Steve Johnson

@BLocsports The post doesn’t say to tell kids to hit bombs.

Telling kids to hit 💣 is a great exit plan to them not wanting to comeback tomorrow. Eventually it will lead to quitting. It sounds fun but very few can do it. Fences being moved in with juiced balls and bats equals lets chase the 💣. Not Matty Approved

You’re not wrong. Again - I could’ve worded the tweet more appropriately. As a coach who has coached I don’t know how many OTHER PEOPLE’s kids - I always frame it as doing best by them. Not for my ego. Not for myself. So the first time I see my kid get told absurd stuff that crushes him - I popped off. In another tweet I note how I shouldn’t talk about it here but I did. On me. But on you for judging a dude you don’t know AND commenting when you also could have taken your own advice and moved on rather than “flexing” on someone you thought you had coaching hierarchy on.

@LegKickNationOG I would never coach a kid to do any of the things you mentioned. I would also never go to Twitter to try to dunk on youth coaches who are doing their best wins "dumb flex of the year award" since you have training facilities at least you can coaxh him if you want

If you coach early youth baseball, and you tell kids: DON'T hit the ball in the air because they're automatic outs DON'T try to hit homeruns. DO hit balls on the ground to 3B because you'll get to 1B more often. You are legit crushing the sport. Getting kids to "want to come back tomorrow" is YOUR ONLY ROLE. My 7 year old doesn't want to go back tomorrow. I don't blame him. You failed.

I Disagree. My son is a “bad” baseball and basketball player - because what 7 year old isn’t. They all “stink” relatively which is why it’s great. They’re all learning. But he’s one of the least “bad” kid I’ve seen. And I love him. And he’s the man. And he’s obsessed with sports. Will he be a D1 athlete or pro? I don’t care. I want him to enjoy playing sports and learn skills that transcend the field. When he gets into a car and says “can I not play this year and just hit with you instead?” at 7. There’s a problem. And as a dad - I hate that. Am I talking about EVERY youth coach? Of course not. Is this coach a bad person??? Probably not. Probably a great guy. But handcuffing kids at such an early age is detrimental. That’s all. I don’t mean any harm on the tweet. I didn’t even think it’d reach random people who don’t follow me (like yourself). So again, I apologize if I did t articulate this better and you were disenfranchised by it.

@LegKickNationOG Alot of past tense there. Way to go? The crazy thing we probably agree on the best way to coach kids but you tweeting came across a Dbag parent who blames everyone else for their kids problems

Owned three baseball training facilities. Trained over 250 D1 and pro athletes as well as I don’t know how many youth athletes. Most proud in starting a book club and flow school for student-athletes in which 100s of youth and high school students read books and had open discussions regarding them. During Covid, bought $1000s of books for student-athletes and coach’s across the country and had several successful authors/entrepreneurs on our podcast to discuss with our kids. I’m sure you’ve done good things in your career as well. I’m sure I’d have an open and honest conversation with you and be able to respect your opinions - even if they differ from my own. But here we are…

@LegKickNationOG Lets have some fun...screen shot your LinkedIn bio and then ill do the same

@mrconti @jsmall0829

@LegKickNationOG @jsmall0829 Raison derriere? The place from the Simpsons? Loved that episode

@jsmall0829 So no.

@LegKickNationOG Do you also blame the teachers when your kid beings home an F??

@jsmall0829 “A coach………”

@LegKickNationOG Boooo hoooo a coach actually tweeted back and you shriveled up like a raison

@jsmall0829 You play at Charleston Southern? Don’t remember seeing you on the scouting report when we played them several times.

@LegKickNationOG I know exactly what you coaching/training experience is based on those thumbs of yours that need a break

@jsmall0829 Yet here you are. On my page. Good luck man.

@LegKickNationOG Yes dude I was being 100% sarcastic. I need coaching advice from a dad on Twitter about as much as I need a colonoscopy

@Blicky69420 Need to get back to informal game play. This obsession over formalized gameplay - everyone needs a coach, a uniform, 3 bats, umpires, a scoreboard - is killing youth sports.

@LegKickNationOG Everyone is living vicariously through their kids. They forget that fun needs to come first. Getting out is not fun.

Some of the responses are why I don’t talk hitting/baseball on here.

@jsmall0829 Once again - you have no idea what THE game is. Nor my coaching/training experience 😂. But here we are. Good luck in your little league coaching.

@LegKickNationOG The funny thing is im a coach and dont teach anything you mentioned above. Its funny you think the coaches are an issue without looking in the mirror. You probably will wear little johnnys arm out trying win with THE game

You said “educate me,” but clearly you weren’t asking in good faith. I explain the difference between A game and THE game often on my feed - feel free to look. But that requires actually wanting to understand a perspective instead of just reacting to a thread. Again - you came to my page man. Go some place else.

@LegKickNationOG Oh god you have a manifesto 4 years old. Please spare us

@jsmall0829 flowschool.substack.com/p/you-play-to-…

@LegKickNationOG So what youre saying is you want your 7 YO how to win what "THE game"?? A 7 y/o how to win a college game? WS? Please educate me

@jsmall0829 Winning a 7u baseball game is meaningless. The way to win baseball games at the youth levels oftentimes the opposite of how you win at advanced levels. I’d rather my son learn to win THE game than A game. But thanks for your contribution to the thread.

@LegKickNationOG Quit blaming coaches for everything. A 7 year old doesn't need to learn about launch angle and how to hit HR. YOU are crushing the sport putting so much pressure on him. They are told to not hit the ball in the air because it's easier for the defense to make 1 play vs 3

@LegKickNationOG Kids of my generation played HR Derby for 2 hours a day in the summer..we didn’t play “line drive in the gap” derby…

@PeterAttar33 My guy.

@jsmall0829 I see this got you upset. I’m sorry. I have some experience in “watching” big league BP. But, that literally has nothing to do with a 7 year old. God bless.

@LegKickNationOG Trying to hit HR literally never worked for anyone. Watch a major lesguer take BP and tell me who is trying to hit HR. They are focused on up the middle, and not pull happy

Idk. Trying to hit the ball on the ground often leads to really weak tennis slice popups as kids karate chop their way through the zone. The advice then is usually - “you’re dropping. Stay on top!” Which leads to more weak balls in the air. It’s ok to encourage a 7 year old to take hacks.

@LegKickNationOG Until you can physically hit home runs, it’s ok to be told “hit the ball on the ground” but yea that’s the only time

Agree. I’m not trying to big time volunteer coaches. I “work” with my kid at home when he wants to play - which is all the time. I stay for practices. We get ice cream after. I’m not a perfect coach. But I also don’t focus on winning a 7u game. I also don’t believe in putting limiters on a 7 year old by saying “he can’t hit home runs.”

@LegKickNationOG As an 8 year youth baseball coach, have you volunteered to help? Have you worked with your kid at home? Do you drop your kid off and show back up when practice is over?Many youth baseball coaches for 7 year old children do not possess deep baseball knowledge, but they show up.

@EdstrattonIII Glad to know you’re around student-athletes. Solid role model.