Alright, so I finally got around to checking out that Yale baseball camp. Been hearing about these college camps for ages, and figured, why not see it for myself? Not like I’m trying out for the big leagues, you know, but I coach a bit on the side, and I’m always curious how the more, let’s say, ‘official’ places do things. So, this was my little adventure, my practice run at seeing how they run a practice, if that makes sense.
Getting the Ball Rolling
First thing, I had to actually find the darn thing online. Typed in “Yale baseball camp” and a few options popped up. I went for one that looked like it was for observation or maybe for older players, not the little tykes. The sign-up process was pretty standard. Filled out my name, address, all that jazz. Paid the fee, which wasn’t too bad, honestly. Then I got an email with a schedule and a list of what to bring. Basic stuff: glove, cleats if you got ’em, comfortable clothes. I made sure to pack a good notebook and a couple of pens. That was key for me. I wanted to take notes, real notes.
Heading Up There
The drive up wasn’t too long. Found the Yale campus, and wow, those buildings are something else. Felt like I was walking onto a movie set. Eventually, I located the baseball fields. Pretty impressive setup, I gotta say. Much nicer than what we’ve got back home, that’s for sure. There were already a bunch of folks milling around – some younger guys who looked like high school hopefuls, a few parents, and of course, the coaching staff in their Yale gear.
Checked in at a little table, got a t-shirt – standard camp procedure. Then we all sort of gathered around. The head coach gave a little welcome speech. Seemed like a decent guy, knew his stuff. He laid out what the next couple of days would look like.
Down to Brass Tacks: The Camp Itself
They didn’t waste much time. We started with warm-ups. Proper dynamic stretching, some light throwing. I was mostly observing, trying to soak it all in. I watched how they organized the warm-up lines, the little commands they used. Small things, but they add up.
Then they broke everyone out into stations. This is where my notebook really came in handy.
- Fielding Drills: I spent a good chunk of time watching the infielders. They had this one drill for turning double plays that was slick. Really focused on quick feet and clean transfers. I jotted down the sequence. They also did a lot of work on first-step quickness for ground balls.
- Hitting: Over at the cages, it was all about mechanics. Saw a couple of coaches giving one-on-one feedback. They weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel with anyone’s swing, more like fine-tuning. Lots of tee work, soft toss. I noted down some of the common cues they were using.
- Pitching: Didn’t spend as much time here, but I peeked over. They were working on consistency, hitting spots. One coach was really emphasizing leg drive.
What I really liked was how interactive it was, even for someone like me who was more there to learn about coaching. The coaches were approachable. I asked one of them about how they structure their practice plans during the season, and he was happy to chat for a few minutes. That was gold.
The intensity was good. Focused, but not overly stressful. The Yale players helping out were great too. You could tell they loved the game. They were good at demonstrating drills and offering tips to the younger participants.
Wrapping It Up and Heading Home
The last day had a bit of a scrimmage feel to it, a chance for the players to put what they learned into a game situation. I just watched from the sidelines, still taking notes. How they managed the game, the communication between coaches and players. It was all good stuff to see.
Then, it was over. A final talk from the head coach, some thank yous, and that was that. Packed up my bag, my notebook now a lot fuller than when I arrived.
Driving back, I felt pretty good about the whole thing. It wasn’t some earth-shattering revelation, but I definitely picked up a few new drills, a couple of different ways to explain certain techniques. And just seeing a well-run program up close, you know, it gives you ideas. It was a good bit of practice for me, in its own way. Definitely worth the trip.
