DugoutLab is a free coaching resource built for one specific person: the volunteer parent who got voluntold to coach their kid's Little League team and now needs to figure out what to do with 12 eight-year-olds for 90 minutes on Saturday morning.
That coach exists in the millions. They love their kids. They want to do a good job. And they are almost entirely on their own — because the sport science research that could help them is locked behind academic journals and translated only into resources aimed at college coaches and elite programs.
DugoutLab translates that research into plain English and practical structure. Every article, framework, and practice principle on this site is grounded in actual sport science: skill acquisition, motor learning, youth development, and motivational psychology.
DugoutLab synthesizes published research in motor learning, sport psychology, and youth athletic development. The concepts are grounded in real science from the researchers cited below. However, no content on this site has been independently verified by a certified coach or sports scientist.
Age recommendations, practice weighting, and coaching language represent our best interpretation of the available research. Apply your own coaching judgment with the kids in front of you.
If you spot an error — mechanical, scientific, or otherwise — we want to know. This site improves because coaches tell us what's wrong. Corrections are always welcome.
No paywall. No premium tier. No ads. If it's useful, share it with the next coach who gets voluntold.