High school baseball is a different experience from travel ball. In Part 1 of our two part episode, high school and travel ball coach Tom McGovern and I discuss several topics on how players can prepare for that transition and be ready to begin this new adventure.

00:00: Introduction

02:10: Thinking about high school before high school

04:45: A second natural break at 14u

06:05: Learn how to speak with a coach

07:25: Understanding the landscape of travel / club / feeder baseball

08:40: Becoming a part of your high school baseball community

11:45: How players can prep as youths to play in high school

17:35: Understanding high school roster construction

21:20: Wrap up

If you have any questions or show ideas, please leave a comment or email us at youthbaseballandbeyond@gmail.com. Be sure to like and follow so you’ll be notified each time we drop new content. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you at the diamond. Good bye.

Tryout season is just around the corner and it can be a stressful time for players and parents. In today’s episode, Chris Modrzejewski and I discuss what tryouts are like from a parent’s perspective.

We share how you and your child can prepare for the tryout process, how you can support your child if he gets cut, and what you can do in the offseason to help him prepare for a new chapter in his baseball career.

00:00 - Introduction

02:10 - Our own kids getting cut

03:30 - Being honest with yourself

04:45 - Metrics when evaluating your child

06:50 - Talking with your coach in-season

10:30 - Helping your child learn self-advocacy

12:40 - Execute the feedback

13:35 - Keeping your options open

14:50 - Trying out for the same organization

16:05 - Tryout fees

17:10 - Trying out with multiple organizations

19:15 - Be respectful of the announcement process

21:25 - Set a good example for your child

24:30 - Supporting your child after being cut

26:05 - Appropriate ways to ask for feedback

28:55 - Advice from a player

29:50 - Finishing the current season with class

30:55 - Offseason approach

33:35 - Wrap up

If you liked what you heard today, drop a comment and share what your tryout experiences have been like. Feel free to email us at youthbaseballandbeyond@gmail.com to suggest show ideas or to let us know what you think of this episode. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you at the diamond. Good bye.

When you coach long enough you experience some moments. Looking back, you undoubtedly encounter some fun times where you can only shake your head and laugh.

Today’s episode touches on the “beyond” portion of our podcast. Frequent contributor Chris Modrzejewski and I share some fun anecdotes in our first edition of Sports Stories.

00:00 - Introduction

01:10 - When you gotta go, you gotta go

02:05 - Juuuuuusssst a bit outside

05:55 - Off to Europe

08:00 - Checking in

09:55 - A missing group

11:45 - A player’s rant

13:20 - The last night in Italy

15:55 - Creating memories for your players

If you like what you heard make sure you like and follow to always be notified when new content drops. If you have an idea for an episode, drop us an email at youthbaseballandbeyond@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you at the diamond. Good bye.