74 - Mike Kelly: Loyola Blakefield (MD)

Bio

• Head Coach at Loyola Blakefield since 2017
• Former Don assistant coach 2012-2016
• Former Atlanta Braves scout from 91-95
• Assistant for Baltimore Johnnies (similar to Cape Cod league)
  • 2 number 1 draft picks
  • 2nd pick overall
  • 4th pick overall
• Dundalk CC assistant from 1990-1994
• Assisted with multiple Baltimore metro teams over the years
• Has coached 4 big leaguers
• kid driven
• Players first coach!

Notes

• When you come to my school you will be one of my guys for life
• Checking on guys after they leave the program
• Connect with alumni, even if it is just an email
• You have to get the players (you need talent)
• You need to have the culture (expectations)
• Players need to buy in
• Each year there is a different level of buy in
• The most talent doesn’t always win, but the most talented team of players
• Get the last guy on your team to be all in is when you get something special
• Buy into the culture, buy into the baseball teaching/philosophy
• Adjust to how players feel about the team and play for each other, not just for themselves.
• I do less messing with hitters
• You need to drive the baseball to play at a high level
• I am kid driven - more what the kid needs and develop the kid****
• ETF - embrace the fear
  • Fear of the totality of hitting the baseball
  • Fear of making mistakes
  • Know it is going to happen
  • Don’t run from it
  • Its ok, and let go at it, and have fun with it
• Give players test based on the playbook, based on our system
  • Either put the play on, or you take it off
• Take away as much thinking I can from the player, so they can just play and react instinctively
• If the kids make a mistakes I take responsibility for that, and I need to teach it and go back over it again
• Aggressive offensively, and make other team give up outs to get to the next base.
• Defensively we do not want to give up anything
• We teach during practice, and during games kids go have fun, learn, and coaches get feedback on what they need to practice.
• Getting practice done with JV and Varsity, together to teach everyone, and also get kids home in time to study and have family time!
• I am watching all the time
• Talking to kids during BP to talk about life or even get feedback from players on practice
• We are going to do the things that we do the most during games!
• Generally see the biggest improvements from our outfielders, they must go all out for the baseball.
• Every BP ball that comes off the bat we go for it 100%
• 2 guys at each position - next guy comes right up after each rep
• Infield throws until their arm is done, but make each play, you just may not throw it.
• Get corrected right away, and get the praise right away
• Its easy to beat up, but you better praise em up!
• Machine pitch intersquad to get as many situations as possible, keep it moving
• Intersquad, 3 teams, pitcher has plays off the L-screen
• I am training everyone to be leaders, each person needs to lead their life.
• Every team has a hierarchical of players/leaders
• First thing is to LEAD yourself - find out who you are and what to embrace and stay away from
• Kids teach kids - share what you know with other players
• Be authentic, be real - the kids will know, and you will not fool them.
• Be upfront and honest with kids right away
• “Baseball class” - if players have problem in “baseball class” we don’t want parents to talk to us, but in “geometry class” they call the teacher
• How to compete to get on a team, and compete against your best friend f