athletic Fields800-837-8062www.mulemix.com

Mulemix Field Conditioners Conditioners are used to reduce compac-

tion and absorb moisture. Mulemix Field Conditioners reduce the tackiness of a field’s clay to keep your games on schedule.

SAF Coat Infield Topdressing This crushed red rock is used primarily as a percolation product—it allows water to perco-late and helps athletic fields dry more quickly.

Mar MixThis screened red infield mix is compactible, yet it allows water to percolate. It’s great for use with Mulemix Conditioners or SAF Coat, and features a natural blend of approximate-ly 70-percent sand and 30-percent clay.

Mar Mound ClayThis screened red mound and home plate clay is ideal for pitcher’s mounds, batter’s boxes, and high-wear areas. It’s compactible, easy to use, and available in bags or in bulk.

Customer PortfolioAtlanta BravesHouston AstrosLouisville RiverbatsLouisiana State UniversityOhio State University

Diamond Pro800-228-2987www.diamondpro.com

Infield ConditionerThis vitrified clay product can be applied to skinned areas to enrich color, prevent rain delays, reduce compaction, and improve safety.

Calcined Clay Topdressing, Professional Grade, and Drying Agent

These calcined clay prod-ucts are used as condi-tioners on the infield. The professional grade has a more uniform particle size, and the standard topdressing has a larger particle size.

Mound/Home Plate ClayThis screened clay has a rich color and is easy to use. It binds into holes and low areas for greater durability and consistency.

Warning Track MixSeveral mixes are available for creating a safe, well-drained warning track.

Customer PortfolioPhiladelphia PhilliesSan Francisco GiantsBaltimore OriolesLittle League World SeriesRosenblatt Stadium

Circle No. 128

Untitled-1 1 9/25/07 10:37:22 AM


Nets & Cages

M.A.S.A., Inc.www.masa.com800-264-4519See ads on page 15 & 21Circle No. 508

Primary Advantages—M.A.S.A. has improved and expanded its selection, offering five grades of netting to meet the demands of every level of play and prices to meet any budget. Regardless of which grade you choose, rest assured you will be getting the highest quality.

Customer Portfolio—M.A.S.A. nets and cages are used all over the U.S. at youth, high school, college, and professional facilities. Go online or call the company for expert help in choosing a net or cage that is best for your organization and budget.

PRODUCTS:Pitcher’s L-Shaped Screen—The framing of this screen is constructed of 1/2-inch heavy-gauge steel tubing, and assembly is very easy.Pro Model Backstop Batting Cage—Flo-coated steel construction makes this giant backstop extremely durable. Use the quick-lift crank for easy transportation.

Pro Series Batting Tunnel—This pro industry workhorse is constructed from #36 nylon that has undergone a 320-pound breaking test.Batco Batting Cage—The unique design of this product means excellent portability and storage. It weighs just 45 pounds.

Cages*Pluswww.cagesplus.com866-475-9148See ad on page 38Circle No. 506

Primary Advantages—Cages*Plus offers affordable and durable cages, all of which come with an L-screen. Schools enjoy using them as an extra indoor hitting station with quick assembly and disassembly. All cages come with a one-year money back guarantee. Cages*Plus offers excellent customer service.

Customer Portfolio—Fort Lupton High School, COLoftus Middle School, TNNorth Dakota State UniversityBellarmine UniversityMcMichael High School, NC

PRODUCTS:Cages*Plus—Portable batting cage with L-screen

C&H Baseballwww.chbaseball.com800-248-5192See ads on page 45Circle No. 507

Primary Advantages— C&H Baseball’s products are built to last. The company’s all-welded fielding equipment has set the industry standard since 1968. C&H also knows the meaning of customer service. Its customers’ satisfaction comes first. C&H Baseball supplies only the highest-quality products.

Customer Portfolio—New York YankeesSan Diego PadresNew York MetsUniversity of MichiganOklahoma State University

PRODUCTS:The “Original” Ball Caddy—This rolling ball caddy holds close to 150 baseballs and features all-welded construction.CAG100–The Pro Cage—This cage was designed in 1968 and is still an industry leader, with all-welded construction.

Custom Dyneema Backstop Systems—With more than 300 stadium projects, these custom designed and built systems are an industry standard.Custom Wall Padding—C&H Baseball padding is built using only quality products and workmanship. All sizes and applications are available.

Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.www.memphisnet.net901-458-2656See ads on page 43Circle No. 509

Primary Advantages—Memphis Net & Twine manufactures its products in the United States—custom-made batting cages and backstops that are produced to meet customers’ exact specifications.

Custom sizes are the company’s specialty. Call the company or visit its Web site to request a free 48-page catalog.

PRODUCTS:Batting Cages—Four different twine sizes are available to meet any budget, and custom cages can be manufactured to customers’ exact specifications.Backstops—Four different twine sizes are available to meet any budget, and custom backstops can be manufactured to customers’ exact specifications.

Protector Nets—These protector nets are manufactured to customers’ exact specifications.

SPI Netswww.spinets.net866-243-6387See ads on page 20Circle No. 510

Primary Advantages— SPI Nets offers a full range of nets for your training needs. The quality and excellent pricing are matched only by SPI’s outstanding service. The company’s products and customer service are carefully monitored to ensure that you receive maximum value for your dollar.

Customer Portfolio— SPI nets are used all over the United States at youth, high school, college, and professional facilities.

PRODUCTS:Premium Batting Cage Nets—SPI Nets premium cages offer top quality, lots of features, and some of the best prices available.Deluxe Practice Screens—SPI Nets practice screens are among the highest-quality screens in the business, and they’re available at very competitive prices.

Custom Netting—SPI Nets can fully customize your nets to meet your exact specifications at an affordable price.


NEW Product Launch9 Hole Pitchers Pocket

Unique features:• Great for evaluating pitchers’ accuracy• Provides a range of targets for a pitcher to im-

prove and evaluate his or her accuracy around the strike zone

BetterBaseball.comwww.betterbaseball.com800-997-4233

Circle No. 511

PlayBall! Advanced Formula Infield ConditionerUnique features:• PlayBall! soaks up as much as 130 percent

of its weight in water, resulting in fewer rainouts and delays

• 10-percent-by-volume application rate• Holds moisture longer to control dust

Benefits for the user:• Uses less material for better results and

cost savings• Used in the soil profile, PlayBall! is permanent• Water the field before the game and play

dust-free all day long

EP Minerals, LLCwww.epminerals.com800-366-7607

Circle No. 512

Pro Mound Red Packing ClayUnique features:• New color option• Premium mound clay• Deep red color

Benefits for the user:• Championship looks and playability

Pro’s Choicewww.proschoice1.com800-648-1166

Circle No. 513

Hot Glove Sting OffUnique features:• A vibration-reducing bat grip• The secret is in the unique

elastomer absorbing pad below the synthetic grip

Benefits for the user:• An ounce of prevention is

worth a season of play• Sting Off absorbs the sting

caused by off-center hits to protect batters’ hands from shock and vibration

Hot Glove, Inc.www.hotglove.com800-554-3707

Circle No. 514


1/4pg 1/28/04 3:38 PM Page 1

SAVE 10%Enter CM0209

in discount Box

Circle No. 129

More Comfortable Bleachers Can Increase Your Schools’ Bottom Line

QUALITY STADIUM CHAIR MANUFACTURER

Phone: 800-552-9470, 716-549-9003Fax: 716-549-9011E-mail: [email protected]

Self-rising Blow Molded

Stadium Chairs

Generate added income by making your best seat better, then sell at a premium. This is a great way to increase your bottom line.

INTRODUCING

Eagle Model

Series 1000

Feature and Benefits of this SeatInstalls to your plank bleachers

Drainage slots, number and name plate optionsRecessed stainless steel hardware for easy installation

Available in four standard colors: ballpark green, red, navy blue, yellow, or specialty colorsPolyethylene blow-molded seat designed for comfort and longevity with full-UV protection

(Pricing may be quoted for delivery only OR delivery and installation.)

Cardinal Model Series 3000 & Series 3500

SS_AM2006.indd 1 9/30/08 4:08:08 PM

Circle No. 130

Baseball Facility Equipment

Jaypro Sports, LLC800-243-0533www.jaypro.com

The Professional Pitcher’s Safety Protector is a 7’ x 7’ L-shaped screen designed to accommodate left- or right-

handed pitchers. It’s constructed of heavy-gauge 1 5/8-inch O.D. galvanized steel tubing with a durable green

powder-coated finish. Two-inch square galvanized legs provide extra rigidity. A weatherproof nylon slip-on net is includ-ed, along with two eight-inch wheels for easy transport.

Circle No. 515

Aer-Flo, Inc.800-823-7356www.aerflo.com

Wind Weighted® baseball tarps are virtually windproof. These rain covers for the mound, home plate, and

the bullpens have steel chain in their edge hem, so wind cannot get under them. They stay down in high winds without stakes or sandbags. They’re also easy to install, remove, and store. The tough, waterproof vinyl-polyester fabric is treated for UV rays and mildew. These patented tarps are protected by a three-year factory warranty, and they’re widely used by high schools, col-leges, and even Major League teams.

Circle No. 516

Bannerman Ltd.800-665-2696www.sportsturfmagic.com

Restore your diamond’s luster in 20 minutes or less. Bannerman manufac-tures groomers that can level and pro-

vide maintenance care for baseball and softball dia-monds, warning tracks, and walk-ing trails. The B-DM-6 Diamond

Master has five grooming tools: a ripper blade, a rake, a leveler, a roller, and a finishing brush. Available options include an extension wing brush kit, a hydraulic

tractor top link, a 50-gallon water tank with a spray nozzle, a long-tine “fluffing” rake, and the new highway transport kit.

Circle No. 517

When player safety comes first, look to Bannerman. The company manufactures groomers that shape, level, and provide

maintenance care for baseball dia-monds and soft-ball fields. The B-BP-4 Ballpark-4 (shown) and the B-BP-6 Ballpark-6

models each have five tools: a ripper blade, a rake, a leveler, a roller, and a brush. Available accessories include a wing brush kit, a top link kit, a 50-gallon water tank kit with a spray nozzle, and the new highway transport kit.

Circle No. 518

BaseballTips.com800-487-7432 www.baseballtips.com

Contact BaseballTips.com to discuss your team equipment needs with real coaches and seasoned ballfield experts. The company’s Pro and School



Want to save even more on great prod-ucts at the BetterBaseball.com Web site? Try the Easy Auction feature.

Each item up for bid is described in detail and a product image is shown. Get fantastic deals on everything from bats and gloves

to windscreens and practice balls. Go online to learn more, and you’ll be plac-ing bids in no time.

Circle No. 521

BigSigns.com800-790-7611www.bigsigns.com

BigSigns.com is a national leader in stadium graphics. With its top-notch design team, you can create a brand for your program that helps promote team spirit. Coaches across the country have found that the Dura Mesh product not only beautifies their

stadium, but it also helps in recruit-ing and building team pride. Call a BigSigns.com national sales rep and get started on changing the plain chain-link areas of your stadium into sources of pride for your school.

Circle No. 522

Imerys800-552-9677www.plus5linemarker.com

Plus5 is an all-American athletic field marker. It is preferred by coaches and groundskeepers and is licensed as the official mark-ing material of the NFHS. There are five good reasons to choose Plus5: it is economical, easy to apply, good for turf, harmless to skin and clothing, and produces a bright white line. For more information, go online or call Imerys today.

Circle No. 523

Division assigns you a former coach or athletic director who speaks your

language. BaseballTips.com is an old fashioned, value-driven service company that can meet your budget, your terms, and your needs while

using high-tech tools to cut costs and improve delivery times.

Circle No. 519

BetterBaseball.com800-997-4233www.betterbaseball.com

BetterBaseball.com is a total baseball supply house, specializing in nets and batting cages that are custom cut to any size you want. The company pro-vides quick, friendly customer service. BetterBaseball.com supplies everything, including bases, plates, mounds, gear, and hardware. All team equipment needs can be found easily online, or you can call the company toll-free for more product information.

Circle No. 520

mp_place 8/20/02 11:20 AM Page 1

Untitled-3 1 3/18/08 12:01:49 PM



P r o d u c t s d I r E c t o r YcIrclE comPanY PagE cIrclE comPanY PagE no. no. no. no

542 . . Aer-Flo (Bunt Zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

516 . . . Aer-Flo (Wind Weighted tarps) . . . . . . . 38

551 . . . Allstar Ace (Joyner Technologies) . . . . . 46

518 . . . Bannerman (Ballpark-4) . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

517 . . . Bannerman (Diamond Master) . . . . . . . 38

519 . . . BaseballTips.com (equipment) . . . . . . 38

533 . . BaseballTips.com (products) . . . . . . . 42

503 . . Beam Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

521 . . . BetterBaseball (Easy Auction) . . . . . . . 39

520 . . BetterBaseball (nets and cages) . . . . . . 39

511 . . . BetterBaseball (Pitchers Pocket) . . . . . 37

522 . . BigSigns.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

507. . . C&H Baseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

506 . . Cages*Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

554 . . California University of Pennsylvania . 47

505 . . Diamond Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

524 . . . Earth & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

501. . . EP Minerals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

512 . . . EP Minerals (product launch) . . . . . . . . 37

559 . . . Extra Innings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

525. . . Fair-Play (BA-7128-2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

526. . . Fair-Play (CaptiVue) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

500 . . Game-On (DiGeronimo Aggregates) . . . 34

527. . . GameTime Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

543 . . Glove Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

528. . . Heying Company (Infield Drag) . . . . . . 41

558 . . HighSchoolSports.net . . . . . . . . . . . 47

534 . . Hoosier Bat Company . . . . . . . . . . . 42

514 . . . Hot Glove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

539 . . Hot Glove (Baseball Caddy) . . . . . . . . . 42

515 . . . Jaypro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

555. . . K&K Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

508 . . M.A.S.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

529 . . M.A.S.A. (Fence Guard Lite) . . . . . . . . . 41

546 . . Master Pitching Machine . . . . . . . . 44

509 . . Memphis Net & Twine Co. . . . . . . . 36

547 . . . Muhl Tech (Advanced Skills Tee) . . . . . . 45

548 . . Muhl Tech (Power Bag) . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

523 . . Plus5 Field Marker (Imerys) . . . . . . . . 39

535 . . Power Systems (Power Throw-Ball) . . . . 42

536 . . Power Systems (X-Ladder) . . . . . . . . . 42

537. . . Prep Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

502 . . Pro’s Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

513 . . . Pro’s Choice (Pro Mound Red Packing Clay) . 37

560 . . Profile Products (Turface) . . . . . . . . . 34

530 . . ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

556 . . Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

557. . . Schedule Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

531 . . . Seating Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

504 . . Southern Athletic Fields . . . . . . . . . 35

510 . . . SPI Nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

549. . . Sports Attack (Hack Attack) . . . . . . . . 45

550 . . Sports Attack (Junior Hack Attack) . . . . 45

552. . . Sports Tutor (HomePlate) . . . . . . . . . . 46

553 . . Sports Tutor (TriplePlay) . . . . . . . . . . . 46

532 . . Sportsfield Specialties . . . . . . . . . . . 41

545 . . Strike Out Strippz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

544 . . Swing Speed Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

538 . . TeamPacks.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

541 . . . The BenchCoach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

540 . . Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

a d V E r t I s E r s d I r E c t o r YcIrclE comPanY PagE cIrclE comPanY PagE no. no. no. no

101 . . . Aer-Flo (Wind Weighted Tarps) . . . . . . . . 2

109. . . Aer-Flo (Tuffy Windscreen) . . . . . . . . . . 11

137 . . . Allstar Ace (Joyner Technologies) . . . . . 44

111 . . . Bannerman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

144 . . . BaseballTips.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

141 . . . Beam Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

119 . . . BetterBaseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

139 . . . C&H Baseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

129 . . . Cages*Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

104. . . California University of Pennsylvania . . 6

113 . . . Diamond Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

132 . . . Earth & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

126 . . . EP Minerals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

136 . . . Extra Innings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

105. . . Fair-Play Scoreboards . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

122 . . . Game-On Field Conditioner . . . . . . 28

108. . . GameTime Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

118 . . . Glove Radar/Swing Speed Radar . . 22

142 . . . Heying Co. (Infield Drag) . . . . . . . . . . . 47

102 . . . HighSchoolSports.net . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

138 . . . Hoosier Bat Company . . . . . . . . . . . 45

133 . . . Hot Glove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

106. . . K&K Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

112 . . . M.A.S.A./Osborne . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

131 . . . Master Pitching Machine . . . . . . . . . 39

134 . . . Memphis Net & Twine Co. . . . . . . . 43

128 . . . Muhl Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

135 . . . Plus5 Field Marker (Imerys) . . . . . . . . 43

107 . . . Prep Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

120 . . . Pro’s Choice Field Products . . . . . . 25

110 . . . ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

140 . . . Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

130 . . . Seating Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

124 . . . Southern Athletic Fields . . . . . . . . . 32

114 . . . SPI Nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

143 . . . Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

127 . . . Sports Products Consultants . . . . . 34

123 . . . Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

117 . . . Sportsfield Modular (Sportsfield Specialties) 22

121 . . . Strike Out Strippz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

115 . . . TeamPacks.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

100 . . Turface Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

116 . . . White Line Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 21

125 . . . Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

103 . . . Woodhaven (The BenchCoach). . . . . . . . 6

Breaks in new glovesin minutes!Guaranteed!

Softens, conditions, waterproofsand forms a superior glove pocket.Works on leather and vinyl gloves.Hot Glove Treatment will have youcatching balls with your new glovetoday! Millions have successfullytreated their new gloves over thelast decade. Simply Amazing !

HOT GLOVE Inc.840 McFarland Parkway

Alpharetta, GA. 30004 USA770-442-1977

Check out our other excitingbaseball accessories at:

www.HOTGLOVE.COM

“It works!”Bobby CoxProfessional baseball managerfor over 25 years

Heat Treatment

®

Untitled-3 1 11/7/08 2:51:31 PM

circle no. 133



Earth & Turf Products, LLC888-693-2638www.earthandturf.com

Earth & Turf has introduced a hydraulic-drive option for its MultiSpread model 320, a one-cubic-yard topdresser with an

exclusive wide-spread beater. Normally driven

by two-wheel ground drive, the model 320 with hydraulic drive offers several benefits for owners with tow vehicles equipped with a remote hydraulic valve and a minimum flow of six gallons per minute. With the hydraulic option, the speeds of the apron and beater are independent of ground speed. Both apron speed and beater speed are also infinitely adjustable independent of each other, providing excellent spreading flex-ibility for a wide variety of materials.

Circle No. 524

Fair-Play Scoreboards800-247-0265www.fair-play.com

Fair-Play manufactures a complete line of electronic LED baseball scoreboards, including accessories, for high schools, municipalities, colleges, univer-sities, and pro-fessional sports teams. Along with providing all the essen-tial game information, the BA-7128-2 model scoreboard incorporates larger 24-inch digits for at-bat, ball, strike, out, and hit/error indicators. This fea-ture makes it an ideal choice for larger stadiums. Catch the spirit of Fair-Play at the company’s Web site.

Circle No. 525

Communicate with the baseball fans in your community by adding a CaptiVue full-color marquee from Fair-Play. It will be the crown jewel of your sports complex.

CaptiVue displays inform sports fans of upcoming events, promotions, and game times. Display com-munity news, public

service announcements, and time/tem-perature information. ProLine software for CaptiVue allows users to display super-high-quality pictures, graphics, and anima-tions in astounding detail. Catch the spirit of Fair-Play at the company’s Web site.

Circle No. 526

GameTime Athletics877-891-2476www.gtathletics.net

Enhance your field with RedField infield conditioner and warning track mix. RedField is a red scoria lava, maroon in

color and spe-cifically sized for use on infields and warning tracks. GameTime Athletics also

handles all types of field equipment and baseball equipment, including balls, bats, gloves, and uniforms. GameTime is the one-stop shop for all your athletic needs. Call today for a free sample or a quote.

Circle No. 527

Heying Co.712-756-8847www.infield-drag.com

The PR72 Pro Groomer™ Infield Drag levels infields, warning tracks, granular running tracks, and more by cutting off high spots and filling in low areas. It keeps infields level, well-groomed, and in safe play-ing condition. It can be used to mix in new material or to break up hard, compacted surfaces. The PR72 Pro Groomer saves labor, reduces water puddling, removes weeds, and more. It’s six feet wide and doesn’t require hydraulics or a three-point hitch. The unit can be pulled with a variety of towing machines, and no tools are need-ed to make adjustments. This product is available with a manual or electric lift.

Circle No. 528

M.A.S.A., Inc.800-264-4519www.masa.comwww.sportsadvantage.com

M.A.S.A. has welcomed the Fence Guard Lite to its family of fence guards. Fence Guard Lite is priced

for the tight-est budgets. It protects against chain-link fence injuries, increases fence visibility, and can add beauty to any field.

With the addition of Fence Guard Lite, M.A.S.A. now offers three grades of Fence Guard: Premium, Standard, and Lite. All three feature exterior-grade

UV-resistant polyethylene construction that is maintenance-free and designed to last for many years. Call or go online today for more information.

Circle No. 529

ProGrass, LLC866-270-6003www.prograssturf.com

ProGrass is a leading choice for synthet-ic turf base-ball fields. The company can create a product tailored to

your needs. ProGrass mimics the natu-ral transition from the outfield to the infield by using turf of two heights. Call ProGrass when you want a superior field.

Circle No. 530

Seating Services, Inc.800-552-9470www.seatingservices.com

Seating Services is proud to announce the newest product in its seating line, the Eagle Model Series 1000 plastic bench seat module. This seat is designed to be bolted to existing or new bench seating to provide a more comfortable individual seat for your spectators and create enhanced VIP seating that can be sold to raise revenue for your complex.

Circle No. 531

Sportsfield Specialties888-975-3343 x1460www.sportsfieldspecialties.com

Finally, you can have the dugout you want without the hassle and expense of on-site construction. LongGone

Dugouts are completed on time and fin-ished to your specifications. There are numerous color and material choices available, and all that’s required on site is a concrete slab. LongGone Dugouts are covered by a five-year warranty—try to match that with a concrete block or wood structure.

Circle No. 532


Team Equipment

BaseballTips.com800-487-7432www.baseballtips.com

Selection and price are key, so BaseballTips.com offers you good, better, and best. You get a choice of manufac-turers on a wide variety of products: 32

pitching machines, 14 batting cages, custom netting and turf of all grades, and more than 95

new and unique training aids, plus field goods, screens, covers, and Pro Style fixed, portable, and rolling batting cages. Enjoy great prices on the newest 2009 MLB radar guns, wood bats, and more than 200 videos and instruction books. BaseballTips.com has been an active ABCA member since 1999.

Circle No. 533

Hoosier Bat Co.800-228-3787www.hoosierbat.com

Hoosier Bat Co. makes all-ash bats used by many Major League and minor league players. The company’s patented three-piece wood bat, the WoodForce 2000, is now NCAA-approved. With ash in the handle, hickory in the sweet spot, and maple on the barrel end, the WoodForce 2000 provides a solid sweet spot that will not flake while retaining the same look and feel as a traditional all-ash bat. All of Hoosier’s bats are made from quality wood and are crafted to exacting standards.

Circle No. 534

Power Systems800-321-6975www.power-systems.com

Develop dynamic strength through the throwing motion with the Power Throw-Ball. Available in baseball and softball

sizes, these weighted balls make an excellent tool for strengthening or rehabilitating the shoulder. Color-coded by weight, the balls are sold individually in seven-, 14-, and 21-ounce sizes or in sets of three with a carrying bag. These durable balls are con-

structed with a rugged vinyl shell and filler material.

Circle No. 535

The X-Ladder from Power Systems features three separate sections for setting up multiple configurations,

so athletes can perform forward, back-ward, and lat-eral movement patterns in the same run.

Two sections measure 67 inches and one measures 158 inches. They attach together with buckles. The ladder has high-impact round PVC rungs that stay fixed and provide instant feedback when stepped on. The X-Ladder comes with its own carrying bag.

Circle No. 536

Prep Gear Headwear800-279-7060www.prepgear.com

In five short years, Prep Gear Headwear has become a national leader in fac-tory-direct headwear products for high schools and institutions. At Prep Gear, each hat is assembled from scratch using the highest-quality materi-als and expert crafts-manship. In today’s economy, why pay an extra mark-up when you can buy premium products direct from the factory? Call or go online for more information.

Circle No. 537

TeamPacks.com877-302-0548www.teampacks.com

TeamPacks.com offers sports programs quality uniforms and practice wear. For baseball and softball programs, TeamPacks offers the Home Run Pack,

which includes one hooded sweatshirt (two-color print), one performance batting practice top (two-color print and num-ber), one two-color print T-shirt, one two-color print pair of sweatpants, a pro-mesh short (one-color print, seven- or nine-inch inseam),

and one long-sleeve mock (two-color print). This six-item package costs only $75—with no art fees. Turnaround time is two weeks, and custom packages are available.

Circle No. 538

Hot Glove800-554-3707www.hotglove.com

Make practice easier with the innova-tive Hot Glove Baseball Caddy. Use it to pitch from, use it to pick up balls,

or use it to transport balls securely. The handles lock down to put the basket at waist height

for pitching, then they lock up for pick-ing up balls. The tough, lightweight poly-propylene design holds 24 balls. Also try the Softball Caddy, available with a bigger basket to hold 20 softballs.

Circle No. 539

Wizard Sports Equipment888-964-5425www.wizardsports.com

New Wheeled Custom Bat Bags are now available. Wizard custom bags are some of the most durable and afford-able bat and equipment bags on the market. They are manu-factured in the U.S. and built to last, with heavy-duty 600D nylon featuring a PVC backing and a limited lifetime warranty. You will not find a better-quality bag at a lower price. All bags are made in your team colors and decorated to include your team name, number, and logo.

Circle No. 540

The BenchCoach972-740-5417www.thebenchcoach.com

The BenchCoach is among the most complete portable dugout organizing systems available for baseball and soft-

ball teams. It holds and pro-tects equip-ment for up to 18 players. Each compart-ment is sized to hold a player’s glove,

hat, helmet, and water bottle, and can be personalized with player names, num-bers, and your team logo. The bottom shelves store catcher’s equipment and a include bat hanging frame for 18 bats. A shoulder carrying bag is included.

Circle No. 541


Web News

Diamond Pro’s Web Site Gets Even BetterDiamond Pro has launched an improved, more user-friendly Web site. While this new site better communicates the ben-efits of all the great Diamond Pro products, some of the old features remain available, such as the how-to section, the Ask the Pros question-and-answer forum, and the pages con-taining field dimensions. New features include downloadable PDFs of instructions, applications, and MSDS sheets. Users can view Diamond Pro’s latest products in the Professional Groundskeeping line, and see distributor information. Diamond Pro welcomes customer feedback and will continue to make site modifications based on this input. As always, the company will notify its customers of these improvements as they happen.www.diamondpro.com

Get What You Need To Maintain Your FieldPlayBall!® infield conditioner is made from 100-percent cal-cined diatomaceous earth (DE). PlayBall! can be used on the skinned areas of your field for puddle and moisture control, applied as a topdressing, or incorporated into the soil profile for maximum effectiveness. It reduces compaction, increases drainage, and all but eliminates rainouts. Go online today to learn more, and to watch a video on how to renovate a field using PlayBall! The site also offers application rates for all sizes of baseball and softball fields. See how PlayBall! stacks up to other infield soil conditioners and how you can save time and money while increasing the playability of your fields.www.epminerals.com/playball.html

Two New Features Enhance Pro’s Choice’s SiteThe Pro’s Choice Web site offers product information, installa-tion instructions, and industry articles about the company’s line of sports field products. Two new features were recently added

to the site. The first is “Ask an Expert,” an interactive Q&A sec-tion where users can pose questions about sports fields and turf and receive direct answers. The second is information on the Pro’s Choice Field Day program, a series of hands-on sports field seminars sponsored by the company and its nationwide distribution network. Go online today to learn how Pro’s Choice will keep your field in winning condition, season after season.www.proschoice1.com

Daily Updates, Impressive Product Selection Available OnlineBetterBaseball.com offers a wide selection of baseball and softball products at competitive prices. The company special-izes in custom batting cages and manufactures L-screens, backstops, and pitchers’ pockets. Its Web site is updated with new products daily to satisfy even the most demanding base-ball players and coaches. BetterBaseball.com does not sell, share, or rent any customer information collected on the site. Information collected during the ordering process is for billing and shipping purposes only. Nobody is added to the compa-ny’s e-mail list unless they choose to add themselves online.www.betterbaseball.com

Newly Updated OPTP Site Offers You MoreOPTP’s new and improved Web site makes it easier than ever to find and purchase OPTP products. Additional images and product information have been added to assist you in making purchasing decisions. Utilize the “My Wish List” feature to plan upcoming purchases, or save frequent orders under your account to access and easily re-order at your convenience. The new site also allows you to read and write product reviews, and to rate your product satisfaction.www.optp.com

See our Web Site at: www.memphisnet.netMemphis, TN 38108

Free CatalogCall 800-238-6380Our top quality nets are custommade to your specifications.• Baseball Cages, Backstops, Pro- tector Nets & Pitching Machines• Golf Driving and Barrier Nets• Soccer and Tennis Nets• Lacrosse Backstop Nets, Windscreens and much more!

See our Web Page at: www.memphisnet.netOr e-mail us at: [email protected]

Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.

Untitled-1 1 11/8/06 10:08:14 AM

Circle No. 134

Untitled-1 1 10/1/07 10:57:07 AM

Circle No. 135


Practice Aids

Swing Speed Radar™888-542-9246www.swingspeedradar.com

The Swing Speed Radar™ is a small, inexpensive Doppler radar velocity sensor that measures the swing speed of base-

ball and softball bat-ters. The Swing Speed Radar helps players develop optimum bat speed for distance and quickness, and bat control for consis-tent ball contact. The Swing Speed Radar

provides real-time velocity feedback that assists players, coaches, and instructors in measuring performance improvement and troubleshooting swing mechanics.

Circle No. 544

Strike Out Strippz, LLC877-688-7123www.learn2pitch.com

StrikeOut Strippz is the world’s first and only patented training glove for pitching and throwing. The system is guaranteed to improve speed, accuracy, and throw-ing mechan-ics. The glove can be used indoors or outdoors and no catcher is needed. The easy-to-follow instructions blend rhyme and visual ref-erences to help master the mechanics of pitching and throwing. The glove and DVD provide simple 10-minute drills that enable an entire team to develop pitching and throwing skills.

Circle No. 545

Master Pitching Machine, Inc.800-878-8228www.masterpitch.com

Watching the pitcher’s arm is a key to successful hitting. That’s why every pitching machine from Master Pitching

Machine features the company’s exclusive Iron Mike pitching arm. With each pitch, the batter can see the Iron Mike pitch-ing arm wind up and deliver the ball— just like with a real pitch-er. These machines

are among the only proven training devic-es that give you this advantage.

Circle No. 546

Aer-Flo, Inc.800-823-7356www.aerflo.com

The patented Bunt Zone™ Infield Protector-Trainer features color-coded target areas built into a quality bat-ting practice turf protector. It teaches batters where to bunt successfully for

hits or sacrifice plays, plus pull-hitting and hit-and-

run targeting—never bunt into the red “pitcher’s triangle.” It gives instant performance feedback. Sizes are avail-able for all infields, including softball and Little League fields. The industrial vinyl-polyester mesh is spike-resistant. Grommets and low-profile stakes are included.

Circle No. 542

Glove Radar®888-542-9246www.gloveradar.com

The Glove Radar® is a small, inexpen-sive, and accurate microwave Doppler radar device that attaches to the back

of virtually any base-ball or softball glove. It “sees” through the glove and mea-sures the speed of a ball thrown from any distance, just before the ball is caught. The Glove Radar can withstand

softball impacts of more than 75 mph and baseball impacts up to 100 mph. Take it from Ken Griffey, Jr.—The Glove Radar is the ideal aid for developing the throwing skills of infielders, outfielders, pitchers, and catchers. The Glove Radar is a big hit among coaches, players, and parents, and it costs much less than most radar guns.

Circle No. 543

Circle No. 137

Circle No. 136

ACE 3000 - $5,995Just like facing a live pitcher…

Increase batting averageChoice of Pros and Travel Teams

Easy lease terms with no money downAWARDED BEST OF SHOW ABCA 2007

Every pitch. Every day.In sync with the video…Guaranteed.

WWW.ALLSTARBP.COM

770-867-1957

Call now for a free

DEMO DVD!

JoynerSixth.indd 1 8/27/08 10:59:10 AM

Batting Cages Professional Instruction Pro Shop

Where the Game Never Ends

Franchise Opportunities AvailableLove baseball ?

Want to run your own business?Then play ball with Extra Innings!

For more info, log onto:

www.eifranchise.com

or softball

This franchise is not being offered to residents of the following states: HI, KY, NE, ND & SD. This communication is not directed to any person in thestates listed above by or on behalf of the franchisor or anyone acting with the franchisor’s knowledge. No franchise can be offered or sold in the stateslisted above until the offering has been registered and declared effective by the appropriate regulatory authority and the UFOC has been delivered to theofferee before the sale within the applicable time frame. This franchise is offered only by delivery of a franchise offering circular.

Untitled-9 1 1/22/08 10:14:21 AM


Practice Aids

Muhl Tech888-766-8772www.muhltech.com

Want to give your hitters instant feedback? Look no further than the Advanced Skills Tee (AST). The tee of

choice for more than 3,000 high school and col-lege programs, the AST’s unique forward arm design and outside bar-rier give instant visual and physi-cal feedback.

Eliminate casting, looping bats, and dropping shoulders with this portable and extremely durable batting tee. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Circle No. 547

Hitting for power? Try the Power Bag from Muhl Tech. It was designed to teach hitters to use their lower half when hitting the ball—not just to rotate the hips, but actually to use them as a power source when driving through the ball. The Power Bag allows the hitter

to power through contact and finish the swing. Use good point-of-contact mechan-ics and the bag will swing higher (visual reward). Use lazy hips, rolled wrists, or

swing around the ball and the bag will not move nearly as much.

Circle No. 548

Sports Attack800-717-4251www.sportsattack.com

The exclusive design of the Hack Attack baseball pitching machine allows the hitter to see the ball clearly all the way through the feeding motion, acceleration, and release, just like with a live pitcher. The Hack Attack throws unmatched right- and left-handed major

league fastballs up to 100 mph, and all breaking pitches by simply chang-ing the speed of the wheels with three dials. This eliminates the need for time-consuming adjustments of the throwing head.

Circle No. 549

The Junior Hack Attack from Sports Attack is designed to develop serious young players using an exclusive three-wheel vision that allows the hitter to see the ball clearly all the way through the feed-ing motion, just like with a live pitcher. In devel-oping hitters, there is nothing more important than timing and vision. With just a quick turn of the dials, the machine can throw fastballs and breaking pitches, including curves, sliders, split-fingers, and knuckle balls up to 70 mph.

Circle No. 550

Home Run, LLC d/b/a

HOOSIER BAT COMPANY

Turning Batters Into Hitters!

ORDER YOURS TODAYFax 219-465-0877 • e-mail:[email protected]

1-800-BAT-ERUP (228-3787)

www.hoosierbat.com

Award BatsCan be done in School Colors with

School Logo & personalized

Hickory Hitting Area- No Taping RequiredNCAA BESR Certified

WOODFORCE 2000

WOOD FUNGO★★★ Guaranteed ★★★

Never Flakes • No Taping Required

GAME BATSMajor League Stock • Minor League Stock

Major League Birch and Ash

800.248.5192

www.chbaseball.com

2215 60th Dr. East Bradenton, FL 34203

C & H Baseball is your one-stop shop for

professional quality supplies to fit every budget

Financing plans available

•Portable Batting Cages

•Poly & Vinyl Tarps

•Pitching Machines & Platforms

•Fielding Screens

Since1968

•Windscreen

•Artificial Turfs and BP Mats

•Stadium Backstop & Barrier Netting

•Wall & Rail Padding



Practice Aids

Joyner Technologies770-867-1957www.joynertechnologies.com

The ALLSTAR ACE® 5000 baseball pitching simulator is a program-mable multi-pitch system featuring

a HomePlate pitching machine from Sports Tutor. The SurePitch synchro-nization system ensures that the ball and video are in sync on every pitch, every day, guaranteed. A team rota-tion mode operates at five to 15 balls per player, or you can set it to throw continuous pitches. The ball interval is programmable, and the unit can deliver fastballs, curves, sliders, and more from left-handed or right-handed pitch-ers with variable speeds and locations. You can even film your own pitchers and incorporate them into the training experience. The unit is easy to oper-

ate and there’s no computer to boot or hang during practice. Exciting lease options are available.

Circle No. 551

Sports Tutor800-448-8867www.sportsmachines.com

The HomePlate pitching machine is the first programmable pitching machine designed for both batting cage and

on-field use. You can store up to eight differ-ent pitches—including fastballs up to 90 mph, curveballs, changeups, sliders, and more—in eight different programs, with only seven seconds between pitches. The programmed pitches in

the HomePlate can be thrown sequen-tially for specific hitting drills, randomly for game conditions, or in a way that simulates an opposing pitcher. Choose the 80-ball auto-feed model at $6,595, or the hand-feed model at $5,295.

Circle No. 552

Batting practice just got easier. Simply push a button on the TriplePlay pitch-ing machine from Sports Tutor to

choose the type of pitch you want. It can automatically throw fastballs, sinkers, curves, and sliders. The pitch speed is digitally displayed and adjustable from 40 to 90 mph in five-mph increments, and it takes just 30 seconds to change pitches. Additionally, the baseball is vis-

ible from the time it leaves the feeder’s hand until it is pitched, allowing hitters to more naturally time the pitches. The TriplePlay uses a three-wheel pitch-ing mechanism for greater accuracy. Two large transport wheels make the TriplePlay easy to move. It can be pur-chased for $2,895.

Circle No. 553

Circle No. 140

800,000 Teeth areKnocked Out Each Year

During Sports!Protect Your Athletes!

Save-A-Tooth gives you

time to treat more serious

injuries and get

athletes to the dentist or

emergency room.

Call (888) 788-6684 or visitwww.Save-A-Tooth.com

for more information

The Most Innovative On-Line Buyer’s Guide

for Athletic Organizations

A t h l e t i c b i d . c o mSee for yourself why more than 13,000

unique users each month rely on

l View the complete product lines of companies listed. l View catalog pages or spec sheets from many of the

top companies.

l Read a profile or description of select companies.

l Send an e-mail directly to a supplier or make a request to be contacted by a company representative.

l Request catalog and sales literature from companies.

AthleticBid.com is a free service to help buyers at schools and athletic organizations contact many

companies in the most efficient fashion to request product specs and pricing information.

It used to take hours to contact dozens of companies to research products and plan purchases. With AthleticBid.com, it now only takes minutes.


More Products

California University of Pennsylvania866-595-6348www.cup.edu/go

California University of Pennsylvania has helped build the character and careers of its students for more than 150 years.

Cal U’s dedication to providing high-quality, in-demand programs to its students continues through the University’s

Global Online 100-percent online pro-grams of study. Through an asynchronous format, Global Online allows students the opportunity to complete coursework any-time, anywhere. All that’s required is a computer with Internet access. Go online for more information.

Circle No. 554

K&K Insurance Group800-426-2889www.kandkinsurance.com

Insurance isn’t expensive—it’s priceless. Protect your organization with coverage from K&K insurance, including programs designed for sports camps and clinics, youth and adult teams, leagues and associations, and coaches and instruc-tors. K&K’s emergency claim service is available 24/7, and credit card options make payment easy. One client says: “Just a note of thanks for your patience and incredible customer service.” Another writes: “Really impressed with your service and great attitude.”

Circle No. 555

Save-A-Tooth®888-788-6684www.save-a-tooth.com

Without proper care, a knocked-out tooth begins to die in 15 minutes. The Save-A-Tooth emergency tooth preserving

system utilizes Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) to not only preserve, but also recon-

stitute many of the degenerated cells. The patented basket and net container are designed to protect tooth root cells. This is the only system that keeps tooth cells alive for up to 24 hours.

Circle No. 556

Schedule Star800-258-8550www.schedulestar.com

The interface between Schedule Star and TheArbiter.net allows a Schedule

Star user to upload team schedules for home games directly to the officials’ assignors. The officials’ assignors who

use TheArbiter.net will have schedules and schedule changes transferred to them directly from Schedule Star. Go to ScheduleStar.com, sign in, and click on “Utilities” to get started today.

Circle No. 557

HighSchoolSports.net800-258-8550www.HighSchoolSports.net

The Coaches Clipboard on HighSchoolSports.net has free tools for coaches to showcase their teams all in

one location. Athletic directors can save time and assign coaches the tools they need to stay ahead of the game. Add, postpone, or cancel events and practic-es, enter scores and stats, access your roster, and get cumulative player and team stats—all on HighSchoolSports.

net. Go to HighSchoolSports.net and click on “Coaches Login” to start sav-ing time today.

Circle No. 558

Extra Innings978-762-0448www.eifranchise.comwww.extrainnings.us

Extra Innings is the nation’s premier indoor baseball and softball training center. Each location offers year-round indoor practice facilities for ballplayers of all ages and ability levels, profes-

sional instruc-tion, and a national-

ly recognized Pro Shop that carries the top names in equipment and apparel at the lowest advertised prices. Do you love baseball or softball? Want to run your own business? Then play ball with Extra Innings. Visit the company online today to learn more about this winning franchise opportunity.

Circle No. 559

Infield Drag www.Infield-Drag.com PR72 Pro GroomerTM The perfect machine

for everyday maintenance of Infields, Warning Tracks and much more! Keeps infields

level, well-groomed and in safe playing condition for athletes.

Controls Weeds, Deters Water Puddling, & Saves Labor!

Levels, Smoothens, Mixes, and Breaks Up

Hard Infields.

Heying Co. 515 6th Ave. Alton, IA 51003 Ph. (712) 756-8847

Use to Maintain, Restore & Build Infields!

PR72-E,166,b

Manual or electric lift available. Complete info at www.Infield-Drag.com

Untitled-8 1 8/13/07 1:20:33 PM

Untitled-13 1 12/30/08 11:38:50 AM

Circle No. 141

Circle No. 142

CONTINUED ON…CoachesNetwork.com

There’s no offseason in coaching, so Coaching Management keeps the information fl owing all year long on our Web site: www.CoachesNetwork.com. Here’s whatyou will fi nd when you visit.

Open and Close:ABCA Hall of Fame Inductee Jerry Weinstein offers a pair of drills designed to keep pitchers from opening up too soon.

Coaching Videos:

www.CoachesNetwork.com

EXTRA INNINGS

Aiding AgilityWorking with agility ladders can help your players improve their quickness on both offense and defense.

More Articles:Weekly and archived articles designed to help you in your job. Visit daily for

l inks to stories of special interest to coaches from newspapers across the country.

Strength & Conditioning “No pain, no gain” can easily be carried too far.

Coaching Life Setting clear roles is one of the keys to dealing with parents.

Student-Athlete Welfare When athletes want to play two sports in one season.

Injury Prevention

Just because the game or practice hasn’t started, doesn’t mean your players are immune from injury.

Brought to you by

CM Edit Baseball Web page.indd 1 11/6/08 11:31:48 AM

BA

SE

BA

LL

HACK ATTACK | JUNIOR HACK ATTACK

B A S E B A L L P i t c h i n g M a c h i n e s

Due to the unique 3-wheel design, you can see the ball clearly all the way through the feeding motion, acceleration and release, just like a live pitcher.

The hitter sees when to stride and the angle of release, giving him an actual live-arm sense of timing and location.

Using 3 wheels, the Hack Attack throws all pitches - from major league fastball to right and left handed breaking pitches - all with a simple and immediate speed dial adjustment (No awkward or time consuming moving of the throwing head).

Extremely mobile; on and off the field with ease.

As proven by our extensive customer list of the top programs in the country, in a very short time the Hack Attack’s “complete-vision design” has made it the most valuable training tool on the market today.

P.O. Box 1529 | 2805 U.S. 40 | Verdi, Nevada 89439 tf 800.717.4251 | ph 775.345.2882

www.sportsattack.com

| 2828280505 UU SSS 404040 | VeVeVerdrdrdr i NNN

DDDDDDD h i 3 h l d i hhh b lll l l ll hh hhh hhhh

As REAL as it getsHack Attack has complete ball vision from acceleration through release, just like a live pitcher!

Untitled-1 1 8/15/08 11:48:31 AM

Circle No. 143

Build Your Winning Program CALL TODAY!

PitchingMachines

Batting Cages

TrainingAids

RadarGuns

PortableMounds

Turf FieldEquipment

1.800.487.7432

New

All Weather BallWet to Dry in 24 hours

Pro Dimple BallRed seams & long-lasting

Ballistic Kevlar SeamsTough ball for machines

Get Quick

For more information Circle No. 144For more information Circle No. 144

You gotta try a dozen -JP

Call 1-800-487-7432

Pitcher’s Pal

Train Your Pitchers likethe Pros & Colleges Do

Hands Back Hitting Trainer Only $98 & FREE Shipping

I guarantee it. - JP

Grand Slam Pitching Machine & Swift StikGreat Prices for Spring Training - $199.99 includes 48 balls

[email protected]

Best Mounds Around

Indoor & Outdoor

Now 8

Models

1.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.74321.800.487.7432 One Stop! ✓Best Selection ✓Best Equipment ✓Best Prices

Pitching MachinesBatting CagesRadar Guns

Balls By The CaseBleachers & Benches

Indoor Training EquipmentPitchers & Fielders Screens

Drag Mats & RakesTraining Equipment

Portable Pitchers MoundsCustom Netting Tunnels & Cages

Swing TrainersWood, Metal & Fungo Bats

Throwing Programs200 Instructional DVDs & Books

SoftToss MachinesFoul Poles

Turf

✓ Buy 2 Doz., get 1 Doz. FREE A $34.95 min. savings

✓ Buy 1 case of 10 Doz., FREE Shipping (save $24)

The Ultimate Hitting System

BBT_CM1612vFINAL.indd 1 1/30/09 3:36:28 PM

coaching management 17.2

Documents

free turface

free tips

free tshirt

p r e s e

s o n e d i t i o n

high school coaches

free shirt

mamaroneck n