YBE 145: Train Like A Big League First Baseman with Perry Hill

If catchers wear the "tools of ignorance", then first basemen play the "position of neglect" because many youth coaches don't teach much to their first basemen even though it is a highly important position. Perry Hill, the first base coach and infield coach for the Seattle Mariners, breaks down how you can properly train your first basemen. This is part 1 of a two-part interview. Plus Rob answers the Question of the Week (38:05) about how to teach timing to 10-12 year-old hitters.

In this 48-minute episode, you'll learn:

• responsibilities of a first base coach (4:04)
• how a first base coach works with the runner on first (4:49)
• how travel baseball could be better (8:44)
• whether intentional time should be set aside for teaching position-specific skills (9:39)
• whether kids should be throwing every day (11:56)
• whether pitching on flat ground would ruin kids' arms (12:46)
• whether kids are different from adults in throwing every day (14:08)
• two key parts to throwing correctly and safely (14:58)
• the key to keeping the throwing elbow at shoulder height (18:16)
• the type of player who can play first base (18:54)
• the case against defensive specialization (21:14)
• the best strategy for bench players to get playing time (21:54)
• why coaches shouldn't use a depth chart (22:41)
• how first basemen should position themselves defensively (24:49)
• three critical things a first baseman must master before anything else (25:23)
• how the first baseman should position himself to receive a throw from the infield (25:43)
• how the first baseman should position himself to hold the first base runner (28:54)
• when a first baseman can get in the baserunner's path back to the base (30:38)
• whether first basemen should straddle first base when holding the first base runner (31:23)
• the advantage of a first baseman's glove vs. a regular infielder glove at first base (32:49)
• when the first baseman should be the cut-off man (34:13)
• what age to teach first baseman cutoff plays (35:43)

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