The Herndon Braves vision for the youth Braves teams (13U and 14U) stress player development in a competitive atmosphere.  It is the Braves philosophy that the youth teams are coached by professional coaches based on our belief that professional coaches provide an objective view of all players and will be responsible for all decisions involving position and playing time.  The professional coaches are overseen by the directors for player development to ensure that both parents and players are receiving quality instruction.  Any player that makes a youth Braves team must make the team their first sports priority. The Braves teams consist of a fall team, with tryouts in early August and a spring/summer team with tryouts in early November.  All members of the Braves will have access to the following:

• 2 professional coaches per team
• Team access to indoor facilitates at Diamond Sports Training
• Hitting fundamentals analyzed using JCVideo analyzer
• End of season feedback

Spring/summer team: Tryouts in early November

• March – 2 practices per week
• April/May – 2 games per week, 2 practices per week, and 1 tournament (May)
• June/July – 3 games per week, 1 practice per week, and 2 tournaments (1 each month)

Fall Team: Tryouts in late July and early August

• September/October – 2 games per week and 2 practices per week
  

Staff/Coaches
Co-Director of Player Development – Jason Bagby
Jason grew up playing baseball in Loudoun County.  He was part of the first State Championship team in Lower Loudoun in 1987.  He attended Broad Run High School and was a member of their first State Championship in 1991.  He was a first team All-State selection that year. He went on to play middle infield for James Madison University.  After graduating, Jason ended up back at Broad Run as a varsity assistant coach. For four years, he was responsible for the offense and infielders.  Since his time at BR, Jason has been Director of Baseball Operations at Diamond Sports Training (DST) in Sterling, VA.  He has spent two summers as an assistant coach for Herndon Braves.

Co-Director of Player Development – Chris Smith
Chris is in his fifth year with the Herndon Braves. Previous coaching experience includes coaching seven years at Herndon High School, one year with the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, three years at DeMatha Catholic High School, two years at St, Vincent Pallotti High School, and one year at Bowie St. University. Chris has been a part of two Braves championship teams (Clark Griffith League - '06 and '07) and a Herndon High School district championship team ('02). Chris is currently the GM for the Braves.  Chris teaches social studies at Centreville H.S. and resides in Herndon with his wife Amy, daughter Madeleine and son C.J.

Coach – Jonathan Sidilau

Coach – Joseph Palumbo