⚾ Transform Your Team: Game Speed, Leadership, & Quick Wins Inside!

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The Monday Morning Staff Meeting is a weekly newsletter where I share actionable ideas and help you build a quality baseball program through proven actions for player, program, and staff development.

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Today's Staff Meeting at a Glance:

Player Development: Emphasizing Game Speed
Staff Development: Refining Your Leadership Message
Program Development: Maximizing Parent and Community Support
Take Action for a Quick Win: Create a "Hustle" Drill

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Start the New Year by writing your thoughts in a new journal.

Journaling offers high school coaches a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. It helps coaches reflect on practices, games, and interactions, fostering a deeper understanding of their team's dynamics and their coaching methods. By documenting successes and challenges, coaches can identify patterns, track progress, and refine strategies over time. Journaling also supports stress management by providing a private space to process emotions and clarify thoughts. Additionally, it encourages goal setting, creative problem-solving, and continuous learning, ultimately enhancing a coach's ability to lead and develop their team effectively.

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Player Development: Emphasizing Game Speed

Practice speed and game speed are often two different things. Preparing players to execute under the faster pace of competition is critical to a strong start to the season.

Key Idea: Simulate game conditions in practice by increasing the tempo of drills. For example, run live at-bats where pitchers work on holding runners while hitters and baserunners respond to game scenarios. Fast-paced reps build confidence and reaction time.

Action Step: Dedicate a portion of your next practice to "Game Speed Drills," such as live baserunning competitions or rapid infield-outfield scenarios. Time the players for added intensity and focus.

Coach Development: Refining Your Leadership Message

The preseason is the perfect time to solidify your leadership philosophy and ensure your players and staff understand it. A clear, consistent message will guide your team through both triumphs and challenges during the season.

Key Idea: Identify the core themes of your coaching—such as effort, discipline, or teamwork—and reinforce them daily. Whether it’s through pre-practice talks, post-game reflections, or one-on-one meetings, your message should be clear and intentional.

Action Step: Write down your “team mission statement” this week and share it with your staff and players. Use it as a guide for decisions, conversations, and actions throughout the season.

Program Development: Maximizing Parent and Community Support

A well-supported program is a successful program. Engaging parents and the local community early sets the tone for a season filled with energy, attendance, and involvement.

Key Idea: Communicate your needs clearly to parents and the community. Whether it’s volunteer roles, fundraising help, or simply showing up to games, let them know how they can contribute. Regular updates via emails, newsletters, or social media keep everyone connected.

Action Step: Host a parent meeting or send a preseason email outlining expectations and ways to support the program. Include key dates, volunteer opportunities, and goals for the season.

Take Action Today

Quick Win: Designate one “hustle drill” for your next practice. Choose a drill where maximum effort and intensity are non-negotiable (e.g., running out ground balls or quick defensive transitions). Use it to set a high effort standard for the season.

Hustle Drill Example: Play Tag!

Set up a group of 8 players based on speed. Put one player on each base and then another player between the bases. You now have 8 players on the base paths. When the coach says "Go" the players chase each other and when they are able to tag a player in front of them, they are done running. If a player is unable to catch a player in front, they can stop running after touching two bases. Then put 8 more players.

As the season kicks off in January, stay tuned for tips on opening day preparation, lineup strategies, and maintaining momentum throughout the first month.

Have questions or success stories? Share them, and we’ll feature your program in an upcoming issue!