Not everyone knows the finer details of the game of baseball, and of course many don’t mind being coaches or experts in baseball. Everyone has their own interests and that’s okay. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t say useful things to young players. Using this word will make one sound like a baseball expert and as if he really knows the game of baseball. As a baseball coach for the past 21 years, there is one word that I think I have said more than any other word. This word is revealed below. If you want a clue, think about the first thing you teach your dog to do.

You guessed it, stay. Using the word “stay” with most baseball terms gives instant and “expert” credibility to whoever says it. The following are the terms that good coaches often use when talking to players about the three key components of baseball skills: hitting, pitching, and fielding. People who use these terms with the magic word “stay” will sound like baseball experts.

Tips for hitting:

1. Stay Away – Good hitters don’t jump at the ball, they let it get close to them.

2. Stay in – good hitters miss balls, they try to hit the side closest to them on every pitch.

3. Stay back: When good hitters hit, they twist, transfer their weight and throw their bat at the ball while keeping their head back on their rear hip.

4. Stay Balanced – Good hitters swing the bat at 100% speed, but make it look like they’re not working hard at all.

5. Be Prepared: Good hitters always expect the next pitch to be “their pitch.”

6. Stay Focused – Good hitters focus on watching the ball from the pitcher’s pitch to the hitting zone and shut off all other thoughts.

Launch tips:

1. Stay Balanced – Good pitchers throw at top speeds but make it look effortless.

2. Stay Direct – Good pitchers maintain great direction, walking in a direct line to home plate with their pitch.

3. Stay on top: Good pitchers keep their fingers on top of the ball on the backswing and on the pitch.

4. Stay back – good pitchers don’t rush, allowing your arm to recover.

5. Stay focused – Good pitchers stay focused on their target and dispense with any distractions.

Field tips:

1. Stay Ready – Good fielders “want” and expect the ball to be hit in their direction.

2. Stay Down: Good fielders approach ground balls close to the ground and keep their glove under the jump initially.

3. Stay Smooth – Good fielders make fielding seem effortless, moving through the ball gracefully.

4. Stay focused: Good fielders keep their focus on the ball, ready for any jump.

5. Stay Balanced – Good fielders have great footwork when fielding, always staying in control.

You may have noticed that there are two terms used with our word “stay” that apply to all fundamental tips and are balanced and focused. Everything in sport requires great balance and concentration. So when you’re not sure what to say to your athlete, you can never go wrong saying “stay balanced” and “stay focused” as long as you say it in a positive and affirmative way.