Bio

Current HC at University of Arkansa Rich Mountain
- In his first season (started the program brand new) he led the bucks to a Plains district championship runner up
- 3rd season, recruited 2019-2020, played 2020-2021, getting ready to start “playing” year 2
2021 ABCA Ethics Coaching award winner
Former Horatio HS HC (28 years) - top of 2A and bottom of 3A
- HS Teacher of the year
- 3X ABCA region 6 COY
- 18 conference championships
- 10X regional championships
- Final four in the state 14 times
- 5X state champion
- Over 500 WINS

Notes

When the people around you set the bar high and help you do the right thing the ethics come naturally
Coaching is a relationship game (umpires, coaches, working on the field)
Treat everyone with respect, and the way you want to be treated
You can’t fool players now
Everything now needs to be modeled or you won’t get the buy in
Fine line between leading by example and sometimes you need to speak up
- If you don’t speak up you are condoning the behavior
Same player just a different version
1 year of experience 30 times, or 30 years of experience
We take days off when it is time to take days off
Always thinking long run and we need to be fresh at the end
You need to be able to read you team and play for the end game
Variety is a big deal (the mind of an adolescent), get as much variety and competition as possible
Better bunt game - pair up players and compete with a better bunt game
Validation BP - swings in a round, if they get a hit, they have to validate it with a bunt and score a point
Turn 2 game - 2 deep on infield, everyone else at home on the tee, run full speed to 1b, infielders try to turn 2 before runner gets to 1b,
Owes a payback - jumping jacks
Bridge activities - something that gets us to get to team d
- Live baserunning - 3 lines, and front guy actually goes live
- Push out or drag out - coach pitch
Team defense
- Fundamental drill - 4 rounds, PFP, ground ball on infield (time on the clock), pickoff, ball to outfield
  - Added a catcher play and timed DP (6 rounds)
  - Add stop watch to outfield
- Practice binder with game situation script
  - Game situation for team defense with live runners or vs air (time)
Team offense
- Game situation scripts
  - Runners at each base, yell out situation of each pitch
- Don’t train the same
  - Production point BP
    - 2 teams (could use more if you like)
      - Rbi, dirtbags, runners - execute specific skills based on who they are
    - Barrel, Barrel, Wall, Wall, Barel, wall - wall is it needs to get to the wall or get over the wall
    - Train guy specifically to their skills
- Pair up pitchers on different groups (nasty boys)
- Horse bullpens as you match up pitchers
- Technology makes it easier to compete!
  - 10% of your Max EV, with certain velo or spin rate
  - Test max EV off tee
  - Average EV on front toss, sitting down, over top, to imitate what they will see in the game
- You have to think about the level of baseball you are talking about in terms of playing the short game
- 28-32 ft from home plate painted on the field (kill bunt)
- Deer point game
  - Rectangle painted 10 ft wide parellel to baseline and split it in half
    - Pitcher side bunt 10 points, foul line side 20 points, on the line 30 points
    - Goal is to make it through 10 rounds and should be 100 points minimum
- Infield ball handling - 10 reps and raise ball in the air for winner
  - Around the waist
  - Around the knee
  - Figure 8
  - scissor
- 25 ball drill - 2 groups, 90 ft apart, 25 in a row, and then go 25 run downs, miss it, start back at 0,
- STAR drill - throw the ball back and forth 25 times in a row, never turn your back to the baseball, and can’t throw it to your immediate left and right.
- Find a mentor or as many as you can to help mentor you
- Reach out to coaches, and don’t be afraid to reach out,
- Lifelong learner - keep growing, keep learning
- If you are not reading, you are missing out!!
- Twitter - @spigner23
- lspigner@uarichmountain.edu