David Klein
@CoachDavidKlein
Followers
11,398
Following
2,738
Media
1,144
Statuses
6,102
Founder @MPLegends & SpeedBall ⚾ Former College Player/Coach💥 Experience Designer | Dad | Coach 🚀 I help coaches create transformational sports experiences👇
San Francisco, CA
Joined June 2011
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Texas
• 285633 Tweets
Yankees
• 251617 Tweets
WANG YIBO IN THE GT FINALS
• 155207 Tweets
Presiden
• 128396 Tweets
World Series
• 96947 Tweets
Juan Soto
• 65687 Tweets
期日前投票
• 60615 Tweets
HAPPY TWENTY FOURTH
• 47365 Tweets
#菊花賞
• 41510 Tweets
アーバンシック
• 39532 Tweets
ダノンデサイル
• 32424 Tweets
gerard
• 22702 Tweets
Happy Mashujaa
• 21235 Tweets
#虹7th_day2
• 21001 Tweets
Gowon
• 19710 Tweets
りんご飴
• 19348 Tweets
ダービー
• 16200 Tweets
#スパスタ3期
• 15094 Tweets
ねこあつめ2
• 14902 Tweets
メイショウタバル
• 14536 Tweets
コスモキュランダ
• 14465 Tweets
PROPS to all the players out there who show up on time, wear the right stuff, take coaching, support their teammates and give 100% whenever their on the field.
I LOVE low maintenance players who buy in to the process. YOU are what makes coaching fun.
9
990
3K
Ive coached a few dozen kids whose parents played professional baseball.
Their kids are often the best players.
The parents are almost ALWAYS the least involved and during games they are silent and not emotional.
#justanobservation
79
190
2K
Being a quality Catcher requires more than just receiving the ball and throwing it back.
#1
goal is to get the most out of your pitcher!
There are little things you can do throughout the course of the game to fire your pitcher up. Be more than a catcher. Be a motivator!
17
420
2K
Ive coached a few dozen kids whose parents played professional baseball.
Their kids are often the best players.
The parents are almost ALWAYS the least involved and during games they are silent and not emotional.
39
121
2K
If you barely put in any work besides team practice, you cannot expect to be great.
Imagine 20 extra mins in the cage 3 days/week for 16 week season = 16 hours! No chance you dont get better doing that.
In life and in sports, a little extra goes a long way.
#baseball
1
547
2K
Common complaint from hitters:
“Pitcher throws too slow...”
Come on. Make an adjustment!
Spread feet out. Get up in box. Use heavier bat. Think oppo. Work harder on timing in on deck circle...
But don’t complain... Be a better competitor than that!
21
434
1K
If your coach is hard on you, thank him. He obviously cares and just wants you to be your best.
Nothing is more harmful for your development than a coach who coddles you.
5
525
1K
Struggling at the plate?
Before addressing mechanical changes, your should first consider:
-Are you seeing the ball?
-Are you on time?
-What pitches are your swinging at & in what counts
-Are u relaxed?
-How are u preparing on deck/in dugout?
Most struggles are not mechanical
13
346
1K
Baseball is more fun when you and your teammates get genuinely fired up for eachother.
Frankly, we all deserve the level of support Vladito & Lourdes Gurriel Jr. give Cavan Biggio.
94
2K
17K
4
187
1K
Common coach accusation: “He/she only plays his favorites...”
Yes, all coaches have favorites. They favor competitors. Players who pay attention, work hard, lead, take instruction & have heart...
You want to be on this list. But also know, favorites r held 2 a higher standard
12
522
1K
You know whats underrated? Collegiate Club Baseball.
I know those players have no future in baseball, but its hard to beat that experience.
Imagine traveling around to BIG 10 schools every weekend with your buddies, playing a 3 game series and partying at night. Epic.
No
52
159
1K
The moment I walked away from travel ball forever...
Its been 6 years and we havent looked back. Since then our program has exploded.
Coaches are happier.
Kids are progress faster.
Parents are obsessed.
We have ZERO competition because we are the only ones who do what we
104
161
1K
Ask your catchers to wiggle their mask if the umpire misses a strike.
It’s a subtle way to communicate which does not show up the umpire.
You need to know where and when pitches are missed. 🥎🔥💪⚾️
38
74
1K
🥎⚾Unwritten baseball/softball rule: Pitchers, offer your catchers a genuine handshake and a "thank you" the moment they are done catching your bullpen session.
16
130
1K
Batting practice with 1 kid hitting the rest shagging in the field is unacceptable at every level of amateur baseball.
41
86
968
Catchers need to give a "fake shake" sign to the pitcher on occasion.
It often makes the hitter uncomfortable and gets them thinking.
Works particularly well with 2 strikes...
Fake shake once. Fake shake again...
Then pound them with a FB inside.
Its money. ⚾🔥🥎💪
31
87
978
7% of HS athletes will play in college.
Less than 2% will go D1...
When your child is off to college and you'd do anything for another weekend of family time, most parents will regret giving up their entire family weekends commuting to travel ball tournaments.
72
84
940
Told our fastest player the other day his role right now is to be a courtesy runner & steal bags when our P/C gets on base.
Instead of pouting he responded genuinely “Sounds good coach. Whatever I need to do to contribute & help the team win”
Respect level through the roof 📈
4
182
916
Players must be taught what is acceptable “baseball talk” in the dugout and what you should NOT be yelling out onto the field.
In general, anything about our team is ok ✅
Any comments about their team is not okay ❌
21
142
907
My club baseball business will make 7 figures this year.
I will personally earn 6 figures while owning 100% of my business and working, coaching and taking vacations whenever I want.
If coaching baseball is simply your hobby, STOP READING NOW.
42
21
838
The best catchers...
⚾Are an extension of the coaching staff
⚾Have a middle linebacker mentality
⚾Can help team with glove even if not hitting
⚾Never take a bad at-bat behind the plate.
⚾Develop relationships with the umpire
⚾Get the most out of their pitcher!
6
142
834
During pregame infield/outfield I know my opponent is not well coached when they hit a ground ball to deep 1B and have them throw across to 3B. You will NEVER ever need to make that throw!
#AmateurHour
35
44
789
The focus should be to hit the ball up the middle.
If your timing is a little ahead, you will pull the ball.
If you're a little late, you'll drive the ball the other way.
But stay up the middle.
Middle is where the money is and home runs are accidents. ⚾️🔥🥎💪
11
112
768
How good your child is at
#baseball
between the ages of 6-12 DOES NOT predict how good they will be at 13-17.
In fact, top Little Leaguers are RARELY top HS players.
Often times they dont even make it to HS ball.
Love of the game is the biggest predictor of future success
28
89
757
Players: Should go w/out saying, but after your coach throws 300-400 batting practice pitches...
...THANK HIM!
It is more strenuous than your might think & never feels good the next day.
13
143
754
1 bad coach can destroy your child's love of the game.
1 great coach can reignite your child's love of the game.
Coaches, be great!
16
115
751
"Practice like a pro. Play like a kid." -Willie Mays
3
142
747
⚾🥎Catchers: When you walk to home plate at start of the game introduce yourself politely to the umpire
Shake their hand, ask their first name & offer them your first name
Then call them by their first name all game, develop a working relationship & thank them after the game🙏🏽
20
83
746
Eliminate 3-0 take signs from youth baseball.
That kid needed that at bat more than your team needed that kid on base.
If you believe development is more important than winning, you give the 3-0 green light! 🚦
#baseball
#littleleague
#travelball
171
50
735
Skills which are under taught at the youth level:
⚾Tags
⚾Sliding
⚾Breathing
⚾How to hit off a T
⚾Bunting (ages 10+)
⚾On deck circles focus
⚾Approach at the plate
⚾How to “get hit” properly
⚾The catcher position in general
⚾What is hitting success: Quality At-Bats
34
89
718
Catchers: NEVER EVER EVER fake back pick.
There is ZERO competitive advantage.
Your ability to pick a runner off is diminished drastically when you let the runner know you are paying attention.
Bait them
Let em get a lead
Then put on the pick sign and unleash the fury🔥
7
82
715
{THREAD} For HS varsity baseball teams, this is the point in the season where parents begin complaining to administration.
After 2/3rd's of the season, many parents feel like they've seen enough.
The salty ones become toxic & start rallying parents to complain to the AD's.
34
86
710
One of the best things a coach can say is "I screwed that up". I hear many coaches complain how their kids dont take accountability. They need to be taught how... A great way to teach
#accountability
is to demonstrate it yourself. Your kids will love you for your vulnerability.
7
194
688
If your “best” player cares more about themselves than the team, he/she is NOT your best player.
The best player on your team is the player who makes everyone around them better. 💪
4
130
687
Choking up may not be your thing, but having a 2 strike plan and approach at the amateur level is imperative. Find something that works for you... A strikeout is not just another out. Put the ball in play!
4
172
658
Attn: Catchers
⚾️If pitcher hits his spot... “thatta baby” or “good spot” or “good pitch”
⚾️If pitcher misses his spot by a tad... “good miss”
⚾️If pitcher is struggling, remind em “you got this!”, “one pitch at a time”, “stay positive” or “compete with this pitch!”💪🏼
#catchers
7
75
615
You are not a coach...
You are a teacher.
You just happen to teach baseball; and hopefully the game of life in the process... :)
6
90
604
How good your child is at
#baseball
between the ages of 6-12 DOES NOT predict how good they will be at 13-17.
In fact, top Little Leaguers are RARELY top HS players.
Often times they dont even make it to HS ball.
Love of the game is the biggest predictor of future success
18
81
607
Runner on 3rd base with less than 2 outs, you NEED to swing at the 1st HITTABLE PITCH!
No waiting! No digging yourself in a hole!
Preferably a pitch up in the zone which you can elevate to the middle of the field. ⚾️🔥💪🥎
8
74
592
29 sentences that will make you a better youth coach {THREAD}👇
10
104
595
Just keep playing ball until your heart is no longer in it OR until they take the game from you.
But remember, your relationship with baseball NEVER has to end.
There is a lifetime of opportunities for you to be involved with the game.
10
63
566
Fires me up when my players come to the field and just mash for hours.
Back in the day, some of my fondest memories were sneaking on fields around town and swinging for the fences.
Hitting w/ your buds > Fortnite
5
100
544
10 sentences that will make you a better youth coach ⚾👇🥎
1. To get your kids to focus at practice, make a competition out of EVERYTHING.
2. Batting practice with 1 kid hitting and the rest standing in the field is unacceptable.
3. Servant leadership means coaches pickup
24
119
536
Pulling up a lawn chair to watch your child’s rec practice is not really a thing.
Either drop your child off, or ask coach how you can help.
For youth, parents chillin on the sideline at practice is just a distraction.
214
32
528
I teach baseball.
But baseball teaches me:
- Leadership
- Work ethic
- Communication
- Mental toughness
- Love
- Positivity
- Importance of breathe
- Visualization
- Power of self-talk
- How to inspire others
I have failed over and over again.
Which is why I succeed.
3
135
523
Catchers: Your
#1
goal is to get the most out of your pitcher.
Here's a list of positive things you can say to your pitcher to keep em dialed!
⚾️Good miss
⚾️Good spot
⚾️Good pitch
⚾️Relax
⚾️Stay within yourself
⚾️Trust your stuff
⚾️You got this
⚾️One pitch at a time
⚾️Breathe
6
80
527
Players: In most cases, your future college coach does not care what your summer/club ball coach has to say. College coaches know summer/club coaches collect paychecks to say good things about you. Most prefer to hear from your HS coach who works with you day in & day out.
42
121
506
Catchers: The Graduation Drill... Must complete all 9 skills to graduate. Fun drill 4 young ones
@TheCatchingGuy
@D1catching
@catchingcamp
14
160
509
{THREAD} As a coach, the mental health of your athletes should be your top concern.
Here's 3 tools to give your players...👇
12
82
501
Coaching Solo?
Many programs are extremely short staffed. Love this drill to get IF/OF a ton of reps off the bat
IF setup 3 T’s & hit liners & pops to OF
OF setup 4 T’s & hit GB’s of all types to IF
Offensively this can help barrel control but more about defensive reps here
15
87
510
No pitcher throws “too slow” to hit.
Great competitors make adjustments, not excuses.
“He throws too slow, I can’t hit this.”
I’ve heard this way too many times 🤷♂️
Here’s 54mph.
@MikeTrout
@Brett_Phillips8
@MLB
#gritnj
13
135
909
11
109
501
As a coach, one of the worst feelings is when you feel like you want to win more than your players do.
Can you relate?
23
70
494
High Schoolers going into your Fresh/Soph year... DO NOT waste your time/money flying around "showcasing" your talent this summer. Nobody is interested yet. Coaches cant even talk to you until your Junior Year. Get better. Get in program which focuses solely on DEVELOPMENT!
3
168
469
Is there anything better than a fresh bag of pearls?
50
16
463
Unacceptable at all levels of amateur baseball: Only one kid hitting while the rest collect balls in the field.
Anything where only 1 player is engaged, is not a good activity for youth.
54
18
470
Coaches: Curious if anyone else finds it challenging and somewhat frustrating that your mind is constantly on your players...?
I’ve worked on myself to leave everything at the field but find I’m constantly ruminating about how I can improve my kids and team.
Can you relate?
34
46
455
Forcing a returning player to tryout for your travel team is really bad form.
68
8
463
My stance on travel baseball is clear:
For kids 12 and under, I do not recommend it.
For kids 12 and over, if the child wants to play in HS, a well run travel ball program can and should be considered.
41
22
452
Your playing time this Spring is often determined by how you prepare this Fall.
DO NOT blame your coach next Spring if you aren't playing. YOU made the choice to skip weights, sleep in, eat poorly, go half-speed and have a bad attitude.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!
4
188
451
It doesn’t matter the stakes, if you get tossed from a youth baseball game, shame on you.
29
32
450
Unpopular tweet which will ruffle feathers - learned after 10+ years of college recruiting:
⚾To learn about a player's character I will contact their HS Coach
⚾To learn about abilities I will contact their travel ball coach
⚾If I could only talk to 1 it would be HS coach
16
55
450
Little League should be coach pitch only until 10 years old. Convince me otherwise.
73
14
444
There is literally NOTHING worse than coaching players who do not talk. Coaches cannot help players improve if the communication is 1 sided!
Quiet & introverted players: Challenge yourself in 2019 to communicate more frequently & effectively. It is imperative we hear your voice.
9
159
441
The 'delay steal' may be the most high percentage, underutilized offensive weapon for HS level and below.
With many catchers/middle infielder combos it is indefensible.
25
38
437
The 2nd child is always a beast.
But if there’s a 3rd kid, they’re often the best athlete of the 3.
58
14
422
Your swing is probably good enough as is to get hits.
Instead of trying to fix your swing mechanics, start with this first...
⚾Are you on time?
⚾Are you seeing the baseball?
⚾Are you confident at the plate?
⚾Are you swinging at the best pitch of the at bat?
4
77
418
Bunting in Private Lessons... Ive watched thousands of lessons & have never seen a coach work on this. If player is fast I dont see why you wouldn't work on a bunting OCCASIONALLY
Also helps you pickup spin/tunnel pitches. Bunting is a weapon many should have in their arsenal
22
35
421
It’s 2022 and the $1.50 Costco Hot dog + soft drink is still the best deal in all the land.
20
24
411
Been having tough days.
Rushing to practice.
Son in tow.
Work unfinished. Mind racing.
Mood sour.
Arrive at practice.
Everything changes.
Surrounded by kids' laughter.
My mood flips completely.
It's more than a game.
It's a reminder of life's essentials:
Joy.
17
43
403
It's easier to coach a tournament than a practice.
Which is why programs do more tournaments than running developmental practices.
Literally anyone can fill out out a lineup card and put on steal signs.
Find a program where practices are at least 65% of field time.⚾🔥🥎
19
55
391
There are 2 types of private lesson instructors:
1. The first flips through their phone the moment it’s time for cleanup and has the player pickup balls.
2. The other helps pickup balls while continuing to teach and connect w/ their student.
Be the latter.
Hire the latter.
10
31
388
This is the reality of youth baseball nationwide and it’s hard to watch.
We must STOP pushing our kids to play kid pitch before they are ready. This isn’t fun for anybody
This is the perfect example of why recreational youth baseball is dying.
The design of the leagues is
This ain’t it, folks. I love baseball and have spent my life on a field and this is so hard to watch. We have to do better for our kids. Make it engaging, make it fun, keep them wanting to come back to the field every day.
@CoachDavidKlein
104
17
166
141
43
385
Being a great coach does not mean being liked by every player. No matter how much love you pour into your kids there will ALWAYS be players you cannot make happy. Your job is to teach, inspire and challenge your players 2 be the best versions of themselves both on & off the field
5
137
372
It's easier to coach a tournament than a practice.
Which is 1 reason why programs do more tournaments than running high level, developmental practices.
Literally anyone can fill out out a lineup card and put on steal signs.
17
49
380
Sometimes the best swing advice is literally saying nothing at all.
We do not need to coach every swing.
Sometimes their swing is fine as is - they dont always need modifications.
They just need more reps, time and patience.
They often figure it out on their own. 💪
15
42
368
Most kids are INTERESTED in their sport.
Few kids are COMMITTED to their sport.
If you truly want to be GREAT you must COMMIT!
Eating/sleeping right, weights, grades, extra work, sacrifices, asking questions, watching video... All necessary in the quest for greatness.
2
142
355
Regularly traveling significant distances to play "travel ball" level competition which you could play close to home is unnecessary.
At some point we must consider if all this travel is good for our players and their families.
#baseball
41
21
356
You'll forget your win-loss record, your batting average and ERA...
You'll NEVER forget your teammates.
Be remembered as an incredible teammate.
3
55
345
I feel bad for the kids.
My first coach pitch game of the season was this Saturday.
3 practices before game 1.
12 kids on my team.
I put 11 kids out on defense. (5 outfielders)
While my team was on defense, I paced behind 2nd base as the other coach pitched to his players.
95
33
343
My son’s first basket in his last game of the season. Favorite part is how his buddy celebrated him after his moment.
Sports are so much fun when you and your buddies get fired up for each other.
21
13
333
The baseball field and dugout is a sacred place for learning, growth and connection.
This cannot be attained if our devices our taking us away from our process and our teammates.
This should be a golden rule across all baseball at all levels!
Phones stay in bags ALWAYS!
7
43
307
If the hitter is looking out into the stands for their parents during an at-bat, this is a warning sign that there is a problem.⚾️
6
29
305
When you free yourself from travel ball tournaments you get your weekends, family and life back.
Tournaments are NOT a necessary evil.
There is another way.
Stay tuned.
⚾️🔥💪🥎
18
14
306
Told our fastest player the other day his role right now is to be a courtesy runner & steal bags when our P/C gets on base.
Instead of pouting he responded genuinely “Sounds good coach. Whatever I need to do to contribute & help the team win”
Respect level through the roof 📈
10
22
303
Remember: Your coach does not decide your playing time. YOU DO.
Your commitment to the weightrooom. Your attitude, effort & focus.. Your food choices. Your coachability & ability to make adjustments..
Your playing time is determined by YOUR commitment to YOUR process. PERIOD.
3
104
303
You can call me “soft”.
I don’t yell at my players.
I don’t make kids tryout.
I don’t punish.
I don’t need to.
Inspiring with positivity feels better and works for my style.
It’s about fun and inclusivity.
What works for me, may not work for you.
And that’s ok.
41
23
302
Summer camps dont have to suck.
Here's 38 ideas to make your camp LEGENDARY 🔥👇 {THREAD}
5
19
299
One of the most under-taught yet most important elements of hitting is having an approach (or plan) at the plate.
You MUST have an approach and commit to it!
Committing to your approach means going ALL IN and knowing that if you fail, you can live with the results.
5
84
294
If you were given a second chance at your baseball career, what is the one thing you would go back and do differently?
138
29
277
If you give the runner the steal sign and you do not want the hitter to swing, there is no reason why you shouldn’t have the hitter fake bunt.
I was a D1 catcher; it is difficult to throw runners out when the hitter pull his bat back late and right in front of your eyes.
12
20
282
A child's love for baseball can be crushed by just one bad coach. Don't let that be you.
11
30
277
Heartbreaking to see old, overgrown Little League fields from leagues that folded.
The goal is to transform youth baseball and revive these fields by making rec “cool” and fun like it used to be.
Youth baseball needs you!
33
24
277
On my ride home from my sons Little League baseball practice last night, I started pondering why I care so much about youth baseball.
Like, what is grown ass man like me dedicating so much time into something as simple as youth baseball?
My reasoning boils down to 3 core
36
31
272
Catchers: NEVER EVER EVER fake back pick. There is ZERO competitive advantage. Your ability to pick a runner off is diminished drastically when you let the runner know you are paying attention.
Bait them. Let em get a lead.
Then put on the pick sign and unleash the fury!
6
29
272