Coaches, Many of you are calling the pitches for your pitchers and that's great BUT, don't forget: 1. To explain to your pitcher and catcher WHY you call the pitches you do so they can learn. 2. To teach them to look at a batter's swing and stance prior to pitching. 3. To still have your catcher give the sign so they can get used to doing this. 4. For new pitchers, make sure they know to receive the sign ON the mound. 5. For newer pitchers, make sure they know to give their catcher time to adjust their glove before throwing. 6. For more experienced catchers, start to let them call the game even if this means juust for an inning or two when you have a major lead. Let them start to learn this skill. 7. If you have a pitcher or catcher sitting the bench, have them sit next to you as you call pitches so you can explain the rationale to them. They'll learn a lot more than just sitting on the bench. 8. If you are not a skilled coach in this area, find someone who is and can call pitches. Pitchers work hard on this at their lessons so just calling random pitches or just calling fastballs only (aside from new pitchers), won't help them grow as a pitcher. Still unsure of who can do this efficiently? Check with the pitcher's parent. Most of the time they're the ones at their lessons and know their strengths and weaknesses. I want to add a little here from my experience. My daughter is a competitive softball player and a catcher. I taught her from day one that her job is to manage the game, the pitcher, and the energy of the team. Watch her play now, and you will know what works on the field. Your kids are capable of far more than you give them credit for, but you have to let them do it, fail, and do it again! They will always surprise you!

"Baseball is 100% mental and 10% Physical"