The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) continued its virtual Dodgers RBI season this week with special coaches training featuring third base coach Dino Ebel. He’s entering a 19th overall season with the Dodgers organization and second on manager Dave Roberts’ coaching staff.
“It all started back in 1988. I signed as a free agent out of Florida Southern,” Dino said of his career beginning. “I played six and a half years in the Minor Leagues, and probably the last year and a half or two, I started mentoring the younger guys that were coming up — all the hot prospects and middle infielders.
“It came a time when I could’ve left the Dodgers as a Minor League free agent, but Charley Blaney, said he saw maybe some day if I didn’t make it as a player, I could have a chance making it as a coach. I’ve always been there to help players. I just felt I was a little bit on the tail end of baseball, but I always wanted to be a coach after baseball ended.”
Following a brief summary of his career, Ebel fielded questions from the panel on coaching and instruction styles, tips on team chemistry and dugout culture, among other subjects.
“As a coach you’re a role model. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at,” Ebel said. “Stay under control and stay positive. Slow everything down and take a deep breath. Stay positive and keep high energy. The great ones (coaches) are the ones that listen, have your back and care.”
Although on-the-field programming and events remain suspended due to coronavirus (COVID-19), LADF continues to support youth, parents and coaches to best serve youth now and when play resumes.
There are currently more than 4,000 families registered for the free Dodgers RBI virtual season accessing coaches trainings, parent workshops, fitness and nutrition activities, baseball and softball Drills, college-prep sessions, health and education resources, and more.
To ensure that coaches have the appropriate resources, LADF’s training series teaches baseball and softball fundamentals, trauma-informed approaches, concussion protocols, and positive youth development strategies from Positive Coaching Alliance, UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program, Up2Us Sports and the Dodgers Training Academy.
Virtual trainings feature interactive polls, demonstration videos from presenters, Q&A sessions with panelists, and LADF community resources and programming.
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