Coaching Management 16.2

Coaching Management VOL. XVI NO. 2

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Coaching Management Baseball Edition Preseason 2008

CONTENTS

Vol. XVI, No. 2

2 LOCKER ROOM

COVER STORY

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Head Games

CWS discussions continue in Omaha … Illinois high school bat study published … D-III tournament airs on CSTV … Striking out MRSA … High school girl up to bat in Indiana.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Chet Lemon, Head Coach at Eustis (Fla.) High School, has made a name for himself in high school coaching after 16 seasons as an MLB outfielder—while battling a serious spleen disease.

On the cover: Kellen Kulbacki, a junior outfielder for James Madison University last season, takes a moment to focus before heading to the batter’s box. Kulbacki is one player who benefited from mental training, the topic of our cover story beginning on page 16. Photo by JMU Sports Media Relations.

Publisher Mark Goldberg Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editor Dennis Read Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Nate Dougherty, Abigail Funk, Greg Scholand

Art Director Pamela Crawford Photo Researcher Susan Morrello Business Manager Pennie Small Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

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The mental edge could be what your players need to succeed. In this article, some of the game’s top head coaches and peak performance consultants give advice on coaching the mental side of baseball.

YOUR CAREER

Creating A Buzz

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Looking to climb the coaching ladder? To land an interview in today’s highly competitive job market, coaches need a systematic and dynamic strategy.

NUTRITION

Sweaty Days

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The ever-changing variety of sports drinks and recovery drinks can be overwhelming—but don’t sweat it. Knowing what to look for will help keep you and your players on top of their game.

NEW PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 FACILITY EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 INFIELD MIXES & SOIL ADDITIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 NETS & CAGES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 PRACTICE AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Circulation Director Dave Dubin Circulation Manager John Callaghan Production Director Don Andersen Assistant Production Director Jim Harper Production Assistant Jonni Campbell Prepress Manager Neal Betts IT Manager Julian Cook Technology Administrator Miles Worthington

TEAM EQUIPMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 MORE PRODUCTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 WEB NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Advertising Sales Associates (607) 257-6970 Diedra Harkenrider, ext. 24 Pat Wertman, ext. 21 Ad Materials Coordinator Mike Townsend Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell Business and Editorial Offices 31 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-6970, Fax (607) 257-7328 info@MomentumMedia.com

The Coaching Management Baseball edition is published 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 © 2008 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved. Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited 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.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Omaha Discusses CWS Future Few sporting events are as connected to their location as the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. In many ways, Omaha, Neb., is synonymous with the College World Series, and the Road to Omaha is a rallying cry for teams across the country.

But despite having hosted the College World Series every year since 1950, Omaha’s claim to the event is not eternal. The current five-year agreement expires following the 2010 series and negotiations for the following five years are ongoing.

up for consideration: three that include major renovations at Rosenblatt and five that entail building a new facility.

“We were originally thinking about a Rosenblatt master plan option that involved a significant amount of money,” he says. “That caused us all to say, ‘Let’s make sure we do our homework and look at all our options.’”

will understand if we decide to go with a new stadium.”

Although no decisions have yet been made—Omaha has until April 30 to make its pro-

Dennis Poppe, NCAA Managing Director of Baseball and Football, says the continuity

The College World Series is unique among NCAA championships in its Omaha run, which will reach 60 years in 2010. The next longest current hosting streak belongs to Florence, Ala., which has hosted the Division II football championship for 22 years.

them to their homes or out to Boys Town,” Poppe says.

“They make sure the guys have postgame sandwiches and so forth. Some people might find that corny or old hat, but we find that the volunteers develop real friendships with the players and coaches they host. Many will stay in touch, and when teams come back to Omaha, they often ask to have the same host.”

Still, Poppe says the NCAA has an obligation to make sure

While some believe there is a possibility that the College World Series may head elsewhere (Indianapolis has expressed some interest should the event become available), Omaha has an exclusive bargaining window with the NCAA and has shown little willingness to let the $30-million event get away. However, that doesn’t preclude the possibility of a new home for the College World Series, even if it stays in Omaha.

Diesing says eight different scenarios have been drawn

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Dennis Poppe, NCAA Managing Director of Baseball and Football, speaks at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., prior to the start of the 2007 College World Series. City officials are discussing the possibility of renovating Rosenblatt or constructing a new stadium to keep the CWS in Omaha. posal to the NCAA—supporters have rallied around Rosenblatt and some have even started a Web site (www. saverosenblatt.com) to lobby for its preservation. Diesing, who has been involved with the College World Series for 44 years, says he understands the emotions involved.

provided by 50-plus years in Omaha has been beneficial for everyone involved in the College World Series. “It’s a unique atmosphere that is unlike a lot of other events that travel from city to city,” he says. “It has a home, and that home translates to a family atmosphere.”

“Nobody has more sentimental attachment to Rosenblatt than I do,” he says. “Change is difficult, but as long as we explain ourselves, I think most people

One example is the local community groups that serve as hosts for competing teams.

“They meet their adopted team at the airport, and take

future decisions are made in the best interest of the College World Series. “Omaha has never rested on its laurels,” he says. “The city has always come forward with suggested improvements and innovations, and we’ve always been able to arrive at an agreement regarding them. City officials are reviewing their options and when they’re done, we’ll determine if it’s a win-win situation for both parties. If it is, we’ll proceed with whatever the proposal might be.”

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

For the first time in the memory of Jack Diesing, President and Treasurer of College World Series of Omaha, Inc., the local organizing committee, building a new stadium is being considered. “We’re in the beginning stages of working on an extension with the NCAA to continue hosting the College World Series,” he says. “Those of us here in Omaha—the College World Series of Omaha Inc., the city, and the local business community—are analyzing the pros and cons of a longrange plan to either renovate Rosenblatt Field or construct a new stadium. We’re looking proactively at what’s in the best long-term interest of the College World Series.”

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Front view

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Bat Safety Studied

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) commissioned the comparative study because it could not find any research on wood versus nonwood bat usage. Funded by the NFHS and conducted by Illinois State University, the study followed 32 Illinois high school teams in more than

A Walther Lutheran High School player waits on deck during the 2007 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state semifinals. The IHSA commissioned a bat study last season that found little difference in the number of injuries when wood bats were used versus non-wood bats.

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LORI SOLYOM/WALTHER LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL

For those embroiled in the wood versus metal bat debate, the argument often comes down to safety. Metal bats are believed by many to present a greater danger to fielders, particularly pitchers, because of the greater speed at which the ball leaves the bat. But the first comparative study of wood and non-wood bats in high school games shows safety may not be as big an issue as previously thought.

400 games and found little difference in the number of injuries when wood bats were used versus non-wood bats.

In over 4,000 at-bats, participating schools tallied a total of five injuries in games with non-wood bats compared to two injuries in games with wood bats. All injuries were counted, not just those resulting from a batted ball—such as a player who suffered a fracture sliding into second base and another who was hit by a pitch. With so few injuries occurring regardless of which bats were used, the researchers determined there was no statistically significant difference in injury risk.

“There has always been speculation that non-wood bats increase injury rates, but we didn’t see it,” says Kevin Laudner, an Assistant Professor in

Illinois State’s School of Kinesiology and Recreation, who conducted the study. “Even the severity of injuries gave no statistical evidence to support a claim that non-wood bats are more dangerous.”

The study also found that games with non-wood bats included more hits (8.77 per game compared to 6.5 with wood bats) and lasted an average of 12.35 minutes longer, but Laudner says the extra time on the field and runners on base did not lead to more injuries. “People may try to make the argument that the longer athletes are out there, the greater the risk for injury,” Laudner says. “But that just wasn’t the case.”

Safety was the main concern cited when the New York City Council voted to ban metal bats in the city’s public high

school games beginning this season, and last year when North Dakota high schoolers started using wood bats exclusively. But those decisions were not met without criticism from metal bat proponents, including metal bat manufacturing companies.

Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, Ill., was one of the 32 teams that participated in the study. And while Head Coach Don Gillingham agrees with the study’s researchers that metal bats are not as much of a safety concern as some perceive them to be, he says playing with wood bats during league games did have a positive effect on his team.

“With an aluminum bat, my guys could hit the ball off the handle and still have it go down the line for a double, but with a wood bat they had

to be more precise when hitting,” he says. “It taught my players to run the bases better, bunt more, and be more sound offensively. When using a wood bat, those traits become part of the batter’s personality. It also helped our pitchers because they learned to throw inside, where it is harder to make contact with a wood bat.”

One concern associated with using wood bats exclusively is the cost of replacing broken ones, so in addition to recording injuries, the IHSA study also had teams keep a running count of bats broken during games. In the 412 games played by the 32 teams, there were 368 broken bats, which means each wood bat lasted for about 35 game at-bats.

Now, school officials can use that rate when analyzing a team budget.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD D-III On TV The night before Kean University played in the NCAA Division III championship game last May, Head Coach Neil Ioviero got an e-mail from former player Bob Golden, who suited up for the Cougars in the early 1980s. Now a colonel in the United States Marine Corps stationed in South Korea, Golden had been watching all the team’s playoff games through a video feed on the NCAA’s Web site and wanted to congratulate the team on its postseason run. Ioviero read the e-mail to his team before the game, which Kean went on to win in 10 innings.

And that final game broadcast was available to more fans than ever before. In addition to being able to see the games online, thousands of others watched the Cougars win a thrilling championship game against Emory University on TV (on a tape delay), as the Division III Baseball Championships were televised for the first time.

The tournament was aired in its entirety on College Sports

Television (CSTV) the first week in June. Both the online video feed and CSTV broadcasts are examples of how Division III baseball is gaining exposure.

“It was refreshing to know that anyone who wasn’t at the tournament could still see every pitch of every inning,” Ioviero says. “We didn’t have to describe what it was like to all the fans back home because they saw it, too.”

Ioviero says he was impressed with the level of professionalism and dedication showed by the television crew in preparing for the event. “CSTV didn’t treat this like they were just doing some throwntogether broadcast,” he says.

“They did a great job producing it and had great announcers who really knew what they were talking about and did some really nice interviews before the game.”

Al Bean, Director of Athletics at the University of Southern Maine and a member of the NCAA Division III Baseball Committee, says the coverage showed viewers the exciting level of baseball in Division III.

“This gives people a chance to realize that the quality of our play is very high,” Bean says.

“There’s a perception that sports in Division III are played at an inferior level, but there are some exceptional players and a great brand of baseball being played.”

The coverage also gave viewers a chance to see different teams and players, and increased exposure in regions where Division I baseball isn’t as strong. “Our tournament gets teams from all over, while in Division I you hardly ever see a team from the Northeast in the College World Series,” Ioviero says. “Division III baseball is spread out across the country, and it’s good for everyone to be able to see how there are great teams everywhere.”

Ioviero also thinks showing the high level of Division III competition could help lure potential recruits. “Baseball isn’t like football or basketball where there’s a distinct difference in the talent levels between the divisions,” he says. “The fact that a lot of baseball players can go pro from Division III shows

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Striking Out MRSA It used to be that when a player slid into a bag, getting tagged out was a much bigger worry than donating a little skin to the infield. If the umpire called you out, you took your lumps and returned to the dugout. But these days, skinned up players face a new opponent—one that if not diagnosed early and cared for properly can spread like wildfire through a team.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a potentially life-threatening staph infection that has increasingly been found in athletic settings. MRSA made national headlines in 2003, when a football player at Lycoming College died of a bloodstream infection linked to MRSA bacteria.

That same year, the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers’ Society reported nine cases of MRSA in minor league baseball. In eight of those cases, an abrasion caused by sliding eventually became infected. The Baltimore Orioles got a taste of MRSA in 2005, when slugger Sammy Sosa missed 15 games after becoming infected. And in 2006, the Toronto Blue Jays had to disinfect their entire clubhouse after two players were stricken.

What exactly is MRSA, and why is it so dangerous? For years, the antibiotic methicillin (a synthetic form of penicillin) was a standard treatment for staph infections, which were common in hospitals and nursing homes but rarely seen in the general public. Over time, some staph bacteria developed resistance to methicillin, and decades of doctors overprescribing antibiotics made

KEAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Kean University celebrates its 5-4 win over Emory University to claim the 2007 NCAA Division III baseball championship at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis. In a move indicative of Division III baseball gaining exposure, the tournament was aired in its entirety (on a tape delay) on College Sports Television (CSTV) last spring.

how legitimate it is. Putting DIII baseball on television gives it that much more credibility.”

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD the problem worse. Today, methicillin is no longer prescribed to treat infections, but the term “methicillin-resistant” is still used to describe staph strains that are immune to many common antibiotics.

“The real key to controlling MRSA is identifying it as quickly as possible,” says Jeff Hageman, an epidemiologist specializing in staph infections at

MRSA is usually transferred when a colonized person’s bacteria come into contact with a cut, scrape, or other open wound. In baseball, abrasions from sliding are perfect sites for contracting an infection.

Equipment such as batting helmets, gloves, and catcher’s gear can also carry MRSA bacteria. Above, Iowa’s Kee High School and St. Mary’s High School compete last season.

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AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

Because MRSA bacteria are harder to kill, the infections must be treated more carefully than ordinary staph cases (methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, or MSSA).

Untreated MRSA can lead to organ damage, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or, in extreme cases, necrotizing fasciitis (commonly known as flesh eating bacteria). However, if a diagnosis is made quickly, MRSA can be treated fairly easily using special antibiotics.

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The standard treatment procedures and drugs are very effective, and the severe cases are usually the result of an infection not being recognized early enough.”

A MRSA infection typically begins as a skin lesion containing a pustule, so it is often mistaken for a pimple, ingrown hair, or spider bite.

As it develops, it expands and can present with painful swelling and discoloration, running sores, boils, and sometimes serious tissue damage.

In athletic settings, infection usually occurs when a colonized person’s bacteria come into contact with a cut, scrape, or other open wound. This can occur through skin-on-skin contact or sharing equipment, such as batting helmets, gloves, and catcher’s gear. The danger extends to the locker room as well—MRSA can be spread when athletes share towels, razors, or even bars of soap.

Strategies for warding off MRSA range from the basic, like using the right kind of soap in locker room showers, to the high-tech—one company offers

a metal box that attaches to a wall and constantly filters the air in the room. But experts agree a major piece of the puzzle is simply practicing good hygiene.

“Athletes can do a lot to minimize their exposure to MRSA just by following standard cleanliness rules,” says A.J. Duffy III, Head Athletic Trainer at Widener University and former President of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Association. “That means washing their hands regularly with antibacterial soap. It also means showering immediately after practice—athletes shouldn’t

change their clothes and head back home or to their dorm room to shower, though many prefer to do that.”

Basic hygiene standards should apply to uniforms and equipment as well. “One thing we know is that bacteria love damp, moist environments, which means protective equipment is a potential danger area,” Duffy says. “How many times do you see athletes finish practice and throw their gear in a bag or locker instead of letting it dry out? It’s a simple step, but it can make a very big difference.”

RESOURCES The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the most up-to-date information. Type MRSA in the search window at: www.cdc.gov.

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s official statement on MRSA is a valuable resource that can be distributed to your athletes. Download it here: www.nata.org/newsrelease/archives/000240.htm.

Our sister publication, Training & Conditioning, has produced free, printable posters educating athletes and coaches about the dangers of MRSA. They are available at: www.training-conditioning.com/mrsa.html.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Almost anything players touch on a daily basis—baseball mitts, bats, weightroom equipment, towels and washcloths, locker room benches, jerseys— can be a conduit for MRSA bacteria. Since it’s impossible to clean every surface daily, it helps to identify the most frequently contacted spots in your facilities (for instance, locker room doorknobs, treatment tables, and shower areas) and single them out for more frequent cleaning.

The best thing you can do as a coach is educate your players about MRSA and explain that the simple preventative measures detailed above can make the difference. While there are antibiotics available that effectively treat MRSA infections, remember that early detection is key, and any player would rather be called out at a base than diagnosed with MRSA.

Girl in the Game In the fall of 2006, high school senior Meghan Cross moved into the Union School District in Modoc, Ind., bringing with her several years of softball experience, natural athleticism, and a passion for the game. There was only one problem—Union doesn’t have a softball team. So Cross played baseball instead. She was able to try out for baseball under an Indiana High School Athletic Association rule allowing girls to compete on boys’ teams if a comparable girls’ sport is not offered.

Having a talented athlete on his team who happened to be a girl was just fine with Tyler Davis, Head Coach and Athletic Director at Union. “I was actually the one who suggested she try out,” Davis says.

“She was really disappointed we didn’t have softball, so I

suggested she come out for my team.”

When Cross took him up on the offer, Davis began putting some thought into what adjustments he might need to make. “I checked into whether I would need to make any modifications to our uniform, but it worked fine as it was,” he says. “We ended up having her dress in the girls’ locker room and meet the team outside.”

Before the first practice, Davis sat down with Cross to talk about expectations. “I told her I was going to treat her just like one of the guys, and she wouldn’t get any special treatment because she was a girl or because she was learning a new sport,” he says.

“When she missed a ball, she’d have to run just like everybody else. She’d have to work for her playing time and

earn her spot in the lineup.

I believed that treating her exactly the same as the rest of the team would be the key to the boys accepting her.”

Next, Davis spoke with the boys on his team. “I told them they needed to treat her with the same respect they would show any other teammate,” he says. “I also told them they were going to need to clean up their conversation in the dugout. I said, ‘I know you like to joke, but if you make the wrong joke this season, you could end up in a lot of trouble, so think before you talk.’”

Surprisingly, the policy elicited no resentment from Davis’s boys. “I can honestly say they were fine with it, and I think it made them mature a little bit,” he says. “That was one of the big positives to come out of her playing.”

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While Davis’s team easily accepted Cross’s presence, opposing players weren’t always so welcoming. “There were some pitchers who clearly didn’t like seeing a girl come up to the plate, and they’d throw inside to try to intimidate her,” he says. “She was hit with pitches five or six times during the season, which is pretty unusual. But she handled it well. She just scowled at the pitcher and ran down to first.”

Meghan Cross, a junior at Union High School in Modoc, Ind., played on the baseball team last season. Her coach and teammates were supportive of her decision and welcomed her to the team, but Cross did face some animosity from opposing players.

Cross, who earned a starting spot on the team, had more adjustments to make offensively than defensively. “Hitting was tough for her,” Davis says.

“The ball comes down at the batter in baseball, while in softball, it comes up. She did well on the pitching machine, but struggled with live pitches.”

However, Cross was in her element in the field. “She was a real asset on defense,” Davis

says. “She’s very fast, so I had her in the outfield. She could really cover a lot of ground, and I think more than one opposing player was surprised to find she could get them out.”

It seems Cross may have blazed a trail for other female baseball athletes in Modoc.

“We have a youth baseball team in town and there are a handful of girls who play,” he says. “One of them is a freshman this year and I’ve heard that she plans to try out for the high school baseball team.”

If he does see more girls at tryouts, Davis believes that will be a good thing. “We’re a small school, and we can’t afford to start a softball team,” he says. “This is one way we can offer more participation opportunities to our female student-athletes, and I am glad to coach in a state where it’s allowed.”

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Q&A

Chet Lemon Eustis (Fla.) High School During his 16 seasons in the major leagues, Chet Lemon was known as an outfielder who could cover a lot of ground. A three-time all-star and member of the 1984 Detroit Tigers World Series championship team, Lemon set American League records—which stand today—with 524 total chances and 512 putouts for the Chicago White Sox in 1977.

Seventeen years after his final big league appearance, Lemon still covers a lot of ground, only it’s in youth sports. The Head Coach at Eustis (Fla.) High School for seven years, his teams have won five district titles and one state title. He also coaches one of the nation’s top amateur baseball programs, Chet Lemon’s Juice, which has a national title and 15 first-round draft picks to its credit. In addition to his baseball duties, Lemon serves as Governor of the Florida chapter of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), overseeing competition involving 40,000

CM: How did you get into coaching after your playing career ended?

Lemon: I’ve always enjoyed working with young people, and I’ve always been a student of the game. So when I started the Chet Lemon School of Baseball in 1993, it was a perfect fit for me.

athletes in more than 30 sports, while serving as the state’s baseball and basketball chair.

For a while, however, Lemon‘s life after retiring from the major leagues looked uncertain. His playing career ended in 1990 when he was diagnosed with polycythemia vera, a disease of the spleen that results in overproduction of red blood cells, leaving the blood thicker than it should be.

Shortly before opening the Chet Lemon School of Baseball in 1993, he survived a life-threatening episode and, despite a couple of scary relapses, he’s been healthy enough to enjoy plenty of success both on and off the field.

In this interview, Lemon talks about turning good athletes into great baseball players, coaching his son Marcus (a standout high school player who is now playing in the Texas Rangers organization), and what his health problems have taught him as a coach.

When my family moved to Eustis, David Lee, the head coach at the high school, asked me if I would help out. I was skeptical, but I told him I would be happy to assist him occasionally. With three sons who played baseball, that quickly turned into me being out there all the time, and

I eventually became an assistant coach. I coached with David for a couple of years before I got sick again and had to take half a season off. When I came back, David had left for another job, and I became the head coach.

Why were you initially reluctant to work with the high school team?

I’ve always been in charge, and I didn’t know if it would work for me to be an assistant coach. But David was such an easy guy to work with that there were no problems. He gave me a lot of leeway to implement the things that I wanted to do, so it was a really good fit.

What are the biggest differences between coaching AAU and high school?

Our AAU teams are able to select kids who have goals of taking their game to the next level. They’re serious about their future in baseball and are willing to commit to it.

ORLANDO SENTINEL

In high school, you have to work with what you get. That’s been a little more challenging because in most cases they’re not as advanced. So you have to work a little harder with them, but they still have a tremendous amount of desire.

What I do like is that I get to see the high school players every day and I’m able to get very close to them. I’ve watched a lot of them develop and grow as people in the high school program.

Eustis High School has won five district titles and a state championship in the seven years that former MLB outfielder Chet Lemon has been Head Coach. Above, Mitch Oakey takes a swing for Eustis in a game last season.

What do you do to turn good high school athletes into great baseball players?

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I’m patient, I teach technique, and I use a lot of repetition. I constantly work on situational baseball and break things down. One of the biggest challenges is that, unlike the Juice program where all the players on a team are about the same age and usually have the same level of talent and experience, the high school team is a very diverse group.

ing varsity baseball for two or three years.

So there’s more work involved in trying to get everybody on the same page.

How do you set up practices so that both older and younger players benefit?

I start by telling our kids that I will never teach down to them, but I will help them elevate their game to where it needs to

“They don’t have to be the fastest or the biggest or the strongest. Kids need to know that, because all they ever hear about is the guy who was clocked at 99 miles an hour on the radar gun ... You just need to stay within yourself and be the best player you’re capable of being.”

On the high school team, we usually have a couple of freshmen and sophomores who are really just learning the game.

They’re capable of playing because of their natural talent, but their knowledge and experience are lacking compared to some of the seniors who have been play-

be. Let’s say I have a freshman second baseman and senior shortstop. That freshman is probably going to need more repetition and reinforcement than the shortstop. And I have to make sure that freshman is strong enough to handle playing with the senior at short. But that’s

part of knowing your kids, which is an intregal part of being a successful coach.

I run a lot of drills with the younger players to build confidence. If you build a solid foundation, before you know it, they start to feel good about themselves. I also give praise where praise is due. Once kids start to feel good about themselves, they look forward to the next challenge.

Your youngest son Marcus was a standout player for you and is now playing pro ball. What was it like coaching him?

Sometimes it can be difficult coaching your own son, but I can honestly say that I really enjoyed working with Marcus. Since he was very young, I stressed to him that with me being his dad there would be higher expectations placed on him. He could never just be equal to any kid that he played with—he had to make sure he was the better player so there wouldn’t be any reason for the other kid to play in front of him. And he always understood and accepted that.

Many of your players have gone on to play in NCAA Division I, and Marcus committed to the University of Texas

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Q&A before going pro. How do you help players make the right decision about going to the next level?

I tell them to evaluate their situation, keep their options open, and most of all be true to themselves. It’s not something they can do for Dad or Mom or anybody else. It has to be something they do for themselves. When Marcus was making his decision, I didn’t make one recruiting trip with him—I sent his Mom. If I had said, “Marcus, I really like this school,” he would have chosen that school. So I stayed away.

I also explain that if you’re going to school there’s no such thing as an athlete-student. You need to know that you’re there to get an education first. If a player thinks he’s just going to play college baseball for two or three years and then come out and be a top-round draft choice, he needs to be true to himself and start his career as a professional athlete as soon as he can.

How often do you talk to your players about your playing days?

Every time they see me on TV, they come and tell me about it. They say, “Coach, I saw you on Sportscenter chasing after

Mark McGwire’s first home run.” Or when the White Sox or Tigers were in the World Series, I would be mentioned. I laugh and tell them, “You know, I had my day in the sun. Now it’s your time, so let’s get busy.”

It’s fun for them, but most of them weren’t even born when I retired. I think their respect for me has more to do with what I’ve accomplished since I became a coach.

What lessons from your playing career do you share with your athletes?

I learned that in order to be a great player, you need to have great work habits. I tell them they have to go out there every day and be focused and understand that they need to excel among the best. They can’t just be happy to be there.

But I also tell them they don’t have to be the fastest or the biggest or the strongest. Kids need to know that, because all they ever hear about is the guy that was clocked at 99 miles an hour on the radar gun or the big and strong guy who hit a ball 500 feet. You just need to stay within yourself and be the best player you’re capable of being.

As Governor of AAU in Florida, you work closely with baseball and basketball. How has summer baseball avoided some of the problems that have beset summer basketball?

In many cases, shoe companies are very involved in basketball. When big companies spend the money to sponsor these teams, they tend to gain control. In some cases the AAU basketball coaches almost act as agents and control how colleges can get to their players. That doesn’t happen with the summer baseball coaches.

There just isn’t the same money involved —who wears baseball cleats besides baseball players?

How have your health problems shaped you as a coach?

They’ve made me more understanding when my players go through difficult times.

Our health is so important and we often take it for granted all the time. I don’t know if I would be as sensitive to that if I hadn’t gone through what I did. I’ve always been a real tough guy and my son will tell you I don’t want to hear any excuses. But now if I hear that a kid’s arm doesn’t feel so good, I tell him he’s not throwing that day, even if he thinks it’s really okay.

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COVER STORY

HEAD GAMES

The mental edge could be what your players need to succeed.

In this article, some of the game’s top head coaches and peak performance consultants give advice on coaching the mental STRIDING TO THE PLATE DURING THE 2006 COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION TOURNAside of baseball.

MENT, Kellen Kulbacki stopped outside the batter’s box to go through his hitting routine. The Louisville Slugger National Co-Player of the Year and James Madison University’s record holder in career home runs, extra base hits, and slugging percentage, Kulbacki had a specific warmup he always used before digging in. But the umpire told him to hurry and told the pitcher to pitch. He called out, “Strike one!” before Kulbacki had even shouldered the bat.

BY KENNY BERKOWITZ

CoachingManagementOnline.com

over opponents, and learn the larger life lessons that come from being on either side of a 90-mile-an-hour fastball.

“You can do physical drills over and over again, but if you really want an edge, you need to look at the mental game,” McFarland says. “The bottom line is that you need to create the best possible scenario for each player to be successful in every situation. That’s what the mental game is all about.”

It’s A Process Teaching the mental game begins by asking players to set aside basic goals like striking out the side or hitting Kenny Berkowitz is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: kb@MomentumMedia.com.

JMU SPORTS MEDIA RELATIONS

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“We were watching from the dugout to see what would happen next,” says JMU Head Coach Spanky McFarland.

“There are a lot of players who would have gotten mad and lost focus for the rest of their at-bat, but not Kellen. He stepped out of the box, went through his routine again, and refocused.

“When he was ready, he stepped back into the box and hit the next pitch 440 feet for a home run,” continues McFarland. “He showed us all the power of mental training. We went on to win that game, and all we talked about afterward was how Kellen hadn’t let that umpire’s call get to him.”

Like McFarland, more and more coaches are turning to mental training to teach their players how to perform well under pressure, gain an advantage

Kellen Kulbacki, a junior outfielder for James Madison University last season, takes a moment to focus before heading to the batter’s box.

COVER STORY

the winning home run. Instead, mental training focuses on the learning process itself.

“From the beginning of their educational experiences, youngsters are trained to focus on external rewards, especially in sports,” says Augie Garrido, Head Coach at the University of Texas. “Winning becomes all they hear about, whether it’s getting a gold star on a spelling test or hitting a home run in Little League. There’s no emphasis on process, which is what it really takes to master a skill. It is a huge effort to retrain athletes to focus on the process itself, but it’s necessary.”

Brian Cain, a peak performance coach who consults at the high school, college, and professional levels, tells athletes to concentrate on only those things they can personally control. “If a player becomes too focused on outcome, they can miss what’s truly important in the game of baseball, which is the ability to play the game one pitch at a time,” says Cain, also Athletic Director at Mt. Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vt. “In golf, if you take the right swing,

the ball usually goes where you want it.

But in baseball, you can do everything right—take the right swing at the right pitch and hit the ball as hard as you can—and still make an out.

“The process of throwing a quality pitch or having a quality at-bat usually leads to a desirable result, but not always,” he continues. “So if a player is evaluating his success based only on end results, it’s a recipe for disaster.”

Whether they’re practicing or playing in a game, pitchers can benefit from a coach charting their pitches to see how effectively they’re hitting the target. “If the catcher calls for a fastball low and away, and that’s exactly where the pitcher places the ball, we put an ‘x’ on the chart,” Cain says. “Whether that pitch is taken for a strike or hit for a home run, we consider it a quality pitch.

“We chart every pitch, and we evaluate each pitcher’s performance based on location, because that’s the only thing he can truly control,” he continues. “At the high school level, we’ve found that pitchers who throw quality pitches 65 to

70 percent of the time will in turn win about 90 percent of their games. At the college and professional levels, that percentage has to increase because hitters are so much better. But at every level, having the command to consistently throw the ball where you want is an effective predictor of success.”

At JMU, McFarland uses a similar technique with batters. Coaches grade each batted ball on a scale of zero to five, with five being the hardest hit. “We put a big emphasis on quality at-bats,” he says.

“You can make an out or even strike out and still have a quality at-bat. If it took 10 pitches to strike you out, or if you’re smoking the ball but you fly out, that’s still a quality at-bat.”

Relaxed & Confident Another part of mental training is getting athletes focused, relaxed, and confident. Cain’s athletes achieve this by training to mentally prepare for their sport as they change into their uniforms.

As they take off their street clothes, he asks them to imagine shedding their off-

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field concerns one item at a time. When they put on their uniform, he asks them to commit completely to their coaches, teammates, and themselves, concentrating all their energy on the game.

“It’s like Clark Kent becoming Superman,” Cain says. “They come into

the field, and makes it easier for them to focus completely on the here and now.”

At the beginning of a practice session, Cain teaches athletes to use a simple, five-minute relaxation technique. “I’ll have everyone on the team sit together in the dugout and untie their shoes,” he

Like every other baseball skill, visualization needs to be developed, practiced, and sharpened over time. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” Cain says. “I generally try to start athletes in a quiet, controlled, and relaxed environment. And over time, it’s important to move beyond that controlled environment.” the locker room as the ultimate student and go out as the ultimate athlete. Then at the end of practice, they do it all in reverse. They take off the uniform thinking, ‘There’s the ball I missed. There’s the time I struck out.’ That changing process helps them separate their lives on and off

says. “I tell them to close their eyes, slowly inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth, focus on their breathing, and work their way up the body.

By becoming focused and relaxed, athletes develop self-assurance. “Mental training is all about fear and confi-

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dence,” Garrido says. “Fear makes it very difficult for an athlete to stay focused.

No matter how long you play the game, some fears never completely subside, but confidence helps put them into perspective. Confidence is the single most important ingredient in a player’s ability to stay in the moment.”

McFarland also points out that the actions of teammates can greatly affect an individual’s confidence, especially the younger players. “If a batter has crushed the ball, even if it’s caught, we want him to come back to the dugout with everybody high-fiving him anyway,” he says.

Value Of Visualization Visualization is another key to the mental game. Like every other baseball skill, visualization needs to be developed, practiced, and sharpened over time. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” Cain says.

“It has to be done on a daily basis. I generally try to start athletes in a quiet, controlled, and relaxed environment.

“And over time, it’s important to move beyond that controlled environment,” he continues. “I’ll start that transition by creating distractions—turning the lights on and off, slamming the door, or running my fingernails down a chalkboard.

Because in a real game, they’ll need to maintain focus amid a wide variety of distractions.”

After Cain takes players through their locker room routine, they practice some basic imagery exercises. “I’ll say, ‘I want you to see yourself at practice today giving your best effort, getting stronger from drill to drill. I want you to see yourself hitting the ball and see your teammates cheering in the dugout. If you strike out, I want you to see yourself walking back to the dugout and giving the next batter positive energy,’” he says.

When his pitchers have trouble visualizing their pitches, McFarland goes with a literal view instead. He films them from behind to demonstrate the movement of the ball over the plate. If that doesn’t work, he videotapes the movement of balls from the pitching machine, editing out all but the last few feet to train pitchers to follow the flight of a breaking ball.

Jeff McKay, who gives workshops for high school, college, and international baseball teams as Director of Be Your Own Coach, uses a drill that incorporates visualization during practice as well. He rolls imaginary grounders at infielders,

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training them to say “hit” as the imaginary ball leaves his hand, “roll” as it rolls, and “glove” as it lands in their glove.

He repeats the drill by rolling a real ball, and follows by hitting ground balls around the infield and training fielders to count the number of bounces out loud until the ball reaches their glove.

Outfielders are taught to say “hit” the moment a fly ball is hit, “up, up, up” as it rises, “peak” at its highest point, “down,

down, down” as it falls, and “catch” as it reaches their glove.

“Players need to coach themselves out loud and use one-syllable verbalizations,” McKay says. “Of course, the players may think it’s a pain in the neck to vocalize each time, but it’s an important part of keeping them tuned into the movement of the ball.”

In a lesson he learned from Cain, McFarland talks to his pitchers about car-

rying metaphorical bricks. A bad pitch is like a brick, and if athletes can’t learn to let go of the past, they’ll find themselves weighed down by a ton of bricks. “As a pitcher, you have to start your routine by accepting responsibility for the pitch you just threw,” McFarland says. “Let’s say you had a bad pitch that was hit for a double. You don’t need to dwell on it, you need to step off the mound, take a breath, and refocus. What’s done is

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COVER STORY

done, and you have to get the last pitch out of your mind before you can start thinking about the next one.”

Creating A Routine One way to build awareness is to have athletes create a mental routine to focus their minds and bodies on each pitch. At

ready—both mentally and physically—for every pitch,” he says. “Whether you’re a pitcher, hitter, or fielder, that 15 seconds between pitches can make the difference between delivering under pressure and failing. Working on that inbetween routine every single day is the key to focusing your body and mind.”

Spanky McFarland, Head Coach at James Madison University, creates a station for players to work specifically on their mental game, repeating their routine over and over. As part of every practice and before every game, players work on their hitting mechanics with everything but a ball ... visualizing an entire at-bat.

JMU, McFarland breaks a typical game into about 250 pitches, each separated by approximately 15 seconds. He says players should use that short pause between each one to regroup and refocus.

“The best baseball players learn a routine and practice it until they’re

To give his players a clearer picture of what he is talking about, McFarland describes those 15 seconds as the face of a stopwatch. Time starts at the top of the circle with the end of the last play, moves clockwise through the break, and ends back at the top, when players

need to be mentally ready for the next pitch. And though the specific routine will vary with each player and situation, it should always include the athlete accepting personal responsibility, taking a deep breath, and making the decision to refocus.

At JMU, players develop a hitting routine that starts the moment they step out of the dugout. “When they’re in the ondeck circle, they’re working on getting into the moment, timing the pitcher, and getting focused,” McFarland says.

“Once they get to the plate, they need to take ownership of the batter’s box.

So the first thing they do is clean it off a little bit, as if to say, ‘This is my box now.’

Then they step out, look for their signal, and start focusing their eyes.”

During batting practice, McFarland creates a station for players to work specifically on their mental game, repeating their routine over and over. As part of every practice and before every game, players work on their hitting mechanics with everything but a ball, rehearsing their mental routine, practicing their

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COVER STORY

A

fter more than 30 years as a coach, Spanky McFarland still gets ejected from a couple of games every season. “I have a reputation as a slow burner, so I’ve been working on my own particular form of release, trying not to hold on to whatever happened in the last pitch,” says the James Madison University Head Coach. “Over the years, I’ve learned to delegate more responsibility to my assistant coaches, which has made it easier to concentrate and kept me from feeling mentally and physically drained. Staying completely focused for three hours is a hard thing to do, so I’ve learned to release and refocus after each pitch, and it’s making me a better coach.

“There are still times when I argue a call—that’s just part of the game,” McFarland continues. “In the heat of the moment, there are still times when I do something regrettable, so I try to use those as teaching

moments. I’ll gather my athletes together and say, ‘After all the things I’ve been teaching you about maintaining your concentration, you just saw an example of how not to stay focused.’”

It’s a critical lesson to learn, says Brian Cain, Athletic Director at Mt. Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vt., and a peak performance consultant for high school, college, and professional athletes. Coaches need to set an example of mental toughness. “When an umpire makes a bad call, instead of storming onto the field, stay in the dugout and say, ‘So what? Next pitch!’” Cain says. “Be the leader. Demonstrate how you want your players to act. Do you have so little confidence that you need to have every call go your way? If you do, you need to find another profession. If you don’t, the next time one of your players makes an error, be the first one to say, ‘Next pitch’ and keep your players focused on the game.”

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swing, and visualizing an entire at-bat down to the finest details.

To develop consistent mechanics, Cain trains pitchers to create a mental routine before each pitch using a twopronged verbal and visual approach.

“If you want physical consistency, you need to have mental consistency, using the same routine each time,” Cain says.

“Before each pitch, I tell pitchers to relax: ‘Take a good, deep breath. Bring oxygen into your system. Slow yourself down. Establish a consistent starting point.’

“Usually I have pitchers look down at their shoelace or a pebble while they’re drawing that breath—something that’s always going to be there,” he continues. “So they look down, look up, get their sign, and start their mechanics with a pitch thought. For example, most of the pitchers I work with use the thought ‘pound it’ or ‘blow it up’ each time they throw the ball. As they start their mechanics, I want them to concentrate on pounding the mitt with a good, aggressive fastball. There’s a big difference between a 90-mile-an-hour fastball and a 90-mile-an-hour fastball that’s been thrown with commitment and conviction to pound that glove.”

batting mechanics, while internalizing an image of what it looks like for them to hit well. In the third, athletes continue to practice with and without their coaches until they can demonstrate the ability to coach themselves.

“I’ll start by asking a batter a general question: ‘When you swing, what do your legs do?’” McKay says. “If he doesn’t know, I’ll have him swing the bat, directing him to pay attention to his lower body, and then I’ll ask again. If he still doesn’t

In The Moment Ultimately, mental training is about concentration. When at the plate, the better a batter is able to concentrate, the more likely he is to succeed.

McKay believes the key to success on the baseball field is to help athletes gain the self-awareness they need to coach themselves. “In most cases, we don’t need to tell kids what to do,” he says. “If we can help them become aware of what their bodies are doing, they’ll fix themselves.”

McKay teaches coaches to follow the three basic rules of TIP, which stands for: Take note, Improve, and Practice.

To correct batting mechanics with TIP, coaches ask athletes to take note of their swing, and try to gauge that athlete’s perception of what he is and isn’t doing well. In most cases, athletes are largely unaware of their movements, and in some cases, coaches may need to demonstrate their mistakes before athletes realize what they’re doing wrong. In the second part of TIP, athletes improve as they teach themselves to feel the difference between effective and ineffective

know, that tells me he’s not aware of his mechanics, which is why he makes mistakes like stepping in the bucket.

“The next time he swings, I tell him to freeze and observe his lead leg, which is the first time he realizes his foot is in the bucket,” he continues. “Now we’re getting somewhere. I tell him to take a step toward the pitcher, and when he does, he feels the difference in his body.

He recognizes how it feels to take a good swing, which is the start of learning to

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Coach, agrees. “A slump is just a made-up concept,” he says. “When athletes tell you they’re in a slump, you need to resist the urge to buy into that label. The reality is you’re in the perfect position to help them get past that concept so they can start hitting again.

o slumps exist? Only in the mind, say peak performance coaches Brian Cain and Jeff McKay. For Cain, Athletic Director at Mt. Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vt., turning around a slump begins with a conversation.

“When I talk to athletes who think they’re in a slump, I start by asking about their thought process,” Cain says.

“They invariably tell me about how they’re struggling. If I say, ‘Tell me about the last time you were a great hitter,’ they can’t. They’re thinking of themselves as bad hitters.

They’re so focused on negatives, they’ve forgotten why they love baseball.

“A lot of times, the images in their mind are defeating them, and using visualization can make the difference,” he continues. “They need to take responsibility for controlling those images, replacing them with positive ones and refocusing on quality at-bats, not on things they can’t control.”

“For example, during a game at Middlebury College, this .434 hitter who was batting 0-for-3 told me he was in a slump,” McKay continues. “I needed to find an integrated mental-physical way to get him past the concept, so we did a couple of drills in the dugout to regain his focus. Standing three feet away, I asked him to say ‘pitch’ at the moment of release every time I tossed him the ball. Then I asked him to catch the ball on the front of his bat and say ‘bunt’ at the moment of contact. We did that about half a dozen times, with me tossing the ball and him saying ‘pitch, bunt’ until he was confident again that he could follow the ball. That was the end of his ‘slump,’ simply because he was able to get his mind off the concept and onto the ball.”

McKay, who gives workshops for high school, college, and international baseball teams as Director of Be Your Own

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COVER STORY

coach himself. He knows the feeling of stepping straight at the pitcher, so the next time he feels himself stepping in the bucket, he’ll correct it himself.”

McKay also works with fielders to develop a sense of awareness. He says paying attention is the number one skill to master in baseball. Instead of telling players to keep their gloves down, he encourages coaches to ask, “Where is your glove?” The answers show players where they need to adjust.

By the time the pitcher is ready to make his next pitch, he needs to internalize the ways the external situation changed since the last pitch. “Did the runners move up?

Did the count change? Is there a new hitter?” McFarland says. “Then, when he’s back on the mound, he has to be calm again, loosening his shoulders, catching his breath, and concentrating on the catcher’s next sign. I want him to internalize the sign and visualize the last five feet of that pitch as the ball breaks.”

“Then, right before the windup, I want him to again repeat his mental cue,” McFarland continues. “It might be as long as, ‘I’ve trained for this, I get into position, and I let it go’ or as short as, ‘Let it go.’ That’s how the routine ends, with the pitcher back in the moment.

He needs to go through this entire routine the same way every time, even when working in the bullpen.”

Right Time, Right Place As players mature from youth baseball to high school and college ball, the focus of their mental training needs to advance along with their physical tools.

At the high school level, Cain focuses most of his training on introducing athletes to the process of mastering skills.

“Mental training in high school is more about character and life skill development than winning,” he says. “It’s about increasing the quality of their performance during practice so they can treat practice sessions like games and games like practices. If they can do that, their performance is going to improve dramatically.”

Some of the greatest improvements will come from the youngest players, which is why Cain advocates teaching mental skills as early as possible. “Bringing the mental game to those kids and coaches at a younger level will not only let them perform better, but will make them appreciate the game a lot more,” he says.

“Imagine training mental skills at age eight instead of age 18. With 10 more years of quality development before they get to high school, how much better are those kids going to be?”

Best of all, mental skills can fit just about anywhere in a team’s schedule.

“Just about any time is good for teaching players about mental training,” Cain says. “You don’t need to block out individual half-hour segments with each of your players. You can spend five minutes

one-on-one during lunch, or on a bus ride to a game, or in the dugout during a rain delay. There’s so much wasted time that can be used to connect with your players and help them focus.”

“Mental training is priceless,” adds Garrido. “Anything that helps your players develop confidence and continue to grow as they face the adversity that baseball continually throws at them, is going to have a huge effect on your athletes and your team.” ■

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YOUR CAREER

CREATING A BUZZ

CHRIS MURPHY

Looking to climb the coaching ladder?

To land an interview in today’s highly competitive job market, coaches need a systematic and dynamic strategy.

You’re reading the morning newspaper or casually scanning the coaching job boards, and you see it: your dream job.

You’re at a point in your career when your experience and skills fit all the requirements. You’re excited. You think about picking up the phone to tell the school’s athletic director that you’re the perfect person for the job.

But then you ask yourself: Is that the right way to go? How do you land an interview for a coaching job you desperately want?

The competition for coaching positions can be fierce, and getting noticed is not easy. For some jobs, hundreds of resumes will arrive on an athletic

director’s desk, and only a handful of applicants will be interviewed. How you proceed over the next few days is critical.

Your goal is to create a buzz about yourself with the athletic director and/ or hiring committee members. You want to gather momentum so the committee will be excited to learn more about you.

To do that, you need to follow a systematic approach to keeping your name in front of decision-makers throughout the application process.

Initial Contact The number one factor in landing that interview is how you present yourself. The trick is being aggressive while

BY WILL REECE also showing that you can be a team player. You want to stand out from the crowd as a go-getter, but not as a loudmouth.

You want to follow directions, but also show that you can exceed expectations at the same time.

That’s why the first step in the process is to learn exactly how to apply for the position. No matter how you found the job opening, always check Will Reece is the Founder, President, and CEO of Next Level Consulting, which assists coaches at all levels in personal branding and communications. He is also a former coach and athletic administrator, and can be reached through his Web site at: www.nextlevel.us.

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YOUR CAREER

the institution’s Web site for the official description and details. This description will tell you where to send your resume and provide any special instructions, like whether they’re willing to receive e-mails or phone calls. If the posting says no phone calls and you call anyway, you are definitely not starting out on the right foot.

If phone calls are permitted, you should contact the athletic director (or appropriate hiring person) as soon as possible. Prepare a 30-second pitch that quickly highlights why you are a good candidate for the job. Tell them who you are, what position you currently hold, one or two highlights of your career, and that you intend to apply for the job. If the person on the other end of the line is receptive, ask how long the process will take, and then close with a positive, confident statement. If you can’t reach the athletic director by phone, leave a 30-second pitch on his or her voicemail or send a brief e-mail.

Here’s an example of an appropriate phone message: “Mr. Smith, this is Bill

Jones. I am currently an assistant coach at State, and I am calling to let you know of my interest in your head baseball coaching position. We have been very successful at State. This past year we won the conference championship and had two players named All-Americans.

We have consistently recruited the top student-athletes in the state. I am sending my resume and references, which should reach you later today. I look forward to having an opportunity to share my vision for your program with the search committee.”

What are some tips for this initial conversation? You want to be positive and upbeat, but not obnoxious. You should come off as confident, but not cocky.

And you want to be honest—if things work out, this athletic director will be your next boss, so represent yourself truthfully throughout the process.

The day you make contact with the hiring school, fax or e-mail a copy of your resume. The follow that up by sending any additional materials, with another copy of your resume, via overnight mail.

The value of sending overnight (or second-day delivery) is that recipients generally turn their attention toward overnight deliveriey envelopes before opening regular mail. And by sending a printed resume, you can be assured everything will look the way you want—rather than being blurred by lines on an old fax machine or jumbled because an administrator opened your text file with the wrong program.

Check the tracking information, and three days after your materials arrive, make a follow-up contact. Send an e-mail inquiry asking whether your materials have been received and letting the search committee know they can call with any questions. E-mail is instant and the contact person can read it as their schedule permits. It also opens up an easy line of communication if they have any additional questions for you. If you call instead, keep your conversation brief while communicating the same message.

Presenting Yourself On Paper Traditionally, applying for a job requires

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sending in your resume and a list of references. However, in today’s world of coaching hires, that isn’t enough. To make yourself stand out, you need to present a polished description of your philosophy and accomplishments. The best way to do this is by compiling a portfolio.

Today’s athletic directors want coaches with a vision and a professional image, so that’s how you need to present yourself.

You need to accurately communicate your successes and beliefs. You need to come across as a multi-dimensional coach with a personal brand.

Your portfolio should be broken down into three sections: biographical information, career highlights, and coaching philosophy. Strive to make your information clear, well organized, and easy to read, and make sure there are no grammatical mistakes or typos.

Biographical Information: This is the section that most resembles a traditional resume. It should contain: information on your education, athletic experience, coaching experience, other related work

experience, memberships in professional organizations and on committees, and any significant volunteer work. It usually works best to list your information chronologically, starting with the most recent position.

First and foremost, be absolutely certain that the information in this section is accurate and truthful. There have been several highly publicized cases in recent years of coaches “beefing up” their biographical information and subsequently losing their jobs when the truth came out. Today we live in a society where information travels around the world in the time it takes to click a mouse. The chances of getting away with misrepresenting yourself are slim, so don’t try it.

If you have an established career and track record, you should simply list your past positions and dates. However, if you have limited work experience, add a couple of lines describing the duties and responsibilities at each of the positions you have held. This will impress upon potential employers that even though

you may not have extensive work experience, you have had the opportunity to start building a quality skill set.

You should be aware that including personal information is not required. In fact, employment law prohibits those hiring from asking candidates about their personal lives. Personal items include your birth date, marital status, family background, health issues, etc. You can include information about your personal life in your portfolio, but employers are not permitted to ask follow-up questions relating to it and cannot use it to make their hiring decisions.

Career Highlights: In this section you list your professional accomplishments.

Include individual and team honors, awards, records, and other important information. Some coaches say they are reluctant to list honors because it will seem like they are tooting their own horn. But the truth is, if you don’t highlight your accomplishments, nobody else will. Rest assured that listing these achievements in the portfolio is informative and not conceited.

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The first step in formulating your highlights section is to compile an exhaustive “brag” sheet. List every piece of positive recognition you have received during your competing and coaching careers. Then, include those honors in your portfolio that are most relevant to the position you are seeking. Also, be sure to include the accomplishments of your players. If you had an athlete named conference MVP, you as a coach played a role in developing (and possibly recruiting) that player.

Think about how to “spin” your achievements. To be clear, you should never include information that is not true, but sometimes you can present the facts so that they have maximum impact.

For example, you may have led your team to a respectable 16-14 record in your first season. But you can also compare that record to previous years to show improvement. Let’s say the team finished 4-26 the season before you got there. That means you accomplished a 300 percent improvement in your first season.

You can also use this section to fill any holes in your resume. For example, if you have only worked at the NCAA Division III level and you are applying for a job in Division I, include some information on

how your experiences have prepared you to work at a Division I school.

Philosophy: It is important to have a coaching philosophy that is detailed, organized, and well written. I suggest breaking down your philosophy into two sections: technical approaches and program approaches.

A technical philosophy consists of how you believe the sport of baseball should be coached. This may include offensive and defensive strategies and your practice and strength and conditioning philosophies. A program philosophy includes all the factors that go into building and maintaining a championship program, such as motivating athletes, team-building, academics, fundraising, recruiting (at the college level), discipline, and public relations.

The position you are applying for will dictate whether to include your philosophy in your portfolio. Generally, if you are applying for a head coaching position, it is appropriate to include an explanation of your philosophy. If you are applying for an assistant coaching position, it’s not appropriate to include your personal philosophy. As an assistant coach you will be expected to implement the head coach’s philosophy.

Each hiring process is different from the next, and some can be downright quirky.

At one school, coaches may be hired solely by the athletic director who is eager for as many references as possible. At another school, a hiring committee may be used, with very strict rules on what information is allowed.

To deal with the nuances, try to find out as much as possible about the process. What is the timetable?

Who are the members of the interview committee?

How will the decision be made? What type of coach is the school looking for? Why did the former coach leave?

Getting this information is not as difficult as it may sound. Usually, you can find an inside connection who will be able to provide you with answers. You may know a coach who knows a coach at the school. You may be able to call the coach who is leaving. Or one of your references may be able to ask these questions for you.

If not, it helps to establish good communication with the athletic director’s staff. Generally, you will have contact with them in the follow-up process. If handled

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professionally, these people can be a great source of information.

Extra Touches: If you have the resources, you can add visual elements to make your portfolio stand out. Photos are a great way to highlight your accomplishments. Let’s say you’re an assistant baseball coach at the NCAA Division I level and have recruited several All-American athletes.

To send a powerful message, you could include a full-page picture of one of these athletes with a tagline that says: “Recruited to State by Coach Jones, Tom Smith went on to be a three-time All-American.”

If you have written recommendations from well-known coaches, it can be effective to add a section of quotes from these people. You could even add small photos of the coaches to accompany their quotes.

Bringing In The Big Guns Once you’ve made initial contact and sent in your portfolio, it’s time to bring in the big guns! These are the coaches who are respected by their peer coaches and administrators, and may include your current boss, a former boss, a coach for whom you competed, or a coach you met through networking.

You should ask two or three of these

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It’s especially important to find out how the hiring decision will be made. For example, if studentathletes’ parents make up a good chunk of the search committee and have a final vote, you’ll want to include something about working with parents in your philosophy statement. If the departing coach was let go due to poor academic performance by his athletes, add something about your student-athletes’ academic achievements in your portfolio’s highlights section, or even directly on your resume.

Since coaches are used to competition, many spend a lot of energy trying to find out who else is applying for the job. This is not a good use of your time—and it’s certainly not as important as finding out about the search process. All it leads you to is trying to discredit another candidate, which will ultimately reflect poorly on you.

YOUR CAREER

people to call the athletic director (or whomever is the contact person) to recommend you for the position. Arrange these calls to come on consecutive days so the contact person is hearing about you each day. And be sure to send a copy of your resume to these folks so they can refresh themselves on the details of your career before they call.

Selecting those who will call is of the utmost importance. Many young coaches approach “big name” coaches they might have had a 10-minute conversation with at a clinic and ask them to call. This generally backfires. The coach doesn’t know you well enough to answer questions the athletic director might ask about you. Many times he or she may actually end up recommending another candidate with whom he or she has a personal relationship!

Choose coaches or administrators who respect you. If there are specific points you would like them to bring out, speak with your callers in advance. If this would be your first head coaching job, ask them to talk about your leadership skills and how you are ready to take on a higher profile position.

Also think about anyone who would strike a chord with the contact person.

If you know a coach who has a relationship with the hiring athletic director, you have an ideal scenario. If the contact person is someone other than the athletic administrator (a principal, dean, or vice president), then it may be beneficial to have a non-coach call on your behalf.

It could be helpful for the contact person to hear from someone in a similar position at your current institution.

High school coaches often ask me what it takes to jump to the college ranks.

To be honest, this is a tough move to make. So in this situation especially, bringing in the big guns is critical. Of course, it takes a lot of networking beforehand.

Working camps, attending clinics, and volunteering at events are all important steps to building relationships with college coaches. When networking, look to build authentic relationships. If you are trying to make friends just to move up, you will only end up hurting yourself.

This type of jump often necessitates more than two or three phone calls from successful coaches who can recommend you. And, in addition to their phone calls, you should have a long list of references available by post mail, e-mail, or fax.

Playing It Cool As you make your way through this process, there are two more tips to keep in mind. One is to make sure you time your approach correctly: Make contact, send in your portfolio, follow it up, and then bring in the big guns, in that order. This timetable ensures that decision-makers will continue to hear your name throughout the process.

Two, don’t become a stalker. If you or your references call too many times, you run the risk of inundating the deci-

sion-makers. Although being persistent is a great trait for a coach, being overly persistent could be a real turn-off.

Play it cool and use a systematic approach that keeps your name in front of the search committee, while respecting their time and the job they have to do. Play up your strengths, and you’ll come across as a confident, savvy coach who knows how things should be done. ■ Versions of this article have appeared in other editions of Coaching Management.

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SWEATY DAYS

The ever-changing variety of sports drinks and recovery drinks can be overwhelming— but don’t sweat it. Knowing what to look for will help keep you and your players on top of their game.

BY MICHELLE ROCKWELL

A AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTO

GENERATION AGO, deciding what athletes should drink was easy—there really was no choice at all. Consuming anything during practice was often seen as a sign of weakness, and if any liquid was available during games, it was water.

Now, athletes can choose from a dizzying array of sports drinks and recovery drinks in a seemingly endless variety of types and flavors. Your players are bombarded with advertisements touting one drink over another and unfortunately, may be more influenced by flashy marketing than hard science.

The primary reason for using a sports or recovery drink can usually be classified into one or more of four categories: improving hydration, enhancing performance, optimizing recovery, and Michelle Rockwell is a private sports nutrition consultant based in Durham, N.C. She works with athletes and teams throughout the country ranging from recreational to professional.

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adding weight or lean mass. There can be a great deal of overlap between these goals—proper hydration improves performance, carbohydrates help improve performance and speed recovery, and protein can aid in recovery and weight gain. The key is having your athletes’ goals drive their choice of beverage.

When weighing the options, keep in mind that even the most well-formulated drink has no value if athletes won’t drink it. Fortunately, the wide variety of flavors available means you should be able to find one to suit any athlete’s palate. Also, athletes respond to and tolerate beverages in different ways, so each of your team members may like something different.

Inside Sports Drinks Sports drinks are commonly used before, during, and after practices and competitions to help athletes stay properly hydrated. This can improve performance by reducing fatigue while protecting against dehydration and heatrelated illness. The most basic source of hydration is water, but sports drinks

offer additional ingredients that aid in hydration while also providing other benefits.

Each drink uses a different mix of ingredients, many of which are examined below. First, have your players decide what they want to get from a sport drink, then find the one with the ingredients that best fit their goals.

Carbohydrates: One of the biggest advantages sports drinks have over water is carbohydrates. Research has repeatedly shown that carbohydrates consumed before and during exercise can improve performance in endurance activity lasting more than an hour or in stop-and-go sports that have intermittent periods of high-intensity exercise.

When exercising more than one hour, to ensure the right level of carbohydrates, athletes are encouraged to consume about 30 grams of carbohydrates one to two hours prior to exercise, preferably in liquid form. This is about the amount found in a 16-ounce bottle of most sports drinks. Once they start their activity, athletes should consume 30 to

60 grams of carbohydrates per hour.

Since sports drinks should be between six and eight percent carbohydrate—or about 15 grams of carbohydrate per eight-ounce serving—this will typically equal 16 to 32 ounces of a sports drink.

Sports drinks with more than eight percent carbohydrate should be avoided because the increased carbs can interfere with fluid absorption and cause gastric upset. Those with less than six percent carbohydrate do not optimize energy delivery to muscle.

You’ll also want to look for drinks that use a combination of different sugars, such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose.

When used alone, fructose and other single sugars can cause gastric distress, including bloating and diarrhea.

Sodium: Sports drinks almost always include electrolytes to help replace those lost through sweat (mainly sodium). Most classic sports drinks have between 70 and 120 mg of sodium per eight-ounce serving, which matches typical sodium sweat loss. Sodium also promotes optimal hydration by making

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the body like a “sponge� to hold onto water; triggering the thirst mechanism that stimulates further drinking; and, for some athletes, improving taste.

Some sports drinks designed specifically for endurance athletes contain higher levels of sodium, typically 200 to 300 mg per eight ounces, since sodium losses via sweat can be more extreme in endurance activities. These drinks are appropriate for athletes: exercising or competing for more than two hours; exercising in extreme heat; who have high sweat sodium rates (indicated by a salty film on their face or jersey after working out); or who have muscle cramping known to be related to sodium imbalance.

Protein: Adding protein to sports drinks is an increasingly popular trend.

The theory is that added protein will help stimulate insulin secretion, thereby enhancing carbohydrate uptake and utilization, which would theoretically slow fatigue in endurance exercise.

Manufacturers of sports drinks containing protein claim they can also minimize post-exercise muscle damage.

The research into using protein this way is mixed. Several studies have not supported claims of decreased fatigue and muscle damage, and some that showed a performance benefit have been criticized for their design. Hopefully, more data will be available in the near future.

Proponents of protein-containing sports drinks recommend a 4:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein. That works out to two grams of protein per eightounce serving.

There are three potential issues your athletes should consider before using protein-enriched sports drinks. First, protein slows gastric emptying, which could mean bloating, gas, diarrhea, or similar discomfort during exercise.

Second, it can also interfere with fluid absorption, a main reason for using sports beverages. Third, adding protein to sports drinks alters the taste. Some athletes find the taste very chalky and undrinkable during exercise.

Since the jury is still out on whether sports drinks with protein may enhance

performance, athletes should avoid using these drinks if gastric issues or taste interferes with beverage consumption. The risk of decreasing hydration far outweighs the potential performanceenhancing benefits.

Amino acids: There is some research showing that branched-chain amino acids and other individual amino acids (glutamine and leucine, for example) consumed on a daily basis, although not necessarily while exercising, can delay fatigue in endurance exercise. Athletes who hear about this potential link may want to use sports drinks with added amino acids for this reason. However, these drinks typically contain a much lower quantity of amino acids than the level used in research and are unlikely to have the same effect.

Magnesium, Calcium, and Potassium: Found in many sports drinks, these minerals are lost in sweat, but generally in minimal amounts. Some sports medical professionals have linked deficiencies of these elements to muscle cramping, but the links have not been supported by

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research. While athletes can get small amounts of magnesium, calcium, and potassium from sports drinks, the primary source for these minerals should be their regular diets—through fruits, juices, vegetables, nuts, milk or other dairy, and fortified foods such as cereals.

Other Vitamins and Minerals: More and more sports drinks are adding B vitamins, which play a role in energy usage, and antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and selenium), which may help combat muscle damage. However, there is no evidence to suggest that consuming these during exercise benefits performance or hydration.

Caffeine: Although caffeine has recently been added to some sports drinks, these should not be confused with “energy drinks,” which usually contain herbs and other stimulants. Several studies have shown that 200-300 mg of caffeine (equivalent to two cups of coffee) consumed prior to exercise may improve performance. Note that one serving of these caffeine-containing drinks commonly have less than 50 mg

of caffeine. Thus, athletes would have to drink a high volume of these fluids to experience any benefit.

Although recent research has refuted the belief that caffeine is a diuretic, we know it does contribute to increased urine output, and thus could impact

It’s also important to consider that individuals have different responses to caffeine. Side effects can include headache, jitters, nervousness, a racing heartbeat, GI upset, and diarrhea. These side effects may be enhanced by adrenaline during competition times.

More and more sports drinks are adding B vitamins, which play a role in energy usage, and antioxidants, which may help combat muscle damage. However, there is no evidence to suggest that consuming these during exercise benefits performance or hydration. hydration status. Any athlete who uses a sports drink with caffeine should enter training or competition especially wellhydrated and be sure to drink enough fluids throughout the activity. I would not recommend caffeine-containing sports drinks before, during, or after activity for any athlete exercising in extremely hot conditions.

Note that caffeine at high concentration levels is banned by the NCAA and other sports-governing bodies. It is unlikely for an athlete to reach banned levels through caffeine-containing sports drinks, but other beverages, dietary supplements, and medications contain caffeine and additional stimulants. The combination of these products and caf-

USE LESS... PLAY MORE PlayBall! InÀeld Conditioner allows groundskeepers to condition more Àeld with less product. Our 10% by volume application rate is the lowest in the industry and it doesn’t need to be re-applied once mixed into the soil proÀle.

PlayBall! is 82% porous and its large pores soak up twice as much water as calcined clay. This means fewer rainouts and less dusty conditions. PlayBall! is calcined to 1800° F for maximum durability that will not breakdown, Áoat in the soil or blow away.

© 2008 EP Minerals, LLC

Contact us for a sample and see how PlayBall! will keep your Àelds playable longer.

Tel: 800.366.7607 Web: www.epminerals.com Email: inquiry.minerals@eaglepicher.com Circle No. 136

NUTRITION

feinated sports drinks could cause problematic caffeine levels.

Inside Recovery Drinks In years past, recovery drinks were largely an ad hoc product, with each school using its own brew of ingredients.

Now, recovery drinks are a mainstream product. Their taste and texture are designed to appeal to athletes, not turn them away. And their contents go well beyond the protein mixes of days gone by. As a result, athletes need to determine what they want from a recovery drink and find the one that best fits their needs.

Recovery drinks are generally designed for athletes to use after training or competing at an intense level for more than one hour. But they can also be used in other ways. Some players use them when illness or injury precludes regular meals, and athletes who can’t tolerate solid food before a game use them as pre-competition meals.

Protein: The main ingredient in many recovery drinks is protein, which

supports muscle growth, repair, and strength development. The protein can come from a wide variety of sources, including milk (casein and whey), soy, and eggs. Drinks containing milk products can cause gastric problems, especially for lactose-intolerant athletes.

You and your athletes will want to look for drinks containing at least 10 grams of protein—from a source the athlete can tolerate—especially when the product is for use following anaerobic or strength exercise. Some drinks also include individual amino acids (glutamine or leucine), which are marketed as further enhancing recovery and muscle growth, but these effects have not been confirmed by research.

Carbohydrates: A mainstay of sports drinks, carbohydrates also have a role in recovery since they help replenish energy stores depleted during exercise.

Carbohydrates should come from both high-glycemic and low-glycemic sources. The high-glycemic sources promote glycogen resynthesis, which can begin immediately when the right sugars are

available, while lower-glycemic carbs can help restore energy over time. These drinks should have at least 40 grams of carbohydrates.

Vitamins and Minerals: Most recovery drinks contain substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals, with calcium and iron usually leading the way.

Antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E are often used because of their potential role in limiting muscle soreness and supporting recovery. B-vitamins, zinc, and Vitamin A are included because they are critical components of energy utilization and muscle building.

Drinks containing vitamins and minerals can boost overall daily intake in key areas where athletes are commonly deficient, such as calcium, iron, zinc, and antioxidants. However, there is no additional benefit from consuming these right after exercise.

Muscle-Building Ingredients: Some manufacturers include supplements such as creatine, DHEA, tribulus, carnitine, and vanadium, to market their product’s ability to promote muscle

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NUTRITION

growth. Most recovery drinks contain minimal amounts of these ingredients, if any, and thus are likely below any effective dose level. Athletes should

ries, eight grams of protein, 24 grams of carbohydrates, two grams of fat, and 300 milligrams of calcium. Chocolate milk is preferred over white milk since

You and your athletes will want to look for drinks containing at least 10 grams of protein—from a source the athlete can tolerate—especially when the product is for use following anaerobic or strength exercise. Some drinks also include individual amino acids, which are marketed as further enhancing recovery and muscle growth. be reminded that products containing dietary supplements or herbs are not closely regulated and carry the risk of impurity and contamination.

Milk: Chocolate milk has recently been touted as a good recovery beverage for athletes. It is similar in calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients to many recovery beverages—eight ounces of reduced fat chocolate milk has 130 calo-

the high-glycemic sugar in the chocolate helps with immediate glycogen resynthesis. But chocolate milk does contain lactose, which some athletes will be unable to tolerate, particularly if their GI system grows more sensitive with exercise.

Limited research is available on the effectiveness of chocolate milk in supporting muscle recovery. One study at Indiana University found that chocolate

milk was similar to a sports drink in supporting athletes’ recovery between two exercise bouts, but further research on the usefulness of chocolate milk for exercise recovery is needed.

Chocolate milk does have the advantage of being fairly inexpensive, familiar to athletes, and easy to purchase. Some athletes who are not comfortable using dietary supplements may be comfortable using a whole food like milk. And, like all traditional recovery beverages, it is useful for athletes whose appetite is suppressed following activity.

In summary, sports drinks and recovery beverages can play an important role in athletes’ training, performance, and overall health. Take advantage of the opportunity to educate and guide athletes you work with toward their winning drink combination. ■ A version of this article was previously published in Training & Conditioning, a sister publication of Coaching Management.

More athlete nutrition articles can be found at: www.training-conditioning.com.

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NEW Product Launch Pitcher’s Pocket Practice Screen

The Stadium Seat

Unique features: • Great practice tool for pitchers • Frame constructed of 1 5/8inch steel with nine pockets laced with net • Frame protected by vinyl cover

Unique features: • Spring-loaded latches fit snugly and easily to any size bleacher • Durable welded-steel construction lasts season after season • Vivid, rub-resistant custom logos to match any design

Benefits for the user: • Provides a range of targets for the pitcher • Improves and evaluates accuracy around the strike zone • It’s like having a catcher who tells you exactly where the pitch was thrown

Benefits for the user: • A new level of padded and portable bleacher comfort • Collapsible handle for easy carrying • Ideal for school or team fundraising and gifts

BetterBaseball.com www.betterbaseball.com 800-997-4233

Clarin www.clarinseating.com 800-323-9062

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Toro Infield Pro 3040 & 5040 and attachments

Unique features: • Innovative attachments elevate the overall versatility and reliability of these sports field management machines Benefits for the user: • Quick Attach System (QAS) allows operators to switch from among 21 different attachments in less than one minute—without the use of any tools • Select from front, mid-mount, and rear attachments

Toro Commercial Division www.toro.com 800-803-8676 Circle No. 502

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Hot Glove® Pocket Restore Unique features: • Reshapes, renews, and restores old gloves • Exposure to heat unleashes the power of this treatment Benefits for the user: • No need to throw away your favorite old glove • Non-toxic formula is safe to use on all leather and vinyl gloves • Endorsed by Major League Baseball Manager Bobby Cox

Unique Sports Products, Inc. www.hotglove.com 800-554-3707 Circle No. 503

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Infield Mixes & Additives DiGeronimo Aggregates, LLC 888-593-0395 www.digagg.com

EP Minerals, LLC 800-366-7607 www.epminerals.com

Fuller Five Landscape Supply 888-749-2880 www.fuller5.net

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

PlayBall! Infield Conditioner PlayBall! 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 compaction, increase drainage, and create a more playable surface, or use it as a topdressing to control puddles and eliminate rainouts.

Diamond Dirt “Enhance” This calcined material is used as a field conditioner to provide a firm and consistent surface.

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

Game Dry Apply Game Dry to puddles for quick absorption, and blend it into your infield after it dries.

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

Customer Portfolio: Ohio Dominican University Upper Arlington High School, OH Osceola Softball Complex, FL Chicago Sports Fields, IL Ashland University

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AXIS Premium Soil Amendments Use 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 Portfolio: Hillsboro Stadium Athletic Complex, OR MacArthur High School, TX Irvine High School, CA 3 Creek Ranch Golf Club, WY Walt Disney Concert Hall, CA

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Diamond Dirt “Absorb” This calcined material is used for fast-dry applications. It blends in with the playing surface.

Diamond Dirt “Red Topper” This “fine” natural red sand is used for infield topdressing.

Diamond Dirt Warning Track Material This crushed red rock is ideal for warning tracks.

Customer Portfolio: Jeff Davis High School, GA Dadeville High School, AL University of Florida Georgia Southern University McAdory High School, AL

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Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

Pro’s Choice 800-648-1166 www.proschoice1.com

BEAM CLAY 800-247-BEAM www.beamclay.com

Profile Products, LLC 800-207-6457 www.turface.com

Pro’s Choice Red An infield conditioner designed to meet the challenges of wet, dry, or compacted infields, this product manages the moisture on your field, keeping it in top playing condition.

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

Turface Quick Dry Eliminating puddles and standing water, Turface Quick Dry rids infields of muddy, slippery conditions. Apply and rake in for it to work over and over.

Pro’s Choice Select A premium infield conditioner with a unique particle size blend that gives you the look of a professional ballpark, this is a perfect infield topdressing.

Rapid Dry This 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 Red This infield topdressing is specially formulated and boasts the company’s deepest red color to give your fields the long-lasting color you want and the conditioning you need.

Customer Portfolio: St. Louis Cardinals Florida Marlins New York Yankees Colorado Rockies

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

BEAM CLAY Pitcher’s Mound Mix This mix is an extra-firm mound clay, available in red, orange, brown, 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 Surfaces Use this material for premium long-lasting warning tracks—firm yet crunchy with low maintenance, great drainage, and excellent color.

Customer Portfolio: New York Yankees New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies San Diego Padres Toronto Blue Jays

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Turface Pro League Red The first and only patented red clay conditioner, Pro League Red combines rich color with proven infield conditioning benefits, creating superior sliding and fielding surfaces.

Turface MVP Turface MVP absorbs more water per pound than other products, improving drainage and reducing bad ball hops and injuries.

Field & Fairway Emerald or Natural Field & Fairway has excellent water absorption and helps eliminate puddles. The emerald color disguises worn turf and reduces compaction in native soils.

Customer Portfolio: Seattle Mariners Arizona Diamondbacks Boston Red Sox Baltimore Orioles

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Infield Mixes & Additives Southern Athletic Fields 800-837-8062 www.mulemix.com

Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. 800-336-2468 www.stabilizersolutions.com

Diamond Pro 800-228-2987 www.diamondpro.com

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

Hilltopper Infield Mix This premium sur face allows you to play during rain, snow, or drought. It saves hours in maintenance and watering.

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

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

Stabilizer “Pro Red” Infield Mix Trusted by professionals, colleges, high schools, and youth leagues for more than 20 years, “Pro Red” lends strength and consistency to your infield.

Calcined Clay Topdressing, Professional Grade, and Drying Agent These calcined clay products are used as conditioners on the infield.

The professional grade has a more uniform particle size, and the standard topdressing has a larger particle size.

Mar Mix This 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 approximately 70 percent sand and 30 percent clay.

Mar Mound Clay This 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 Portfolio: Atlanta Braves Houston Astros Louisville Riverbats Louisiana State University Ohio State University

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Stabilizer Ballyard Infield Mix This regional infield mix is designed for baseball. It is premixed with Stabilizer, and is a perfect blend of sand, silt, and clay.

Stabilizer, The Original Natural Binder This organic powder acts as both water manager and binder, turning your existing infield mix into a consistent playing surface.

Customer Portfolio: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Philadelphia Phillies Cleveland Indians Florida Marlins Arizona Diamondbacks

Mound/Home Plate Clay This 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 Mix Several mixes are available for creating a safe, well-drained warning track.

Customer Portfolio: Texas Rangers Kansas City Royals Atlanta Braves Little League World Series Rosenblatt Stadium

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Athletic Surface Materials Diamond Dirt RED ENHANCE Calcined Ineld Conditioner

Diamond Dirt RED ABSORB Calcined Fast Dry Material

Diamond Dirt RED TOPPER Ineld Fine Material

Diamond Dirt RED MOUND-PAK 100% Clay

Diamond Dirt RED TOP DRESSING 70% Sand/30% Clay Screened Mix

Diamond Dirt RED WARNING TRACK Material Order in Bulk, Supersacks, or 50 LB Bags

Member

Corporate Ofce Post Ofce Box 150 5100 County Road 299 Cusseta, AL 36852 Toll Free: 1-888-749-2880 Local: (334) 749-2880 Fax: (334) 749-7407

E-mail: sales@fuller5.net Website: www.fuller5.net

Fuller Five Landscape Supply

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Nets & Cages Cages*Plus

Jaypro Sports, LLC

www.cagesplus.com 866-475-9148

www.jaypro.com 800-243-0533

See ad on page 8 Circle No. 513

See ad on page 19 Circle No. 514

Primary Advantages: Cages*Plus offers affordable and durable cages, all of which come with an L-screen. Schools enjoy using it 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.

Recent Installations: Fort Lupton High School, CO Loftus Middle School, TN North Dakota State University Bellarmine University McMichael High School, NC

PRODUCTS:

Primary Advantages: Jaypro is an industry leader in high-quality equipment for baseball, softball, and athletic field maintenance. Whatever equipment needs you may have, the company can meet them, while exceeding your expectations for service. From protective equipment to permanent and portable backstops, Jaypro has got you covered.

PRODUCTS: Little Slam Batting Cage Designed for collegiate and high school use, this cage measures 17’6” W x 12’ H x 12’ D and is constructed of two-inch heavy wall aluminum. It is easy to fold and collapses to just five feet high.

Cages*Plus This product is a portable batting cage with an L-screen.

Professional Pitcher’s Safety Protector This versatile 7’ x 7’ L-shaped net accommodates left- and right-handed pitchers and works well with both pitching machines and live-arm delivery.

M.A.S.A., Inc.

Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.

www.masa.com 800-264-4519

Professional Portable Backstop This top-quality backstop features heavy-duty rear wheels that swivel for easy mobility over grass and dirt.

Retractable Baseball Batting Cage This versatile product isn’t just for baseball—it can be used for golf, tennis, soccer, and other spor ts that need to come in from the cold. The cage is easily raised and lowered by a drive shaft powered by an electric winch.

www.memphisnet.net 800-238-6380

See ad on page 4 Circle No. 515 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.

Recent Installations: 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.

See ad on page 36 Circle No. 516 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:

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Pitcher’s L-Shaped Screen The framing of this screen is constructed of 1/2-inch heavygauge steel tubing, and assembly is very easy.

Pro Series Batting Tunnel This pro industry workhorse is constructed from #36 nylon that’s undergone a 320-pound breaking test.

Pro Model Backstop Batting Cage Flo-coated steel construction makes this giant backstop extremely durable. Use the quicklift crank for easy transportation.

Batco Batting Cage The unique design of this product means excellent portability and storage. It weighs just 45 pounds.

CoachingManagementOnline.com

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.

Nets & Cages SPI Nets

Gourock

www.spinets.net 866-243-6387

www.gourock.com 800-248-7295

See ad on page 45 Circle No. 517

See ad on page 14 Circle No. 518

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.

Recent Installations: SPI nets are used all over the United States at youth, high school, college, and professional facilities.

Primary Advantages: Gourock provides reliable, commercial-strength netting applications featuring top-notch craftsmanship and excellent service. Fast turnaround and multiple twine/mesh size combinations are available. The company specializes in providing high-quality materials and expert design and production. Its products can be customized to any dimensions.

Recent Installations: University of Alabama-Huntsville Duke University Eastern Illinois University DePauw University University of Wyoming PRODUCTS:

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.

Batting Cage Nets These nets feature commercialstrength DuPont 66-728 nylon and can be built to any dimensional requirements.

Soft-Toss/Impact Nets American-made DuPont 66-728 nylon impact nets feature high abrasion resistance, multi-sport adaptability, and custom sizing.

Barrier Nets High-quality DuPont 66-728 nylon is used for these customized barrier nets in several twine/mesh combinations.

Protective Screens Commercial-strength protective netting screens are built pillowcase-style and can be customized to fit existing frames.

Add quality stadium chairs to your outdoor facilities.

Generate added income by selling your best seats at a premium.

Call for a Free Catalog Toll Free: (866) 243-6387 • • • •

•

Batting Cages Protective Screens Back Stops & Barriers Nets Pitching Machines Custom Sizes Available

Catalog Image

Shop Online at: www.spinets.net South Padre Island Nets, Inc. 2001 Amistad Dr. San Benito, TX 78586 USA

Quality Stadium Chair Circle No. 140 Manufacturer

Tel: (956) 276-9598 Fax: (956) 276-9691 Toll Free Fax: (866) 421-9691

Affordable Quality Products to Play Hard Circle No. 142

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Baseball Facility Equipment Aer-Flo, Inc. 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com Available exclusively from Aer-Flo®, the Tuffy™ windscreen offers the unparalleled durability of Micro-Web mesh fabric. It feels even tougher because more micro-fibers are interwoven. This windscreen can be imprinted in vivid colors, either digitally or via PerfectPainting. Both methods eliminate the need to overlay separate printed banners, making team logos or advertising easier to install and change, and offering strikingly improved appearance.

Both the windscreen and the imprinting are quick-ship items. Each screen is protected by a four-year factory warranty.

Circle No. 519 Outfield Distance Markers from Aer-Flo® can enhance any baseball field. The large, vivid numbers are easy to read from home plate and the stands. The numbers are Perfect-Painted onto mesh that can either match or contrast with the fence windscreen color.

These markers are easy to attach using grommets spaced the same as on the windscreen. Each unit is custom made to display exact distance and match fence height. The markers can also be painted directly onto an Aer-Flo windscreen for the ultimate in professional appearance. This item ships quickly.

Circle No. 520 Bannerman Ltd. 800-665-2696 www.sportsturfmagic.com When player safety comes first, look to Bannerman. The company manufactures groomers that shape, level, and provide maintenance care for baseball diamonds and softball fields. The B-BP-4 Ballpark-4® (shown) and the B-BP-6 Ballpark-6® models each have five

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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. 521 Restore your diamond’s luster in 20 minutes or less. Bannerman manufactures groomers that can level and provide maintenance care for softball diamonds, warning tracks, and walking 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.

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chips for pathway; and salt-sand or grit for sidewalks and driveways. It has a capacity of 15 cubic feet and a spread width of up to 60 inches. With a ground drive or hydraulic drive, the model 200 can be pulled easily by a variety of vehicles, including ATVs. An optional loading chute facilitates loading with buckets up to 66 inches. An available wing kit for the rear shield permits easy control of the spread pattern width and direction.

Light material sides are available to increase the capacity to one cubic yard when spreading light materials.

Circle No. 524 Fair-Play Scoreboards 800-247-0265 www.fair-play.com Fair-Play baseball scoreboards are designed around essential game information. The BA-7100 series brings spectators the must-have statistics, as well as options that benefit fans,

BetterBaseball 800-997-4233 www.betterbaseball.com BetterBaseball is a total baseball supply house, specializing in nets and batting cages that are custom cut to any size you want.

The company provides quick, friendly customer service.

BetterBaseball 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. 523 Earth & Turf Products, LLC 888-693-2638 www.earthandturf.com The Earth & Turf MultiSpread 200 spreads a variety of materials: topdressing for home lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields; crumbed rubber; infield mix for baseball infields;

players, and coaches. Some of these options include an at-bat indicator, pitch speed, field time, and areas for sponsor or team signage. When it comes to baseball, reading the situation is an integral part of the game. Catch the spirit of Fair-Play at the company’s Web site.

Circle No. 525 Fair-Play provides customers the option of electronic team names, so fans are able to view the names regardless of a facility’s lighting situation. Your fans will love seeing their team’s name up in lights.

This feature is available on many models of baseball scoreboards. Electronic team names are displayed with amber LEDs and are available in three character sizes: 11, 14, or 20 inches. Catch the spirit of Fair-Play at the company’s Web site.

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Baseball Facility Equipment Imerys 800-552-9671 www.plus5linemarker.com

DiamondTurf www.diamondturf.net Supreme DiamondTurf 36 is designed to withstand pivoting steel spikes for optimum performance and outstanding durability.

Its monofilament polypropylene surface is ideal for baseball and softball because it has no pile direction, resulting in more consistent ball roll. Supreme DiamondTurf 36 comes with an optional five-millimeter foam pad, and can be enhanced with custom inlaid logos and colors. The turf carries an eight-year warranty and is available through Collegiate Pacific (888-5668966), Tomark Sports (800-959-1844), and VPI Sports (800-244-4457).

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

Plus5 is an all-American athletic field marker. It is preferred by coaches and groundskeepers and is licensed as the official marking 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.

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The revolutionary new Handozer is a complete infield grooming solution. It cuts maintenance time by up to 75 percent and gets professional results.

Traditional grooming requires four steps: a nail drag is used to create loose dirt for smoothing, a leveling device levels the field, a roller is typically used for firmness, and a finishing drag mat makes the diamond sparkle.

The new 30-inch-wide Handozer features all four tools on a compact frame designed for one-person operation. Call or go online for more information.

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Heying Co. 712-756-8847 www.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 playing 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 Untitled-1 weeds, and more. It’s six feet wide and doesn’t require hydraulics or a threepoint hitch. The unit can be pulled with a variety of towing machines, and no tools are needed to make adjustments. This product is available with a manual or electric lift.

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Your source for fundraising tips, support, and suppliers:

www.fundraisingforsports.com

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Infield Drag Use to Maintain, Restore & Build Infields!

PR72-E,166,b

www.Infield-Drag.com

PR72 Pro GroomerTM The perfect machine

Manual or electric lift available.

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.

Complete info at www.Infield-Drag.com

Heying Co. 515 6th Ave. Alton, IA 51003 Ph. (712) 756-8847 Circle No. 144 CoachingManagementOnline.com

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Baseball Facility Equipment PlayersGoal 866-OK1-Goal www.playersgoal.com

Promats Athletics, LLC 800-678-6287 www.promats.com

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

Sportsfield Specialties™ manufactures the Coach’s Corner™ modular dugout, which arrives on-site ready for installation on your concrete slab. It is customizable

Wall padding provides the perfect finish to your stadium. The outfield, infield, seating bowl, and backstop walls are the most popular locations for use in baseball stadiums. In 2008, Promats Athletics is introducing its innovative Zone family of products, which has been designed to improve athlete protection while at the same time enhancing the life of the product and addressing LEED requirements.

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When Huron High School in Ohio wanted to convert bleachers into grandstands with self-rising stadium chairs, they chose Seating Services’ Tread Mount and Floor Mount Series 3000 Cardinal Model.

There was only 24 inches of space per row, but with some slight alterations to the planking, the seats were a perfect fit. The gravity-tipped, blow-molded chairs meet safety codes while providing excellent comfort. This project was completed on aluminum, but the chairs are also ideal for wood, steel, or concrete. Seat widths can vary from 18 to 22 inches. Use them to create VIP seating for a great fundraiser.

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to meet your needs for size, color, and appearance. It can also be outfitted with storage closets, equipment cubbies, team benches, and other options. Why take a chance on the weather, contractors’ schedules, and site conditions when Sportsfield Specialties can do the building for you? Call today for a free price quote.

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Calling Cards Here is what these companies are most known for:

A leader in lifesaving training for more than 95 years. www.redcross.org

PlayBall! is a high-performing, economical choice for infield conditioning. www.epminerals.com

Use what the pros use: the Pro’s Choice family of products. www.proschoice1.com

Betterbaseball is your complete baseball and softball supply headquarters. www.betterbaseball.com

A premier publisher of baseball books and DVDs. www.humankinetics.com

Manufacturer of professional baseball, softball, volleyball, and tennis training equipment. www.sportsattack.com

Daktronics is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of scoreboards and displays. www.daktronics.com

Hammer Strength is a worldleading brand of plate-loaded equipment. www.hammerstrength.com

Stabilizer Solutions: “The Evolution of Soil” www.stabilizersolutions.com

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Team Equipment Betterbaseball.com 800-997-4233 www.betterbaseball.com Want to save even more on great products at the Betterbaseball.com Web site? Try the new 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 placing bids in no time.

Circle No. 534 Extra Innings 978-762-0448 www.eifranchise.com Extra Innings is a premier name in indoor baseball/softball centers. Each location offers year-round indoor practice facilities for ballplayers of all ages and ability levels, professional instruction, and a nationally recognized Pro Shop that carries the top names in equipment and apparel at the lowest advertised prices. Love baseball or softball?

Want to run your own business? Then play ball with Extra Innings. To learn more about this winning franchise opportunity, go online today.

Circle No. 535 Reebok www.reebok.com The new RBK VR6000 Premier Series fielder’s gloves offer the ultimate in comfort, per formance, and craftsmanship. Featuring ultra-lightweight, luxurious fullgrain KIP leather and professional hand patterns, these gloves help enhance fit, feel, and control.

Reebok adds soft, deer-tanned cowhide palm linings for the ultimate feel each time you put the glove on. American deerskin finger linings are used to further maximize comfort out on the field.

Only Texas cowhide professional-grade lacing and wool linings are used for maximum glove longevity and stabil-

ity. As an added feature, all VR6000 Premier fielder’s gloves are designed with finger pads for maximum protection and comfort.

Circle No. 536 Reebok’s TLS connection technology is engineered with a threaded locking system, which connects the carbon-fiber handle to the high-performance barrel.

This threaded locking system is designed to be one of the strongest connections known to two-piece bat design. With its strength, durability, and exceptional vibration reduction during the ball-bat collision, the new Vector LSI Black produces the longest and most consistent barrel flex zone in the history of Reebok.

Circle No. 537 ScorePAD Sports, Inc. 678-270-4001 www.scorepad.com ScorePAD Sports is a software company whose signature product is a system called ScorePAD. With ScorePAD, you can score baseball and softball games on a Palm OS device or Windowsbased PC. You can also create and post personalized Web pages for your team’s player statistics, box scores, scorecards, playby-play narratives, and spray charts. You can even print reports containing more than 300 statistics and share them with players and their family members.

Circle No. 538 Unique Sports Products, Inc. 800-554-3707 www.hotglove.com As most baseball players know, a broken-in glove is vital. Until now, most players dreaded the lengthy break-in process needed to soften a glove. Hot Glove® Heat Treatment uses a patented foam that is rapidly absorbed deep into the fibers of the glove when exposed to heat. You then shape the glove to your exact needs and it’s gameready in less than 10 minutes.

Circle No. 539

Wizard Sports Equipment 888-964-5425 www.wizardsports.com Wizard Custom Bags are some of the most durable and affordable bat and equipment bags on the market today.

They are manufactured in the U.S. and built to last, with heavy-duty 600D nylon featuring a PVC backing. You will not find a better-quality bat bag at a better price. All bags are made in your team colors and decorated to include your team name, player number, and logo.

Circle No. 540 Xvest 800-697-5658 www.thexvest.com Adjustable Xvest TurboBells are a new product from the maker of Xvest. They replace a room full of dumbbells and are engineered so the weights can be adjusted from five pounds to 60 pounds in just seconds, giving athletes complete control of their workout. The economical Xvest TurboBells have large easy-grip rubberized handles and come with a specially designed stand. The manufacturer is offering them at an introductory price of $349, plus free shipping—saving you more than $270.

Circle No. 541 The Xvest is currently used by and has redefined training and fitness protocols for most, if not all, MLB teams, as well as teams in the NFL and NBA and at many colleges and universities. The Xvest also has a reputation for being one of the most used training products by U.S. Olympic programs. The Xvest can be utilized with most training protocols and activities. It will not move, migrate, or bounce, enabling you to take your training to the extreme.

Circle No. 542

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Practice Aids AKH Sports, Inc./The Measuring Plate 888-406-4347 www.hplate.com

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

and parents, and it costs much less than most radar guns.

Circle No. 546

The Measuring Plate is perfect for all levels of play in baseball and softball.

It’s simple to use and has a lightweight double-wall design. It is ideal for pitching practice and warmup anytime and anywhere.

Pitcher/catcher camps and clinics for all ages can benefit from the Measuring Plate, and it can add a new dimension to indoor training and off-season practice away from the field. Advanced uses include flat practice (baseball pitching), pitching rehab (all levels), and private instruction and training centers.

It features rugged UV- and weatherresistant HDPE plastic construction with adjustable 60’ 6” fiberglass tape.

Circle No. 543

The Swing Speed Radar™ from Sports Sensors is a small, inexpensive Doppler radar velocity sensor that measures the swing speed of baseball and softball batters.

The Swing Speed Radar helps players develop optimum bat speed for distance and quickness, and bat control for consistent 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.

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Joyner Technologies, Inc. 770-867-1957 www.AllstarBP.com

Zingbat 866-ZINGBAT www.zingbat.com

The Glove Radar® is a small, inexpensive, and accurate microwave Doppler radar device that attaches to the back of virtually any baseball or softball glove.

It “sees” through the glove and measures 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,

Zingbat™ offers the Trainer Series product line. This economically priced version of the regular Pro Series Zingbat is ideal for youth players. The Trainer Series teaches batters basic swing mechanics. The Composite Zingbat Trainer is available in one length and weight (30 inches, 17 ounces), while the aluminum Pro Series can be customized to meet your team’s specific length and weight requirements. Call today for a free instructional CD or video.

Circle No. 544

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

Joyner Technologies received the American Baseball Coaches Association’s 2007 Best of Show award for its technologically advanced Allstar Ace 5000.

This programmable multi-pitch video simulator features Sports Tutor’s HomePlate pitching machine and SurePitch synchronization system, making it an ideal fastpitch training tool.

Coaches can choose from a wide variety of pitch types with different speeds and different locations, and also film their own pitchers. This video simulator is easy to operate with a remote start/stop and simple setup. Attractive lease options are available to accommodate all budgets.

Circle No. 547 Markwort Sporting Goods 800-937-4824 www.markwort.com The Markwort Speed Sensor nine-inch baseball provides an easy, accurate way to measure pitch speed up to 120 mph. Just press start, throw the ball, and the LCD indicator displays the speed in mph upon impact. It’s the same official size and weight as a regulation baseball, and it can be used as a training aid for athletes of any age or skill level. GripSense technology begins to record the speed automatically at the moment the ball is released. This ball is not designed for contact with bats or other hard surfaces.

Circle No. 548 Master Pitching Machine, Inc. 800-878-8228 www.masterpitch.com

Where the Game Never Ends Batting Cages

Professional Instruction

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

Pro Shop

Franchise Opportunities Available Love baseball or softball ?

Want to run your own business?

Then play ball with Extra Innings!

For more info, log onto:

www.eifranchise.com 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 the states 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 states listed above until the offering has been registered and declared effective by the appropriate regulatory authority and the UFOC has been delivered to the offeree before the sale within the applicable time frame. This franchise is offered only by delivery of a franchise offering circular.

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Practice Aids pitching arm. With each pitch, the batter can see the Iron Mike pitching arm wind up and deliver the ball—just like with a real pitcher. These machines are among the only proven training devices that give you this advantage.

Circle No. 549 Muhl Tech 888-766-8772 www.muhltech.com Muhl Tech Baseball & Softball offers equipment to make your practice time more productive. Since 2001, the company has been developing a line of “skillspecific” training equipment that gives hitters instant feedback with every swing.

The products are designed to withstand heavy use during high school and college team practices. Muhl Tech also offers its own line of batting cages and screens, sold direct to save you money.

Circle No. 550

Why is the Advanced Skills Tee from Muhl Tech used by more than 2,000 high school and college programs? You get instant feedback with every swing. Its unique forward arm and outside barrier help develop a nice swing path and keep the hands inside the ball. The tough polyurethane construction will give you years of worry-free use. Try one this season, and if you don’t like it, Muhl Tech will buy it back.

Circle No. 551 PIK Products, LLC 877-845-7845 www.pikproducts.com www.baseballtrainingaids.com The patented EZ Tee is lightweight, durable, and portable. The legs fold for EZ storage—no more clunky home plates.

Use it with a golf ball-size Wiffle® ball for sharpening hand-eye coordination, or with a baseball or softball. The friction collar makes for EZ adjustment. The rub-

ber topper is flexible so it won’t damage game bats. It allows the hitter to strike the ball more cleanly, so the tee stays upright.

The EZ Tee was voted Best New Product at the 2007 American Baseball Coaches Association show.

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Need help fundraising for your team?

Check out the new source for fundraising tips, support, and suppliers:

www. fundraisingforsports .com

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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY

“It works!”

Bobby Cox

Professional baseball manager for over 25 years

®

Heat Treatment

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Aer-Flo (tarps) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Aer-Flo (windscreen) . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Bannerman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Beam Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 BetterBaseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Cages*Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 California University of Pennsylvania . . 18 Diamond Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 DiamondTurf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Earth & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 EP Minerals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Extra Innings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Fair-Play Scoreboards . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Fuller Five (Diamond Dirt) . . . . . . . . . . 43 Game-On Field Conditioner . . . . . . 15 Glove Radar/Swing Speed Radar . . 22 Gourock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Heying Company (Infield Drag). . . . . . 47 Hot Glove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Jaypro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Joyner Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 K&K Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 M.A.S.A. Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Markwort Sporting Goods . . . . . . . 31 Master Pitching Machine . . . . . . . . . 30 Measuring Plate (AKH Sports) . . . . . . . 8

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Aer-Flo (Outfield Distance Markers) . . . .

Aer-Flo (Tuffy™ windscreen) . . . . . . . . .

Bannerman (Ballpark-4) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bannerman (Diamond Master) . . . . . . .

Beam Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BetterBaseball (Easy Auction) . . . . . . .

BetterBaseball (nets and cages). . . . . .

BetterBaseball (Practice Screen) . . . . .

Cages*Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

California University of Pennsylvania . .

Clarin Seating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Diamond Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DiamondTurf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Earth & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EP Minerals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extra Innings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fair-Play (BA-7100 series) . . . . . . . . . . .

Fair-Play (baseball scoreboards) . . . . . .

Fuller Five (Diamond Dirt) . . . . . . . . . .

Game-On (DiGeronimo Aggregates) . . .

Glove Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gourock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grand Slam Pitching Machine . . . . .

Heying Company (Infield Drag). . . . . .

Jaypro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Joyner Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . .

K&K (Accident Medical Insurance) . . . . . .

K&K (Sports Camp & Clinic Program) . . . .

M.A.S.A. (Handozer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

M.A.S.A. (nets and cages) . . . . . . . . . .

Markwort Sporting Goods . . . . . . .

Master Pitching Machine . . . . . . . .

Breaks in new gloves in minutes .... Guaranteed!

Softens, conditions, waterproofs and forms a superior glove pocket. Works on leather and vinyl gloves. Hot Glove Treatment will have you catching balls with your new glove today. Millions have successfully treated their new gloves over the last twelve years. As seen on Today Show and in Sports Illustrated.

It works by foaming on Hot Glove and then baking the treated glove in the oven for 4 minutes. Simply Amazing !

Get it at your local sports outlet. Just ask for Hot Glove Treatment.

If you can’t find it, call us.

1- 800-554-3707 E-mail: sales@uniquesports.us

Foam it on

Bake in oven

HOT GLOVE Inc. 840 McFarland Parkway Alpharetta, GA. 30004 USA

www.HOTGLOVE.COM

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Memphis Net & Twine Co. . . . . . . . 36 M^powered Baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Muhl Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 PIK Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC PlayersGoal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Plus5 Field Marker (Imerys) . . . . . . . . 36 Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Pro’s Choice Field Products . . . . . . 10 ProBatter Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Promats Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Reebok/Rbk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 ScorePAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Seating Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Southern Athletic Fields . . . . . . . . . 31 SPI Nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Stabilizer Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Turface Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 White Line Equipment . . . . . . . . . . 40 Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Xvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Zingbat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

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

Muhl Tech (training equipment) . . . . . .

PIK Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PlayersGoal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Plus5 Field Marker (Imerys) . . . . . . . .

Power Systems (Power Base Trainer). . .

Power Systems (VersaFit Log) . . . . . . .

Pro’s Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Profile Products (Turface) . . . . . . . . .

Promats Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reebok/Rbk (fielder’s gloves) . . . . . . .

Reebok/Rbk (Vector LSI Black) . . . . . . .

Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ScorePAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seating Services, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . .

Southern Athletic Fields . . . . . . . . .

SPI Nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Attack (Hack Attack) . . . . . . . .

Sports Attack (Junior Hack Attack). . . .

Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stabilizer Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Swing Speed Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Toro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total Ice Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Unique Sports Products (Hot Glove®) . . . .

Unique Sports Products (Heat Treatment) . .

Wizard Sports Equipment . . . . . . . .

Xvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Xvest (TurboBells) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Zingbat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Practice Aids Grand Slam Pitching Machine 800-GRAND-SLAM www.agrandslam.com

Sports Attack 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com

Grand Slam is one of the most effective pitching machines for working batters’ hand-eye coordination. Its self-feeding reservoir holds more than 60 golf ball-size Wiffle® balls and allows batters to take 50 swings in five minutes. Each pitch is guaranteed to hit the strike zone. It’s ideal for indoor training or outdoor use—all you need is 16 to 20 feet of free space. Forty-eight balls and a lifetime warranty are included.

Circle No. 553

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 changing the speed of the wheels with three dials. This eliminates the need for time-consuming adjustments of the throwing head.

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Power Systems 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com The durable, soft-sided VersaFit Log offers a challenging alternative to traditional strength training. Multiple handles and Velcro™ straps let you grip this weighted bag in different positions to vary exercise focus and function.

Incorporate it into balance or plyometric training, rotational movements, Olympic lifts, chops, and throws. It’s available in weights up to 50 pounds in 10-pound increments, or as a customizable shell.

Circle No. 554 The Power Base Trainer from Power Systems allows you to train multiple athletes simultaneously by attaching up to four Power Builders.

The Power Base Trainer is an anchoring system exclusive to Power Systems that eliminates the need for a partner when performing plyometric and agility drills with the Power Builder resistance tubing. The plate-loaded, solid steel base serves as a secure anchor for athletes performing forward, backward, lateral, vertical, or jumping movements.

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The Junior Hack Attack from Sports Attack is designed to develop serious young players using an exclusive threewheel vision that allows the hitter to see the ball clearly all the way through the feeding motion, just like with a live pitcher. In developing 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. 557 Sports Tutor 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com The HomePlate pitching machine from Sports Tutor is the first programmable pitching machine designed for both batting cage and on-field use. You can store up to eight different 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 sequentially 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 $6,495, or the hand-feed model at $4,995.

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Testimonial

Soil Conditioner Stands Up to Scrutiny “We know that top-quality baseball and softball fields just don’t happen by accident.

When consulting with our customers about their fields, we usually see the same root causes of poor soil performance, and one of the biggest is inadequate drainage. Even ideal soils will become compacted over time and create problems for field maintenance supervisors.

Our goal was to find an infield conditioner that would perform in all weather conditions and hold up year after year, providing the perfect feel underfoot.

We were approached by numerous companies promising performance, durability, and affordable soil conditioners for our clients. After carefully examining the information and comparative field testing, we determined that PlayBall! outperformed the other infield conditioners in water absorption, reducing compaction, and enhancing durability and overall performance.

PlayBall! exceeded our expectations, but not our budget. We only wish we would have found it sooner.”

Jim Puhalla Sports Field Consultant, Designer, Contractor, and Author Sportscape International, 1995 Diamond of the Year Builder Co-Author of Sports Fields and Baseball and Softball Fields, with Professors Jeff Krans and Mike Goatley

EP Minerals, LLC 9785 Gateway Dr., Ste. 1000 Reno, NV 89521 800-366-7607 Inquiry.minerals@eaglepicher.com www.epminerals.com CoachingManagementOnline.com

53

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Case Study

Train Your Hitters the Same Way the Colorado Rockies Train Theirs

by Rick Mathews, Bullpen Coach, Colorado Rockies

Once our season begins, individual batting practice is almost impossible to provide, as pitchers are just not available. Historically, pitching machines have not been used because hitters complained that their timing was destroyed. They could not see the ball until it exited the machine, and by that point it was too late to stride! For this reason, many coaches felt hitting off these older machines did more harm than good.

Five years ago, we did research on all the machines on the market. It was frustrating to only be able to choose between somewhat portable two-wheel machines that obscured the ball, and non-portable arm machines that could not throw breaking pitches at all.

Sports Attack P.O. Box 1529 Verdi, NV 89439 800-717-4251 Fax: 775-345-2883 info@sportsattack.com www.sportsattack.com

Fortunately for my team, several years ago I heard about the Hack Attack.

Immediately I knew that all of my concerns about machines were going to be resolved by this new and innovative pitching machine. The unique threewheel design allowed for ball vision prior to acceleration all the way through release. The feeding process was timed to actually simulate live arm action,

and this is critical. Moreover, the breaking pitches mimicked those our hitters were facing every day. This meant our hitters could now hit all season, working on specific mechanics and working their way out of slumps.

The Hack Attack has proven to be so effective that when we are at home, the machine is set up on the mound and the starters take several rounds before a batting practice pitcher is brought on to complete regular batting practice.

Our hitters even request that we set the machine to match the best pitches of the pitcher they are going to face in the next game! With great accuracy, plenty of velocity, and major league breaking pitches, the Hack Attack has become an important and integral part of our daily pre-game routine.

Plus, our pinch hitters frequently warm up on the machine in our cage under the stands late in the game, in preparation to pinch hit.

The Hack Attack is easily the most effective training tool we have ever used. We have eight machines: one at our stadium for use during the season, and seven at our spring training complex. Our entire organization uses them.

I might add that the machines seem to be indestructible. We have never even replaced a throwing wheel.

I encourage you to do your own research.

The Hack Attack has helped our players from the beginning of spring training to the beginning of each game. I know it will help yours, too. Good Luck!

CoachingManagementOnline.com

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More Products California University of Pennsylvania 866-595-6348 www.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 highquality, in-demand programs to its students continues through the University’s Global Online 100-percent online programs of study. Through an asynchronous format, Global Online allows students the opportunity to complete coursework anytime, anywhere. All that’s required is a computer with Internet access. Go online for more information.

Circle No. 559 K&K Insurance 800-426-2889 www.kandkinsurance.com The K&K Insurance Accident Medical Insurance Program offers insurance coverage for athletes at competitive prices. K&K’s experience and active involvement with many collegiate associations provides a unique

perspective on the injuries athletes face before, during, and after competition. To obtain more information on rates, enrollment forms, or coverage, call or go online today.

Circle No. 560 K&K Insurance’s Sports Camp & Clinic Program is available for youth sports camps and clinics, providing both general liability and participant accident medical coverage. The Sports Tournaments & Events Program is designed for a variety of amateur sporting events. The Amateur Sports Program offers liability and participant accident coverage for a wide variety of youth and adult sports teams, leagues, associations, and programs.

Circle No. 561 Save-A-Tooth 888-788-6684 www.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 reconstitute many of the degenerated cells. The patented basket and net container is designed to protect tooth root cells. This is the only system that keeps the tooth cells alive for up to 24 hours.

Circle No. 562 Total Ice Therapy 800-882-1967 www.totalicetherapy.com Total Ice Therapy offers a new solution for coaches so their players will ice. It goes on the road with players, so they can get ice anywhere. Total Ice Therapy consists of a polyester/cotton rubberized-inside (two-layer) screw top ice bag with a neoprene wrap that accommodates any body part: the shoulder, knee, elbow, hip, back, or ankle. It’s affordable as a single unit or a set of six.

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Web News Read Excerpts and Watch Clips from Baseball Training Resources Human Kinetics offers some of the most useful, authoritative sports and fitness books and DVDs on the market today to help improve the performance, health, understanding, and enjoyment of all those who use them—athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers. The company’s Web site is loaded with new and best-selling titles in every sport, including baseball, and there are excerpts to read and DVD clips to view so you know exactly what you are purchasing. You’ll also find information on other Human Kinetics divisions, including the American Sport Education Program division. Visit the site to register for the free baseball e-newsletter and product promotions that can help you stay on top of what’s new in baseball and sports conditioning.

www.humankinetics.com Pro’s Choice Site Helps You Build a Better Field The Pro’s Choice Web site offers product information, installation instructions, and industry articles about its line of sports field products. The site also features an interactive Q&A section called Ask the Experts, where you can pose questions about your infield and turf and receive answers from a qualified professional. Looking for a local hands-on training seminar? Check out information about the Pro’s Choice Field Day programs, which offer you the opportunity to work with industry experts and network with community peers. Visit the site today to learn all about the Pro’s Choice advantage.

www.proschoice1.com

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CoachingManagementOnline.com

B A S E B A L L

P i t c h i n g

M a c h i n e s

BASEBALL

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

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

H ACK ATTACK | J U NIOR HACK AT TAC K

www.sportsattack.com

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PIK offers the very best in training aids including the Swift Stik™, Bat Ax™, Grand Slam™, Arm Strong™, Head Down Trainers™, & EZ Tee™.

Contact your local team dealer or call 877.845.7845

www.pikproducts.com

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