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OUR MISSION
Fundamentals First, Inc. provides youth baseball and softball athletes, ages 5 through high school, with meaningful opportunities to develop their athletic abilities, strengthen their mental approach to the game, build confidence, and grow into disciplined, resilient and responsible young people.
We believe baseball and softball are about more than learning how to play the game. Through mentorship, clinics, one-on-one instruction, group lessons, remote training and mental-performance education, we help athletes build strong fundamentals while learning the value of preparation, accountability, teamwork, perseverance and accepting coaching.
Our goal is not simply to develop better players. We want to help develop confident young people who work hard, support their teammates, respond positively to mistakes and adversity, and pursue their goals with purpose. The lessons learned through sports can become foundations that athletes carry with them long after they leave the field.
Our remote training programs—including swing analysis, personalized feedback, customized practice plans, at-home drills and mentorship—allow us to extend that mission beyond our local community, giving athletes access to meaningful development, guidance and support wherever they are.
THE STORY BEHIND THE MISSION
WHY FUNDAMENTALS FIRST
Fundamentals First was created around a simple belief: the lessons young athletes learn through baseball and softball can shape who they become long after their playing days are over.
Learning how to prepare, work through failure, accept coaching, support teammates and keep going when things get difficult are not just skills for the field. They are foundations for life.
That is why our approach goes beyond mechanics and athletic development. We combine player development, mentorship and mental-performance education to help young athletes become more confident, disciplined, resilient and prepared for the challenges they will face both in sports and in life.
Whether an athlete works with us in person or through our remote training programs, our goal remains the same: to provide positive guidance, meaningful development and someone in their corner who believes in their potential.
MEET MARC SALLOUM
DIRECTOR • COACH • MENTOR • FATHER
Marc Salloum is the Director of Fundamentals First, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young athletes grow through baseball and softball. With a lifelong passion for the game and a genuine commitment to helping young players reach their potential, Marc believes that the lessons learned through sports extend far beyond the field.
Marc's baseball journey began at a young age and continued throughout his playing career through high school. His experiences as a player gave him a strong appreciation for the fundamentals of the game, but more importantly, they taught him the value of hard work, discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and having the right people in your corner.
For the past eight years, Marc has dedicated himself to coaching young baseball and softball players and providing individual instruction. He has also had the opportunity to coach through the RBI program (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), a program sponsored by Major League Baseball, where he has been able to share his knowledge and passion for the game with young athletes from different backgrounds.
Marc's greatest passion is teaching and developing young baseball and softball players. Whether working with a beginner learning the fundamentals or an experienced player looking to take the next step, he focuses on helping each athlete develop both their skills and their confidence. His approach is centered on patience, encouragement, fundamentals, and understanding that every player develops at their own pace.
As a father of two — a 14-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son — Marc understands how meaningful the role of a coach can be in a young person's life. He strives to be the kind of coach who not only teaches the game, but also takes the time to listen, encourage, and build relationships with his players.
Through Fundamentals First, Marc hopes to create opportunities for young athletes to learn, compete, grow, and most importantly, enjoy the game. His goal is simple: to help young players become better athletes, better teammates, and better people while developing a lifelong love for baseball and softball. For Marc, coaching is about much more than wins and losses. It's about making a positive impact, helping young athletes believe in themselves, and being part of their journey as they grow both on and off the field.