Baseball Tips on Hitting - How to Safely Get Out of the Way From an Inside Pitch

By Larry Cicchiello

If anyone involved in baseball coaching doesn't make this the first thing they teach a player, they are making a huge mistake. Especially, if it is a young player who is just learning the game of baseball.

I can't think of ANY baseball tips on hitting that are more important.

Getting hit by a pitch can be a very serious matter and at times can be downright disheartening.

It should be on the very top of the list of baseball coaching tips.

Unfortunately, many baseball players at all levels of play have not learned the proper way to get out of the way from an inside pitch. Even in the professional ranks, quite often it is not executed properly.

I find it bothersome that anyone involved in baseball coaching would not teach this method BEFORE worrying about batting averages, hitting line drives and home runs. There is no excuse for this.

The Very Simple And Proper Way To Protect Yourself :


You take your stride and see that the baseball is coming in your direction.
You should fairly easily be able to turn your body a quarter of a turn back toward the catcher.
Tuck your chin in toward your chest so your head is lowered and less exposed.
It's the fastest, easiest and most effective way to protect your head, face, chest, stomach and groin area.
The worse scenario would then be getting hit by the baseball in the upper back, mid or lower back, rear end or the back of your legs.
It is absolutely necessary for you to protect your head and the entire front of your body!
To keep it simple, tuck your head in and duck, putting your chin against your chest and bend and turn toward the catcher.
When a player gets severely injured when hit by a pitch, it is a sad time for ALL who are involved, especially if it is a younger player. The entire ballpark gets very quiet. Suddenly, it doesn't matter what team you are on, what the score is or who you are rooting for. Managers, coaches, umpires, players, and spectators, including relatives of the injured player will all be devastated. If at all possible, we want to avoid this.

Please learn this technique so we can all enjoy the baseball game itself. If you are involved in baseball coaching, please put this on the very top of your list of baseball tips on hitting, especially with younger players. Let's worry about hitting for higher averages and hitting home runs later on.

Larry Cicchiello is the author of the very informative book "Excellent Baseball Coaching:30 Seconds Away." He is unique in that his site offers visitors several FREE TIPS that are straight from his book. His book covers 320 topics on playing excellent baseball. Baseball tips on hitting, baseball pitching tips, baseball fielding tips, baseball base running tips, baseball coaching drills and more. Your baseball "help desk" will be open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. You will be FULLY EQUIPPED as a manager, coach, player at any level or a parent who wants to help their child improve or overcome any baseball struggles. You will be raising a few eyebrows!

You can visit his website at http://www.larrybaseball.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello

How to Become the Best Baseball Player Possible

By Jack D. Elliott

Every youth and high school baseball player has the desire to be the best they can be. Whether it is to become a great hitter that can hit them deep or a pitcher with a great fastball and wicked breaking stuff, all baseball players want to become better than they are. However, few know exactly what it takes to get there. Here, we will discuss ways in which you can improve your baseball training to take you to the next level.

1. Develop a comprehensive approach to your baseball career. Recognize your baseball career does not begin when you are in your junior or senior year of high school. Instead, develop a plan in middle school to improve your skills year by year. In this way, you can maximize your abilities by developing more physical strength and fine tuning your swing and pitching over the course of 4 or 5 years as opposed to 1 or 2.

2. Get the best baseball instruction early in your career. Do not wait until later in your career to get good hitting and pitching instruction. Instead, get the best when you are in the 8th or 9th grade. This will allow you to learn how to do it right from the start and avoid picking up bad habits. Other more experienced people have gone down the road you will travel, take advantage of their knowledge by avoiding the missteps they have made by getting good instruction early.

3. Strength training is now a must for all baseball players. In the past, there was a school of thought that stated weight lifting should be avoided or minimized. However, modern science and baseball training have categorically discarded this school of thought. Make sure you maximize your strength gains by using a baseball weight lifting schedule in each of your summers. Strength gains made in the summer translate into faster velocity, stronger hitting, and more endurance in the spring. By doing this for four years, you will allow yourself to keep getting greater physical strength gains all four years.

4. Play in the best leagues possible. If you have the opportunity to play on all star teams and teams where the other players are older and better than you, be sure to take advantage. These allow you to become a more polished player faster even if playing time is not as high as it would be on other teams. Much can be learned by using only your eyes and ears while watching better and more experienced players play.

5. Develop a daily training schedule for your skills. It has been said that your efforts in practice will pay off in the games. By creating a daily training schedule, you ensure that you are consistently getting in the appropriate amount of training each day. This training should key on practicing your swing and your pitching motion and finding ways to continuously fine tune and develop these skill sets. Over time, you will develop valuable muscle memory that will become natural movements while playing in games.

Taking a systematic approach to your baseball training will provide you with other support for your baseball training. By taking a little time to step back and map out your baseball career, you will be able to see how all the individual pieces fit into making you become a better player. This will be helpful when your mind will naturally wander and question why you are taking that 6th round of batting practice with blisters on your hands or why you need to do one more set of the incline bench press. The answer will simply be because you know it will make you a better baseball player. After all, that is why you play the game in the first place: to be the best you can be.

Jack Elliott, is a former player and fan of the game. To read more tips and techniques about baseball training, please click here: http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com or Baseball Training

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See the “Original” Rotational Hitting Machine at BatAction.com. Are you looking for the perfect trainer to teach proper timing and swing mechanics? You can stop looking and go to HandsBackHitter.com.

Some Funny and Some Not So Funny Baseball Quotes

Joe Mauer Quick Swing Baseball Trainer

By Aron Wallad

"The game has cleanness. If you do a good job the numbers say so.
You don't have to ask anyone or play politics. You don't have to wait for the reviews."

Sandy Koufax, Dodgers Pitcher (1955-66)

"Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he's losing. Nobody wants you to quit when you're ahead."

Jackie Robinson, Dodgers infielder (1947-56)

"I could never play in New York. The first time I came into a game there, I got into the bullpen car and they told me to lock the doors."

Mike Flanagan

This is interesting: "I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?"

Yogi Berra

"It's a good thing Babe Ruth isn't here. If he was, George Steinbrenner would have him bat seventh and say he's overweight."

Graig Nettles

Another interesting one: You can't think and hit at the same time.

Yogi Berra

Can you believe it? Don't be afraid to take advice. There's always something new to learn.

Babe Ruth

Show me a guy, who's afraid to look bad, and I'll show you a guy you can beat.

Lou Brock

I think he may have something here. Take time to thank everyone who has
helped you along the way.

Brooks Robinson

You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it
turns out that it was the other way around all the time.

Jim Bouton

No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball.

Connie Mack

The trouble with baseball is that it is not played the year round.

Gaylord Perry

One of my favorites: Baseball hasn't forgotten me. I go to a lot of old-timers games and I haven't lost a thing. I sit in the bullpen and let people throw things at me. Just like old times.

Bob Uecker

These days baseball is different. You come to spring training, you get
your legs ready, you arms loose, your agents ready, your lawyer lined up.

Dave Winfield

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 45 years. His passions have included; playing, watching, reading, evaluating, and coaching the game he adores. Do you love inspiring quotes, unusual statistics and most of all, heartwarming baseball stories? If you love baseball you will love his baseball ezine.

Go here right now to join his ezine http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com/index.php?tag=ezart

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Tips For a Great Batting Practice

By Mike Posey

Batting practice is an important ingredient to every practice, but it can also be a time waster. Many players at a young age accomplish little during an ineffective BP session. Here are a few tips to help every coach run a quick paced, exciting, BP session.

Batting Practices that Rock!


Stay in Small Groups.
Divide your team into groups of 4 or 5. One group can hit BP, one can be in the field shagging balls, and one group can be with another coach in the batting cages working on tee drills or toss drills.

Good Batting Practice Pitchers Throw Strikes.
A good BP pitcher must throw a lot of strikes and keep the pace moving. We also use a hack-attack pitching machine twice a week to supplement our pitching. Use coaches to throw BP when possible and let the players throw in scrimmages.

Take Quick Short Rounds
Hit in quick short rounds of no more than eight (8) swings. Keep the hitters moving in and out. Usually hit 3-5 rounds.

Have a Goal for Each Round
Each round must have a purpose. First round can be to the opposite field, second round can be hit and run, third round can be moving runners over from second, etc.

Use a Lightning Round at the End.
Lightning rounds can be fun as the last round. The concept of a lightning round is every hitter gets one pitch, if he hits a line drive then he gets a second pitch. Every line drive will result in another chance. If they miss, then the next player jumps in. Keep them moving in and out.

Use a Roll On Batting Tunnel
A portable roll on tunnel will help BP move much faster. Every league should invest in a good roll on to use every day at practice.

Hustle
make sure everyone is busy and hustles when changing groups. Group in the field can rotate to the cages, the cage group rotates to the field BP, and the BP hitters go to the field. Use a stop watch or field timer if needed (you can even use an air horn when its time to change groups, train them to hustle)

Running the Bases
If you have enough players for a fourth group, then add a base running group. If not, you can have groups of four or five, with two base runners while the others hit. But plan to practice base running at times during BP.

Take Ground Balls
If possible, have fielders rotate into short and second. A coach (or volunteer) can hit fungo ground balls in between BP pitches.

Situational Hitting
Some BP sessions can include a round of situational hitting. The coach calls out the situation for the hitter to execute (if you have runners on base, put them in a situation). For example, runners on third with no outs. (hit a ground ball in the infield or outfield fly ball) Runner at second base with no outs (hit behind the runner to move him up to third base)

Batting practice should be fun. Keep them moving and throw strikes.

Mike Posey "CP"
Expert Baseball Tips
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Bat Certification - Ball Exit Speed Ratio (BESR)

By Wiley Channell

BESR Ball Exit Speed Ratio is a rule which applies to all non-wood bats used by all high schools who are members of the National Federation High School Associations.

All non-wood bats used must bear the BESR certification mark.

The Ball Exit Speed Ratio mark ensures a maximum exit speed of 97 miles per hour. The rules also a part of the BESR standard, have the following requirement a maximum of 2 5/8 inches diameter bat barrel and a minus-3 differential between the length and weight. (i.e.,a 33-inch-long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces).

Folks all of the above criteria and certification is dedicated to safety for our high school baseball players.

Good people first off let me admit some ignorance on this dedicated to safety part of this BESR certification. I originally thought the safety thing was referring to the bat staying in one piece and not flying apart when some over strength lad really laced into little white baseball.

That is not the safety bit at all it is the safety of those lads out there in the infield trying to corral the well hit ball. It seems the elasticity of materials used in a metallic bat will cause a baseball to leave the bat so fast and with such velocity it is or could be a dangerous missile.

Would you want your kid waiting patiently down there at third base trying to stop a baseball coming off a metal bat travelling like a shot from a 30 ought 6 rifle? Never ! so the BESR certification establishes that the flexibility or elasticity if that metal bat has been tempered to a control point so that the ball will not be leaving the bat at more than the specified 97 miles per hour.

So much for science and physics in the matter all we can hope for is that the manufacturing and production process is up to snuff and have it right all the time when the BESR mark is put on every metal bat.

Maybe the rules committee failed to certify or place a mark for size of the boy or muscle strength allowed to use a bat.

Collegiate use of non-wood bats might want to consider this Exit Speed Ratio thing to consider the safety net. A bat with a Ball Exit Speed Ratio maximum above 97 miles per hour might ruin the College home run records and statistics.

Since professional or major league baseball has placed non-wood bats off limits this BESR thing is of no consequence in professional baseball as of today.

I seriously doubt professional baseball leagues will ever adopt the use of non-wood bats. The sweet sound of that wood on the baseball has a sound so unique an experienced player can by the sound alone tell if the ball is well hit and heading to the far reaches of the ball park.

The sound of the metallic bats meeting the ball has a pinging sound and reminds one of the sound of a hub cap coming off the wheel of a car. The professional and sandlot players have yet to become attuned to judging the travel probability of a ball leaving these modern day metallic bats.

Major league teams still have to contend with the "Tar Baby Bat" because George just might knock the tar out of that hosshide.

Batter Up---Let's Play Ball...

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Baseball Batting Tips For Youths

www.QuickSwingTrainer.com

By Sameep Shah

When it comes to the game of baseball the real player has to be well known with the tactics of pitching the ball and hitting it at right areas. Pitching the ball in baseball at accurate areas with speed is essential on one side and hitting the ball accurately for runs on the other side. Kids love playing this game and so lot of educational institutions come up with introduction of this sport in their academics. But to be effective and successful in the game it is essential to practice the game a lot and get proper official training.

The ideal hitters are with a combination of strength, determination, cooperation, skills, power, confidence, coordination, vision, and rhythm. They use the exact tactics of body posture control while hitting the ball hard and display some style in it. But it takes days and months of training and practice to result in to a good player. Taking some advice and learning from the experienced people will be helpful for the kids and all youth. The schools and institutes keep a separate class of sports where all kids learn about their favorite sport. As far as baseball is concerned it is essential for the hitters to train themselves accordingly.

The coaches and sports teachers provide good amount of knowledge and share their experience in the game. Kids and young lads can learn a lot in respect of baseball batting tips and the exact way to hold and hit the ball.

Some of the good batting tips that can be followed are:

Baseball bats may differ in the looks and mainly the weight up to some extent. So as per your grip and handle it is to be selected.

Next thing is to train you about the swing and the pitches.

The posture while swinging the slugger is to be accurate for producing the exact stroke with power. The slugger should be held with both hands, upright position behind the head. The front shoulder and the chin have to be tucked in. Keep the head still and wait for the release of the ball.

Moving the hands back a bit when the pitcher is ready for pitching the ball, will be helpful for a perfect swing.

Once the ball is released hit it as per your power and the direction. When to attempt hitting the ball depends on the direction in which it is traveling towards you. When it is in your reach and perfect placement nothing can stop you to hit a home run if connected properly.

Concentrating on the contact and hitting it hard at accurate pitch is what is required in baseball batting. Practice will make the kids perfect in this game and display their talents.

For more information visit Sportscapers University at houston youth basketball - You can also find more information and online training videos to help you improve your skills at katy youth basketball.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sameep_Shah

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How to Teach Throwing to Baseball Players

By Dick Birmingham

In the game of baseball correct throwing mechanics are of the utmost importance. If a player can’t throw with accuracy he does his team little good out in the field. Players must constantly strive to perfect their throwing mechanics. Few players take the time necessary to become really good throwers. Great pride should be taken when a player can consistently throw to a target.

Key Points in Throwing

The Grip

Many young players grip the ball with their fingers too wide apart. This affects accuracy severely reduces velocity of the throw. The fingers should be about ¼ inch apart (about the width of a yellow #2 pencil). The index and middle finger should lay across the wide seams of the ball. This grip is also known as a 4-seam fastball. The pads of the index and middle finger sit on the seam of the ball. If you think of the ball as a clock, the index and middle fingers should rest on either side of 12 o’clock and the thumb would rest straight underneath the ball at 6 o’clock. There should be "daylight" between the ball and palm of the throwing hand. This is the best grip for achieving straight backspin and avoiding any "tailing" of the ball.

Arm Action

Arm action refers to the path the throwing arm travels from hand separation to release-point and follow-through. Baseball throwers must concentrate on breaking the hands and making a big sweeping motion with the arm in order to stay long with the arm going back to a good power position. Power position refers to the position where the player has the throwing arm back, level with the shoulder or higher, and bent at the elbow. The throwing-hand index and middle fingers should be point up forming a "V". The back of the throwing hand should face the thrower while the palm of the throwing hand should face away from the thrower. Practicing a good power position is essential in becoming a good thrower. The front shoulder should always point at the target and stay closed. As the player turns to throw, the glove-side elbow should be as high or higher than the throwing-side shoulder. The throwing fingers must stay pointing up through release to get good straight backspin. When throwing with a partner, young players should imagine painting a vertical line with their throwing hand from the letters on their partner’s hat to their partner’s belt buckle.

Throwing To The Circle

Baseball players should always practice throwing on a downward plane to their target. When throwing with a partner, the player should focus on throwing down into "the circle". The circle is an area from the partner’s hat, right shoulder, belt buckle, and left shoulder. A player who can throw down into the circle consistently is a good thrower.

Note: A player receiving a ball should always have both hands in front of the chest with fingers pointing out and up. This makes a great target in the center of the circle.

Staying On Line

Throwers should imagine a line running from their pivot foot straight through their target. As they throw, they should separate their arms on the imaginary line being careful not to let the throwing arm pass behind the line. The stride should also be on the line. Any variation from the line will decrease accuracy. As the player releases the ball he should concentrate on keeping his body on the line. Many players spin off the line when they throw instead of following-through toward their target.

Note: The chin MUST point toward the target. Where the chin faces the eyes will face and the body will follow.

Squaring the Pivot Foot

The pivot foot (throwing hand-side) needs to be "square" to the target. If the player starts by facing the target when throwing the pivot foot should be opened 90 degrees toward the target to allow for the closing of the front side (hips and shoulders). Failure to do this can result in poor accuracy and velocity. Many young players do not turn their pivot foot a full 90 degrees to their target. Squaring the pivot foot should be emphasized to all players to ensure correct throwing mechanics.

It has been said many time that baseball is a game of catch, and the team that plays catch the best will usually win. As a coach, teach your players the proper fundamentals of throwing and you will win more games and develop your players.

For more baseball throwing tips and baseball throwing drills visit the Dick Birmgingham Sports Championship Baseball Drill Book at http://www.BaseballDrillBook.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dick_Birmingham

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Baseball Season: How to Prepare Your Child

Joe Mauer QuickSwingTrainer.com

By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Parents often ask me what their children can do to prepare for their baseball season. Because training is specific, they should be training for baseball 12 months a year. There are very few kids who are so gifted that they can be very good in several sports. Many children start training in one sport when they are about six years old and specialize in that sport for the rest of their competitive careers.

It's hard to get in shape in one month, but there are several rules of training that they should follow. First it's background before peaking. Before you can throw a baseball or hit a baseball hard, you have to throw and hit easy. If you try to throw hard in the beginning, expect to injure yourself. First you do background training by increasing the volume of your workload gradually for several weeks and when you are ready to start peaking, you decrease your work volume and increase your work intensity. So you should go out with your son or daughter and play easy catch each day and let him try to hit the ball is a specific place, rather than trying to hit the ball hard. He also has to jog slowly before he can start running fast. So every day, he should jog slowly for up to 30 minutes.

After a few weeks, he or she is ready to start training. The next rule, he must follow for throwing, hitting and running is stress and recover. On one day he throws harder, hit further and runs faster. On the next day, he should take the day off, or jog slowly, throw easy and hit short. He continues to have easy days for all three specifics until his leg and arm muscles feel fresh. If he is training properly, he should take two days of easy training. Then he throws hard, hits far and runs fast, and this is followed by a couple of easy days again. On his hard days, he may throw every fifth pitch hard, followed by four easy throws, and hit the ball hard once every five hits until his muscle start to feel sore. Then he must stop for the day.

Since baseball players almost never run hard more than 100 yards, his running training should be to run 40 yards fast, rest until he recovers and then run 40 yards again short of all-out and repeat the cycle until his legs start to feel stiff or hurt. If he can do these hard workout days once or twice a week, he can expect to improve dramatically. If he takes easy days every day or just plays baseball each day, his improvement will be minimal. Slow jogging will not prepare him for baseball and trying to run fast more often than twice a week will just injure him. You prepare for all sports by following two rules: "background and peaking," and "stress and recover."

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at

Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition.

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Best Tips For Breaking in a Baseball Glove

By Peter V. John


Ah, the smell and feel of a new leather baseball glove. There is nothing like the promise of a new glove. With proper care, you can expect your new glove to feel like your own hand. The two most important things to do is to soften the leather and form a pocket in the palm of the glove to catch balls. To do this, you need to break it in properly. Here are some tips for bringing your glove up to speed.

Use it! - The best way to form the "pocket" in any new glove is to use it. An average of 100 catches per day, for two weeks, can do wonders to a new glove. If you don't have someone to play catch with, a batting cage pitching machine is a good substitute.

Oil it - But not too much. Neat's-foot oil is the premier oil to use on a baseball glove, although there are any number of other oils out there to use. Whatever oil, cream or foam you choose, apply it sparingly with a cloth and rub it in well. Let the glove sit for 24 hours before wiping it off and do not reapply anything for two weeks afterward.

Do not bake it - Some old wives' tales suggested oiling gloves and then baking them in a conventional or microwave oven. All this will do is harden and eventually crack the leather. So don't do it!

Do not soak it - in water or even in oil. Soaking the glove in water will only lead to cracking and hardening. Likewise, soaking it in oil will do nothing but waste the oil and could shorten the life of the glove.

Help that pocket along - Shove a ball into the glove, then wrap the glove tightly with a rubber band or belt each night. This helps form a pocket in the palm of the glove to trap a ball better.

Give it time - Don't expect your glove to soften up overnight. Especially if your glove is made of full-grain, instead of top-grain, leather, it will feel stiff for awhile. Be patient and use these tips and your glove will be good to go well before that first game.

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Field Training Tips For Baseball Kids

By Sameep Shah

Kids enjoy the game of baseball and like to be a front runner in winning tournaments. Some like to play a role of strong hitter, some like to be an accurate pitcher, but everyone has to be a good fielder.

The fielding positions in the sport of baseball differs and each position is as important as other is. Field training tips for the kids make them get hold on any ball slogged towards them and lead the way towards victory. You get only three chances to hold the catch of opponent player or run them out and get entire team out in one round. When opportunities come your way they are to be grabbed and your true fielding talents are to be displayed. Fielding in the baseball sport is not that simple but lot of practice and daily efforts taken will surely make you stronger in respective position.

Kids or young lads like to share their part in tournaments arranged by the schools and colleges. Like any other games, football, baseball, basketball are coming up rapidly in educational institutions as more kids are taking part in them. Baseball basically needs lot of thinking and it is considered as a mind game rather than power. Every one has to field at some position or the other. Some kids are gifted with natural talents in fielding positions like the first base, second base, third base, short stop, infield, outfield, fence and others. Your throw has to be on the spot from any positions. It is essential to catch the ball properly and through it back to the pitcher to run someone out. The best players always throw themselves on the ground to catch and hold on to ball coming from any direction.

Keeping an eye on who is running when and throwing the ball towards the base fielders is the responsibility of fence fielders. The other important factor for the players to look out for is the grip of gloves. There is no point in fielding at any position if your glove is not firm in the hands. Using proper leather glove and conditioning it at times will be beneficial. All beginners in the game of baseball are given the field training tips to make them strong in all positions. Some one may specialize in a particular field while some others may be flexible enough to field at couple of positions when required. Usually it is better to take hold of one field position and be the king of it.

For more information visit Sportscapers University at houston youth football - You can also find more information and online training videos to help you improve your skills at katy youth football.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sameep_Shah


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Players develop incredible bat speed and confidence when they regularly use the Quick Swing Trainer. See it at QuickSwingTrainer.com. See the world’s most advanced batting tee at AdvancedSkillsTee.com.

Change Player Size Watch this video in a new windowHow to Catch a Baseball : How to Catch a Baseball : Charging a Ball in Baseball

Learn how to charge a slow moving ground ball in this free video series on baseball tips.






Video #2

Learn how to do a drill to help field ground balls in this free video series on baseball tips.

Expert: Bill Rogan
Contact: www.turfsports.net
Bio: Bill Rogan has had a lifelong passion for baseball. After playing in high school, Bill played at the collegiate and semi-professional levels.
Filmmaker: Thomas Tamura



Shop CoachesBest.com for your baseball coaching needs including baseball training aids, training videos, and other coaching supplies. Check out the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting machine by SKLZ at HurricaneTrainer.com.

See the “Original” Rotational Hitting Machine at BatAction.com. Are you looking for the perfect trainer to teach proper timing and swing mechanics? You can stop looking and go to HandsBackHitter.com.

Players develop incredible bat speed and confidence when they regularly use the Quick Swing Trainer. See it at QuickSwingTrainer.com. See the world’s most advanced batting tee at AdvancedSkillsTee.com.

Are you looking for a great batting cage at discount prices? Are you considering building your own backyard batting cage and training center? If so, you should visit BattingCagesDirect.com now!
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Hey Coach, When Can I Play Shortstop?

Derek Jeter www.HurricaneMachine.com

By Chip Lemin

To fellow coaches and parents,

If you ask youngsters which position they want to play, many would say shortstop. While many players want to play shortstop, only a few really can. The shortstop must have good range, which means a good quick lateral movement. The shortstop must be quick to react to sharply hit balls, getting into a fielding position for a backhand in a flash. Shortstops should have strong throwing arms to make long throws in the hole, or to get runners on slow rollers.

They must be agile enough to run down humpback liners or pop ups in shallow left field. The shortstop must be able to make numerous plays from a wide range of spots in the field. Their responsibilities include taking throws on steal attempts, covering or holding runners at second base. They must back up second and third base on steal attempts. The shortstop makes take defense signs from the bench. They often get the defense set for the next play. Many times, shortstops aren't the biggest or strongest players on the field. They are usually one of the best athletes on the team however.

Shortstops must be willing to keep working on their skills, even during the off-season if they want to continue to play the position. The shortstop must be able to learn to judge the field conditions and adjust accordingly. During warm ups before the game, they see how the field is affecting grounders. If it is a fast track, they will play back some. Grass infields or slower infields will allow them to play in somewhat.

Mindset is so important at short, because there may be more than one play you could choose to make on any hit ball. Knowing whether to go for a play at the plate with less than two outs must be determined, and thought about before they receive the ball. If your team is up by five runs, throw to first base. When your team is down by three runs it becomes an option for the out at the plate.

Strong armed shortstops can hold a runner. Alert shortstops look back an average runner at second or third base to save a run. "Looking back" the runner is just a brief glance at the runner to freeze them and stop their momentum to whatever base they are trying to advance to. Simply not looking back a runner will let an average base runner move up a base they should not have.

Taking charge of pop ups, and directing other fielders on who should catch them on the left side of the infield is another duty of the shortstop. With a runner at second base, the shortstop should use the "daylight play"to keep the runner close.

When the shortstop uses the daylight play, they start out the play five or 6 ft. behind second base, 4 ft. down the baseline towards third. As the runner begins their leadoff, the shortstop quickly comes up right behind the base runner, looking at length of their leadoff.

If the shortstop determines lead is too large, they quickly cut towards second base, holding out their glove arm as a signal for the pitcher to make a pickoff attempt. If the shortstop determines the lead is safe, they will quickly shuffle to the right back towards their position.

When the pitcher, who is in the set position, sees daylight between the runner and the shortstop, they start their delivery towards home plate. This daylight play gets rid of most of the running back and forth by the shortstop and second baseman.

Keeping the runner close to second is very important for obvious reasons. The daylight play also helps keep middle infielders in position more often to field baseballs. It reduces the pitcher inducing a ground ball, only to see it go through the infield for a hit because the infielders were late getting back to their positions.

These are just a few of the scenarios faced by shortstops. I will cover more in upcoming articles. Please encourage your youth baseball players to stay upbeat and positive even after mistakes. You can lead the way by staying that way yourself. Thanks, Coach Chip

Chip Lemin has been a promoter of youth baseball since they started using aluminum bats. That's a long time. I have witnessed many good people get into coaching without solid coaching skills and it is not fun for them or the kids.Today's newer coaches are also being shortchanged on sportsmanship, like there is none. Visit my site to sign up for a insightful, informational, free coaching e-course at http://www.baseballecourse.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chip_Lemin



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How to Hit a Baseball - Is the Stride Necessary?

By Joe Brockhoff

An instructor during my pro days who was teaching me how to hit a baseball told me that if the pitch is straight down the middle, step forward. If the pitch is outside, step toward the outside, and if the pitch is inside, step inside. The problem is that against good velocity, there is absolutely no way for a hitter to wait until after he determines the direction of the pitch before he takes his stride. He will always be late getting to the pitch and will have extreme difficulty with his timing.

Another method made famous by Kirby Puckett, is to raise the front foot in an exaggerated hop-step stride. Many hitters who try this method struggle because they cannot get the front foot down in time to start the stroke.

Super 8 Hitting System techniques are simple, easy and repeatable.

Here is a very important principle: THE STRIDE DOESN'T HIT THE BALL. It merely gets us in position to hit the ball. This means the hands are still back at the completion of the stride. The stride overcomes inertia and supports the hitter against the fastball.

If the pitch is a fast ball, the action would be "stride-stroke". If the pitch is slower, there would be a momentary pause. Example: "stride-(pause) stroke".

The stride is initiated by the large muscle in the upper leg (hip thigh area), which keeps it consistent.

Here are the rules:
1. The stride travels only 6 inches, directly forward, in the same place every time.
2. It occurs at the time of pitcher release.
3. It distributes approximately 30-40% of the weight to the front side, and lands on the ball of the foot, which remains closed, open no more than 45°, which usually happens during the pivot. Some players stride in a "toe tap", with no significant weight on the front foot. If a player places only 10% of his weight down on his stride, how will he get 90% more of his weight off his back side when he rotates to the pitch? He can't.
4. It happens quickly, getting the batter into position to hit.
Finally, never underestimate the importance of a good stride. It is part of the hitter's timing. When he's striding, he's deciding.

The hitter must work on his stride in his baseball hitting drills, using either live or pitching machine practice, so that he can drill "stride and take", just concentrating on technique.

These techniques are fully explained in our baseball hitting tips web site for the "Super 8 Hitting System", completely demonstrated in eight baseball tips which include many tips on how to hit a baseball.

Former Tulane Hall of Fame Baseball Coach, Joe Brockhoff, fully explains his baseball hitting drills with the Super 8 Hitting System, completely demonstrated with videos and hitting drills to help you hit with more power and raise your batting average. http://www.LearnBaseballHitting.com/lcp.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Brockhoff
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Common Youth Baseball Questions

By Brian Schofield

Many kids develop a passion for the game of baseball at a very young age. When it happens it is a fun thing to witness. With their passion comes, excitement, competitiveness and curiosity. Young players are eager to succeed and anxiously try to absorb as much knowledge as they can about the game. This article will address some of the most common questions kids ask themselves soon after they pick up the game of baseball.

I just bought a new glove and I don't know what to do with it. My dad told me that I should oil it. My uncle told me to sleep on it. My coach told me to drive a car over it. What should I do?

I was at a Chicago Cub spring training one year and I asked one of the players about breaking in a new glove. He mentioned a few pointers that I'll share with you. He mentioned that most players have several gloves. Infielders will often have more than one that they use consistently. He said that all the old tips worked but the key was not about breaking it in immediately. It was more about how you treated the glove over a period time. Never get your glove wet. It changes the leather for the worse. Outfielders should have bigger gloves while infielders should have smaller gloves. I have played both infield and outfield and it was very handy to have two gloves. Infielders are all about the feel of the ball and getting it out of the glove quickly. If they have a deep web, it can interfere with the process. I am a fan of soft leather because it allows you to really feel the ball and the glove is light and flexible as well. Gloves can take years to mold to how you want them but they need to be treated correctly and treated to fit you and your situation. Oiling your glove is a great idea because it softens the leather and speeds up the process of it forming to your hand and style of play. If you'd like to put it under your mattress and sleep on it you certainly can but it's not a must. This will just make your glove more flexible. The more you play catch the more the glove will take shape and as that happens you'll soon get a feeling for how soft you want the leather to be and how flexible you want it.

People make fun of me and tell me I throw the ball like a girl. I don't even know what that means but I want to quit doing it. What am I doing wrong?

This is when you are doing what is called "short-arming" on each of your throws. When a player short-arms, he/she tends to release the ball too late. The elbow will be directly in front of the ball and all velocity is lost because you are not really using your shoulder anymore. To learn to throw correctly, first work on bringing the ball all the way back in an exaggerated fashion and try to release the ball earlier. It won't feel normal at first, but it will eventually start to feel natural. Try to release the ball behind your ear. The good news is that it can be corrected with proper practice. Make sure you are pointing with your front foot wherever you are throwing as "short-armers" tend to stand with their feet not moving when they throw.

I throw the ball all over the place. No matter where it seems like I'm aiming, I can never hit my target. What am I be doing wrong?

This is a very common problem for younger players. Here are some pointers I've used and coached over the years. First, always step toward your target. Players that throw incorrectly tend to throw across their body because they are not lined up correctly. Your front foot should point where you want the ball to go. Second, I coach to hold the ball across the seams when you throw it. If you throw the ball with the seams it will tend to cut or slide on you. This is how pitchers throw cut fastballs, so you probably should not do it when throwing to a base. Third, throw the ball in a consistent motion. If you are a good shooter in basketball, it is because of solid fundamentals that are practiced consistently. If you want to learn to throw a baseball correctly, you need to practice doing the same thing every time.

Brian Schofield is sr. writer for the baseball training site BigLeagueSkills.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Schofield

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Shop CoachesBest.com for your baseball coaching needs including baseball training aids, training videos, and other coaching supplies. Check out the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting machine by SKLZ at HurricaneTrainer.com.

See the “Original” Rotational Hitting Machine at BatAction.com. Are you looking for the perfect trainer to teach proper timing and swing mechanics? You can stop looking and go to HandsBackHitter.com.

Players develop incredible bat speed and confidence when they regularly use the Quick Swing Trainer. See it at QuickSwingTrainer.com. See the world’s most advanced batting tee at AdvancedSkillsTee.com.

Are you looking for a great batting cage at discount prices? Are you considering building your own backyard batting cage and training center? If so, you should visit BattingCagesDirect.com now!
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Two Things That Batting Cage Buyers Must Rememeber That are Not True

Two Batting Cage Myths that are simply not true are (1) A Cage must be long for it to be usable for all ages and (2) A batter must see 75 miles per hour pitches to receive maximum benefit from cage work. Coach Dixon discusses how many buyers are mistaken or misled in buying or building a new baseball batting cage. Two Batting Cage Myths that are simply not true:

1. Batting Cage Myth Number One - A Cage must be long for it to be usable for all ages.

This is simply not true. Players of all ages, even the high school and collegiate levels can benefit from batting practice in cages that are 35 to 50 feet in length. A cage does not have to be 70 feet long for it to beneficial to advanced players. The reason for this is that long-toss, front-toss and various other batting practice drills can be performed at distances under the regular pitching distances. When batters take swings at pitches thrown at 35 feet, the batter is seeing and reacting to pitches that simulate higher speeds at the normal pitching distance. The player must perform the swing with the proper trigger, separate, and load actions. All of these elements of the swing must be done at the same speed, rhythm, and timing as under normal game hitting.

2. Batting Cage Myth Number Two - A batter must see 75 miles per hour pitches to receive maximum benefit.

Most hitters at all levels of play including high school, college, and pros would rather see and hit live arm pitches at 45 miles per hour at 30 feet than pitches thrown by a machine at 75 miles per hour. Live-arm batting practice is batting practice thrown by a person not a machine. We must remember that advanced batters benefit most from seeing pitches thrown by a person. The batter must pick-up the pitcher arm-slot, the pitcher release point and time the speed of the pitch thrown. When a person is throwing batting practice the speed and location of every pitch can be changed. It is also a fact that many people are not adept at throwing strikes at longer distances. However, most people can throw an accurate pitch for a strike from 30and 40 feet distances. The batter gets more work in because more pitches are hittable. Not as much time and effort is wasted by with bad pitches out of the strike zone. The shorter distance makes the workout more efficient.

What does this all mean to you as a buyer?

You do not have to buy a 70 feet long cage with an expensive pitching machine to get incredible benefits from owning a batting cage. The 70 foot long batting cage is great for team or institutions because it can be divided into two 35 feet mini batting cages that allow two batters to work at a time. So there is a benefit to owning a longer cage if you are buying it for a school or team use. But, for the average home user, a 45 to 55 feet cage is suitable for all drills, batting practice, and applications that you will need for your player to be successful through the high school level. In my opinion, many people become discouraged from buying a cage because they feel they must buy a 70 feet cage with a $2000 pitching machine. They feel they must spend $3000 to $5000. This is not true. You can get all the practice they need by buying a net and frame with an investment under $800. If at some time later you decide to purchase a machine, you can always do so. I think it is important to realize that the system you buy will be used for a variety of batting drills. The function of the net is safety, ball containment, and practice efficiency. The batting net is no better than the parent or coach that dedicates time for its use. If you use it, you will experience incredible results. It will be a wise investment. Kids can not use the cage without parental or adult supervision and participation.

www.BattingCagesDirect.com

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Baseball Drills - Do It!

www.HurricaneMachine.com

By Nate Barnett

Have you ever gone to the dentist (I certainly hope so) and sat in the chair and had the question, "So, have you been flossing?" If you're like me and don't want to admit you haven't been flossing as much as you should, your answer is probably much like mine. "Ya, doing pretty well with that." All the while avoiding eye contact. The funny part of the deal is that the hygienist is flossing the swollen and red gums as the question is asked! How dumb can I get?

This example, as disconnected from baseball drills as anything, does serve as a valuable illustration in relating to the importance placed on hard work in practice. The message is clear. If you skimp on the drills, your game will end up rotten over time.

So why am I writing an article on a topic that seems so obvious? Because while it's obvious on the observation level, there is an unbelievable amount of athletes who have major mechanical problems with quite a few parts of their game. There are only a few reasons for this:

1. The athlete hasn't developed yet and coordination/body control is difficult to keep consistent. Most of the time this "problem" will improve as time goes on.

2. The athlete has received poor coaching and poor advice regarding what baseball drills will improve his game. However, with the advent of the internet age and the information it provides, this is becoming less and less of an good excuse.

3. The athlete is lazy and cannot see the need for baseball drills and does not put in the work necessary.

While the third may seem harsh, I find that this is generally the most common of the three reasons for ignoring baseball drills. I have also found that the attitude of achievement and hard work many times has to be cultivated within an athlete. Sure, there are those players who just have an ability to stay disciplined and focused, but it's only the minority in number who possess this ability.

So how do we as coaches and parents begin to cultivate this desire to work hard within athletes. I wish there was a clear cut and easy answer, however, there is not. There are many ways to achieve this, let me share some of my personal favorites.

A. In the home or on the field (or both), the attitude of achievement and personal development must be present. If players understand that it is expected to always be in a state of practice and development, they will be more likely to work hard themselves and enjoy the process.

B. Coaches must emphasize the importance of baseball drills. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to make sure practices run smoothly and quickly, without a lot of down time or wasted time. There are few things more irritating to players than having a practice or a coach that is disorganized and without direction at practice.

C. Leadership among the players themselves will play a large role in the importance a team places on baseball drills and overall effort. If a handful of players set the example of discipline and going the extra mile, the rest of the team will usually follow right along.

Nate Barnett is owner of BMI Baseball designed to improve the mental game of baseball in athletes. Learn how to help your game by improving your baseball psychology

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett

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If You Think Little League Baseball Does Not Teach Important Survival Skills, Think Again

www.BatAction.com

By Ed Bagley

Sometimes as parents we forget how simple and subtle the lessons in life can be.

I was reminded of this yesterday afternoon when I heard the cheering of youngsters playing a Little League baseball game in the nearby city park. It is amazing when the noise of kids at play can carry the sound a half-block away and into the open window of your living room.

Little League baseball games can get noisy. Kids are excited when the bases are loaded and their next hitter sends a screaming line drive into the outfield.

They know that the outfielder will likely boot the ball, and as it gets by him on its merry way to the fence, all three players on base will score and the hitter will probably come home safe with an inside-the-park home run and 4 ribbies (runs batted in) to his credit.

Ah, baseball, spring is in the air and summer is approaching.

The pure fun of sport is so normal and so natural to our human experience.

I read a study once that interviewed hardened criminals spending life in prison for capital crimes, such as murder. A psychologist asked inmates what they missed most now that they were spending the rest of their lives behind bars without possibility of parole.

The answer stunned me, and it should stun you too. What they missed most was not their girlfriend, or sex, or drinking, or drugging, or gambling; it was the sound of kids playing. Perhaps the one, real, positive memory they have of their life was when they were a child playing.

These are two compelling extremes: children at play without a care in the world, and incarcerated criminals who are burdened with the reality that they will never again be free to play.

With all of the violence we are now seeing with youngsters who solve their supposed "problems" by shooting their perceived "enemies" (many times friends and family), I am reminded that some of our children today seem less able to cope with adversity, and even less so with patience.

How is it that they clearly lack coping skills and patience, two necessary traits for survival as an adult?

It will take someone a lot smarter than me to give you the right answer to this question.

I will leave that answer to what some educated professionals who study psychology think.

In the meantime, I choose not to tell you what I think, but to share with you what I know.

Here is one thing about Little League baseball that is being taught by some parents and some leaders in some organizations that is really not worth teaching, and that is this:

Certain organizations have adopted the misguided practice of rewarding every kid on each team regardless of their effort or performance. In other words, a team can lose every game all year and each kid gets a trophy for participating, a team picture and his or her own baseball card with their mug on it.

Apparently some parents do not want to hurt their child's feelings even though the child makes little effort, is clearly incompetent at improving on any skills of the game, does not understand the game, and really could care less.

I doubt the parents in the example given have a clue about the lessons they are teaching their children by insisting on this foolish practice of making their child feel like he or she has accomplished something.

First, they are encouraging mediocrity by rewarding nothingness. Practice this stupidity a few more generations and we will have our children thinking they can show up to work as an adult, do nothing and get paid for their lack of skills, effort and production.

Second, they are rewarding children for having no concept of goal-setting and achieving goals. The parents are not encouraging any concept of self-improvement and providing no incentive to do so.

Third, they are teaching no learning skills in how to cope with failure, and not providing a shred of understanding about the function of failing. Losers would be astonished to learn that successful people have failed more than losers ever thought of failing.

One of the big differences between losers and winners in the game of life is that when winners fail, they get right back up, dust themselves off, learn from the experience, and try again.

Fourth, they devalue the kids who do work hard, fail and then succeed by rewarding a bunch of kids who haul off and do nothing, learn nothing, and have no sense of real accomplishment.

I remember going door-to-door as a 9-year-old kid, looking for a sponsor for a baseball team I was putting together. I instinctively knew kids would want to be on my team if I could get them a free baseball hat and shirt; we would then look like a real team. I had played on a team that had nothing; we could not afford uniforms, we were lucky to have a glove or borrow a glove.

I found that sponsor, a business called Jewell Realty in Flint, Michigan. I found a sponsor because I was looking for a sponsor. The people that owned that business were impressed that a 9-year-old kid would have the guts to walk all over town and ask businesses to sponsor his rag-tag team. I put up with the nos and getting kicked out of places because I wanted it that bad.

The year was 1953 and we were terrible; we lost more games than we won. We were put upon, put down, slapped around and got the crap kicked out of us, but I never quit, and I made sure my teammates didn't quit either. When someone quit trying, I kicked him off the team and found someone else.

Two years later we won the league championship, and when we did, I was surrounded by winners who had become my friends. I did not need my parents to do this for me, I did not need some meddling adult or juvenile counselor to do this for me, I needed to do this for myself.

When I got the guys together and we took that trophy down to Jewell Realty, we all shared in the excitement of being winners. Later that summer I would walk by Jewell Realty, see that trophy in the window, and know who I was and what I had become: a winner. Jewell Realty did not win that trophy, I won that trophy, and I knew what it would take to win another.

Our parents never saw us play, they were too busy working.

If someone had come around after that first season and given each of us a trophy for losing, we would not have accepted it. Think about it: the message they would have been sending us was we think you are so bad that you could never win a title, so in order to sooth your precious little feelings, here is a trophy for being a loser.

I think I would have spit in their face. I was that competitive. I might have been a 9 year old but I did not need some meddling parent setting goals for me that I thought were so low I would trip on them walking across the baseball diamond.

If you think a 9-year-old child cannot have some dignity, you are dead wrong, and have probably been wrong about a lot of things in your life.

Once we won that championship and experienced our moment of victory, you could have taken that trophy away and it would not have mattered. I knew what I had sacrificed to win that trophy, and after all of the blood, sweat and tears, nothing any stupid parent or adult could do would have made me feel less about myself. I knew I was a winner, and I wasn't going to settle for anything less.

Parents, if you do not understand one thing in raising your children, understand this: if your child goes through his or her entire schooling period (kindergarten through high school graduation) and never experiences real success at anything at least one day is his or her life, your child will be handicapped for life. Nothing could be more arcane, stupid and bovine.

Don't you dare try to prevent your child from failing. Let them try and when they fail, pick them up, dust them off, and encourage them to try again. It is in failing that we learn to succeed.

If you as a parent cannot be a winner in your own pathetic life, if all you have to offer is whining and complaining about this and that, and bemoaning how your child is treated, then get the hell out of the way and let your child fail to ultimately win on his own.

Take a snapshot of two pictures.

In one a child is given a trophy, a team photo and a baseball card with his picture on it featuring a loser who accomplished nothing. In the other snapshot, a child is given only a trophy, or the team is given one trophy to admire, because they have worked their butts off, improved their skills, played their hearts out, taken risks and won a league title. Which is your child?

Any child who has worked to get to the top of the mountain, and experiences the sheer joy of competing and winning, is someone who will go much farther in life.

I can tell you from experience in hiring that there is an incredible correlation between having athletic success at the high school or college level and success later in life. The reason is simple: winners win and losers don't.

Do not misunderstand what I am sharing here. It is not that you cannot win bigger and better in life unless you are a successful athlete in your youth, it is that you need to have a sense of accomplishment and recognition doing something that takes hard work, dedication, effort and goals. It could be singing, it could be acting, it could be playing a musical instrument; suffice to say any activity that allows you to fail, learn, improve and succeed over a period of time.

It certainly helps to have a strong father in the house to help teach his children what it is to be a winner, to learn coping skills, patience, hard work, dedication, effort, improvement and success. A strong single mother can do the same.

Do not play patty-cake with your children when they are 9 years old, do not knowingly set them up in life to fail, let them struggle and succeed. If you do not do this someday they will be adult and not know how to act when they are put down, put upon, made fun of and beaten up emotionally. They will figure it out if you do not protect them and their feelings so much they become helpless and inept.

They will learn to cope and be stronger for the experience. When they reach adulthood they will be able to dismiss people around them who have mediocre minds and are mental midgets. They will be polite as they treat these losers as irrelevant (which they are) and be unaffected by their negative presence.

Then they will move on quickly to be with the winners. It is the losers who are left standing alone and wondering why.

Do not play to participate, play to win. It is not winning that is the be all to end all, it is that in the process of winning we learn important skills that make us much more effective in playing and winning in the game of life. After all, life is not a resting place; life is a testing place, it is now and will continue to be as long as you live.

A wise man said it and it bears repeating here: When everyone is somebody then no one's anybody.

Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley

Ed Bagley's Blog Publishes Original Articles with Analysis and Commentary on 5 Subjects: Sports, Movie Reviews, Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, and Internet Marketing. My intention is to inform, educate, delight and motivate you the reader.

Read my articles on "Facts About the Second Most Controversial Topic in America - The First Is Abortion", "So Why Should I Subsidize Any Banks Because of Their Greed and Incompetence?" and "Self-Improvement - Here Are My Personal Favorite Quotes That I Live By, Learn By and Grow By".

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http://www.edbagleyblog.comhttp://www.edbagleyblog.com/LessonsinLife.html

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