YBE 128: Lessons Learned in 2019

As we start the new year and the new season, you can make significant strides by remembering to avoid mistakes (and repeating successes) you made in the past. Rob Tong shares lessons learned from several members of Edge Nation, as well as two lessons learned from the esteemed Pete Caliendo, host of the Baseball Outside The Box podcast, plus three lessons Rob learned in 2019. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (47:31) about what tee to buy for a four-year-old.

In this 57-minute episode, you'll learn:

• the importance of connecting with players more, courtesy of Matt Mader and Morgan Sullivan (4:08)
• why choosing assistants is fraught with issues, courtesy of Ted Chapman (6:36)
• the importance of the catcher position, courtesy of Sean Ballisty (9:34)
• the importance of managing parent expectations, winning isn't everything, and becoming an umpire, courtesy of DJ Dallman (13:17)
• there is much to learn about coaching (and avoiding misinformation), courtesy of Geoff Hebert and Thomas Alexander (18:30)
• to be grateful for the moments, courtesy of Paul Niggebrugge (20:34)
• the importance of the play where the only runner is on 2B, courtesy of Landon McBride (22:26)
• the danger of overcoaching, courtesy of Mike Atwood (24:11)
• why practices are for working on skills, not games, courtesy of John Wright (28:33)
• the importance of coaching each player individually, courtesy of Ryan Freeman (31:38)
• multiple team management and practice management tips, courtesy of Adam Wortz (32:25)
• why players shouldn't play year-round to focus on only baseball, and practicing is more important than games, courtesy of Pete Caliendo (34:19)
• the importance of incorporating team-building games & activities, courtesy of Rob Tong (41:03)
• why you should focus on fixing a kid's timing when hitting BEFORE fixing a kid's hitting mechanics, courtesy of Rob Tong (41:55)
• why even a crude quality at-bats calculation can help you objectively determine your best hitters, courtesy of Rob Tong (44:49)

Resources and links mentioned in this episode (note that Amazon links are affiliate links, which cost you nothing extra and helps support YBE with a commission for the referral; also note that prices were confirmed at the time this was posted and may have changed by the time you read it):

• The Feedback Fallacy
• Top 100 John Wooden quotes
• PV Tee Low Stem version for youth on their web site ($70 + FS) and regular version on Amazon (Amazon does not currently sell the Low Stem version for youth)
• Tanner Tee youth on their web site ($80 + FS) and on Amazon ($82.70 + FS)
• G Tee 18" version for youth on their web site ($119 + $17 shipping) and on Amazon ($114 + FS)
• Jugs Short T Tee on their web site ($85 + $26 shipping) and on Amazon ($90 + FS)
• Atec T3 Low Tee on their web site ($90 + FS) and on Amazon ($90 + FS)
• Launch Angle Tee on their web site ($80 but on backorder) and heavier base version on Amazon ($100 + FS)
• Backspin Tee on their web site ($200 + $35 shipping) and on Amazon ($235 + FS)
• Sample simplistic QAB calculating spreadsheet
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