In this episode, we cover…
(0:00) Introduction to Coach Ballgame and his coaching philosophy
(0:23) Growing up in North Carolina and playing multiple sports in the backyard
(2:44) His path after college and moving to California
(6:12) Mentors who shaped his coaching philosophy
(10:46) Building trust and relationships with young athletes
(12:18) His coaching framework and how it helps create positive team cultures
(16:32) Practical coaching tips for practice
(20:13) James’s background in storytelling influencing his coaching style
(27:08) The Sandlot Tour
(31:59) Advice for parents on handling pressure in youth sports, responding calmly to failure, and helping kids build resilience.
Youth Baseball Coaching with Coach Ballgame
In this episode with Athletes Untapped, we are joined by James Lowe, also known as Coach Ballgame. He takes us through how his upbringing in North Carolina, being a multi-sport athlete, and his coaching experience all shaped his philosophy on youth sports. Youth sports can teach far more than mechanics and game strategy, and for James, the real goal of coaching is not just developing better baseball players. It is helping kids become confident, resilient, joyful human beings. His message for all parents and athletes is that connection comes before coaching. Sports are at their best when they build character, relationships, and a lasting love of the game.
Growing Up with Sandlot Sports
Coach Ballgame’s love for the game stems from a backyard that felt like a real-life sandlot. With a pitcher’s mound, a basketball hoop, a homemade wall for tennis balls, and neighborhood kids who wanted to play, sports were a part of his everyday life. He emphasizes how this environment was overly structured; it was imaginative, active, and fun. The neighborhood kids could make up rules, play multiple sports, and learn without feeling the pressure of structured sports. The freedom of this backyard shaped the way James thinks about sports development. He credits his father for teaching him to love sports and laugh, while his mother taught him how to be a good person and a respectful teammate. Those values stuck with him long after his playing days. By the time he entered high school, he played basketball, football, and baseball, but eventually focused on baseball because it offered his clearest path to college. He went on to play at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where sports continued to influence his path, even as he explored other paths.
Reforming Youth Sports & Coach Ballgame’s Vision for a Better Game
After his time at Brown, James knew he wanted to stay connected to sports. While his friends pursued careers in finance, law, or business, he headed west to California where he coached baseball and explored acting and storytelling. He describes his twenties as his version of graduate school, where he learned how to truly work with kids and not just coach baseball. The lesson that stuck with him most was that a coach’s first job is not to create elite performers. It is to help kids love the game and grow through it. This lesson eventually became Coach Ballgame, a youth sports brand and movement that blends baseball instruction with storytelling, music, energy, mentorship, and joy. Starting with a tiny camp in 2014, he built something much bigger: a philosophy for what youth sports can look like when that connection is built.
The Most Important Lesson for Youth Coaches: Connect Before You Coach
James believes that great coaches start with relationship-building. He recalls a moment in his early coaching career when he was working with an 8-year-old who was unhappy and disengaged. One of his mentors stepped in, telling him the child did not hate baseball. He hated the anxiety and the pressure being placed on him. That moment was a turning point. This same mentor modeled another lesson when working with a disrespectful child at camp. Instead of reacting with punishment, he simply sat next to the child and listened. By the end of the week, the child had changed his attitude completely. The takeaway from this story is that coaching is connecting first. When kids feel seen, safe, and cared for, they become more receptive to learning.
How to Make Youth Baseball Practice More Fun
Coach Ballgame believes many kids aren’t having fun at practice because they stand around too much, adults lecture too much, and the energy disappears. He provided a simple solution: create movement and fun. Some of his favorite coaching ideas include:
- Starting with nicknames: Have kids introduce themselves with a nickname based on something they love such as an animal, food, hobby, or favorite player. This helps them create an identity and a connection with their coach and teammates.
- Prioritize movement over long instruction: Kids learn better by doing. Short, active stations with lots of reps are far more effective than long speeches about technique.
- Break teams into small groups: Smaller groups allow kids to stay engaged and get more reps. This is especially useful when teaching catching, throwing, and fielding.
- Make drills feel like games: Add points, challenges, contests, or creative twists. By “gamifying” these drills, kids stay more engaged.
- Keep it simple: Baseball can be overcomplicated by adults. For young athletes, simple drills with a lot of repetition are often the best way to build confidence and fundamentals.
His philosophy around making practice more fun works because it matches how children naturally learn. When practice feels like play, effort becomes more natural.
Travel Ball, Rec Ball, and the Pressure on Parents
The rising pressure in youth sports, especially around travel teams, is evident. James believes that travel sports are not always bad, and some athletes need a higher level of competition. But he does warn parents against confusing intensity with development. He advises parents to evaluate the coaches carefully. Watch how they run practices, interact with players, and respond to mistakes. A travel team with a lot of talent does not automatically mean a healthy environment. A coach who creates fear, anxiety, or toxicity can do long-term damage, even if the team is winning. The best youth coaches think about their players in the long-term. They are asking how to help a child love the sport, grow in confidence, and develop into a strong athlete.
The Sandlot Spirit Youth Sports Needs More Of
Coach Ballgame’s Sandlot Tour is built around the idea that kids need more joy, creativity, and freedom in sports. He believes many adults have over-professionalized youth baseball and softball. Too often, games become rigid, stressful, and centered on adult expectations rather than child development. His answer is to bring back the spirit of the sandlot. By this, he means: creating games within the game, using creative equipment, focusing on engagement, removing unnecessary pressure, and remembering that sports are supposed to be fun. When kids enjoy showing up, they stay in the game longer. The sandlot spirit is not about lowering standards, but rather creating an environment where kids can truly thrive.
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