Ahead Of The Curve with Jonathan Gelnar

Latest Episodes:

Dr. Andy Bass on how to integrate mindfulness into our practice sessions, how to allow some autonomy players, and how to implement game-like practices with feedback loops Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

Today we have on Andy Bass Coordinator of Mental Conditioning for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Andy has an awesome story, with playing professional baseball and developing the yips, then deciding he wanted to focus his attention onto helping players with the mental side by getting his advanced degrees in psychology and then motor learning. On the show, we discuss how to integrate mindfulness into our practice sessions, we go over how to allow some autonomy players, we dive deep into game-like practices and feedback loops Resources Blackbox thinking- by Matthew Syed Beartown- by Fredrick Backman Contact Andy.bass@pirates.com

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Jeremy Sheetinger on competitions, classroom sessions, and how to teach the mental game Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

Today we have on Jeremy Sheetinger, head baseball coach at Georgia Gwinnett College. Sheets is by far one of the most popular baseball coaches in the world. After working for the American Baseball Coaches Association and running the podcast, he took the job at GGC last year. On the show we discuss what he has learned during the 4 years he stepped away from the field, and how he has implemented so much information into what they do at GGC. We go all in on competitions, classroom sessions, and how to teach the mental game. If you're looking for a copy/paste episode, sheets delivered. This episode is so good, and here is Jeremy Sheetinger! Resource Baseball Playbook- Ron Polk Help the Helper- by Kevin Pritchard, John Eliot Contact @CoachSheets3 Sheets@ggc.edu

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Rich Benjamin on simplifying things in a world of constant noise and "training zone focus vs performance zone focus" Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

Rich Benjamin begins his 6th year at the helm of the Indiana Wesleyan University In Benjamin's first year at Indiana Wesleyan the Wildcats had one of the most successful seasons in program history as they advanced to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round for the first time.The Wildcats topped their 2016 success two years later going 37-20 in the 2018 season, winning the Crossroads League and reaching the NAIA Opening Round for the second time in program history. Coach Benjamin was named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year for his leadership during the 2018 season. Prior to Indiana Wesleyan, Benjamin was the head baseball coach at Judson (Ill.) for eight seasons where he accumulated the most wins in program history with 304. On the show we go over how being a pitching coach early on helped him to develop a well rounded approach as a hitting coach and now head coach, we discuss why we need to simplify things in a world of constant noise, and we dive deep into what Rich calls “training zone focus vs performance zone focus” Resources Romans- The Bible Contact rich.benjamin@indwes.edu

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Kyle Wagner on learning, game-like practice design and player development Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

Subscribe here! Description Kyle is a former standout high school baseball player who went on to play Division 1 baseball at Wake Forrest and a year professionally in the Angels organization. Kyle was also a part of the historic 2015 Red Land Little League team that wen on to win the United States Championship. He is the author of two books- Green light hitting and How the Rivercats won. Kyle is one of my favorite twitter follows because he always helps me to think deeper on different subjects like practice design and player development. Resources How The RiverCats Won: Lessons on Relationships and Competition Green Light Hitting from the backyards to the big leagues Contact https://twitter.com/GowagsKyle

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David Jeans on being a development first program and competitive team practice plan design Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

Today we have on David Jeans, head baseball coach for De La Salle HS. David is an industrial engineer by trade and after pursing that for several years, started coaching a 6th grade basketball team. This led him to coaching football at De La Salle during the Bob Ladouceur era, which is one of the most successful dynasties in HS football history. He worked his way up the ranks and became the head baseball coach in 2012. And Since 2012- De La Salle Baseball has reached title game every year, won in 12,14,16,17,18,19. So on the show we discuss how being a football coach has helped Under coach Lad helped him to establish a “development first” program. We discuss how being an engineer has helped with with practice plan design in limited space. And we dive deep into what being Spartan looks like on a daily basis.

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Curt Nelson on the hitting evaluation process and how to teach hitting mechanics, game planning and timing Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

Today we have on Curt Nelson, Professional Hitting Consultant and NW bandits head coach (WA). Curt works with players from the big leagues to little league. So on the show we discuss what his evaluation process looks from when a person walks in the door for the first time, to fine tuning professional hitters mechanics. We dive deep into hitting mechanics, game planning, timing and much more.

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Kevin Wilson on what "good batting" is, how hitting is a conversation, and what a hitting session should consist of. Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

For over 19 years, Kevin Wilson has been one of the most sought after hitting consultants in the game. Kevin currently works with or has worked with with Minor and Major League players from all 30 MLB organizations. In 2013, Kevin was the hitting coach for the USA Baseball 18U National Team. Team USA beat Japan for the Gold medal at the IBAF World Cup in Taiwan. On the show Kevin and I discuss what #goodbatting is, we talk about how hitting is a conversation. And Kevin walks us through what it sounds like to be in a cage session with him.

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Tom Sutaris on personal growth as a coach coach, how to make changes with players, and how to create a hitting culture. Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

Today we're joined by Tom Sutaris. Tom has spent time coaching at every level. He was a high school English teacher and coach, a college coach, and is now the AA hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. On the show Tom shares with us some ways he has grown as a coach, especially getting to coach at each level, we talk how to make changes with the player and how to ask questions to get to the root of the problem, and Tom dives deep into how to create a hitting culture. Resources Energy Bus- Jon Gordon Atomic Habits- James Clear.

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Billy Berry on using tradition to ingrain the culture every year, how he helps players to own their career and holds them accountable, and how to “attack the day” everyday. Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

Today we have on Billy Berry, Head Baseball Coach at Tennessee Wesleyan University Billy was the head coach of TWU from 2005-2015 and then returned to TWU in July of 2017 after a two year coaching stint at the Baylor School. Billy and TWU have won 2 NAIA national championships during his 2 stints and In his twenty + years of coaching, He has seen over forty former players move on to professional baseball. He wants to continue to help young men use baseball as an avenue to get their education, continue on the bulldog baseball success and have kids that represent the school, their families and the program with pride. So on the show we talk about how he uses the Weslyan tradition to ingrain the culture every year. How he helps players to own their career and holds them accountable, and he discusses how to “attack the day” everyday. Books: Energy Bus; Books about programs or seasons.

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Wes Brooks and Butch Chaffin on growing men in your program, culture building, and developing a system that works for your program. Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

Today were joined by Episode #1 and #5 guests Butch Chaffin and Wes Brooks. Wes Brooks is the head coach at Oxford HS in Alabama and Butch Chaffin, Head coach at cookeville HS in Tennessee. I may have mentioned it several times on the podcast, but I want to reiterate it here. Butch and Wes are two of the best coaches in the country and they absolutely get the most out their guys and love them to death. So on the show, we talk about what’s important to them. We discuss what growing men in your program means, we talk all things culture building, and you can develop a system that works for your program. Contact: @oldgoldsports @gawbage29

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