Thank you for your dedication and commitment to youth in your community. Without you, too many may not have the opportunity to access and enjoy the sport that’s at the heart of what we do.
Whether you are just picking up a clipboard for the first time or you’ve lost count of the number of years you have been involved, the Red Sox Foundation Coaches Box presented by Nike has been built with you in mind. We are here to be an ally and a resource not only for you, but also for your team, families and, of course, your youth. From trainings and certifications to drills, practice plans and resources, we are thrilled to offer best-in-class content from leaders in the youth sports development.
The Coaches Box will continually be updated to ensure you are best positioned to succeed with your teams on and off the field. We also encourage you to explore our youth baseball and softball platform, which offers additional content for youth, families and leagues!
We are always here, so please do not hesitate to reach out to our team at rbi@redsox.com.
Best of luck!
Your Teammates at the Red Sox Foundation
We understand how much thought, strategy and care goes into coaching – as well as the complexity behind setting goals, planning drills, ensuring all youth are engaged and delivering a fun experience.
To augment your efforts, we invite you to dive into some of our pre-planned practice plans and guides – and don’t forget to explore our drill database to build out your own practice!
These practice plans will serve as a foundation for your day-to-day strategy. Additional practice plans are in production and will be added when available, so please check back regularly!
View or download any or all of the databases below to review drills you can run at your practice. Swap in drills from our practice plans and create your own new plan! The Foundation will continue to add in great drills for you to use. Drills in the activities database are mostly geared for younger age groups but can be modified for older players. These drills emphasize keeping the practice fun for everyone!
Welcome to vRBI for athletes. This will be your home for featured video content on skill and player development. Content will continue to be updated, so check back frequently!
Jackie Robinson – On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era and correspondingly broke the color barrier within the sport.
Breaking Barriers in Sports & in Life – “Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life” is a baseball-themed character Education program developed by MLB and Scholastic Inc.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Character development is just as important as player and skill development. This will be your home for featured video content on teamwork, leadership, respect, and more. Content will continue to be updated, so check back frequently!
Featured Video
“He Never Quit”: Red Sox Legend Fred Lynn on Former Teammate Jerry Remy
Development
Sports is a Great Life Teacher
Being a Good Teammate
Michael Cuddyer: Showing Self-Respect & Dignity when not playing
The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) are promoting a lifetime of activity for youth by a short series of videos that focus on playing fair, safely, and with others. Check out the video below to get started and then visit their website to run the bases!
PLAY Campaign: Getting Started!
Fun at Home
Red Sox Home Fun – Stay entertained with Red Sox coloring pages, math and STEM worksheets, videos, recipes, and more! Best for ages 5-12.
USA Softball Activity Book – Have some fun with the USA Softball Team! This activity book is for youth ages 5-12.
RBI Mound Visit – Watch all video mound visits hosted by MLB. Open to all ages.
Play Ball at Home – Additional MLB content for all ages to watch, engage, and create!
MLB Summer Slugger – Interactive online course for ages 8-11 that uses the game to maintain math/literacy skills during the summer!
Play it Safe at Home – USA Softball has created guidelines and a resource portal for players that includes videos and activities.
Pitch Smart – A series of practical, age-appropriate guidelines to help players avoid overuse injuries and foster long, healthy careers for youth pitchers.
PBATS Play Campaign – Play means having fun, but the PLAY campaign also means Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth. Having fun is important, but playing fair, safely and with others is important, too!
Reducing Anxiety on Game Day – Game-day performance anxiety is common in athletes of any age. Tackle anxiety before the day of the game with these tips from USA Baseball.
Boston vs. Bullies Academy – Join Bobby the Badger & Friends to learn about Cybersafety and how to prevent Cyberbullying
PCA Student-Athlete Online Workshop – Learn how to make positive contributions through improving oneself, leadership, and honoring the game from Doc Rivers, Julie Foudy, and other top coaches, athletes, and experts! For ages 12-18.
Goal Setting & How to Succeed – USA Baseball identifies 6 simple reasons why athletes might fail to meet their goals but by knowing what those are, you can set a goal and succeed.
Other Resources
Where We Stand – For additional resources around Black Lives Matter and additional ways to engage youth
From state-wide trainings to certification opportunities, we want you to be equipped with the knowledge and the confidence to lead your team this season.
Skill Drip Videos
The Red Sox Foundation is working with the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport (CHJS) on a number of mini coach training videos. We are calling these short videos “skill drips” as they are less than 5 minutes and convey some great insights to help you coach. Skill Drip videos will contain a wide range of topics and even though they are focused in, most of the information may be transferable. Keep an eye out for more Skill Drip videos in the coming months!
CHJS: Softball Competitions
Coach Trainings in your state!
The Red Sox Foundation is committed to providing you with the tools to help you coach this spring/summer. See the trainings being offered in your state and if registration is open, click the active links to join the session. All trainings provided by the Red Sox Foundation are completely free! We hope to see you there!
Connecticut
MORE COMING 2023!
Maine
MORE COMING 2023!
Massachusetts
MORE COMING 2023!
New Hampshire
MORE COMING 2023!
Rhode Island
MORE COMING 2023!
Vermont
MORE COMING 2023!
PCA: Power of Positive
PCA: Growth Mindset
Nike Training
Nike has teamed up with leaders in the sport industry to provide state of the art training tools to volunteer coaches. Coaches will be able to provide youth of all abilities with better, more positive experiences in play and sport. Register and watch for free!
The USA Baseball Coaches Certification Program is a certification pathway for individuals who are currently coaching or aspire to coach at any level in the game. The program aims to create a higher standard of coaching education and enhance the ability of coaches to better serve their athletes, their team, and their communities.
Drills are integral to teaching the fundamentals of baseball and softball, and instilling core values of teamwork, respect and sportsmanship on and off the field, too.
We’re proud to offer a comprehensive database of drills, highlight a drill of the month and share best practices to strengthen the impact we’re making, together.
Drill of the Month
Drill: Intro to Throwing
The offseason has arrived, and it’s a great time to work on fundamentals! Learning how to throw is foundational in building the next generation of star pitchers such as our late Red Sox Hall of Famer, Tim Wakefield, who was a champion for youth baseball and softball in ensuring all youth had access to the sport. This next drill is a nice way to get first-time baseball and softball players involved in the sport we all love.
Age Range: 5 – 12
Setup:
Utilize outfield fence (or net) as a target area
Line players up In either single file formation or all along the warning track about an arm’s length apart
Instructions:
Show players how to properly grip a baseball/softball (fingers on top of ball and seams, thumb underneath)
Players pick a spot along the fence (at eye-level or above), then take 6 steps back
Players should verbally say “ready” once they have their eyes on the target to reinforce looking at your target before throwing
With eyes on their target, they must attempt to hit their target by throwing the ball Into the fence
Ensure that each player waits to go grab their ball after their teammates around them have thrown
Hear from Red Sox Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
The Best of New England
Have a drill that you find useful? Share it with us and we may share it with our New England community! Our Drill Database will be constantly updating and if we use a drill of yours, we will give you credit!
How many years have you been coaching? Entering 7th year
Who is your favorite baseball and/or softball player? David (Big Papi) Ortiz. I’ve watched him as a kid growing up; love his passion for the game and his leadership skills. He’s just an absolute legend and it’s an honor to have the same last name.
What is your most memorable coaching moment? Realizing that the kids and parents believed in me to teach the game of baseball and bringing joy around the league by winning.
What inspired you to be a coach? Watching the youth having lack of confidence and motivation towards the game.
October Spotlight
2023 Mike Egan Volunteers of the Year
Parental and family support is vital to a young athlete’s developmental growth.
To support all that you do, we’ve compiled the following resources to assist you in being a supportive and involved parent/guardian, coach and spectator.
Monthly Spotlight
Resources that are refreshed every month to help you step up your coaching game and be a positive influence for your players, and your community!
How a growth mindset is deeper than having an open mind or having youth athletes try harder; it’s about actively promoting a growth mindset to enhance learning: Carol Dweck: The Rise of A False Growth Mindset
Women’s Sports Foundation created a downloadable parents guide to help provide insight into the latest knowledge about motivating your daughter to become active and creating a positive and supportive environment for girls.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: PCA + THE RED SOX FOUNDATION Present Workshops for New England’s Youth Baseball and Softball Coaches on LEADING PRACTICES AND...
