Spring training, Schedule and Facebook

Post date: Apr 2, 2013 4:36:35 PM

Originally sent on March 26th, 2013

Spring Training is finally upon us starting next week!! It's time to get excited about the start of the season!! Spring training is the time to start learning to play together as a team and increase the intensity of the focus at practice. It's also time to try and do everything in your power to have the boys at the practice that is designated for their age group. To this point we have worked on individual skills but now we turn the page and work on playing as a team. From this point forward, they are trying out for the positions/team where they want to play. Let me state this again........From this point forward, they are trying out for the positions/team where they want to play. The coaches are officially taking over their teams next week and they will start to form opinions from this point forward. This includes hustle, executing simple tasks correctly and paying attention to what the coach is teaching them. This also includes understanding the responsibilities of the position they want to play. Please be sure to share this e-mail with them because I may not be able to communicate this directly to each player.

Facebook.....I would like to suggest that everyone "like" the Buzzsaws facebook page which is https://www.facebook.com/SummitCountyBuzzsaws. I especially want the boys who are on facebook to like the page because it is a great way for coach Jimmy, Scott or Ty or any of the other coaches to post something directly to the boys. There are so many times where I see something during a game that fits into something that I've been talking about and it would be great to communicate it with them. Also, I run across video's that I have been posting which re-inforce some things that we are working on. I think this can be a valuable tool for them to learn from.

Schedules - The 13u and 14u schedules have been posted online at the team pages respectively. There is a calendar for each team in the age group. Obviously, the players won't know which schedule applies to them until the teams are formed. The 11u and 12u schedules are done, we just need to upload them.

Reminders - this is the last week for our standard practice schedule. Starting next week, we will do our best to put a practice schedule out as early as we can. We will practice on Saturday's no matter what but the times may vary depending on the weather. We will post the times to the web-site and probably send e-mail messages. I will probably try to have some hitting practices throughout the week in the early evening as the schedule permits. Birth Certificates - there are many who have not provided birth certificates and we will need them before the games start. You can scan and e-mail them to me if you haven't turned it in yet.

Final Programs - I decided to schedule a basic pitchers program for April from 8 - 9:30 (Tues/Thurs) to avoid conflicts with outdoor practices. I know it's a little late in the evening but it was the only time I could fit it in. I also pulled the trigger on a final "experienced" catchers program and a basic catchers program. Each catching class can fit four students and starts early next week. I also added a hitting program for Saturday mornings. Here is the link to all programs for April - click here. The season does not get into full swing until May so I felt that this would be a perfect way to get extra work for those who want to participate.

Catchers: Special note - Catchers need to be working on their blocking skills every day starting NOW. Blocking is the most important job of the catcher and they cannot get adept at it if they are not practicing it every day. They have to take pride in their blocking skills. NOW IS THE TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IT. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE SEASON STARTS. THERE WERE WAY TOO MANY PASSED BALLS LAST YEAR AND THE ONLY WAY FOR A CATCHER TO EARN PLAYING TIME IS BY CATCHING THE BALL AND BLOCKING, PERIOD. Please pass this message along to the boys. There will be very minimal patience by the coaches for catchers who cannot perform these most basic functions of the position......sort of like a point guard who can't dribble very well!!

I am really excited about this season and I know the boys are tired of being in doors. Please be patient in April as the weather dictates almost 100% of what we do and when.

Thanks,

Dante