ABCA Convention: Main Stage Clinics

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The ABCA Main Stage Clinics are the centerpiece of the annual ABCA Convention and a must-attend experience for coaches at every level of the game. Showcasing the sport’s top educators and leaders, these clinics cover a wide range of timely and practical baseball topics across three full days.

The 2027 ABCA Convention Main Stage Clinics, presented by ATEC, will take place Friday through Sunday, January 8-10, 2027, at McCormick Place during the 83rd annual ABCA Convention in Chicago.

The Main Stage clinic lineup is being curated by Kerrick Jackson (University of Missouri), ABCA Second Vice President, with assistance from Scott Laverty (Chapman University), ABCA Third Vice President. Clinic speakers will be unveiled beginning in early September 2026.

Tentative Schedule:

Friday, January 8: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday, January 9: 8:30 AM - 4:40 PM
Sunday, January 10: 8:30 AM - 11:10 AM

Following each Main Stage presentation, speakers will participate in a live Q&A session, giving attendees the opportunity to dive deeper into each topic and engage directly with the presenters.

As part of long-standing ABCA Convention tradition, the NCAA Division I National Championship-winning head coach, crowned in Omaha this June, will open the Main Stage clinics on Friday, January 8, immediately following the 8:30 a.m. opening ceremony and awards presentations.

Use this page to follow updates as speakers are announced and begin planning your 2027 ABCA Convention experience!

2027 ABCA CONVENTION: Main Stage Clinics

Friday-Sunday, January 8-10, 2027

McCormick Place Convention Center • Chicago, Illinois
The lineup and schedule are subject to change.

Explore Past Main Stage ClinicsWatch Main Stage Clinics On-Demand

2026 Main Stage Clinic Speakers

The 2027 Main Stage speakers will be announced in early September 2026!

Fri., Jan. 9, 9:00am

Jay Johnson, LSU

Building a Championship Program

Fri., Jan. 9, 9:40am

Tony Abbatine, Frozen Ropes

The Swing Works, Your Eyes Don't! Swing Decisions and Chase Rates Matter

Fri., Jan. 9, 10:20am

Robert Woodard, UNC Charlotte

Charlotte's Balanced Attack: GTO Meets Exploitative Pitching

Fri., Jan. 9, 11:00am

Rachel Folden, New York Mets

Hitting Coaches: Therapists in Disguise

Fri., Jan. 9, 12:40pm

Diamyn Hall, Baltimore Orioles

Coaching the Mental Game: Skill Acquisition from the Neck Up

Fri., Jan. 9, 1:20pm

Karl Nonemaker, Auburn University

Infield Training That Translates to In-Game Performance

Fri., Jan. 9, 2:00pm

Tony Clark, MLB Players Association

Protecting America's Pastime

Fri., Jan. 9, 2:40pm

Dan Perlmutter, Duke University

Turning Strength into Power: Data-Driven, Velocity-Based Training for Player-Specific Development

Fri., Jan. 9, 3:20pm

Josh Jordan, LSU

Grit Meets the Gear: The Powerhouse of Catching

Sat., Jan. 10, 8:30am

Justin Haire, Ohio State University

Hard To Kill: Building a Bulletproof Pressure-Driven Offense

Sat., Jan. 10, 9:10am

Brian Johnson, Author of Areté

Forging Excellence On and Off the Field

Sat., Jan. 10, 9:50am

Jeremy Sheetinger, Georgia Gwinnett College

IT: The Thin Line Between Where We Are and Where We Want to Go

Sat., Jan. 10, 10:30am

Kyle Crookes, University of Central Missouri

Winning 90 Feet at a Time: A Systems Approach to Aggressive Baserunning

Sat., Jan. 10, 12:50pm

Tim Held, Archbishop Moeller High School

Unlocking the Power of a Dynamic Offense

Sat., Jan. 10, 1:30pm

Don Mattingly, Toronto Blue Jays; Harold Reynolds, MLB Network

Keeping Hitting Simple With Don Mattingly

Sat., Jan. 10, 2:10pm

Jamie Pinzino, East Tennessee State University

Evaluating Pitchers and Creating an Efficient Feedback Loop

Sat., Jan. 10, 2:50pm

John Vodenlich, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Fundamental Baseball That Wins Games

Sat., Jan. 10, 3:30pm

Omar Johnson, Jackson State University

Using Bunting to Create Offense

Sat., Jan. 10, 4:10pm

Mike Deegan, Denison University

Culture, Training Environments, and Competition: A Systematic Approach to Development

Sun., Jan. 11, 8:30am

Conor Burke, Iona University

Using Pillars to Organize Outfield Development

Sun., Jan. 11, 9:10am

Clay Cox, Paris Junior College

Developing Dynamic Infielders: The Power of Athletic Freedom

Sun., Jan. 11, 9:50am

Jason Whited, Centerville High School

Creating Outs That Win the Game: A Deep Dive Into Pickoffs

Ready to Be Part of the 2027 ABCA Convention?
Convention Registration, presented by Traveling Teams, opens to everyone on September 1, 2026, with 2025-26 ABCA members receiving access to Priority Convention Registration beginning in August 2026. VIEW FULL REGISTRATION TIMELINE!

Can’t Join Us in Chicago?
You can still take part in the ABCA Convention experience from anywhere through the ABCA Clinics Live Video Stream. This live, online option delivers nearly 60 high-impact coaching clinics, including Main Stage presentations, interactive Q&A sessions, and Youth Coaches Session content. Live Stream registration opens September 1, 2026.

Added Value for Registrants
Convention and Clinics Live Stream registrants receive early access to the complete set of 2027 ABCA Convention on-demand clinic videos, including Main Stage clinics and Q&As, Youth Coaches Session presentations, and Expo Theater sessions. These videos will be available in early February 2027. All ABCA members will receive access to the full 2027 Convention video library in May 2027, but this early-access window allows registrants to start applying new ideas and strategies months ahead.