Podcasts and media

I talk about how young players really get better: playing more, training the body for baseball instead of the weight room, counting every throw, and letting the kid own his own dream. Plain language, no gadgets required.

To book an interview, email jgoetz@functionised.com. I can do audio or video, remote or in the New York and Philadelphia area.

Topics

The secret nobody wants to hear. Why the best players play more than they train, and what the research on specialization says.
The arm nobody counts. Pitch counts cover one team's game pitches. The arm counts everything. How to keep a young arm healthy across two teams, lessons and showcases.
Numbers a kid keeps with a pencil. The Joy Score, process grades and the Whole-Arm Ledger: measuring development instead of outcomes.
Parents. How to help without taking over a kid's dream, and what families are paying for that doesn't develop a player.
From the Blue Jays training room. What professional strength and conditioning taught me about building a ballplayer, and what doesn't translate to a 14-year-old.

Questions listeners ask

My kid plays on two teams. How do I know if his arm is doing too much?
Should a 13-year-old be lifting weights?
Is travel ball worth it?
He's in a slump. Do we change his swing?
How do I tell if he still loves it, or if he's doing it for me?

Short bio

Jim Goetz, CSCS, has worked in strength and conditioning with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida, and has coached players from tee-ball to the pros for more than twenty-five years. He played baseball at the University of Tampa. His forthcoming book is Baseball Player's Guide to the Winning Way.

Photos and a longer bio are available on request.