DON’T Follow the Ball || Baseball Dudes LLC

Player Development 101

Be careful of following the ball!!

When done well, a team with multiple coaches shouldn’t miss a beat. Designate coaches to specific areas. For example:

• One coach for the outfielders (make sure their positioning is right, they are moving together, their pre pitch is there, they are adjusting to their pitcher and the hitters and watch what they do after the ball is hit, even when it’s not to them).

• One coach for the infielders (make sure they are ready, pre pitch is there, positioning is correct based on outs and hitter, communicating with outfielders and watch what they do after the ball is hit, even when it’s not to them).

• One coach for the pitcher and catcher (watch the pitcher after the ball is hit, make sure they are always moving together back up on a ball to the outfield, pay attention to how they are holding runners and make sure your catcher is getting to the proper stances based on counts and where the runner are and communicating with their pitcher and team well).

When every coach in the dugout follows the ball from the pitcher to the batter to where the ball was hit then to where it’s thrown, too many coachable moments and team development opportunities will be missed every time.

** Take notes throughout the game too!

Good luck out there!

Chris Gissell

Founder of Baseball Dudes. Blessed with three beautiful children and an amazing wife. Baseball is my life, after my family, and I love sharing what I have learned from it. Thanks for taking the time to view what we offer here at Baseball Dudes.

Perspective

I’ve been instructing for I don’t know how many years. At first it was just something I did during the off seasons but had no idea what it was leading to.

Fast forward to 2012, the Angels gave me an opportunity to lead their young draft picks, teach them the game and how to be a professional, my eyes were opened. Since then my appreciation and understanding of coaching has grown deep. The amount of time coaches put in, the level of patience required, the attention to detail necessary, the consistent body language needed to lead by example, the understanding of what’s really important and what’s not, the importance of being able to relate to all different personalities, athleticism and abilities, the fact that being a good coach means consistently growing ourselves and coming to the realization that the one thing that matters most in all of this is finding ways to use the game to help them prepare for all those years when they are not playing the game.

I need to say Thank You to all my past coaches and to all the current coaches who take pride in giving the kids in front of them what they need on top of baseball skills. It’s often a thankless role but remember that no matter where they go in the game, they are going somewhere in life. That’s our mission.

– Chris Gissell

“My purpose, MY WHY, is to provide for my family, while also doing everything I can to develop quality people through the many life lessons that Baseball provides daily.”

17 Years Professional Experience (14 as a player, 3 as a coach). MLB debut 8/22/2004 with the Colorado Rockies. Retired from professional coaching on 10/31/14 to focus on family and developing youth baseball players full time.

DON’T Follow the Ball

Perspective

Our Training Home

Mailing Address

Connect with Us on Social Media