First and foremost, coaches must have a working knowledge of what good fundamentals look like in their mind, whether it’s on the mound, in the field or up at the plate. Time and again when teaching, the same buzz words come up: balance and athletic position. If the player does not start in a balanced, athletic position, his/her chance for having success drops dramatically.

That being said, a balanced, athletic position starts from the ground up. Feet pointing straight ahead, feet outside shoulders, weight on balls of feet and balanced, slight bend in the knees, slight bend in the waist, shoulders either in- line with or square to target, head up, and both eyes on target. Regardless of any athletic movement, staying in a balanced position throughout the movement is critical to producing both strength and speed of movement. So when teaching or evaluating, pay attention to the player’s feet and balance and work your way up the body. Correcting a faulty foot pattern/path/position may put the player in a better-balanced position, thereby creating a better movement or swing.

A lot of things go into creating good balance and athleticism. A player needs good body awareness, eye-hand coordination, timing, rhythm, and flexibility. Simply repeating a good swing and a good throwing motion definitely helps and is a good starting point. But create a better athlete. Some kids may not be physically able to do the things you want them to do. Get them stronger, faster, more athletic. This can and will correct many faults on its own. It’s a process and takes time.