Eric Kibler's guest appearances

Eric Kibler

ABCA Podcast

Better Men, Better Ballplayers

OwlTail

Dave Keilitz

We are honoring our 2023 award winners heading into the Nashville convention. Next up on the ABCA podcast is former Horizon High School head coach, Eric Kibler. Coach Kibler is being honored with the Dave Keilitz Ethics Award and also going into the ABCA Hall of Fame this year. In 1980, Kibler started the baseball program at Horizon High School. Kibler shaped the landscape of high school and youth baseball in the State of Arizona and nationally with a 2007 National Championship, 6 5A State Championships, 3 State Runner-ups, 7 National Invitational Championships and 881 career wins which is the most wins in Arizona history. Kibler has an illustrious career in the baseball industry. Over the last 4 decades he has racked up many honors including being inducted into the Arizona Baseball Coaches and the National High School Hall of Fame. He has been an integral part of USA Baseball and is a member of the ABCA Youth Committee. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING &amp; PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit Rapsodo.com/savings and take advantage of this great offer. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

We are honoring our 2023 award winners heading into the Nashville convention. Next up on the ABCA podcast is former Horizon High School head coach, Eric Kibler. Coach Kibler is being honored with the Dave Keilitz Ethics Award and also going into the ABCA Hall of Fame this year. In 1980, Kibler started the baseball program at Horizon High School. Kibler shaped the landscape of high school and youth baseball in the State of Arizona and nationally with a 2007 National Championship, 6 5A State Championships, 3 State Runner-ups, 7 National Invitational Championships and 881 career wins which is the most wins in Arizona history. Kibler has an illustrious career in the baseball industry. Over the last 4 decades he has racked up many honors including being inducted into the Arizona Baseball Coaches and the National High School Hall of Fame. He has been an integral part of USA Baseball and is a member of the ABCA Youth Committee. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING &amp; PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to <a href="http://Rapsodo.com/savings" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rapsodo.com/savings</a> and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit <a href="http://Rapsodo.com/savings" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rapsodo.com/savings</a> and take advantage of this great offer. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Eric Kibler, 2023 Dave Keilitz Ethics Award & ABCA Hall of Fame

Bio Start the Horizon High School program (AZ) in 19802007 National Champions 6 Arizona 5A State Championships 3 Arizona 5A State Runners-up 20 Regional Championships 7 National Invitational Championships 881 total wins 809 wins in Arizona which the most wins for a coach in Arizona history. 3 first round draft picks. 28 overall players drafted in MLB Over 200 players gone onto to college and played   USA Baseball staff member Coordinator of USA 14U and 17U olympic development program.    2018 started the 16U program  2010 USA Baseball COY 2012 USA Baseball Development COY   Arizona Baseball Coaches Association HOF, Arizona Coaches HOF, High School association HOF, National HS BCA COY in 2018 5X Arizona COY     Notes To be a good teammate, don’t care who gets the credit and we will be in good shape Taught you how to practice, and then gave you ownership Pound the fundamentals and make sure you are efficient Took a lot of things personal as a young coach The joy playing like a kid is what keeps me moving forward** I hope I never forget what its like to play like a kid! ~Kris Bryant Play multiple sports and give “active rest” - play other sport, work on hitting, skills, etc You have to train the athlete and be athletic to be great  Play for now, and if you play they will find you, and play for now and the end will take care of itself Do you want to be good or do you want to be great? If great, then the expectations went upEvery pitch BP Make other players better   Want to and not a have toYou should not “have to” come to practice, you need to “want to”   If i teach them how to practice and then give them ownership Mental game is coached up more than it used to be due to the negative leadership that wanted positive outcome (“my way”) When you think you need some help you come ask me and then we are all in! Everyone is an individual and a little different, so you need to say and do things that works for them Standards instead of rules - standard has more worth Ownership is a big deal - you have no control over and it develops trust There are program absolutes! Hustle, trash talk, class Model the behavior and calming during post season/pressure situations Being honest with players is the best thing you can do for playersI care enough to tell you the truth   You need to be careful with your words because conversations stick with the players When we make mistakes we must own it, and the players see that and then they will own it when they make mistakes.  Captains meeting once a week to keep everyone mind right and see who needs a kick in the butt or a pat on the back Start with a quote and talk about how it impacts each person Baseball is not my life, and baseball humbles you, so start with a quote and see how it impacts our life Interview in the fall  - 1 on 1 to evaluate strengths and weaknessesBased all year Figure out who the person is See if they have good self awareness   USA baseball Manual - write down my experiences Process versus results - everyone except us is result focus Get comfortable with being uncomfortable to get past it (feeling rough) If you are playing a team sport, you should always put in extra time for your teammates** I will really emphasize the little things, and role the player did during the game Every player needs to have a role no matter the talent Practice planQuote Practice in 10 Dynamic steals/baserunning Bands  Throwing program (and be OUT there)Go stealth when kids cannot say a word   If you lose the clubhouse your done, and it starts with communication I don’t go too long because I want every rep quality rep Team defense or position drills depending on the staff Good footwork is paramount to being a good fielder Relays with live baserunners. Run till you get out (then work on rundowns). “What happens in the game the most often?”No catcher pop ups everyday, because it does not happen everyday   Winning 1 run ball gamesThrowing program Baserunning - “the coach is just your stop sign”Live baserunning with outfielders - put in situations I can’t expect them to perform in situations we have not covered   Situational baseball Speeding the game up Competitive bullpensScripted P-I-T-C-H (horse for bullpen)   Pace - 12 seconds or less between pitches Intensity    Practices are for coaches, games are for the players. If I do my job I should be able to sit in the stands How can I play you if you can’t do your job?  Do you want to be good or great? Playing time is huge! Sit the player if he is not acting right, and you Give pitchers permission to get hit No words on the field, the tunnel (cage) is our classroom Is this practice going to help us win a game or lose a game? Baserunning and bunting - special teams of baseball1st/3rd game - score as many ways as we can Runner on 3rd and score the game winning run   Evaluate our strengths and weaknesses as a coachHow can I score with the team that I have?   Hit with 2 strikes - embrace and get more mentally tough Pitch recognition - look at the bullpen, hitters take and say where it was I know how to pitch a kid how they take a pitch Taking pitches is as important as hitting pitches huskycoach2@gmail.com 602-291-1952     

Bio <ul><li>Start the Horizon High School program (AZ) in 1980<ul><li>2007 National Champions</li> <li>6 Arizona 5A State Championships</li> <li>3 Arizona 5A State Runners-up</li> <li>20 Regional Championships</li> <li>7 National Invitational Championships</li> <li>881 total wins 809 wins in Arizona which the most wins for a coach in Arizona history.</li> <li>3 first round draft picks. 28 overall players drafted in MLB</li> <li>Over 200 players gone onto to college and played</li> </ul> </li> <li>USA Baseball staff member<ul><li> Coordinator of USA 14U and 17U olympic development program.  </li> <li> 2018 started the 16U program </li> <li>2010 USA Baseball COY</li> <li>2012 USA Baseball Development COY</li> </ul> </li> <li>Arizona Baseball Coaches Association HOF, Arizona Coaches HOF, High School association HOF,</li> <li>National HS BCA COY in 2018</li> <li>5X Arizona COY</li> </ul> Notes <ul><li>To be a good teammate, don’t care who gets the credit and we will be in good shape</li> <li>Taught you how to practice, and then gave you ownership</li> <li>Pound the fundamentals and make sure you are efficient</li> <li>Took a lot of things personal as a young coach</li> <li>The joy playing like a kid is what keeps me moving forward**</li> <li>I hope I never forget what its like to play like a kid! ~Kris Bryant</li> <li>Play multiple sports and give “active rest” - play other sport, work on hitting, skills, etc</li> <li>You have to train the athlete and be athletic to be great </li> <li>Play for now, and if you play they will find you, and play for now and the end will take care of itself</li> <li>Do you want to be good or do you want to be great? If great, then the expectations went up<ul><li>Every pitch BP</li> <li>Make other players better</li> </ul> </li> <li>Want to and not a have to<ul><li>You should not “have to” come to practice, you need to “want to”</li> </ul> </li> <li>If i teach them how to practice and then give them ownership</li> <li>Mental game is coached up more than it used to be due to the negative leadership that wanted positive outcome (“my way”)</li> <li>When you think you need some help you come ask me and then we are all in!</li> <li>Everyone is an individual and a little different, so you need to say and do things that works for them</li> <li>Standards instead of rules - standard has more worth</li> <li>Ownership is a big deal - you have no control over and it develops trust</li> <li>There are program absolutes! Hustle, trash talk, class</li> <li>Model the behavior and calming during post season/pressure situations</li> <li>Being honest with players is the best thing you can do for players<ul><li>I care enough to tell you the truth</li> </ul> </li> <li>You need to be careful with your words because conversations stick with the players</li> <li>When we make mistakes we must own it, and the players see that and then they will own it when they make mistakes. </li> <li>Captains meeting once a week to keep everyone mind right and see who needs a kick in the butt or a pat on the back</li> <li>Start with a quote and talk about how it impacts each person</li> <li>Baseball is not my life, and baseball humbles you, so start with a quote and see how it impacts our life</li> <li>Interview in the fall  - 1 on 1 to evaluate strengths and weaknesses<ul><li>Based all year</li> <li>Figure out who the person is</li> <li>See if they have good self awareness</li> </ul> </li> <li>USA baseball Manual - write down my experiences</li> <li>Process versus results - everyone except us is result focus</li> <li>Get comfortable with being uncomfortable to get past it (feeling rough)</li> <li>If you are playing a team sport, you should always put in extra time for your teammates**</li> <li>I will really emphasize the little things, and role the player did during the game</li> <li>Every player needs to have a role no matter the talent</li> <li>Practice plan<ul><li>Quote</li> <li>Practice in 10</li> <li>Dynamic</li> <li>steals/baserunning</li> <li>Bands </li> <li>Throwing program (and be OUT there)<ul><li>Go stealth when kids cannot say a word</li> </ul> </li> <li>If you lose the clubhouse your done, and it starts with communication</li> <li>I don’t go too long because I want every rep quality rep</li> <li>Team defense or position drills depending on the staff</li> <li>Good footwork is paramount to being a good fielder</li> <li>Relays with live baserunners. Run till you get out (then work on rundowns).</li> <li>“What happens in the game the most often?”<ul><li>No catcher pop ups everyday, because it does not happen everyday</li> </ul> </li> <li>Winning 1 run ball games<ul><li>Throwing program</li> <li>Baserunning - “the coach is just your stop sign”<ul><li>Live baserunning with outfielders - put in situations</li> <li>I can’t expect them to perform in situations we have not covered</li> </ul> </li> <li>Situational baseball</li> <li>Speeding the game up</li> <li>Competitive bullpens<ul><li>Scripted</li> <li>P-I-T-C-H (horse for bullpen)</li> </ul> </li> <li>Pace - 12 seconds or less between pitches</li> <li>Intensity </li> </ul> </li> <li>Practices are for coaches, games are for the players. If I do my job I should be able to sit in the stands</li> <li>How can I play you if you can’t do your job?  Do you want to be good or great?</li> <li>Playing time is huge! Sit the player if he is not acting right, and you</li> <li>Give pitchers permission to get hit</li> <li>No words on the field, the tunnel (cage) is our classroom</li> <li>Is this practice going to help us win a game or lose a game?</li> <li>Baserunning and bunting - special teams of baseball<ul><li>1st/3rd game - score as many ways as we can</li> <li>Runner on 3rd and score the game winning run</li> </ul> </li> <li>Evaluate our strengths and weaknesses as a coach<ul><li>How can I score with the team that I have?</li> </ul> </li> <li>Hit with 2 strikes - embrace and get more mentally tough</li> <li>Pitch recognition - look at the bullpen, hitters take and say where it was</li> <li>I know how to pitch a kid how they take a pitch</li> <li>Taking pitches is as important as hitting pitches</li> <li><a href="mailto:huskycoach2@gmail.com">huskycoach2@gmail.com</a></li> <li>602-291-1952</li> <li> </li> </ul> </li> </ul>