Comments & Thoughts

Yes, we try to teach the kids to have a plan. Many plans, Many ideas. Many
on-going replanning efforts. Heres
a few to consider

Yes, we preach the plan they develop
should try to include:
a) Out of Season Maintenance Program
b) In-Season Maintenance Program
c) Out of Season Stength Program
d) In-Seaon Strenght Program

I encourage all pitchers to try and
get the lactic acid out of their arm
immediately after they pitch.

I am a big advocate of teaching
the pitchers to listen to their arm
strengths and arm weakness, because
the only person who truly knows
how they feel is themself.

I try to teach all the pitchers, that
upon my arrival to the mound, to be
truthful when I ask "How do you
feel kid ".

I try to given all pitchers the day
off, the day before they are scheduled
to pitch.

I prefer to teach the kids to use
light dumbells (3 lb) right after they pitch
in addition to maybe 10 sets of 8 arm exercises each and then finish with
towel pulls for extended flexibility.

I try to encourage all kids to go
right to the ice bucket, when needed,
and during extreme soreness or tenderness.

I have asked a few stud pitchers
to take the mound knowing they
were not 100 %, with confidence
that if they get into trouble......I
have this big Bear Hook I keep
in my back pocket and am not
afraid to use it.

I try to teach the catchers to become
a pitchers best friend, his worst enemy,
the student, the teacher, the college professor, the priest, the banker, and the tactician, the good, the bad, and the ugly
all rolled into one. I have a few Dad's
come out of the stands and yell in
my face about "it's not the my son
the catchers fault, Bear, it's the pitchers,
only to see the catcher turn from a boy
to a baseball player and say: " Dad,
as a catcher, I accepted the responsibility Bear delegated to the
catching crew. One of those
responsibilities is to consol the pitcher
during times of adversity."
(Heck, I had to rush home that evening
to look up what the new young adult
meant !)

cheers
Bear