MLB Tactics That Aren't Good For Youth Baseball

MLB players can do some amazing things and there are incredible training methods, strategies and styles of play at the Major League level. BUT - should youth baseball players do the same things Major Leaguers do? Should coaches use the same strategies?
--
✅ Grab a copy of my books on Amazon: amzn.to/4bNij3W
--
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:19 Bunting
1:54 Hit and Run
4:26 Delayed Steal
6:05 Spin Rate & Pitching Metrics
8:28 Launch Angle Focus
9:16 Throwing Four Pitches
11:24 Ultra-Defined Positions
13:42 Sign Stealing Technology
--
👇Other Topics Mentioned in this video
--
Launch angle: • Is Launch Angle Actual...
Hit and Run: • Is the Hit and Run a S...
Bunting: • Is Bunting Smart?
Why coaches should not call pitches: • Should Baseball Coache...
--
Dan’s IG: / coachdanblewett
Dan’s Tik tok: / coachdanblewett
⛑️ Nutty Buddy Athletic Cup (what I use): bit.ly/nuttybuddy-cup
👉Use code CoachDan for 10% off your order at Nutty Buddy
🤝 Want Dan to be your mentor? Sign up here: danblewett.com/coaching
📘 Buy my books on Amazon: amzn.to/4bNij3W
✅ My Self-Guided Pitching Programs 👉danblewett.com/courses
❤️ LOVE THROWING, My Free Program: danblewett.com/lovethrowing
⚾️ New to Baseball? Learn the terminology: danblewett.com/baseball-cheat...
📬 Email me a question 👉 danblewett.com/ask-dan-blewett/
💪 My baseball strength program 👉 earlyworktraining.com/baseball/

[@chris-808]

This should be required viewing for youth coaches. Too many coaches treat their 10U team as if it's MLB.

[@theFightfan1]

I had to start clapping when I heard launch angle 😄 Bravo man. Watching 13 year olds for the first time in the big field, being taught launch angle is usually nothing but a pop up in the big field at 13. Great video !

[@DanBlewett]

Glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, Aaron Judge doesnt want to hit 110mph line drives that go for singles - he wants to lift those so they become home runs. For kids who hit the ball...60, 70, 80, 90mph...lifting those becomes a fly out, as you said!

[@pokergeniusordonkey6517]

I became a utility player. I was also an occasional relief pitcher. They asked me to throw one basic pitch. Strikes. I would not choose any particular grip. I would just grab the ball and throw. I had one intentional change up pitch that I would throw maybe once per inning.

[@Bpb9091]

This video is facts. A pitcher in ameteurs shouldn’t throw 4 or 5 pitches and whenever you face them they can’t throw a strike there garbage. Absolutely right I love your videos.

[@theblackhorse3996]

Really great content; both in terms of properly focusing on the players development (play lots of positions), and being realistic about how the amateur game works (putting pressure on the defense via bunting, hit and run, etc... is highly effective and a ton of fun for the players, especially the role players). Should be required viewing for youth and highschool coaches.

[@wildcatsportsman9157]

You always have great videos man! Thanks for helping me out, so i can help out those who rely on me !

[@solraccarpy]

Hey man stumbled across your videos and gotta say really love how you present them and the thought you put into younger and newer playera

[@DanBlewett]

Welcome aboard! Thank you!

[@jasonmoore7301]

Good stuff as always, thanks Dan!

[@Football__Junkie]

I always liked the strategy of instead of learning how to throw breaking balls in addition to a fastball and change up, just work on new variations of your fastball and change up. Maybe a different grip with the same throwing motion or different arm angle to get a different movement on the ball. 🤷‍♂️ Worry about breaking balls much later after puberty

[@jerrybach8899]

Young hitters also get bombarded with “ exit velocity”. Put a good swing on the ball. Results will follow.

[@DanBlewett]

exit velocity isnt really in this category - it's just a way to quantify how hard a hitter hits the ball, which is basically the name of the game - the harder you hit it, the more positive results will follow.

[@OaseDaniel]

Good video. Thanks!

[@caseycook738]

I would add intentional walk. Played a 9u Championship game where the other team intentional walked our best hitter 4 times. So that coach took away what should have been a great experience for that kid so he could be a MLB coach for a day.

[@DanBlewett]

ew

[@scottsmith2052]

Entertaining and informative video. I would just add that some of the small ball tactics you mention aren't MLB tactics that don't work in youth baseball as your title suggests, rather they are lower level tactics that fade away at the higher levels.

[@DanBlewett]

some are, some aren't

[@tomabbott7620]

Coach Dan, incredibly well said. Your videos and books are always spot on, you could say out of the park. The only thing I would add is youth coaches and parents need to keep the game fun for the kids, particularly 13U.

[@DanBlewett]

100% - and thank you

[@kfmillertime]

@@tomabbott7620 99.9% of kids playing 13U and under will only ever play just for fun. And the 0.1% that might do it for more need to double down on the fun at 13U

[@TKJK1020]

Love your content. What’s your view on youth lefty’s playing all the positions? My 11 y/o lefty pretty much has always been rotated to the “lefty only” positions (1B,RF, pitcher, and other OF occasionally) his entire baseball experiences. Do you think even lefty’s at the young youth level should rotate at all positions like SS and catcher to gain valuable knowledge and understanding of the game?

[@DanBlewett]

yes - they should play all positions at that age. Probably at 11-12 they'll need to be relegated to lefty-only positions, but it depends on the level and the team.

[@scsmith4604]

It is very difficult to make a throw from SS or 3B and have a chance to throw out a runner at first if you are left-handed. My son is left-handed and our coach had him play 2B and SS until he was in 11U and then he moved to both corner outfield positions, pitching, and 1B in 12U. At that point it was apparent that he would not be successful enough from SS and 3B to play there instead of other players who can play there better. He does play 2B if there is an emergency which happened more this year than I thought but for the most part he plays the traditional lefty positions because of the time to throw to first.

[@becandjim6080]

Our 10U national team went from from super slow annoying 3 digit numbers and wrist bands to all players on the field wearing pitchcom. it hugely sped up the game and every single kid on defense knew if FB or offspeed was coming and could adjust accordingly immediately. Games went much faster. We were not expecting that. And for certain bunt, pickoff, or special play situations it got the outfielders onboard with the call much easier. you can also send messages to only one group of players, just one player, or the entire team. definitely not needed at anything below the national level of play at any age group.

[@paul5849]

Be really careful around the ruleset. I believe for NFHS only pitcher / catcher can have it.

[@LoganJones2027]

You are taking 10u baseball way too seriously.

[@Phil4222]

I don't see how y'all don't see this for the sarcastic joke it is. 😂

[@Bobby-Dingers]

What do you mean bro!! I need full pitch com for my tee ball team.

[@DanBlewett]

this comment aged well...check the other comments to see what popped up 😂

[@zendiime]

What are your thoughts on teaching kids at 10U about the basic defensive rotations. Example: I started teaching a team cutoff positions and rotations with scenarios. Runner on 1B, ball hit to Right field, second base covers the bag, SS is cut 3. I get negative feedback from parents sometimes because it's complicated for 10U to learn. I always thought teaching them the correct way from the start is best. I also know there are alternative rotations and cuts so I try and take that into consideration. Am I expecting too much from the young players?

[@DanBlewett]

teach them the game and see how it goes.

[@zendiime]

@@DanBlewett I'll keep at it. I feel like when they execute it properly in game it always works so well. Love your content Dan! Huge fan :)

[@DanBlewett]

no prob - it's hard to know what they can handle until you try. best to assume they can, rather than can't, and adjust downward thereafter. as long as they're having fun and being encouraged, theyll keep trying.

[@usarms149]

I'm with you on everything but bunting. There's been a ton of bunts this season.

[@MrMaelstrom07]

I've noticed that players are starting to run through the bag at second base on a potential double play. First of all, they don't understand when to do it and secondly they're not doing it legally. That's a huge difference from MLB.

[@DanBlewett]

like, peeling off, you mean? Or running standing up actually straight into 2nd base? Staying tall on a double play ball is a good way to eat the throw to first base and end up in the hospital with facial reconstruction surgery.

[@MrMaelstrom07]

I'm not finding the video now. I thought it was either CloseCallSports or Jomboy... Anyway, the play is potential double play ball, gonna be close at 2nd so rather than slide and scrub off speed, they choose to run straight through. Now odds are since they ran straight, they're in shallow left field and will be out after a rundown. But, if there's a runner at 3rd trying to score, the out at 2nd is no longer a force and can score. I had a 14yo ask me about it at a game yesterday.

[@DanBlewett]

interesting! never seen that in real life but i get it now

[@MrMaelstrom07]

Baseball Doesn't Exist just posted a short "This new trick is taking over baseball". Since it was posted 14h ago it can't be the original video I saw but it makes the same point.

[@1969EType]

Tangentially related…can we please eliminate the coach bellowing 3 digit codes for defensive alignments, pitch calls and or batter instructions? 2 hours of a dude yelling, “1-6-4! 1-6-4!” or whatever is super annoying and all about the coach making it about them.

[@DanBlewett]

It slows the game down SO much

[@weevilsnitz]

Youth sports are about fun and enjoying competition, not BEING competitive. Teach and use fundamentals, not advanced techniques.

[@J.C...]

I see hit & run in MLB 🤷

[@J.C...]

I see bunting in MLB 🤷

[@usarms149]

Tons this season.

[@DanBlewett]

not according to the data, there aren't. www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/bunt-hits-declining-mlb-rcna157571

[@usarms149]

@@DanBlewett thanks for citing a source, I couldn't find any "official" stats from MLB, ESPN, etc. Considering, however, we weren't quite at the halfway point when the article ran, this season is trending towards a percentage closer to the early 00's. I guess we'll see in a few months. ;)

[@charliehager7605]

Sour grapes with the Astros comment. Yankees and Red Sox just as guilty.MLB was just mad because the Dodgers didn’t win. If the entire team relied on cheating only. Please explain the 7 straight NLCS appearances. Are they still cheating. Must be a Dodgers fan.

[@DanBlewett]

here's a lesson for you: just because others also do something immoral, does not absolve you from doing it yourself. This whataboutism is what people who don't take responsibility for their own actions do to let themselves off the hook when they're caught. Maybe others cheated too, but that doesn't make the Astros NOT cheaters. I hold myself to the same standard and I'm sorry for you that you don't.