Coaching Clinics

We offer numerous coaching clinics for new and veteran coaching volunteers.

While some clinics are recommended for specific coaching levels, ALL coaches are welcome to ALL coaching clinics. Player parents are also invited to attend clinics.

All instructional clinics are FREE to SOM Baseball coaches and parents. For any questions about these clinics, please contact: recreation@southorange.org.

Please Note:  These clinics are for coaches/parents, not players. Please leave your player at home.

 

T-BALL/ROOKIE Coaching Clinic

  • Audience: REQUIRED FOR ALL T-BALL AND ROOKIE COACHES
  • When: Saturday, April 23 from 9:30 to 11:00 AM
  • Where: New Waterlands Fields
  • Host(s): Pam Bachorz, Pete Travers, Taylor Umlauf, Phil Kouyoumdjian, Jason Rando

All coaches in T-ball and Rookie levels are expected to attend this meeting to kick off the 2022 spring recreation season.

Hosted by the SOM Baseball Committee and South Orange Recreation Department, we will go over a range of topics, from new rules and facilities updates to training opportunities and technology. In this session, we will go over a range of topics, from new rules and facilities updates to training opportunities and technology. The first hour will be a presentation, followed by 30 minutes of Q&As.

MINORS/M60/M70/BABE RUTH Coaching Clinic

  • Audience: REQUIRED FOR ALL MINORS THROUGH BABE RUTH COACHES
  • When: Monday, Apr 4 at 7pm - VIRTUAL
  • Host(s): Pam Bachorz, Pete Travers, Taylor Umlauf, Phil Kouyoumdjian

All coaches in Minors, M60, M70 and Babe Ruth levels are expected to attend this meeting to kick off the 2022 spring recreation season.

Hosted by the SOM Baseball Committee and South Orange Recreation Department, we will go over a range of topics, from new rules and facilities updates to training opportunities and technology. The first hour will be a presentation, followed by 30 minutes of Q&As.

Baseball Rules: SOM Baseball Local Rules

  • Recommended for All Coaches
  • When: Wednesday, April 6th at 7:30 pm
  • Where: TBD
  • Host(s): SOM Baseball Rules Committee, Youth Umpires, SOM Baseball Coaching Committee

A Review Commonly Misinterpreted Official Baseball Rules & Changes and Updates to the SOM Baseball Local Rules

This is your chance to ask baseball rules experts any questions you have about our local rules as well as any official baseball rules. Changes to the SOM Baseball Local Rules as well as a review of important local rules will be covered. Additionally, explanations of key official baseball rules and common misconceptions of various rules will be discussed. This is a meeting you will not want to miss!

Teaching Baseball: How to Make Practice Useful – and Fun

  • Recommended for All Coaches
  • When: Thursday, April 21st from 6 to 7 p.m
  • Where: Meadowlands Park, Field M3
  • Host(s): Jesse Evans and Eric Lax, Baseball trainers with the Gym Maplewood, Tim Reynolds, owner of the Gym Maplewood, Taylor Umlauf, Phil Kouyoumdjian

Coaches know how important practice is, but sometimes it can be hard to keep drills engaging for kids. Baseball coaches Jesse Evans and Eric Lax from the Gym Maplewood offer tips and tricks for running an effective practice. They will go over how they mix up activities, share their favorite drills, offer sample practice plans and more.

Youth Coaching from a High School Perspective: Building a Player’s Toolbox

  • Recommended for All Coaches
  • When: Tuesday, May 3 from 9 to 10 p.m.
    Where: Virtual (log in info will be sent via email)
  • Host(s): Ryan Muirhead, Varsity Baseball Coach at Columbia High School, Taylor Umlauf, Phil Kouyoumdjian

Come hear Ryan Muirhead, Columbia High School’s varsity baseball coach, talk youth player development from a high school perspective. What are age-appropriate goals? What are good ways of teaching the sport? What does he look for from incoming freshman players? Coach Muirhead will share his strategies in coaching all aspects of the game and the benefit of developing all the tools in a player’s toolbox. Plus, he will offer some coaching tips for addressing tough losses and challenging seasons.

RUTGERS S.A.F.E.T.Y. CLINIC

  • MANDATORY for ALL first time SOM Baseball Coaches
  • When: March 14 at 7:30pm
  • Where: VIRTUAL

All SOM Baseball coaches are required to complete the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic. The objectives of this coaching certification course are to help coaches minimize the risk of injury to young athletes, provide information about fundamental coaching concepts and protect volunteer coaches from civil lawsuits. This course only needs to be taken once.

You may register for the RUTGERS Safety Clinic through the South Orange Recreation Department's CivicRec website.  Once registered, a link to the virtual meeting will be sent to you beforehand.

Teaching Baseball: Coaching the T-Ball and Rookie Levels

  • Recommended for T-Ball and Rookie level coaches
  • When: April 23
  • Where: TBD
  • Host(s): Jason Rando (maybe: Taylor Umlauf, Phil Kouyoumdjian)

Tips and techniques for coaches, from entry-level to experienced, on teaching baseball to 5 to 8-year-olds…and maintaining their interest!