Welcome to the Home of Bruins Baseball
- Member of Kubinski Baseball Factory -
Our
Philosophy
1. We will not be playing year-round baseball. There will be breaks over holidays, spring break and portions of the summer. This is important to provide kids relief physically, mentally, emotionally, conditionally and to enjoy the benefits of family time. It is critical to balance baseball with just being a kid during these years where the enjoyment can disappear from pressure.
2. During tournaments, I will not be controlling every aspect of the game (this includes pitches, steals and at bats). I want to empower these kids to read the mood, judge the play and learn by doing, not by being told. By making their own observations and calls they will become less dependent on what they have been trained to do and rely on their own decision-making skills.
3. We will travel occasionally for tournaments; a potential calendar is drafted and open for discussion with the selected teams.
4. Multi-sport athletes; there will be families, coaches, schools that will pressure you to pick one sport. This is not me. I believe in pursuing many passions and hobbies, it creates well-rounded athletes and individuals. I played multiple sports as a kid and still enjoy those hobbies today. Not only will I allow it I encourage it.
5. I will expose the kids to specialty coaches, agility coaches and guest speakers to harness awareness in multiple areas to provide these kids with many opportunities to learn. I want them to learn all levels of the game to understand for later and more importantly in life.
6. These athletes will be provided with expert instruction and an environment in which players can achieve their full potential to play in the future. By giving the kids some freedom in making choices they will become capable of reading the game and situation on their own which will help their confidence in each task and give them personal agency to make these choices. My teaching methods are to support the kids' love for baseball. I will continue to foster the love of the game. I want them to learn with joy and not from fear.
This is my fundamental foundation for these kids. They should be able to play for fun and play free and play fearless!
Player/Team Expectations
1. Support each other. This is a group effort, we are in this together. Families, coaches, umpires and players all show up to support each other in this sport, cheer on one another and always be encouraging of your team and the opponents. It shows respect. Always have each other’s backs. I am in the position to advocate for these kids when necessary and warranted.
2. Learn from our failures. In life we will all fail as kids and as adults. Please understand everyone fails and no one is perfect. Use this to identify your vulnerabilities as a team and individually and to make adjustments when we train. Its hard to beat someone who never gives up. We will use our failures as an opportunity to learn and strengthen our mental toughness. This will teach us humility.
3. Sportsmanship. It can be easy to get frustrated. To get here we will control our actions, language, emotions and body language during team gatherings, practices and games. This includes keeping your body and emotions in control, no whining/cussing/moping and never argue with the umpires. I will be modeling this as a coach, demonstrating how to remain calm and keep your focus. You don’t want to show your opponents if you’re getting discouraged. It is important to show positivity and faith. This is a team sport and our actions are a reflection of our team. Be kind to everyone. It costs nothing and creates a positive community on and off the field.
4. Be Compassionate and Competitive. Baseball has many aspects. We encourage wanting to win but that is a small lesson you will learn of many in this game. There will be many victories along the way that will come in many forms. There will be tough days, tough calls, tough conditions, tough competitors, tough emotions. Rise above these challenging times and put your best self forward and display compassion. Win with grace. When you are wearing this uniform, you are representing the team, my name, your person and your family. Your reputation will follow you into the future. Your character always plays with integrity.
​5. Appreciation. This is a choice. Show up early, be prepared and express appreciation to your teammates, families and friends for helping participate in this activity. It is expensive and takes time and planning to accomplish goals. Extending 'Thank Yous' are expected to parents, coaches, umps and opponents. We will always remember to share our gratitude.
6. Always learn it. In life we should never take anything for granted. Playing every at bat, every play every game, every practice as if it were our first or our last will show your ambition. Apply relentless pressure, fight for every inch, fight for each out, play hard – no matter what the score is. I will organize lineups and positions based on my experience and the effort and results each kid is exhibiting. I will not base game plans on one performance. Consistency is what matters. I want kids to be able to share interest in the game but not to question my choices. Please feel free to reach out after a game if you feel you need to discuss strategy or communicate concerns.
7. Be prepared. Please arrive ten minutes early to practice. This shows respect for your teammates and coaches. Always arrive prepared with proper equipment, requested uniform and bring a full water bottle.
8. Pay attention and control the tempo of the game. Always be ready. Your time will come. Prepare endlessly, sprint to your positions. Between innings, only step out of the box to regroup after a hard swing. Having a strong work ethic and communication is key.
9. Team community projects, events, personal service hours and emphasis on school work will be scheduled and established. Part of our mission as a team will always be to give back.
9. Have fun! We will not always win the rings or the championships or the titles. The focus will be on the developing players, making progress, growing and thriving. The best memories I have were when I enjoyed playing baseball wih my friends and took away so many memories. That is what I want for my teams.
