Play Ball Academy is where serious youth baseball coaches and parents can go to improve the skills of their ballplayers, through one of the most in depth online databases of video lessons and audio lessons, baseball drills, featured articles, weekly tips, and video analysis lessons.
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The One Stop, 24/7 instructional baseball community for serious youth baseball coaches. Teaching The World Baseball Online Since 2007.

Currently displaying over 500 original high quality baseball video and audio lessons, helping coaches all over the world learn the game of baseball.





The Play Ball Baseball Coaching and Teaching Philosophy

At Play Ball Academy we believe baseball is not just a game, rather it's a way of life. We teach the game much in the same way that we run our everyday lives; instilling values such as respect, honor, commitment, and class. Players come in all different shapes, sizes, and abilities, therefore, we do our best to teach baseball skills and techniques that are best suited for the individual and not force feed our own personal routines or opinions.

We don't think our teaching methods are better than others and don't claim to know everything there is to know about baseball. What we can guarantee is, decades of playing and coaching experience which we love to pass along to baseball coaches, players, and parents all over the world. What you'll find at PlayBallAcademy.com is an old school approach to the game with additional new and fresh techniques that are proven to be effective for the young baseball player.



Free Video Fielding Lesson- The Pick Drill
a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="makeNewWindow('http://www.playballacade . . . lesson continued

Video Pitching Analysis Lesson- Mike
Description:Mike's pitching analysis lesson pinpoints a few mechanical concerns that can be c . . . lesson continued

Free Video Lessons- Catchers Mitt Care
Description: Coach Barthol explains how he takes care of his catchers mitt and stresses how a . . . lesson continued

Pitching Video Analysis Lesson- Hiding the Ball
Description: As a pitcher, it's important to keep the ball hidden from the batter throughout . . . lesson continued

Pitching Lesson- Inside Pick Off Move to 2nd Base
Video Description: Coach Rau demonstrates the inside move to pick off a runner at 2nd base. . . . lesson continued



FEATURED ARTICLES
Overanalyzing the Baseball Swing Can Create Problems
Coach Steve Rau
Coaches and baseball players have a tendency to take a perfectly solid swing and tinker with it to only create mechanical problems that will cause inconsistencies for the ballplayer. There are really . . . lesson continued

Do You Understand the Language of Baseball?
Coach Steve Rau
If you've been around a baseball field for over 30 years, as I have been; you come to develop a new vocabulary that is unique to the game. Many people may be familiar with the classic baseball saying . . . lesson continued

Free Hitting Article -Barrel Conscious and Quick Hands
Blake Barthol
Coach Rau and I were working with a local kid on his hitting yesterday and one of the problems that he was having is very common in a lot of hitters…..swinging hard. Anybody that has been to a little . . . lesson continued

Is Your Ballplayer As Good As You Think?
Coach Steve Rau
As a parent of a little leaguer, we often like to believe that our child is one of the best players on the field. It's only natural to have those thoughts; however, simple logic tells us that not eve . . . lesson continued

Why Young Baseball Players Should Learn Each Position.
Coach Steve Rau
One of the faults of young ballplayers and parents is to become a fixture in a position at an early age. For instance, some kids may only catch or play shortstop because that's the position he likes . . . lesson continued

Free Baseball Article- Conditioning Musts for Pitchers
Coach Steve Rau
Back in the Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax days pitchers were told to stay away from the weight room due to the fear of becoming too muscle bound and losing flexibility. Today pitchers are encouraged to . . . lesson continued

Coaching Third Base
Description: Coach Jeff Merlet shows some of the responsibilities of the 3rd base coach. There may be more involved than what meets the eye. . . . lesson continued
Defensive Lesson: Defending A Rundown
Description: Coach Rau narrates in this animation and explains how to properly execute a rundown on defense. There are a few key elements in d . . . lesson continued
Download for the January 2010 interview about the mental aspect of baseball.
Right click on the link to save the mp3 to your computer. The Mental Si . . . lesson continued
Play Ball Coaches Cheat Sheet- Stealing
Description: Part 2 of a 4 part series that covers the do's and don'ts of stealing strategy. Many coaches are unsure as to when and why they s . . . lesson continued

Coaches Q and A Follow Up: Stride or No Stride
Description: This hitting video lesson is a follow up to our September 2009 Monthly Coaches Q and A session. The lesson shows 4 great major le . . . lesson continued

Play Ball Coaches Cheat Sheet- Stealing
Description: Part 2 of a 4 part series that covers the do's and don'ts of stealing strategy. Many coaches are unsure as to when and why they s . . . lesson continued

Making The Right Decisions For A Baseball Future
Description: Coach Rau gives you an in depth look into his baseball background but most importantly emphasizes some critical mistakes that were made t . . . lesson continued

Weekly Baseball Tip- Should You Squish The Bug?
Youth baseball coaches often teach the squish the bug technique for hitters; is it the right approach? . . . lesson continued
Work With The Ability Of Your Players
Description: Coach Rau discusses the importance of players to become the type of player that is best for their abilities and physical strengths . . . lesson continued
The Two Pitch Game- Audio Lesson
Description: Coach Barthol explains the 2 pitch game, a nice little variation to your basic inner-squad game. Length: 2 min. . . . lesson continued
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 TESTIMONIALS
Here's what our members are saying ...
"I got my stuff today and have already seen improvement in his pitch just with the drills on the dvd in one evening! I'm excited and he is happy he's more accurate than he use to be"
Anna
Lexington, AL


"Thanks Coach Steve-- you and Blake have always been attentive and very helpful in Vinnys progress. You'll be glad to here he threw 4 scoreless innings in his first game 3-23. After walking his first batter, he knocked down 12 in a row. He and I know what you guys have done for him, along with his hard work and hours of practice. Playball Ac. has been a great find for him as player and me as his coach."
Dave D.
Whitehall, PA


"I enjoy your website and just like you and your staff, I will never stop being a student of the game of baseball. I have been teaching many of the same drills, philosophies, etc. that you and your staff has been teaching. It is rewarding to see other folks giving quality instruction."
Coach Rob...Smith Baseball Academy-Kansas