The team program.

How the program runs

On The Barrel runs one team. Big programs spread their coaches across many teams; we built one, so our time, energy and attention go into this group of players and families.

• A maximum of 15 players, including two catchers and seven to eight players who can pitch.
• A few approved guest players are lined up for depth when we need them.
• Freshman-focused. The team is built for players in the class of 2030 who have the want-to but haven’t been fully developed yet.
• Led by Head Coach Alec Burns, owner of On The Barrel, with a staff of former Division I and professional players.

Practice is the product. Games test what we’ve built.

The season and the week

The 2027 season runs in blocks, each with its own focus:

1. 01November & December 2026Tryouts

   Every player is tested, and every player gets his results.

2. 02January 2027Winter build

   Strength, movement and the swing, built before the season starts.

3. 03February 2027Preseason

   Team practices sharpen the game before the first pitch.

4. 04March to May 2027Spring development

   Local weekend tournaments around the high school season.

5. 05Late May to July 2027Summer compete

   Major national events, with a purpose behind the schedule.

During the week, players have purposeful team practices plus dedicated individual hours for hitting or position work, built around each player’s plan. The exact practice days, times and locations are shared with families after tryouts.

High school comes first in the spring. Spring tournaments are on weekends only, around the high school season, and we follow UIL rules.

Where we compete

We plan to play seven to eight events across the season:

• Two to three local weekend tournaments in the spring.
• Four to five events after the high school season ends, including major national events.

Our main circuits are Perfect Game and Five Tool. Every event has a purpose, and we help families understand how each one fits development, exposure and recruiting. The full schedule is posted on this site once events are booked.

How we develop players

This is the heart of the program. Every player gets measured, gets a plan, and gets coached to that plan.

• Tested three times a season: at tryouts, mid-season and the end of the season, using the same kind of testing OTB uses with every athlete.
• His “big 3”: the three things holding him back the most, plus a plan to fix them.
• A personal development plan built around his needs and goals, from his starting point.
• Individual hours for hitting or position work, on top of team practice.
• Development beyond baseball: preparation, accountability, resilience and how to be a great teammate.

Progress is measured, so it’s something you can see, not just feel. The OTB Standard explains the seven pillars every OTB plan is built on.

The coaches

Head Coach

Alec Burns

Owner of On The Barrel and a former college baseball player at West Virginia University and Gardner-Webb.

While at Gardner-Webb, he coached CBA’s 15U and 16U teams and led their hitting development.

He studied sports psychology, strength and conditioning, and sports nutrition to understand how athletes think, move, fuel, recover and perform. Today, through OTB, he works with athletes from youth baseball through the professional level.

Our coaching staff played Division I or professional baseball, and every coach is less than five years removed from playing. They bring recent playing experience, energy and a passion for teaching. Assistant coaches are announced here as the staff is finalized.

Tryouts and selection

Tryouts are in November and December. Exact dates and the field go to families on the interest list first.

Players are tested, not just watched. Here’s what we look for:

• Every player gets his results. Within a week of tryouts, each player gets his testing summary and his big 3, whether he makes the team or not.
• We never rank players publicly or share one family’s information with another.
• Already on another team? Tell us. We talk with the family first. We never recruit off a high school or another travel team’s roster.

Culture and standards

• Faith-based culture. Respect, accountability and pride in how we carry ourselves.
• Zero tolerance for bullying, swearing or violence, from players, coaches and parents.
• Relationships first, with families, schools and other programs.

Families sign a parent agreement and code of conduct when they commit, so everyone knows the standard before the season starts.

Recruiting guidance

For players who want to play college baseball, we help them and their families understand the pathway early: the process, the timeline and the preparation it takes. We draw on the college coaching relationships built through our playing careers, coaching and OTB, and we help families understand how each event fits into exposure and recruiting.

Want to start now? Read the recruiting reality.

Costs and commitment

The full season fee, the payment plan and exactly what’s included are shared with families at tryout sign-up, before anyone commits. The tryout fee is credited toward the season fee.

Joining the team is a commitment to the group: showing up to practices and events, owning the individual work, and supporting teammates. We ask the same of ourselves as coaches.

Parent questions