Fundamentals.
Confidence.
Character.

Youth baseball instruction built on real coaching, hands-on stations, and a family atmosphere — now in Pocatello, Idaho.

See the December Holiday Session

“Cardinal Baseball Camps exists to teach the game the right way — building sound fundamentals, real confidence, and lasting character in every player who steps on the field, from first-time swingers to seasoned travel-ball kids.”

Our Approach

What every session is built on

We believe baseball is one of the best classrooms there is. Long before a kid masters a crossover step or a two-strike approach, the game is already teaching patience, resilience, and how to be a good teammate.

01

Hands-on stations, real reps

Every player rotates through hands-on stations for real swings, real throws, and real ground balls — not just a jersey and a participation medal.

02

Fundamentals first

Footwork, hands, and approach before anything flashy — coaching built by people who've developed players at the college and professional level.

03

Family atmosphere

We meet kids where they are — first time in a batting stance or tenth tournament of the year — with a character-first approach.

About & Staff

Decades of coaching, one belief

Rich Weidinger
Founder

Rich “RW” Weidinger

Rich Weidinger has dedicated more than three decades to developing baseball players and helping young athletes reach their potential, with a coaching career that includes stops at both the NCAA Division I and community college levels.

Weidinger served as an assistant baseball coach at Stanford University from 1990 through 1995, working within one of the nation's premier collegiate baseball programs. During his tenure with the Cardinal, he was part of a program that consistently competed at the highest levels of college baseball and helped prepare players for opportunities beyond the collegiate game.

In 1995, Weidinger became the head baseball coach at Cabrillo College, a position he held through 2005. Over his decade leading the Seahawks, Weidinger established a reputation for player development, teaching the fundamentals of the game while helping student-athletes advance to four-year universities and professional baseball.

Across his coaching career at Stanford and Cabrillo, Weidinger worked with hundreds of collegiate players, including numerous athletes who went on to play professional baseball. His former players include individuals who ultimately reached Major League Baseball, providing a lasting testament to his ability to identify talent, develop players, and prepare them for the next level.

What distinguishes Weidinger's coaching career is not simply the number of wins or professional players associated with his programs, but the breadth and longevity of his influence. From Division I baseball at Stanford to community college baseball at Cabrillo, he coached players at very different stages of their development and helped many of them take the next step in their academic and athletic careers.

Weidinger's career reflects a fundamental belief in the power of coaching to influence young athletes both on and off the field. His impact can be seen not only in the professional players he helped develop, but also in the many former players whose lives and careers were shaped by their experience playing for him.

Matt Daily
Co-Founder

Matt Daily

Dr. Matt Daily has spent more than 25 years in baseball as a player, college coach, professional scout, and educator. A native of Los Gatos, California, he played center field at Lewis & Clark College and graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, where he later earned a master's degree in education. He also holds a Doctor of Education in Learning and Leading from the University of Portland.

His coaching career includes Del Mar College, Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, the University of Portland, Georgetown, Santa Clara University, and Pacific University, along with time as an associate scout for the San Diego Padres. As head coach at Menlo College, he was named 2010 National (AD3I) Baseball Coach of the Year and 2011 Menlo College Coach of the Year, and led the Oaks to a school-record 32 wins and the program's first postseason appearance.

Today Matt is Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Idaho State University in Pocatello and a nationally recognized scholar on first-generation college student success. He brings that same combination of high-level baseball instruction and student development to Cardinal Baseball Camps, with an approach that teaches the game well and builds confident, resilient young players and people.

Alumni

Where Cardinal players go

Cardinal players learn the same high-level fundamentals whether they stay in youth baseball or go on to play professionally. Two of our alumni are now in professional baseball.

Boston Red Sox organization

Braiden Ward

Cardinal camper from age 10. Now playing professionally.

Pittsburgh Pirates organization

Cameron Barstad

Cardinal alum, now playing professionally.

From a Cardinal family
“We were hooked when Rich explained his philosophy was simply to teach kids the high-level fundamentals of baseball, so they love the game and want to play again next year.”

We met Rich at a Cardinal camp when our son was 10 years old. We were immediately impressed by his positive attitude and passion for teaching baseball. That philosophy and his incredible positive energy made him our long-time coach and mentor. Rich and his coaches have worked with and supported our son from little league to the cusp of the big leagues, giving countless hours of their time and energy to train and develop thousands of young players.

Our son quickly began separating himself from his peers once he became good at the basics Rich taught him. When he had the basics, he moved differently than the other players, and his confidence and success on the field skyrocketed. Mastery of the Cardinal concepts allowed him to make the normal plays while also doing the amazing, which led to continued success at every level.

To another parent considering Cardinal Baseball Camps in Idaho: if you want your kid to learn to play baseball at the highest levels and have a great time doing it, start them off with great fundamentals at Cardinal Baseball Camps.

Dad of a previous Cardinal participant

Why Cardinal

Detail-driven teaching, built on how the body moves

Much of our teaching is rooted in biomechanics: how players can be both fundamentally sound and efficient as they play the game. We don't just show players what to do. We show them why it works, so the skills hold up at game speed and carry into the next season.

Attention to detail

Our teaching and learning curriculum is built around the details that make the biggest difference: footwork, balance, loading, and repeatable mechanics. Coaches explain each one and demonstrate it.

Every level of experience

The curriculum is designed for players who are new to the game and for players with a significant amount of baseball experience. Coaches meet players where they are, so beginners build a solid foundation and experienced players sharpen their game.

A plan for the future

Players leave camp with a better sense of how to keep improving as a baseball player, with takeaways they can keep working on long after the three days end.

Ideal for any player who wants to practice before the spring season.

The Science

Why biomechanics matters for young players

Biomechanics is the study of human motion and the forces behind it. In baseball, it helps identify the movement patterns that make a swing or a throw efficient, and the inefficiencies that can hold a player back or add stress to the body. College and professional programs now measure these movements with motion-capture labs and sensors. At Cardinal, we bring the same principles to the field in simple, repeatable terms that players can feel and understand.

Power starts from the ground up

Pitching research describes a kinematic sequence: energy moves from the legs and trunk, through the arm, and into the ball. University of Pittsburgh researchers point out that a pitcher who doesn't use the legs well may overwork the arm, which raises stress on it. Studies of the swing describe a similar pattern, with an early weight shift toward the back foot and a coiling of the trunk. The 2017 Sports Health review likewise describes the lower body as the start of the kinetic chain. That is why we teach players to load, stay balanced, and use their lower half: go backward to go forward.

Ages 9–14 are the time to build sound habits

A seven-year study from the American Sports Medicine Institute followed youth pitchers as they grew. Their mechanics improved in the early years, and forces on the elbow and shoulder rose over time, especially after age 13. The researchers concluded that younger players can work with their coaches on their motion and flexibility, and that once sound mechanics are in place, older players can focus on strength and power. A 2017 systematic review in Sports Health adds that throwing mechanics take shape at a young age and, once learned well, are likely to carry through adolescence and beyond. University of Arkansas researchers have likewise urged coaches to emphasize proper mechanics early.

Science, taught the human way

Knowing the science is only half of coaching. Driveline Baseball, a well-known training organization, notes that spotting a flaw is the easy part, and that helping a player actually change it is harder. Its answer is to build drills where good movement happens naturally. That fits how we coach: we explain the why, demonstrate, repeat, and meet each player where they are, teaching sound principles rather than one cookie-cutter swing.

Our goal is sound, efficient movement that players can repeat, and that carries into the spring season and beyond.

Learn more: University of Pittsburgh (Pitt Ed) · Fleisig et al., American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018 · Thompson et al., Sports Health, 2017 · University of Arkansas · Mass General Brigham · Welch et al., JOSPT, 1995 · Driveline Baseball

Camps & Programs

What a session looks like

Each day opens with about 15 minutes of coach talk and closes with 15. In between, players rotate through stations: throwing, hitting in the cages, infield and outfield defense, catching, and bullpen work, with machines providing ground balls and fly balls. Coaches demonstrate each skill before players try it, and games give players a chance to put what they have learned into game situations. Stations are organized by age and ability, with shorter rotations for younger players to keep everyone engaged.

Cardinal team working in the batting cages
What We Teach

The Cardinal fundamentals

Load and balance

Go backward to go forward. Players learn to load, stay balanced, and why sound mechanics make them better at the plate and in the field.

Infield footwork

Repeatable footwork with a reason behind every step: turning toward the throw, staying balanced over the feet, and working bottom-up to the ball.

Outfield and throwing

Plenty of reps with machine-fed fly balls, plus catch-and-throw work to build sound throwing mechanics.

Schedule & Pricing

December Holiday Session — Pocatello

DatesDecember 21–23, 2026
Hours9:00 AM – 3:00 PM daily
Check-inOpens at 8:00 AM daily
Ages9–14 (see note below)
BringSee “What to bring” below. Please label all equipment with your player's name.
LocationICCU Fieldhouse at the Mountain View Event Center
Address1567 Way to Grace Ave, Pocatello, ID 83201

Ages 9–14. Age is a guide. Because this is an instructional camp, if you believe your player has the ability to take part regardless of age, please contact our camp staff.

Registration is open up until the first day of camp.

3-Day Session

$275 / player

Three days of instruction, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Ages 9–14. Full payment is due at registration and is refundable up to 10 days before camp. $25 off a second child and any additional siblings.

Reserve a spot

What to bring

  • Baseball glove
  • Bat and batting helmet, if you have them
  • Hat
  • Baseball pants or athletic pants, and a comfortable shirt
  • Footwear: cleat information to be announced
  • Water bottle
  • Lunch: available to purchase for $10 per day, or bring your own

Label everything

Please write your player's name on all equipment: glove, bat, helmet, hat, water bottle, and bag. With a full camp on the field, labeled gear finds its way back to its owner.

Youth Camp FAQs

What if my player is younger or older than 9–14?

The age range is meant to be a guide. Because this is an instructional camp, if you believe your player has the ability to participate regardless of age, please contact camp staff at camps@cardinalbaseballcamps.com.

What skill level does my child need?

All levels are welcome. Camp is designed for players who are new to the game and for players with a significant amount of experience, and coaches meet players where they are.

When does registration close, and is there a sibling discount?

Registration is open up until the first day of camp, and walk-ups are welcome unless otherwise directed. A $25 discount is offered for a second child and any additional siblings who attend camp. It cannot be combined with any other discount offer.

Can my child attend only some days?

Yes! Please contact camps@cardinalbaseballcamps.com to discuss options.

What does a typical day look like?

Check-in is open from 8:00 a.m., and camp runs 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Each day opens and closes with a short team talk. In between, players rotate through hands-on stations, break for lunch, and play games. See What a session looks like for more.

If I have to cancel, what is the refund policy?

For all Cardinal Baseball Youth Camps, full payment is due at the time of registration. All funds are refundable if you cancel 10 or more days before the start of camp. No refunds will be given within 10 days of the start of each camp, only camp credit for a future camp. (For clarification, if you need to cancel 9 days before the start of camp because of injury, or if your camper is not able to participate for any reason, no refund will be given.) All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by emailing the Cardinal Baseball staff at camps@cardinalbaseballcamps.com. Registration and processing fees from [online registration partner] will NOT be refunded.

What if camp is canceled or the Fieldhouse closes?

If weather or another circumstance requires us to cancel camp, participants will be notified immediately by email. The camp refund policy is described above.

My child is attending camp with friends. Can they be put in the same group and on the same team?

Coming to camp with friends is encouraged and no problem. Coaches will allow campers to team with a maximum number of friends, so have your son or daughter stay with his or her friends when making teams. Please note that campers are grouped by age, ability, and prior experience.

For the games, do the campers pitch to other campers?

No. Each team's coach pitches to his or her own team. We want the ball to be put into play so that the defense has to handle it and figure out what to do depending on the number of outs and where the runners are. No one strikes out. During a three-day camp, most campers will handle the ball as much as they have handled it during a full season.

Is lunch provided during camp?

Lunch is available for purchase for $10 per day, or campers are welcome to bring their own lunch. Please be sure your camper arrives at camp with a lunch each day. We also recommend that each camper bring a water bottle.

My child has allergies or dietary needs. Where do I note them?

Please note any allergies or dietary needs when you register.

Does my child need to bring a bat to camp?

We encourage campers to bring their own equipment, but we provide bats and helmets whenever they are needed. Please make sure all of your child's equipment (glove, bat, batting gloves, hat, helmet, etc.) is marked with his or her name. Kids this age tend to misplace their equipment, and it is much easier to find if it has a name on it.

What time does check-in open?

Campers check in daily at the main entrance of the ICCU Fieldhouse. Check-in is open from 8:00 a.m. until camp begins at 9:00 a.m. every day of camp.

What if my child will arrive late or need to leave early?

Please notify camp staff at camps@cardinalbaseballcamps.com.

Do I need to fill out any insurance information?

Yes. The ICCU Fieldhouse requires us to have proof of insurance on file for every camper. Each camper must have a completed and signed Medical Waiver Form in order to attend camp. When you register online, the Medical Waiver Form is a required step. Insurance information on the form must be accurate. All campers must have their own medical insurance.

What happens if my child gets sick or hurt?

The emergency contact listed during registration will be contacted immediately if there is a serious injury or if a camper needs to leave camp early for a medical reason. Please note any medical conditions we should know about in the medical section of your registration before your camper attends.

When I pick up my child, can they just meet me at my parked car?

Campers are directed one way in and one way out of the ICCU Fieldhouse. That entrance and exit is staffed at check-in and check-out every day of camp. No child will be allowed to leave until we know with whom they are leaving. Any alternate pick-up arrangements must be requested in writing by a parent or guardian.

Will photos or video be taken at camp?

We hope to take some photos of camp participants. Please see our photo waiver before checkout.

What is the cell phone policy?

Camp participants are solely responsible for any mobile phones. Camp staff suggest that phones be stored in camp bags and not kept with players during camp.

Can parents stay and watch camp?

Yes! Parents are welcome to watch any and all days of camp.

Contact

Ready to sign up?

Spots for the December Holiday Session are limited. Reach out with questions or get on the list.

camps@cardinalbaseballcamps.com