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Tips for Improving Baseball Swing in Youths By Jake Wyatt
Probably the most practiced move in youth baseball training is the baseball swing. All players want to be good hitters. Ultimately, you need to be good in only a few outfield positions, but everyone needs to be able to hit the ball regularly.
Most baseball hitting drills focus on hitting off the tee or having the coach throw pitches while players take turns in the batter's box. Regular trips to the batting cages should be part of every team's practice schedule.
Youth baseball coaches can help improve their players' baseball swing by doing the following:
1. Practice with wood bats. There is significant controversy over the use of metal bats in Little League and high school baseball; currently they are allowed. They are NOT allowed in major league baseball for a reason - they make it too easy. Practicing with wood bats will better prepare your players to hit the baseball using metal bats during games.
2. Watch the mechanics. There are some basic mechanics that will help all players improve their baseball swing.
The player should have their weight forward, not backwards. They should be heavy on their toes, not their heels. Their shoulders should be relaxed. They should be swinging slightly downward. Their stance should be just slightly wider than their shoulders. Their head should not move through the swing.
3. Help them with their mental thoughts. Tell them they need to focus on hitting the ball, not striking out. Their baseball swing will improve if they are focused on connecting, not missing, the baseball.
By helping players improve their baseball swing, they will become more confident in the batter's box and more likely to hit the ball.
In order to be the best possible baseball player, training should happen year-round and be a joint effort between the coach, the player and the parents. Get more free tips to improve baseball performance, reviews of e-products related to baseball, and links to training resources at http://youth-baseball-training.com.
Developing Hitters at an Early Age and I Mean Early By Jack Perconte
Hitting a ball may be difficult to do, but the thrill of hitting the ball solidly is a special moment for ballplayers, especially when children first begin to play baseball or softball. The sound of the crack of the bat, I mean the ping of the medal or the thud of the whiffle bat is an exhilarating moment for a young hitter. Whatever the sound, hitting a ball and then running the bases creates great pleasure for the little guy/girl. It is at this young age (3 - 7 years old), where a love for the game and the initial development of players' skill begins. It is never too early to begin developing hand-eye coordination in a young player. The following are ways to develop a baseball or softball hitter at a young age:
Ages 3 - 6
1. Keeping everyone and surroundings safe is a necessary priority. A whiffle ball and whiffle ball bat should be used at the very young ages. It is very common for youngsters to "let the bat fly" after contact and this can prove dangerous when using a real bat. The big barrel whiffle bat is great for producing contact but be sure the weight of the big barrel does not overwhelm the little one. 2. Using more than one ball when there is not a catcher is good so the player doesn't get bored or tired chasing and picking up missed balls. 3. A batting tee to place the ball on is good for beginners as long as the parent shows the young player where to place the tee (out front of hitter in direction of pitcher). 4. Pitching a ball to the hitter is also good (even at this young age) as long as it is done correctly.
A. Underhand from a close range is best.
B. If throwing overhand, parent should be on their knee.
C. Initially trying to hit the player's bat by watching the arc of their swing as often as possible is good when they are just beginning. This placement of the ball will give them the initial thrill of contact and confidence that they can do it.
D. Show excitement when they make contact and set up a short distance base for them to run to after contact, when room. Show them how to set the bat down after contact and before running.
E. Only play as long as the player is interested.
Ages 7 & 8
Baseball players can fall behind in skill development very quickly if they are not challenged some at these ages. With this in mind, here are some tips to keep in mind: 1. It is very important to avoid looping the ball into the hitter. Adults should throw from one or two knees to mimic a player of the same age pitching and to avoid putting an arc on the ball. Incorrect fundamentals are developed early in hitters when pitches are thrown with arcs on them. If a hitter cannot make contact because of the pitch speed (to avoid arc), then the pitcher should throw underhand from a close range to give the ball a level path to the hitter. 2. Hitters should move from the whiffle ball to a rag ball and a light aluminum bat at these ages. 3. Provide basic instruction and demonstration but keep it simple. 4. Never allow total frustration, if any, to develop with the young hitter. Try to hit their bat if possible with some pitches so the hitter can get a good feel for hitting and develop some confidence. 5. When contact comes more often, challenge the hitter slightly more with speed changes. 6. Adults should seek out a few basic hitting drills to begin the process of teaching the correct hitting fundamentals. 7. Attending an instructional program or two at this age may be advantageous for kids of parents who do not know baseball very well and for kids who really are excited about the game. 8. A positive, optimistic demeanor in actions and words are necessary for adults when working with young hitters.
Players should never get away from using a batting tee for swing development, even at the higher levels of baseball. Finally, I have seen many hitters develop a fear of being hit by the ball at these ages so using a safer ball is advised. In this manner, young players can learn good fundamentals and hand-eye coordination without fear, as well as the development of confidence.
"Playing major league baseball - cool; helping kids - priceless." Jack Perconte helps kids and their parents get through the complicated world of youth sports. He shares his playing, coaching and parenting experiences in his books, The Making of a Hitter and Raising an Athlete: How to Instill Confidence, Build Skills and Inspire a Love of Sport. Learn more at http://www.jackperconte.com
The Basics of Baseball : Gloves Used in Baseball Posted on YouTube by expertvillage
Learn about the different types of gloves used in baseball, including catcher's mitts, first baseman's mitts, and gloves for infielders with expert baseball tips from a former baseball player in this free sports instruction video clip.
Expert: Richard Davis Bio: Richard Davis has played baseball at various levels for more than fifteen years. He has played at the Amateur Athletics Union and the National Collegiate Athletic Association levels. Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC
PlaySportsTVhttp://www.playsportstv.com/trainingp... presents former major leaguer and current Princeton Univ. head coach Scott Bradley with a great youth baseball fielding and throwing drill. For over 80 more baseball drills and tips, developed specifically for 5- to 12-year-old players, visit PlaySportsTV.com.
Tee-BallBaseball Tips - Unruly Parents - Here is a Solution by Guest Author Tom Read
You Know This Parent
My wife was a self described bad sport. She had been thrown out of games, argued with the other teams' parents, yelled at the umpires, and embarrassed my son and I. I would talk with her before and after games, reminding her to not get out of control, but it did not help. Someone from the other team would say something, or the umpire would make a questionable call, and she would start in. What was I going to do?
It Can Start At the Beginning
When I was coaching tee ball, I once had to break up a verbal fight between my first base coach and the other team's coach. Another time, I noticed that a dad, who had been to every practice and game, started missing the games. I asked him at a practice if his work was keeping him from the games. He told me no, Johnny was feeling too much pressure with him at the game. This is still tee ball. I guess it was good that the dad at least realized where the pressure was coming from. Most of the time parents do not realize that the things they say can put undue pressure on their kids.
Travel Teams Are the Worst
It seems travel teams have the most vocal parents, good and bad. I have always assumed the reasons for this are either one, they have spent a lot of time and money involved with this team and are expecting a big return, or two, they are on the road and friends and family are not around. But, on the other hand, I've seen travels teams stay home to play and behave just as badly. And I have seen bad behavior at recreational games. So it can happen anywhere.
Solution - Put My Wife in Time Out
Back to my wife; a few hours after the game would be over she would feel bad about her behavior. I thought about asking her to stay away from the games, but she really did enjoy watching our son play. Finally it came to me. I needed to remove her from the home plate area, get her away from the other teams' parents and away from our son when he was batting. We moved down the outfield line; pass the dugouts and about half way towards the outfield fence. Out there we didn't hear the other team, the home plate umpire couldn't hear us, and the game became real enjoyable. Our view wasn't as good, but that was a small trade off. We were having fun again.
It Is Easy to Involve Others
Other parents were asking us why we were sitting so far down the line. My wife did not hesitate to answer that she was in "time out". Like a child, she couldn't be trusted to behave properly when located near a potential bad situation. Soon, others that had the same problem were joining us. A few games into this idea, and half the parents were down the line with us. It became an enjoyable social event. Maybe it even helped a few marriages.
Start Your Own Cheap Seats Section
There are certain situations where adults will act like little children. If you have these types on your team, ask them to take a stroll down the line with you. Everyone, especially their sons, will thank you.
Preaching to the Choir
I know most of the people reading this are not the problem. Parents with bad behavior usually do not seek out advise. But in the right way you can make a difference. To see other baseball tips and stories I have written please visit my website at http://baseballknowledge.info
Lightning Bolt Pitching Machine - Small Ball Pitching Machine - www.LightningBoltPitchingMachine.com Posted on YouTube by Coach2winVideos
The Lightning Bolt Pitching Machine has received mixed reviews since its introduction. We have tested and tryed this pitching machine and have found it to have a lot of positive points and benefits. The unit shown operates on C batteries. A new model will be availabe soon that operates on A/C. The upside is that the unit throws a small lightweight foam ball accurately and at good speeds to work hitters of all ages. Our batter moved closer to the machine to simulate higher pitching speeds. The hitter shown in the video is a college player. He loved the machine and has taken one back to college with him for personal training and workouts for fun. The unit is an inexpensive method of helping hitters develop great hand-eye cordination, bat speed, and pitch location recognition. You might want to use rechargable C batteries if you purchase the unit that runs on batteries. Availabe at http://www.baseball2u.com/sklibomipim...http://www.LightningBoltPitchingMachi... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to Our Sponsor: Nedco Sports - BatAction Hitting Machines www.BatAction.com
Baseball Tips for Rookie Coaches - So You're The New Baseball Coach? by Guest Author John Peter
So you're the new coach. Ok, now what?
Coaching a team sure seemed like a good idea, maybe even easy...until you started thinking and getting into it deeper. All those players, parents, the draft, practices...and those game decisions...ugh. Maybe coaching 3rd base might not be so easy... What were you thinking?
SOLUTIONS:
Rule #1 - Relax, It will work out!
You'll probably even turn out to be good at it. How do I know? Why would I think this?
Well, first you are searching for information. Websites like ours with articles like this are sure signs you are at the very least trying, instead of sitting on your hands, ducking your head and relying on your Little League experiences from long ago. And because of...
Rule #2 - You will be organized...
And yes, you will have the time to do it. As a matter of fact, there is an article that I strongly urge you to read. It is about how to organize your team and yourself and is titled, "Plan To Succeed."
Please finish this article before you jump there (I'll include the link at the end of this article).
Rule #3 - You will have fun!
Look, the more fun you have, the more fun your kids will have...and yes, the opposite is true.
Personally, I think that some of the best things about youth baseball are the adults! I also think they are some of the worst things about youth baseball. I mean this because as we get older...we tend to forget how to have fun and play games. Life just does that to us. Here we are trying to solve problems on a baseball field like we do at work...UGH! We get tight, our kids play tight. We say ugly things in the dugout...well, you get the picture... Let's move on (This lesson either hits the mark or it doesn't).
One final thought (from someone who is privileged to be in baseball for 350 days each year)... IT'S JUST BASEBALL! BASEBALL IS JUST A GAME! (It just happens to be the best game ever!)
Rule #4 - You are here for every player!
If you are in this game for any reason other than those kids... every one of them... GET OUT NOW! (This was paraphrased and stolen from a speech given by a friend, Gordie Gillespie, the winningest coach in college baseball history! He is absolutely correct!)
You will get more joy with that attitude than you can imagine!
Every player who doesn't share your last name is not here for the entertainment and support of you and your son! (You have probably seen it happen). Coaching your own child is a trick indeed. I hope you will truly enjoy it (though it can test your mettle). But, I can assure you that embracing an entire team of kids can really give you an idea of how good a coach and person you might be or can be! Personally, I can tell you that the early influences of my youth coaches are indelibly stamped on me...That's how important you are.
Rule #5 - Winning is important...It is just not everything.
I determined something many years ago. Take this for what it's worth...
Few 10 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning! Half of the 11 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning! Almost all 12 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning!
Every? All? No. I guess I wouldn't include all players on some hot team of 9 year olds who travel the country vying for the many "World Series" out there (how many worlds are there anyway). Those teams and families have adopted a lifestyle. It's a language spoken at the dinner table. They are probably more the exception than the rule anyway.
You simply need to have a strong grasp of the competitive nature of your league and your team.
Rule #6 - You will be the boredom police.
Looking for a great way to turn a perfectly good baseball player into a soccer player? (God forbid)... BORE HIM!
A young boy begins his day by opening his eyes with a first thought of..."HEY, WHAT'S FUN TODAY!" And we dare to bore them? Remember my comment on how we tend to want to solve problems in baseball as we do in the office? They are kids. It's a game...and games are fun... It's fun OR THEY FIND A GAME THAT IS MORE FUN!
Rule #7 - Ask for help from other parents. Women are right...Men do not ask for directions. We need to be rock steady and have all the answers...yada, yada!
Personally, I have never had a coach come up to me after a game and ask me anything on how or why I played a situation the way I did! I MEAN NEVER!
WHY? Because this is baseball...and we are guys. We played Little League (20 TO 30 YEARS AGO). We watch Pro Baseball on TV...UGH. What a bad idea to try and teach a group of kids to play the same way the greatest players in the game do. So, we don't ask...and that cheats our kids.
SOLUTIONS:
Aside from reaching for information such as reading articles such as this and finding videos, books, etc (did you check out our video and book library?)... Why not incorporate and embrace some of the parents. Have a parents-only meeting for 10 minutes after one of your very first practices. Let them know who you are and how you envision the season (in general).
A team mom is worth her weight in the dozen roses you had better buy her at the end of the season.
Make note of the dad(s), hopefully plural, who hang around the fence during practices. Many really want you to ask for their help. They don't want to horn in so it's up to you to ask because they may not!
Some parents are better served as your scorebook keeper instead of your BP (batting practice) pitcher. Another may be most comfortable helping you set up the dugout and raking and lining the field before games.
Yet others really want to be on the field hitting fungoes or infield.
The bottom line is that I believe that adults play better when they work together...and as a byproduct, you will all be richer for actually developing relationships with your new-found friends.
WARNING: There is one rule I highly recommend... You are the coach, they are the team's parents. One guy has the final say so. You, the coach! This is a no lobbying area, disputes are handled away from the kids and the action and decisions of management (you) are final. There are no politics, just honest decisions made by you...the coach!
Note: Baseball is the greatest game in the world to second-guess!
One Last Important Suggestion Regarding Communication:
Get all of your parent's email addresses and use them for two things:
Communicate - Communicate - Communicate. Not necessarily lengthy, just frequent.
Subscribe all your player's parents (and maybe players, if they are a bit older) to our Baseball Tips Newsletter. It is a quick read 2 times each month. We do not rent or sell their names and just want to supply our 14,680 (at last count) baseball families with some added knowledge and fun. Of course, they can delete us easily if they so choose. (You can add them individually. The sign-up box is just below our logo on the http://www.baseballtips.com home page).
Rule #8 -Good Teams Practice Well!
Every league is different. Some restrict practice times. Others have limited fields. Some coaches have limited time as well. HAVE A PLAN! Plan tomorrow's practice today. Plan next week, this week. Planning is the operative word. I don't think that any drill should take longer than 20 minutes! (OK, excluding BP - more on that later).
TIME ANYTHING & EVERYTHING!
If you will keep a watch, you can get their blood flowing even more. More as in, "OK guys, 10 more minutes, let's do it right. Pick up the pace...Ok, 5 more minutes...Keep it going"...you get the idea. And it becomes more fun! The blood is pumping, the kids are focusing. Just be sure to tailor it to your player's age and skill level.
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW!
Teach something new each practice. As importantly, review and drill a particular skill taught in a previous practice using one of your 20 minute segments.
Quality repetitions are vital and incredibly important! Too many coaches teach a skill and then next season, they teach it again; once a year...need it or not! If you think about how counter-productive this is, you will never do it...or do it again.
ARMS - ARMS - ARMS!
There are more throwing errors than fielding errors! It may not sound correct and it is not my opinion...It is a fact! Teach proper throwing and work on arms every practice.
Have them constantly throwing to or at a target. (The exception will be when teaching one of your pitchers a new pitch.) You begin by throwing to a tarp, net or fence. The reasoning is that accuracy will not be great until a skill like a new pitch is learned. Accuracy will follow proper mechanics and you can avoid unnecessary shakes in confidence.
THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF PRACTICE IS JUST FUN! Preferably doing something that requires players to use oxygen. Leave them with their tongues hanging out. I learned this many years after I began coaching.
Many players think baseball is boring...and that is why they leave the sport too soon. They are kids...and kids want to run, play games, have contests, run races, hit balls, etc. You know...fun stuff.
Well, drills can get boring if that's all there is to a practice. But drills are really important, vital lifelines to improvement and success of both player and team...or not!
But let's not forget the fun aspect and the prime reason most kids play. (It is play ball, not work ball, right?)
Get creative! Here are some of my ideas. (Do not limit yourself to these, got it?)
Relay Races - ½ of team at home plate and ½ at 2nd base with hats on backwards. 1 simple relay race. Then 1 race backwards, then 1 final race for all the marbles, running sideways (or heel to heel side-kicks like basketball teams do....you may have some better variations).
Ball In The Trash Can - Find a trash barrel from the dugout or near the practice field and place it on home plate on its side. Now take your team to a distance where most all players can throw to the target at least on a bounce or two.
Now toss them a short fly ball where they can make like they are the centerfielder throwing the runner out at home. They ooh, aah and cheer on close throws (there are always a bunch of these). I have no idea why but they really like to do this...Go Figure!
Home Run Derby - Find a spot where about ½ or more of the team can hit one over the fence and soft toss 3 per each player (soft toss, also known as flip drills, is the drill our automated Wheeler Dealer machine does automatically. It can be seen on our training aids page if you are still unsure how to do this.) Have a second round, then have a finals. Maybe the player who comes in 2nd gets to go after all the homers. Watch 'em cheer for each other.
Basketball Game - If there's a court or a hoop nearby, simply produce a hidden basketball AFTER dividing them up into teams. Announce a 10 minute game. Watch 'em go. Totally unexpected...and a lot of fun
Water Balloon Toss - Pick a hot day and have a supply of filled baseball-sized water balloons (make sure they are small balloons to begin with so they remain taut). Partner them off in lines (like you do when warming up their arms) with players about 6 to 8 feet apart and with a partner on one row having the balloon.
USE 2 HANDS!
Express to players that in baseball, every ball you can catch with 2 hands should be caught with 2 hands. Also, display how the pinkie fingers of both hands should be near and parallel to each other with hands being parallel and held below the waist.
SOFT HANDS
Explain that all infielders must have soft hands. This begins when both arms are outstretched (elbows are not locked) and then cradled toward the body as the underhand toss comes toward you. Water balloons will require special focus on soft hands to keep from breaking.
READY...GO!
On coaches command... Player underhand tosses to his partner who catches and holds the balloon. His partner then tosses it back to his partner.
After 2-4 rounds, teams with a full balloon step 2 feet further apart. Repeat. Then 2 steps further apart! Keep going until you have a winner.
Once you have a winner, coaches produce as many extra full balloons as there are coaches and the winning team gets to "blast the coaches." Yes, turn around coach...and do use typical precautions as boys will be boys. (Now you tell me that 10 or 20 years from now those players won't remind you of how much fun that was?!)
It's not all about baseball...but it is all about fun!
Baseball tips & youth baseball equipment, training aids & instruction! It's all here for baseball coaching of pitchers & hitters, little league to high school.
Youth Baseball Digest - 4 Important Factors That Can Help New Little League Coaches Be Successful by Nick Dixon The 4 Most Important Rules that all New Little League Baseball Coaches Should Follow
Coaching Little league is a great way for baseball and softball players to give back to your community. Every baseball player remembers his first t-ball coach, coach pitch coach, little league coach, and high school coach. Baseball coaches have a profound effect on the lives of the players they coach. Being or becoming a great youth baseball coach requires a high level of commitment and dedication. There are 3 important rules that every new little league coach must always follow. Those rules are:
1. You must be a student of the game. To be a good youth baseball coach, you must have a good knowledge of how the game is played, how the rules are applied, and how certain skills and drills are performed. If you feel uncomfortable about a certain position, skill or fundamental, look for help. You may ask another coach. You may go to your local library or book store and find a book on how to coach baseball. You have access to an enormous amount of information about every aspect of the game through your computer and the internet.
2. You must have good help. You can never have too much help when coaching a youth team. Ask your parents and friends to find other volunteers to help you coach your team. It is best to have a parent meeting. Ask for parent volunteers. The parents that volunteer to help should choose a specific area in which they concentrate their effort. You will need at least 2 good assistant coaches. One needs to have enough knowledge and patience to be the pitching coach. One should be the hitting coach.
3. You must remediate your weaker players. In you draft, you may find that you must pick children that are good at certain skills but extremely week in other areas.One often overlooked and neglected aspect of coaching is remediation/ Remediation is special attention and help given to those players that need it. This is a job for what I refer to as the remediation coach. The coach that takes one or two players to the side and works on specific areas of the game in which they are too weak to compete. They may need help with swing mechanics, throwing mechanics, or simple footwork. These kids will master these skills easier and faster when they receive one-on-one personal attention. These "tutoring" lessons pay back huge returns if you can have enough help. The theory is that you must bring every player up to a certain level or much valuable team time will be lost to working with them during team drills. It is best to take these kids aside and work them separately from the team until they get their skill levels up. These lessons should be done in such a way to not embarrass the child or players involved.
4. You must work hard and set a good example. A willingness to work hard may be the most important trait of a successful coach. They work hard at planning, organizing, and executing individual and team drills for both offense and defense. They have high energy levels and are always willing to put forth that little extra effort to make a practice or game run smother.
I hope that you found this article to be helpful. Good luck to you and your team. Have a great day, Nick
The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.
Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.
Baseball Pitching Drills for Kids Posted on YouTube by CoachBuford
http://www.YouthBaseballVideo.com - The one-knee follow through drill will train young baseball pitchers to develop a safe, fluid pitching motion. It will also improve accuracy and speed.
Baseball Training Techniques and the T-Ball Game By Chris Moheno
The ball is placed on an adjustable "tee" that is in the player's personal strike range, and they swing at the ball on the tee, instead of having a ball pitched to them.
This game is often played by young school age boys to learn the baseball training, such as batting positions, how to swing and the rest of the rules of baseball. The primary advantage of playing tee-ball is that the ball is automatically in the player's personal "strike zone", so they don't have to learn the hand-eye coordination that is necessary with a live pitcher. Other than that, the rules of T-ball are the same and it is primarily helpful for teaching baseball hitting skills.
If is not unusual for the young boy's tee-ball or T-ball leagues to allow the game to be played with wiffle balls and bats for safety reasons and because they are lighter. Actual T-balls are slightly larger than a baseball and softer, and there are actual bats and gloves that are used.
As the boys get older, they can learn to play with real baseballs and bats, which help them in baseball training as they enter the correct age to start learning to hit a live pitch. On some of the leagues, coaches will have them practice hitting a few live pitches to start developing the baseball training they will need later.
Because of this, the players that play tee ball or T-ball are typically between 4 and 8 years of age. There is a minimum of 12 players on each team and no more than 20, although it should be limited to 15 players. The reason for this is that each inning allows every player on each team to bat, and the inning is over after each team has allowed every player a time at bat. Games are four innings and scoring is not always used since it is to develop baseball hitting skills and learn other baseball training.
There are no strike-outs or walks and the ball must travel more than ten feet or it is a foul. Batters can't steal bases- the ball has to be hit for them to move around the bases. It teaches the players the skills necessary to play baseball and it allows all players a chance to bat and play the field.
The whole idea of T-ball is to teach the young players baseball hitting techniques and the other baseball training they will need as they graduate into playing the more difficult game of baseball. It is believed that the younger the players start, the easier it will be for them to master the game. T-ball or tee ball lets them learn baseball techniques at a slower and more enjoyable game that is not as competitive.
Many children also make the decision that they want to move into playing baseball fairly easily and on their own, as their confidence level increases and they become bored with playing tee ball. This allows the child to move easily into baseball training, which can be much more challenging and competitive. Most of the T-ball players make this transition very easily and have already mastered the hardest part of baseball hitting skills and understand the challenges they will face when they move from T-ball into baseball training.
It makes it easier for the coaches to enhance T-ball practices by throwing a few pitches for practices and the players can gradually work into this important part of judging when a live pitcher has thrown a ball in the strike zone, or out of it. Because their eyes have been trained to look for the ball in the "tee zone", it gives them an advantage over the players that have not played T-ball and decide to start playing baseball.
T-ball or tee ball, can teach young players the baseball hitting techniques they will need to know and it can also teach other baseball training, such as catching fly-balls, grounders and pop-up flies. It teaches them how to throw to base, throw to home and what the rules are as their T-ball play becomes more advanced. It is a great way for a child to transition easily into a great baseball player, when the time comes.
Chris Moheno kindly invites you to visit this comprehensive baseball training website where you will find baseball scholarship tips and answers to your general questions about baseball training and strength training, as well as a free newsletter with baseball training tips and advice.
Like a lot of other things in life you tend to get better at those which you do regularly. It is the same with baseball game and you can get perfect with baseball hitting. Therefore the best baseball hitting advice for kids or anyone can be practice and keep practicing. It is said that Mickey Mantle the professional baseball player is said to swing the bat nearly 100 times in a day left handed and the same when right handed. However, there are some modern day professionals who swing the bat nearly 500 to 1000 times in a day. This is a basic strategy that works for lot of professionals and can also work for you.
There are some tips for helping your kids achieve great baseball hitting techniques. If your child wants to learn and play baseball but they are not the best hitters then you can follow these simple instructions and tips to help your child swing the bat like a professional. The first step to take for a great swing is your stance. This means that you should strain to the player that the stance should be something that is comfortable and not something that looks best for the player of team.
There are some basic things that you should always remember when you teach your kids the basics in baseball hitting.
1. Keeping the feet shoulder width separately regardless if the child has a closed or open stance. This means the feet should always be apart from shoulder width
2. Place the bat back with your hand where it should be nearly 6 inches away from the ears and make sure you keep your elbows upright so that you can easily handle the high heaters.
3. When you stride away with your front foot make sure it is 5 to 6 inches away, you must also keep your back foot firm in the ground as it helps in gathering power to get a strong a straight swing.
4. When you are striding, you need to keep your eyes entirely focused on the ball all through its way in the box. Then firmly twist your legs and hips when also taking the bat to directly snap into the ball. Make sure you snap the bat consistently when the ball is in the box and also ensure that your child does not up cut the swing over the ball when hitting.
As always keep in the mind that practice makes perfect.
For more information visit Sportscapers University at houston youth baseball - You can also find more information and online training videos to help you improve your skills at katy youth baseball.
Marty Schupak's Youth Baseball Tip Posted on Youtube by LNersesian
Coach Marty Schupak & www.BaseballCoachOne.com present an important youth baseball tip for coaches, parents, and players. Visit www.BaseballCoachOne.com for more youth sports tips and to browse through a wide collection of sports instructional DVDs.
Youth Baseball Parent Guide - What is the Key to a Youth Baseball Player Becoming a High School Prospect? by Nick Dixon
As a high school baseball coach, I see players of all sizes, shapes, and ability levels try out for our JV and varsity teams. Baseball is the one sport that will never be ruled totally by size, speed, and power. I am not saying that power, speed and size do not help a player. What I am saying is that having certain physical attributes is not the key to baseball success. There is a place for all body builds to succeed. In this article, I discuss what I feel is the #1 key to a player becoming a prospect to make the high school team.
I think the #1 key to making the high school junior varsity and varsity teams is how much skill building homework a player has done during his youth baseball playing years. The key to becoming a stand-out player is how much practice a player gets year round and between regular team practices during the season.
Time after time, I see proof that the players that excel in baseball are the players that put forth that extra effort in making sure that their bat, glove, and arm are worked enough to help them reach their fullest potential as a player. It is hard for a player to reach their potential if they do not get proper instruction, receive adequate practice time, and workout enough to make their baseball skills stronger and their baseball play instinctive.
Players can not expect to excel if the only times that they ever pick up a, a ball or bat are at team practices during baseball season. Achievements in baseball are just like achievements in life. You get what you deserve. You deserve what you earn. The more time and effort that a player and his parents put into baseball in the early years is crucial to success in high school. In most cases, the outstanding high school prospects are the players that have baseball training equipment in their backyard or that have received baseball batting or pitching instruction from qualified baseball instructors.
To be a big time prospect, you need to throw, hit, and field in workouts on your own as well as with the team. Going above and beyond is the key to becoming a top rated baseball prospect. If you are unwilling to commit the time, put forth the energy, or stay on a regular practice routine, your chances of becoming an accomplished high school player can be reduced.
Thanks for taking the time to read this article. You can find more like it at the Baseball Parent Guide, Baseball Coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, and the Little League Digest. Have a great day, Nick.
The CoachesBest and Baseball 2u Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages.
Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.
When it comes to browsing through youth baseball gloves, there are some things that you should consider. Not all gloves are created equally. For the player to do his best, he should have a glove that will work well for him while he is out on the field. With a glove being a necessary piece of equipment for baseball, it is important that you choose one that will leave the player well protected and ready to catch the ball in his position.
There are a few different materials with which youth gloves can be made. Leather is by far the most durable material for a baseball glove. Within the realm of leather, there are three choices. These depend on the grain of the material, and are known as premium steer hide, top grain, and full grain. Top grain youth baseball gloves are the top pick for most players. This is because they are easier to soften and quicker to break in before use.
Another consideration you should make is the position you play while using the glove. Various positions on the baseball field can call for different gloves. For example, a catcher uses a special mitt. Having an outfielder's glove would not provide the catcher with the proper protection in order to catch the fast pitches coming his way. Be sure that you are aware of your position before selecting the appropriate glove.
Youth baseball gloves come in sizes, and these can be important to determine which glove will best fit the player's hand. You will want to make sure that you choose a youth size, as adult sizes run larger. The exception to this rule would be if you have extremely large hands for your age. Most youth can properly use gloves ranging in sizes from 9 to 11.5
Your budget should also be considered when purchasing youth gloves. Gloves can range from $20 to over $200, so it is important to know what you can spend before you start shopping. The differences in prices will have to do with the brand, material, and customization of the glove. A standard glove will the cheapest, and can be found in most sporting goods stores.
Custom-made gloves are another option, but are more often chosen by adults. This is because the young player's hand is likely to not be finished growing. This will mean an upgrade within one or two years. An adult glove, on the other hand, will tend to get more use, as their hands are already full-grown. It is also important to note that the price will be higher with a custom baseball glove, but the fit of the glove is likely to be much better.
Selecting from the all the youth baseball gloves on the market can be a difficult decision. However, there are some things you can decide on before beginning your shopping to make the choice easier. Consider the material, size, position, and your budget in order to choose the right glove.
Nicole Roberts Welcome to ballglovesgalore.com where we sell a variety of youth baseball gloves to meet the needs of novice as well as the serious player.
Shown above are two exciting new baseball products and baseball equipment for 2011. BatAction.com BattingCageDoor.com 
