Coaching Baseball; Recommended Baseball Articles for Coaches

Coaching Baseball; Recommended Baseball Articles for Coaches


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Have a Great Weekend! Good luck to you and your team if you are playing. Here are some recommended baseball coaching articles for baseball coaches. Nick Dixon
Coaching Little League Baseball - Bad Habits Make For Bad Coaching

Article discusses 10 bad habits of bad Little League Coaches. These bad habits make it impossible for a coach to be an effective coach and role model.


Coaching Youth Baseball - Coaching Your First Baseman

Here are important points and skills that you must teach your First Baseman. Tips cover teaching the proper way to get to the bag, set up to receive the throw and how to stretch.


Baseball Coaching Digest - Stop and See - 1st & 3rd Double Steal Base Running Play

This 1st and 3rd Double Steal Play known as the Stop and See Steal. This play is used by offensive teams to score a runner from 3rd base by stopping the stealing runner short of the bag and tag.


Baseball Coaching Digest - Fake 3rd Out Defensive Trick

The Fake 3rd Out is a trick play ran by defensive teams to trick an unsuspecting base runner. If the base runner is not alert and aware, he may step off the bag and give the defensive team a cheap out to end the inning. Coaches should make their players aware of sure plays and tactics to prevent this trick from happening to their team.


Baseball Coaching Digest - Illegal Use of the Courtesy Runner Rule

Baseball coaches must be alert for one way that opposing offensive teams may illegally use the Courtesy Runner or Speed-Up rule. How does a team illegally use a courtesy runner? Here is the procedure outlined:


Baseball Coaching and the Importance of Goals For Team and Player Motivation

There are very few volunteer jobs more challenging, time-consuming or rewarding than being a coach in your local league. There are many four letter words used by coaches that I can not use here. Here I want to discuss the 4 four-letter words that can and will determine the amount of success a coach has during the coming season. The four words are Goal, Plan, Work and Time.




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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.

How to Hit a Baseball

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Article Title: How to Hit a Baseball
By Chris Moheno

There is a science to the sport of baseball, especially in the batters box. It really is more than just standing up there and hoping to hit the ball. A player can either research baseball hitting information on their own or seek out professional baseball training. Either way, learning is the companion of success.

There are several principles involved with hitting a baseball successfully and consistently. Once these principles are learned and memorized, practice is the key. Ever wonder how the MLB players hit a 98 mph fastball? Lots and lots of baseball batting training.

So take these basics and practice them until they become second nature. Everything should feel natural and comfortable. Now let's take a look at the elements of baseball hitting.

1. Select the proper bat. Bats come in different lengths and weights. Then there is what is called "bat drop". This is the difference between the length and the weight. For instance, a bat that is 29" long and weighs 18 ounces has a drop of -11. This means that it feels lighter and is easier to swing. The higher the drop number, the better (and more expensive) the bat. Selection is made based on the batters height and weight.

2. Develop a hitting approach. This is also known as plate discipline and is extremely important as the player gets older. The batter needs to be able to distinguish what is a "hittable" pitch and what is not. Simply going to the plate and swinging away works for very young players as it helps allay the fear of being hit, but older players need discipline. A good start is to watch the ball from the pitcher's hand all the way to the plate, or preferably, to your bat. Adjust your strike zone as the strike count develops. A smaller zone for 0 strikes, a bit larger for 1 strike and larger still for 2 strikes.

3. Develop a good bat grip. Not tense yet firm. Not loose yet relaxed. When you grab the bat, it is important to stay relaxed in your whole body, starting with the hands on the bat. The hands should be positioned so that the top knuckles of the lower hand line up somewhere between the middle and top knuckles of the upper hand. Anywhere in that area that is comfortable is workable. The idea is to keep the bat out of the palm and closer to the fingers for more control. This also helps keep the grip relaxed, helps avoid "bat drag" resulting from tension and increases bat speed/reaction time.

4. Take note of how you stand in the batters box. Always remember the three B's: Be comfortable, be confident and be balanced. All three are necessary for hitting success. Make sure you can cover the plate and your strike zone(s) completely. Find the right depth in the box, too. You will want to be able to get on top of a fastball as well as time the breaking pitches. Most important of all is to be perfectly balanced with the hands at the top of the strike zone.

5. Learn to "pick up the ball" as it is released by the pitcher. Watch his arm until the ball is released, then pick up the ball as it travels towards you. After a little practice, you will learn to distinguish the type of pitch that is coming and that goes a long way towards hitting the baseball. Baseball training focuses on this aspect of hitting mechanics.

6. Take your stride before you swing the bat. As the ball travels towards you, take your step (stride) and keep the weight on the back leg. As you begin to take the swing, bring the weight forward and use the momentum for power.

7. As the swing starts and your weight comes forward, pivot the back foot and keep the front as planted as you can. The hips will begin to open up and work with the legs to add the power to the swing. Arms and hands should be brought through close to the body. This helps with bat speed and accuracy. The head should be picking up the ball the entire time it is in flight.

If you practice these basics of baseball hitting, you will see a difference at the cages as well as on the field. Your batting average will soar and you will hit the ball consistently. Baseball training is the way to go for baseball hitting success!

Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically. His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game. Discover more about baseball training on baseballtrainingsecrets.com

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

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One Word That Will Make You Sound Like a Baseball

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Article Title: One Word That Will Make You Sound Like a Baseball Expert - 5 Tips For Hitting, Pitching & Fielding
By Jack Perconte

Not everyone knows the finer details of the game of baseball and, of course, many do not care to be baseball coaches or experts. Everyone has there own interests and that is fine. However, that does not mean you cannot say helpful things to young ballplayers. Using this one word will make one sound like a baseball expert and sound like you really know the game of baseball. As a baseball instructor over the past 21 years there is one word that I believe I have said more than any other word. This word is revealed below. If you would like a hint, think of the first thing that you teach your dog to do?

You guessed it - stay. Using the word "stay" with most any baseball term gives instant, "expert" credibility to the one saying it. Following are the terms good coaches often use when talking to players about the three key skill components in baseball - hitting, pitching and fielding. People, who use these terms with the magic word "stay," will sound like a knowledgeable, baseball expert.

Hitting Tips:
1. Stay back - good hitters do not jump at the ball, they let it come to them.
2. Stay inside - good hitters do not reach for balls, they try to hit the side closest to them on all pitches.
3. Stay behind - when good hitters swing, they rotate, transfer their weight and throw their bat at the ball while keeping their head back over their rear hip.
4. Stay balanced - good hitters swing the bat at 100% speed, but make it look like they are not working hard at all.
5. Stay ready - good hitters always expect the next pitch to be "their pitch."
6. Stay focused - good hitters concentrate on just watching the baseball from the pitcher's release to the hitting zone and tune out all other thoughts.

Pitching Tips:
1. Stay balanced - good pitchers throw at maximum speeds but make it look effortless.
2. Stay direct - good pitchers keep great direction, stepping on direct line towards home plate with their delivery.
3. Stay on top - good pitchers keep their fingers on top of ball on backswing and at release.
4. Stay behind - good pitchers do not rush themselves, allowing their arm time to come around.
5. Stay focused - good pitchers remain focused on their target, and tune out any distractions.

Fielding Tips:
1. Stay ready - good fielders "want" and expect the ball to be hit their way.
2. Stay down - good fielders approach ground balls low to the ground and keep their glove below the hop initially.
3. Stay smooth - good fielders make fielding look effortless, moving through the ball with grace.
4. Stay focused - good fielders keep their concentration on the ball, ready for any hop.
5. Stay balanced - good fielders have great footwork when fielding, always remaining under control.

You may have noticed that there are two terms used with our word "stay" that applies to every fundamental tip and those are balanced and focus. Everything in sport requires great balance and focus. So, when you are not sure what to say to your athlete, you can never go wrong with saying, "stay balanced" and "stay focused" as long as they are said in a positive, affirmative manner.

Former major league baseball player, Jack Perconte gives baseball hitting tips and batting practice advice for ballplayers of all ages. His baseball playing lessons, books and advice can be found at http://www.baseballhittinglessons.com/baseball Jack is the author of two books, The Making of a Hitter and Raising an Athlete - his positive parenting advice and books can be found at http://positiveparentinginsports.com

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

Sponsor Links:

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.

Baseball Hitting Tips to Help You Master Your Game

Article Title: Baseball Hitting Tips to Help You Master Your Game
By Carolyn Anderson

Hitting the baseball is a very important skill that every baseball player should possess, and if indeed, you are someone who wants to learn baseball or just want to improve your skills, you can find baseball hitting tips and techniques on how to improve your game or impress your coach, your friends and your family.

Although practice makes perfect, there are also certain tips to keep in mind to make you play at your best.

- Condition your mind for your every game. Getting into sports is not just about strength and energy. An important part of it is in your head. In order to execute the best swing or hit you need, you have to clear up your mind before getting into the batter's box. Focus and concentration on the game are essential as well.

- Be patient. It helps to be patient and be focused when you are in the game most especially if you are in the batter's box. Do not be in a hurry to hit the ball. You just wait for a good pitch and never swing in bad pitches.

- Engage in practice and drills that can help you increase your power in hitting the ball. One of the baseball hitting tips you can do to avoid slowing down your power upon the impact of the ball with your bat is to practice hitting basketballs, soccer or other heavier balls. This will also improve the strength in your forearms and wrists to be able to retain the power of your swing or your hit.

- Learn the basics of a good baseball hit. To be able to master batting the ball, you have to learn how to do each skill correctly, from the swing to the grip and to the stance - you have to learn each of them and master these skills. By doing so, you have to learn how to stand, how to hold the bat properly and so on and so forth.

- Do not be afraid of the ball. This may sound commonsense but most players especially those who are just starting with the sports and for children who are just learning, the hindrance lies in their fear of being hit by the ball, thus their tendency is move back and may affect the way they execute a good swing as well as giving the ball a good hit. One practice tip that coaches often do in this case is throw the ball on the other side of the player to prevent him from backing up.

- Focus on hitting the bottom half of the baseball. This will help in sending the baseball farthest.

- Shift your weight from the back of your body foot to the front upon contact of your bat with the baseball so that you can obtain more power in hitting it.

Start with these baseball hitting tips to help you become a better baseball player. However, you should not also forget the basic tips on getting the right equipment for you as this can also help in your performance too.

Carolyn Anderson is a book reviewer, an avid reader and a lover of sports. To master the skill of hitting a baseball, check out this baseball hitting training manual. Also check out Marathon Training For Beginners, a marathon training schedule and program to help beginners in performing their best in marathon.

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



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---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here

Youth Baseball Digest - The Power of Praise in Coaching Little League Baseball

Youth Baseball Digest - The Power of Praise in Coaching Little League Baseball

HurricaneMachine.com

By Nick Dixon

Praise is the easiest and most effective way to motivate young baseball players. Understanding and believing in the "Power of Praise" can make a Little League Baseball coach a better and more effective coach. Knowing how and when to praise is the key. This article discusses the value of praise in coaching youth baseball.

Good coaches have a variety of skills. They know how to teach the game of baseball. They know how to communicate their thoughts and observations almost immediately. They know how to correct without humiliation. They know how to motivate without intimidation. They love the game of baseball and that love is displayed through their actions and behaviors. But, one of the universal traits of successful youth baseball coaches is that they know the "Power of Praise".

Good youth baseball coaches know that kids respond differently when they are coached and taught the game of baseball. Many kids do not take constructive criticism. All kids do not respond the same to harsh words or loud instructions. But, one thing that 99.9% of all kids respond favorably to is praise. They love to hear words of encouragement and words that tell them that they did a task well.

What youth coaches must always remember is that many kids we coach never hear many positive words. It is sad and true that many kids never hear words or praise or encouragement at home. Words of praise are "words of respect" for a youngster. They want to love, appreciated, and respected just like most people do. Many kids we coach are hungry for attention, discipline and most of all praise. The more they are praised, the more they want to earn more praise.

So when you see a player struggling or having a bad day, find something that he is doing correctly and praise him for his action. Make his day a better day. I do not mean to give out unmerited or false praise. Make sure that the praise is deserved and merited. Kids can sense if a coach is sincere or genuine when the coach praises a player. False praise is useless and counterproductive.

One good rule to live by as a youth baseball coach is that you should find a way to praise every player on your team at least once a day. A pat on the head or back takes little time and energy on your part, but can do wonders for a kids self esteem and attitude.

I hope that you enjoyed this article. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Good luck to you and your team. Your friend in baseball, 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.

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

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Baseball Training Equipment - Batting Trainers

Baseball Tips on Hitting - Two Common Baseball Hitting Problems

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Article Title:
Baseball Tips on Hitting - Two Common Baseball Hitting Problems

By Larry Cicchiello

Let's look at two baseball hitting problems:

Problem Balance Poor

First of all, make sure that you are very comfortable in your stance. A good starting point is to have the feet about shoulder width apart or slightly wider. Usually, the width is about the same as if you were guarding someone in basketball and want to be ready to move left or right very quickly.

Make sure you are standing on the balls of your feet and NOT standing there flat-footed or even worse yet, standing with your weight on your heels. Standing with the weight on your heels may very well have you spinning like a top and that is not a good, solid foundation for effective baseball hitting and will destroy your balance.

Make sure your front shoulder remains closed. Opening your front shoulder too early will cause your foundation and balance to be severely disrupted and you won't be steady on your feet.

Problem Uppercutting the Ball. Many good baseball hitters appear to be uppercutting the baseball. The only time you should be uppercutting is when you are into the follow through of your swing. Uppercutting is a sure way to lower your batting average. Let's look at some possible reasons for uppercutting the baseball.

Your stance may be too wide. This will encourage your actual swing to be going upward when making contact.

You may be lowering your back leg, back elbow or back shoulder. It's often referred to as "collapsing your back side." If the back side goes down or collapses, the hands and the bat will go down also and you will be swinging upward to the ball.

You may be holding your hands too low and when the actual baseball hitting takes place, they will have nowhere else to go except upward and causing an uppercutting of the baseball.

Larry is the the author of "Excellent Baseball Coaching: 30 Seconds Away." If you are a baseball player or are involved in baseball coaching at any level of play or a parent who wants to help your child improve, you will be fully equipped! His baseball website offers several FREE baseball tips from his very informative and very fairly priced eBooks.

Larry's baseball website is http://www.larrybaseball.com/

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

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Youth Baseball Bats - How Do I Choose the Right One?

Article Title: Youth Baseball Bats - How Do I Choose the Right One?
By Jeff Heitz


When purchasing a youth baseball bat, there are a number of important things that need to be taken into consideration. The bat's weight, length and barrel width are very important and must be selected based on your league requirements. Some leagues will only allow a 2 ¼" barrel and this will change how you choose the proper bat verses leagues that allow 2 ¾" barrels. Wood bats are still available and make an excellent choice for all of your cage work as it helps to develop a proper swing and gain an understanding of the sweet spots on wood verses aluminum or alloy bats.

The most popular choice for youth baseball bats are aluminum or alloy. The technological advancements in these bats have come a long way and they keep improving from year to year. A basic rule for selecting the right bat is to choose the lightest bat for its length in order to fully maximize your swing power. In a lot of cases, lighter youth baseball bats are just as costly as some of the heavier ones, but with so many quality suppliers, you are sure to find one that will satisfy your budget.

When choosing a longer bat, you are insuring more plate coverage; but it might cause the bat to be too heavy and slow down or alter the mechanics of the proper swing. Not a good idea! Shorter, lighter bats will cause the player to crowd the plate a little more but will definitely create more bat speed. Bat speed is essential and choosing the right bat is very important. It would be best to have a bat that is a little too light than to choose one that is too heavy.

Barrel size has become the talk of the dugout. A larger barrel will produce more power and have a bigger sweet spot allowing the hitter to drive balls that would otherwise be harmless outs. Choosing the proper youth baseball bat is an imperfect science. If you are playing in a league that will allow 2 ¾" barrels, I would always recommend choosing bat speed over any other factor. Players come in all shapes and sizes and all have different strength levels...this complicates the process when choosing. Before purchasing, you might talk to your coach or a youth baseball bat representative and get information based on your players age and size and what the general trend is.

The rules for Little League Baseball differ from most all other youth organizations on their bat requirements. A 2 ¼" barrel and a maximum length of 33 inches is all that is allowed. Little League bats are required to have a taped handle up to 10 inches. Youth bats are measured in inches for the length and ounces for the weight. Negative or minus numbers are used to determine the bats weight. For example if a bat is 29" long and has a -10 rating the bat will weigh 19 ounces. The bat would be referred as a minus ten negative ten or a drop ten bat. The higher the negative number the lighter the bat is for its length.

For more detailed information on choosing the right baseball or softball bat visit http://youthbaseballbats.ws

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

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BatAction Demo Videos on Youtube

Baseball Batting Techniques - Finding Some Help in Improving Your Baseball Skills

Backyard Baseball Batting Machine by Nedco Sports

By Carolyn Anderson

Baseball is indeed one of the favorite sports we want to watch and play as well. If you have the interest to learn baseball, either as a sport or just for fun, then you can actually learn some baseball batting techniques that can improve your skills.

Learning these techniques can also be good for your children if you want to train them and help them learn to play baseball at a young age. Of course, the younger your kids are trained in any sport, the better they can become when they grow up especially if they like the sport.

Of course, the basic skills that one should learn if he wants to play baseball is batting the ball and catching. Although, it is also important to learn about pitching as well as other defense skills you need to learn about the sport. Indeed, batting is an essential skill of every baseball player and, of course, becoming a good baseball hitter makes you one good baseball player too. So for some baseball batting techniques that you may find useful in improving your game, here are some of them.

Learn the proper batting technique. The key to master baseball batting is to master the basics. Of course, you have to make sure you are gripping the bat correctly. One of the most commonly used gripping technique that players use in playing baseball is holding the bat such that the middle knuckles of your hands are lined up. This technique gives better control than gripping the bat tightly with both palms.

To master your baseball batting techniques, it is also important to consider your stance. This allows you to have good balance and of course allows you to hit the ball properly. To maintain a good stance, your knees should be slightly bent, and your weight rested on the balls of your feet and your waist slightly bent forward.

Another important thing to master is your swing. Your lower body should control your swing and your weight should transfer from the balls of your feet to the front foot. You should also keep your hands within the flight of the ball so you can hit it better. You should also keep head movements at a minimal.

Aside from these baseball batting techniques, keep in mind some important tips to help you master hitting the ball. Be positive. Think that you can hit the ball even before you step into the batter's box. Clear your mind from any distraction and concentrate on hitting the ball. It helps also not to be in a hurry. You can always wait for a good pitch.

To help you improve your batting skills, it would help to find someone who is an experienced baseball player to watch you when you practice your batting so that you will know what needs to be improved and corrected. You can also practice your batting with several hitting drills that will truly improve your skills before getting into the real battle.

Carolyn Anderson loves to play sports including softball. For a step-by-step training manual to help you master baseball skills like hitting, check out Parker Training System Manual. Also check out The Super 8 Hitting System, a comprehensive digital course on how to hit a baseball.

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

Sponsor Links:

BatAction Links


---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com
---BatActionMachine on Ebay.com
---BatAction Machine Video Clips
---BatAction Trainer - 15 Reasons Why You Must Own This Machine
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here

BatAction Demo Videos on Youtube

T-Ball University - Batting Drills For Tee Ball Coaches and Parents

---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com


By David Comora

Baseball Season is just around the corner, so parents and parent coaches, start digging through the garage for your baseball equipment and begin stretching out those rusty arm and leg muscles. For many communities, children begin their baseball or softball careers playing the lead-up skill called Tee Ball, which is baseball, minus the pitcher. In Tee Ball which is also spelled T-Ball, children learn the fundamentals of batting, fielding and base-running. For the purposes of this article we'll be concentrating on batting. In Tee Ball, batting takes place utilizing a Tee which sits approximately waste high to the hitter. The Tee is a great tool for perfecting a child's swing. When used correctly, a coach can analyze all of the components used in a swing and make subtle or not so subtle adjustments to a child's swing, batting stance, hip rotation and foot work.

It is my opinion after coaching all these seasons that proper footwork is the most important aspect of hitting. If you have the proper footwork, the arms, hips, and head will fall into place with the required timing.

In order to achieve proper footwork, I will place the tee on top of home plate. I will draw a perpendicular line in the dirt with the handle of the player's tee ball bat from the middle 45 degree corner of the tee's base. The line length is approximately 12 inches. Adjust this length accordingly to a comfortable extension of each player's arms with the bat swing. I then will draw a perpendicular line from the first line and parallel to the edge of the tee base going back toward the backstop. Therefore, this line is in the shape of an inverted "L". I will squat down and point with my index finger as to where I want each foot to be placed along the parallel line. Drawing the 12-inch line allows the hitter to extend his or her arms when swinging to comfortably hit the tee-ball with the "sweet" spot of the bat.

I want each child to have a stiff front leg with feet square to the parallel line. The player should be placing their weight on the balls of both of their feet. The square front foot will prevent the front knee from buckling or bending. Imagine a bug underneath the back foot. I want the child to squash that imaginary bug with a pivot of their back foot. Approximately 60% of the player's weight should be on the back foot. This is called the "load" position. This pivot will open the hips toward the pitcher when "squashing the bug". The front foot should remain square and the front knee locked when "squashing the bug" also. The back leg can bend but do not take a large dip with the back leg. (This drill is presented in a short video on our http://www.tballu.com website, within the "Free Sample Video" section).

Most coaches and parents who played the game when they were young were taught to take a step toward the pitcher with their front foot when swinging the bat. Most coaches and parents remember taking a small step or a large step. I do not want the player to take a step with their front foot when "squashing the bug" since a step will cause the player's head to slightly dip when swinging the bat and therefore, the player's eyes will dip when swinging the bat also. The no-step will prevent an eye dip when attempting to hit a breaking ball (e.g., curve, slider, etc) later in the player's career when he or she advances to high school baseball or softball. Use a series of batting helmets as impediments to prevent the player's front foot from taking a step if they had been previously taught to do so.

Practice "squashing the bug" with a bat situated between the arms and the back's shoulder blades. Have the entire team practice this drill at the same time making sure they are a good distance away from each other. Keep an eye on a stiff front leg and the back foot should pivot on the ball of their back foot. Some players will pivot and raise the heel of the back foot such that the back weight is placed on the toe of the back foot instead of the ball of the back foot. The player's head should stay down while looking in the hitting zone. If the back shoulder does not remain in the hitting zone upon pivot, the head will lift up from the hitting zone and the front foot will automatically lift up as well where the hitter is pivoting on the heel of the front foot. This is called "rolling" the front foot. Repeat this drill 50 times each practice and before each game. The player can also do this drill 50 times daily in front of a full length mirror at home. This will provide the player great muscle memory to ensure a proper swing every time.

After more than ten years coaching youth baseball, it has been my experience that, despite the best efforts of parent-coaches, too many children do not learn the basics of hitting and fielding and develop bad habits from the start. As these children progress to coach-pitch and kid-pitch leagues, this results in coaches spending many hours trying to correct problems, which could have been easily avoided at the Tee Ball or Beginner Baseball level. Coaching children, whether your own or children in your community, is one of the most rewarding experiences you'll have. Watching children learn and successfully apply the skills that you've taught them is tremendously fulfilling. I wish you all the best of luck in your t-ball, baseball or softball seasons.

David Comora
T-Ball University
http://www.teeballuniversity.com

David Comora has coached Tee Ball and Youth Baseball for over 10 years. He and his partners Steve Polansky, Brian Leuthner and David Kalb have developed the T-Ball University system of coaching to help new parent coaches learn to quickly master the skills of coaching. Their program includes video drills, coaching forms, practice plans, lesson notes and more. Free coaching videos are also available at http://www.teeballuniversity.com.

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

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The Basic Gripping and Throwing of a Baseball

The BatAction Hitting Machine is the Perfect Backyard Batting Machine.

By John R Di Nicola

Pitching is like building a house. You have to start with the foundation, in pitching this is the very basic fundamentals. Before you can even think about throwing different pitches, you have to work on how and where to hold the ball in your hand when it comes to basic playing catch and warming up.

• The ball should be held with very little pressure with your fingers. Most young pitchers make the mistake of sliding the ball back toward the hand. You must keep ball on your finger tips.

• The first time trying to hold the ball with little pressure can be very uncomfortable. Like everything else it takes time and practice.

• This should be done as part of your off season workout and practice routine.

Each off-season should include improving and perfecting your pitches and this starts with becoming comfortable when holding and gripping each pitch. No matter if you are throwing on the side, warming up, long tossing, or pitching in a game, the way you throw is critical. You should pay close attention to your form as bad habits can be created from just playing around in your back yard.

Most people while warming up or throwing just catch the ball and throw the ball back. For example, they may just stand flat footed with shoulders facing the person and never get into the proper throwing position.

1) As the ball is approaching you should start to turn your glove shoulder toward the person throwing the ball. This is so when you catch the ball, you are in a throwing position.

2) Once you catch the ball, you should start the process to start the backward swing of your throwing arm.

3) Once the ball leaves your glove, your front shoulder should be level and pointing toward the person you are throwing to.

4) You will have to develop the comfort level as to how far you bring the ball down during the backward rotation of your arm, before you bring it back to the throwing position.

5) The importance of comfort and the ability to get all the moving parts together so that you are not rushing your delivery is very important. Ideally, the ball should never drop below your waist.

6) When you bring the ball back behind you, keep your shoulders square and the ball must be pointing toward second base with your finger tips on top of ball.

7) Your front shoulder still should be level and as you start your arm forward your glove should start coming toward your chest. You should have to pull your glove through as your proper throwing motion should push it through automatically.

8) Bring your throwing arm to your comfortable arm slot, with fingers on top of the ball with your front shoulder being your guide still pointing toward the other person.

9) The lead elbow should be tucked into your side and pulling motion to bring the throwing arm through the zone.

10) As you're your throwing arm is going through zone prior to release, your arm should be in a L shape if you throw over the top or in more of a 45 degree angle if throwing motion is closer to three quarters.

11) Once you are in position to release the ball, your throwing arm should be extended out as to reach out and touch the other person.

12) At this point you should snap your wrist downward in line with your arm angle and follow through with the throwing arm coming through towards your glove side knee.

End of Practice

Always end on a Positive

Practice makes Perfect

John R Di Nicola coached High School baseball for 12 years and many of players continue on to play junior college, division I, II, III, and several to be drafted.

For more information on how to properly throw a baseball, grips, and become a fundamentally sound pitcher. Please visit... http://www.easypitching.com, http://twitter.com/easypitching

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

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The 4 Things That Make a Great Hitter

Hands Back Hitter Baseball Trainer - Mechanical Ball Launching Tee

The 4 Things That Make a Great Hitter
By Todd Thomas

There are 4 things that make a can make a GREAT baseball or softball hitter. FOUR CRITICAL THINGS. Leave just one thing out and you can forget about greatness. Be absent of two or three or all four and your going from Good, to Average, to Poor, to finding another easier athletic endeavor.

These 4 things are...Potential, Technique, Work Ethic, and Mental Approach. Let's discuss each and their importance in being a great hitter.

1. Potential: This one a coach has no real control over. If a hitter does not have the potential to hit like Alex Rodriguez, then I dont' care who their instructor is they cannot make him/her hit like Alex no matter what they are taught nor no matter how bad they or their parents want that. No more than Hank Haney (Tiger Woods swing coach) can teach any given golfer the same stuff he teaches Tiger and turn that golfer into Tiger Woods. It can't be done. The only real control an Instructor has is to help a hitter to hit to their own potential whatever that is. It may be an outstanding Rec player. Maybe that's your potential. OR Maybe a really good select player or a top high school player, a top College prospect, or maybe a pro prospect. Potential does come in varying degrees that is for sure. Some may even seem to have the ability to stretch their potential, but I would submit to you that the potential they reach was always within their own God given potential. Part of a player's natural ability to fulfill their own potential shows in their ability or lack thereof to "take it between the lines". Some players are great batting practice hitters but when they step into the batters box, they just can't seem to hit(consistently or at all) like they do in the cage or at practice. It's a frustrating and perplexing phenomenon, but it's real. The bottom line fact, and it's hard for most if not all players and their parents to accept this, is that some players just don't have it "built in" to their natural ablility/potential to perform between the lines to a high level or to the level they expect they should. Some players have the desire to be great and I'll talk more about desire later in this article. However, if the potential is not there then I'm sorry neither will be greatness.

2. Technique: When good technique is put together with good potential, good things definitely will happen for a hitter. Some players with tremendous potential and natural ability can have horrible technique and still do very well. However, in my opinion, even though they may be good they are NOT reaching their true potential without good technique. Players with average to below average potential with bad technique certainly shouldn't expect much. Conversely, players with average to below average potential can expect to be much better and have the ability to make great strides toward their own personal potential with good technique. So what technique can help hitters reach their personal potential? It is the technique used by the best Major League and Collegiate hitters. What technique is that? That depends of what you call it. Mike Epstein calls it Rotational Hitting. Some people have a problem with that term for whatever reason. Mostly because they haven't a clue of what it really means or what we specifically teach from the beginning of the swing to the end. But they "assume" and are wrong. Okay, so call the technique what you want if it makes you or someone else feel better. Call it The Big League Swing. Call it a Hybrid Swing. Call it whatever you want, but it simply is the technique of the best Big Leaguers and Collegiate players. It should be noted that some current and former players from these categories have no clue what their true technique is/was and have no clue how to actually teach it either. For you or any hitter to reach their potential, a hitter must have good technique/mechanics.

3. Work Ethic: Along side work ethic is something I mentioned earlier and that is desire. Without desire, there is no sustainable work ethic within a player. A hitter MUST have the desire to be great and because of that they MUST work hard at reaching their potential. I have seen many players with loads of potential. They have learned the best technique and yet they don't work at it. They wonder what's wrong with them, or the technique, or maybe even with their teacher. I say this to every hitter... There is no SHORTCUT to being good(and certainly not great). It takes work and it takes it for an extended period of time. In fact, it takes work until the day they stop playing the game. The best hitters in the world are Major League ball players and the top college softball players. My question to you is... How often do they take batting practice? If you answered "Every Day", you are pretty much right on. Is there a day off here and there? Sure. But for all intents and purposes, they take BP EVERY DAY! Why do they do this? They are already great. What do they need to work on it for? I'll tell you. Because hitting is a lifelong pursuit. One never has "it" figured out permanently. If the best players practice every day, then why do some hitters want to take a "lesson" and then just show up for games and expect to be good?!? It's inexplicable. Yet I see it all the time. I believe that the One Who Works The Hardest, HITS The Hardest! Work, work, work. Take a break and then work some more. Only then should a hitter expect to be their best.

4. Mental Approach: Without a solid mental approach going to and at the plate, a player can only ever expect to be good, but not great. How a player thinks in the batter's box and prior to getting there is what can make a good hitter a great hitter. There are several schools of thought on this. I say subscribe to one and APPLY IT! One side of the mental game is confidence and focus. The other side of the mental game is being prepared and thinking along with the pitcher. Mike Epstein believes the best mental approach lies in anticipating pitches. Having a plan, using acquired information (either from observation or from teammates), and anticipating pitches. Now I am not going to get into the specifics here on this. There is much more to it and to cover than I want to go into here. Mike Epstein's book "The Mental Side Of Hitting" is a good resource. I know one young hitter who has read this book SIX times and guess what, IT SHOWS! There are others resources out there on having a quality at-bat or being a thinking hitter. There really is some good information on this and those hitters that want to reach their potential are the ones who will seek it out, dive into it, and apply it. Many hitters short change themselves by selling short how important it is to have a solid mental approach at the plate. They hear it and it goes in one ear and out the other. Meanwhile, they want their instructor to just help them to perfect their technique to make them better and to reach their potential. They won't and their coach can't if their technique is already solid. Get into the mental side of hitting if you DESIRE to be GREAT.

In closing... As the title to this article would indicate, in order to be a great hitter and/or to reach YOUR maximum potential, you must have all 4 of these things. Think about it. What good is any one of these things without AT LEAST one other element? Without one, you can only expect to be good. Absent of two, a hitter will be average AT BEST. With only one element, it's all but hopeless. Do we even need to consider none? Not really. The good news is that 3 of the 4 are simply a decision. All any player has to do is to decide to have good technique, a good work ethic, and a good mental approach. Only potential/natural ability is out of your control. If God has blessed you with natural ability, then fulfill you're potential by deciding to apply yourself in the other areas. Finally... if you DECIDE to leave out one of the 3 areas that are under your control, now you'll understand the results you'll get.

Todd Thomas is a Baseball Coach and Professional Hitting Instructor for Mike Epstein Hitting. Coach Todd's personal hitting website is http://www.HitItHere.net. Coach Todd also enthusiastically endorses http://PlayMyBestBaseball.com as a place where baseball and softball hitters can master the Confidence, Composure, Focus and Consistency of their game so they can reach their full potential.

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

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Wiffle Ball Pitching Machines, Get Training and Just Pure Fun

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Wiffle Ball Pitching Machines, Get Training and Just Pure Fun
By James Quick

The balls are safe to use with small children and you can start training them to be a future baseball or softball star with a wiffle ball pitching machine. Using a machine will give anyone great practice on both batting and catching. They are just like regular pitching machines that throw a variety of different balls like curve balls and fast balls. You can be training baseball players of tomorrow without any worry of serious injury.

These machines are safer to use than a softball or baseball machine. The balls are smaller and very lightweight having holes in them. If one of the balls hits a child it will do little damage even if it being pitched by the machine. Other machines can pitch balls at 50 miles per hour or more and can cause some serious damage if it comes in contact with a child's head. The machine pitches fast balls but because the ball is so light it will not cause damage.

With a pitching machine kids can learn how to hit all types of balls that they would encounter in a regular game. It is easy to translate from a wiffle ball to a soft ball. Curve balls can come from the right or the left and you can set the machine lower for the height of a smaller child. Most machines come with a variable speed control too.

One of the best things about the wiffle pitching machine is that you can take it indoors, like a gym and not have to worry if you will break anything. Set the speed for very low and practice catching. A wiffle ball bat is smaller and light weight so you will not have to worry if anyone gets hit with the bat either. All in all with wiffle ball pitching machines you can train the baseball stars of the future in a safe and easy way.

Build Your Batting Skills and have Fun at the Same Time

Get free information about the Wiffle Ball Pitching Machines including product videos and ratings or just visit http://wiffleballpitchingmachine.org/ for tools and tips on other great pitching machines and Batting cages

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

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Baseball Coaching Digest - 3 Common Mistakes Made by Parents When Buying a New Baseball Bat

Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine by SKLZ

By Nick Dixon

The 3 biggest mistakes parents make when they buy a new baseball bat are: 1) Buying a Bat that is Not Appropriate, 2) Buying a Bat with the Wrong Intentions, and 3) Buying a Bat That is Illegal. I will now explain each of these mistakes. I will now offer explanations of how these mistakes are made. And I will tell how each of these mistakes can be prevented.

1. Buying a bat that is not appropriate. - Many parents buy a bat without having the player touch or hold the bat. The bat is purchased is not the correct size for the player. The bat is purchased and later the parents and player realize that the bat is too heavy or too light, or the bat is too long or too short for the player. The best way to determine the perfect bat weight and length is to try a friends bat during batting practice.

If the player can swing the bat and generate obvious bat speed, then the bat is the right size. Many people judge bat speed by simply listening for the amount of "bat wind" generated by the batters swing. If the swing is too slow, very little wind noise will be generated. There is also a universal test called the "horizontal lift & hold test" that players should perform before a bat is purchased. The player holds the bat by the handle near the knob and lifts and extends his arm straight outward at shoulder height. The batter should be able to hold the bat steady for at least 30 seconds. If the batter struggles to hold the bat steady, the bat is either too long or too heavy. The lighter weight or length bat should be considered if the player fails this test.

2. Buying a bat with the wrong intentions. - Many people buy a bat that is sized for the tea and not their child. This is a bad mistake. The parent should make sure that the bat purchased is perfect for the player. There are few teams than can purchase a "team" bat without several players being handicapped with the purchase being the wrong side for them.

Another common mistake is that Dad buys a heavier or longer bat than needed because he wants to make the $300 spent on the purchase last the player for more than one season. This is a terrible mistake. It is true that your child is going to grow. But, trying to buy a bat for future growing is the quickest way I know to put your child at a distinct disadvantage right now. Buy the perfect weight and size for your child today. If he or she outgrows the bat before next season, be proud. Sell the old bat to a friend and buy a new one new year.

3. Buying a bat that is illegal - You league has rules that pertain to specific bat materials, construction, weight, and lengths. Make sure that you know what barrel sizes, what materials, and what "bat drop" rules are applied in your league play. The drop of the bat is the difference between the length of the bat minus the weight of the bat. For example, if a bat is a 32" long bat and it weighs 29 ounces, then the bat drop for the bat is -3.

The drop of the bat varies in baseball, depending on the level of play. Little League, at this time, has no regulations for restricting drop weight. High school baseball has a drop weight zone regulation of no lighter than -3. College baseball has a drop zone regulation of no lighter than -3. I hope that you enjoyed reading this article and found it to be informative. I really appreciate you taking the time to read it. Good Luck in the coming season! 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.

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

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The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!