Imagine you’re a high school baseball or softball coach looking to learn some new coaching techniques. Then imagine being able to pick the brains of several major league coaches with the Kansas City Royals. That was the golden opportunity recently for many area coaches who attended a day-long clinic at Kauffman Stadium, where they also learned the latest sports medicine techniques from physicians and trainers with the Sports Medicine and performance center at The University of Kansas Health System.

            In the video, Dr. Vince Key with the Sports Medicine and Performance Center, and head team physician for the Royals, explains why warming up and conditioning are so important. He calls it “prehab vs. rehab.” Kyle Turner, Royals athletic trainer, explains why physical training is vital, no matter what level the player. Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland tells why the right mechanics are so important for every pitcher, and his most important advice for high school players…have fun! Rusty Kuntz is the first base coach for the Royals, and he says high school players need to realize the only way to succeed is through hard work...he says the major leaguers make it look too easy. Mike Jirschele is the third base coach for the Royals, and he has the best advice for high school players who want to move to the next level…and it starts with good grades.

            Also on the video are three coaches who attended the clinic. Dominic Mussat is head baseball coach at Shawnee Mission Northwest. He talks about why it was so important for him to learn from both major league coaches and doctors, and how this will help his players. Kim White is head softball coach at Blue Valley Northwest. She loved learning updated training methods and says coaches must be lifelong learners as well as teachers. Junelle Woolery is head softball coach at De Soto High School and she says it was “an awesome experience…just like Christmas!”

            Video of the clinic session with various coaching demonstrations comes after the sound.