Youth Baseball Travel Teams - The Challenges and Benefits
by Guest Author Jake Wyatt
When your son is asked to join a youth baseball travel team, a parent will feel proud at first. Then reality hits - the cost involved, the weekends away from home, the extra practices required. If your son is good enough to make such a team, how important is it that he actually participate for his future baseball prospects?
Your son will benefit in many ways by competing in a baseball travel team. The fact that he has taken part in this type of team will only affect his future baseball career in that he will improve his skills. But it won't guarantee his high school/college prospects.
So, when deciding whether or not to allow your son to play with a travel baseball team, consider the following positives:
1. Playing with and against a higher caliber player will help your son increase his skills. This is noticeable. If your son has always played Little League, you will be amazed at how much better he will play in a baseball travel team.
2. Teamwork becomes much more important in a travel team. Tournaments may involve several games in a day. The coach has to keep his players fresh and may play different kids on the same day. Players will soon realize that playing every game is not possible.
3. Youth baseball players will learn how to win, and how to lose, more professionally.
4. The play is more aggressive, which will require your son to step up his own game. These are not just fun Saturday afternoon games, these games are played for trophies and rings.
5. Finally, travelling with the team can be a lot of fun for the entire family.
But these positives must be weighed against the negatives:
1. The cost - for hotel rooms, possibly airfare, tournament entry fees. This can all add up to a strain on the family budget. Some of this can and should be mitigated with fundraising.
2. The time - what are your commitments during the travel team's play? Can your son commit to the games even if you can't?
3. Possible parental over-involvement, although my experience with travel teams is that even the parents are more professional.
4. Possible win-at-any-cost coach attitude, which can lead to a bad experience for your son. Make sure you know the coach's style and are comfortable with it.
Allowing your youth baseball player to participate in a baseball travel team can be extremely rewarding and will certainly make him a better baseball player. He may even end up with a special trophy or winner's ring!
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 FREE tips to improve baseball performance, reviews of e-products related to baseball, and links to training resources at http://youth-baseball-training.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Wyatt
------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out these video demos of some of the most popular baseball training products on today's market. Click below and see the Advanced Skills Tee, Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer, and the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine.
--Video of the Advanced Skills Tee is used by a college hitter during a hitting drill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M30Ti00ZaOk
--Baseball Batting Tee - The Advanced Skills Tee - Baseball Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvPoPWa7NU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Youth Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFE150AKDs
--Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer - Demo Tape Shows How the Machine Loads, and Operates During Use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFwoJ8Vh1nU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Machine - Baseball Backyard Batting Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtxZk74y1L4
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - The Backyard Basketball Goal for Baseball Players http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBn9VS9WDI
--Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ0JjILe73k
Tee Ball Baseball Parents will find the TeeBall Parent Blog to be a valuable source for information, tips, and articles related to teaching your child to play baseball. Being a baseball parent carries with it the duties and responsibilities of starting your child off correctly. Teaching your child to hit, throw, field and run can be a fun and exciting family activitiy. Subcribe to the TeeBall Parent Blog and get a better insight and understanding of how to help your child.
Showing posts with label t-ball parents guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label t-ball parents guide. Show all posts
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Bats, Balls & Bladders - Hilarious But True Little League Stories
Bats, Balls & Bladders - Hilarious But True Little League Stories
by Guest Author Doug Rogers
I sat down last night and tried to calculate how many total youth sports games I had attended for my three sons over the years. I'm not sure why I did this. Perhaps I was bored. Or perhaps it was the realization that my youngest son was turning 13, and this phase of our lives would soon be over. It was nearly impossible to calculate, but each of my several estimates carried me close to 1,000 games. Could that really be true? And I didn't even try to guess the number of practices to boot. By any measure it all added up to a large amount of time spent with kids' sports. And the great majority of it was fun.
I suppose when you combine all that time spent at youth sporting events with the basic reality of human nature and emotions, it is statistically unavoidable that one would bear witness to a wide variety of incidents ranging from the most hilarious to the most heart warming to the most shameful. And unfortunately, when I think back on it, I can't help but recollect that it was the adults who were almost universally responsible for every one of the shameful behaviors I witnessed, whereas the kids monopolized ownership of the hilarious and heart warming events. Funny how that worked.
While the shameful behaviors of parents and coaches make for interesting and easy news columns and blog essays, there's plenty of worthwhile entertainment to be had in recounting the hilarious and heart-warming stuff of the kids. Thankfully, these stories outweigh the shameful ones by a large margin. Here's just one that sprang to my mind the other day.
Simon
I had a boy on one of my Little League baseball teams one year whom I'll call Simon. Simon was the quintessential Little Leaguer by my definition. He came early to every game and practice. He was always fully decked out in baseball paraphernalia, with all of the coolest accessories like double-wristed sweat bands, flip-up sunglasses and a large wad of Bazooka gum tucked neatly in the cheek. His spitting ability was second to none, and his knowledge of Major League Baseball statistics and trivia would make Tim McCarver blush. He loved baseball. Unfortunately his athletic skills and coordination did not match his love and passion for the game.
Because of his weaker skills Simon did not qualify for the "major" league and was therefore playing on my "minor" league team with much younger players. He was nearing his last year of eligibility for playing Little League, and Simon had spent his first few years in the league logging a lot of bench time, pulling a lot of right-field-only duty and mostly batting last, if at all sometimes (believe it or not). He had never been on the pitcher's mound except to walk across it on his way to right field. His parents had written to me at the start of the season to say that his experiences in the past were demoralizing and had all but squashed his joy and desire for participating in the game. Their stories of past experiences were unsettling to say the least, and probably cruel by any standards of decency. I assured his parents that Simon had come to the right team this year.
On one particular early spring night we were excited to play a game under the lights on one of the premium fields in town usually reserved for the older players in the "major" league. It would be our team's first game with real infield grass instead of dirt, actual dugouts and a 200' fence outlining the perimeter of the outfield. Cool stuff for a bunch of 9 and 10-year-olds with visions of baseball grandeur still dancing innocently in their heads. And for Simon, it was baseball fantasy brushing against reality as he jogged onto the lush grass field with the giant overhead spotlights illuminating the perfectly manicured diamond. He took the field with his usual professional stride, happily ignoring the probability that any balls hit his way would once again not likely land safely in his glove. To Simon, that was not a devastating concern. Like his errors of the past, if another occurred he would once again shake his head, smack his glove a bit and raise his hand to us coaches as if to signal, "I shoulda' had that one, Coach. But I'll get the next one." And we'd simply give him a thumbs up and yell, "Great try, Simon!" It was a pretty good arrangement; stress free for all of us that way.
Being the true professional he was, I half expected Simon to tip his cap to the dozen or so "fans" as he strode out to his position. One thing was certain, Simon would savor every precious moment of his Little League experience, as long as somebody provided him with the opportunity to do so.
Bats, Balls and Bladders
Unfortunately, as Little League tends to go, our excitement of the big game under the lights began to dwindle around the third inning when the opposing team proceeded to score 10 runs, with no end in sight. I'm sure you know the inning well; walk after walk, error after error, stolen base after stolen base, relief pitcher after relief pitcher. It was painful for all, especially on what turned out to be a freezing cold, misty night. And as if the baseball follies weren't punishing enough, there was yet another side effect from this "Bad News Bear" moment. The inning lasted so long that I started to notice a few of our players in the field squirming, wiggling around and tugging at the crotch of their pants. Suddenly, while my fourth reliever was warming up, our second baseman bolted off the field towards our dugout.
"Coach," he pleaded, "I gotta' go bad."
"Go where?" I responded.
"I gotta' pee so bad," he replied with the look of desperation in his eyes. Darn those 24-ounce Gatorade bottles!
"Alright," I said, "go ahead, but hurry back. This game is taking long enough already." As he took off towards the latrine, the first baseman arrived right behind him.
"Coach, I gotta' pee bad too."
I told him, "Go ahead, but please hurry." Then comes the third baseman as well.
"Coach, can I go too?" he asked.
"Sure, why not?" I said. I was thinking that by the looks of our next pitcher's so-called warm-up pitches, this is going to be the longest inning in Little League history anyway. Hell, I thought, I might as well go myself. At least it's probably warm in the men's room.
As I glanced at my near-empty infield and realized that our only chance for turning a double play would have to take place in front of two urinals and a sink, I also noticed that the opposing coach was becoming annoyed by these further delays. I couldn't figure that one out. I guess he wanted to get on with the resumption of our slaughter before his team lost any momentum. Perhaps a future bench-coach position with the Yankees was hanging in the balance. Who's to know?
To be fair, the inning was dragging on for an eternity. But given the current state of my infield, my biggest concern was who else might be suffering from nature's calling. Back on bladder patrol, I once again scanned the field for more squirming and crotch tugging. Nobody else seemed to be in apparent discomfort, but suddenly I noticed Simon now also jogging to the dugout from the outfield. I met him at the fence and preempted his expected request by saying, "Yes, yes, Simon. You can also go to the bathroom if you have to."
But Simon replied, "No Coach, I don't have to go."
"Then what's the matter, Simon?" I asked.
He said, "I have to come out of the game to rest my eyes."
Rest your eyes?
"The giant spot lights are too bright and they are hurting my eyes. I'm afraid they may damage my retinas." And without waiting for my reply Simon passively took a spot on the bench and calmly removed his wrist bands and flip-up sunglasses. I never even got the chance to ask him why he wore sun glasses to a night game, or - since he did - why he didn't employ them to protect his retinas from spotlight damage. Simon sat down politely in the dugout, opened up a fresh piece of Bazooka and scanned the field with his usual enthusiasm, belting out a few supportive "C'mon guys!" to his teammates whom he still believed could engineer a comeback. Simon was not one to let reality ruin his baseball fantasy. And why should he? That's what baseball's supposed to be at that age.
Seeing Simon so matter-of-factly perched comfortably on the bench, I thought to myself, that was the final kicker. Our team was getting clobbered and the game wasn't half over yet, the night was freezing cold, my entire infield was taking a pee and missing in action (probably warming themselves under the hand dryer), my fourth relief pitcher was busy bouncing balls three feet in front of the plate during warm ups, and now one of my players had ejected himself from the game for fear of going blind.
The coaches and I had no choice but to look at each other in disbelief, and then, burst out laughing. You just can't make this stuff up.
By the way, Simon did finally get the chance to pitch that season for the first time ever. He gave up one walk, one hit and struck a player out. For that moment, for that boy, baseball fantasy became reality. The smile on his face proved it.
Doug Rogers is a retired corporate executive who now devotes his time to speaking and writing about Nice Guys.
http://niceguysfirst.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Rogers
----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Our Sponsor: Nedco Sports - BatAction Hitting Machines
www.BatAction.com
---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
Check out these video demos of some of the most popular baseball training products on today's market. Click below and see the Advanced Skills Tee, Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer, and the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine.
--Video of the Advanced Skills Tee is used by a college hitter during a hitting drill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M30Ti00ZaOk
--Baseball Batting Tee - The Advanced Skills Tee - Baseball Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvPoPWa7NU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Youth Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFE150AKDs
--Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer - Demo Tape Shows How the Machine Loads, and Operates During Use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFwoJ8Vh1nU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Machine - Baseball Backyard Batting Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtxZk74y1L4
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - The Backyard Basketball Goal for Baseball Players http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBn9VS9WDI
--Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ0JjILe73k
by Guest Author Doug Rogers
I sat down last night and tried to calculate how many total youth sports games I had attended for my three sons over the years. I'm not sure why I did this. Perhaps I was bored. Or perhaps it was the realization that my youngest son was turning 13, and this phase of our lives would soon be over. It was nearly impossible to calculate, but each of my several estimates carried me close to 1,000 games. Could that really be true? And I didn't even try to guess the number of practices to boot. By any measure it all added up to a large amount of time spent with kids' sports. And the great majority of it was fun.
I suppose when you combine all that time spent at youth sporting events with the basic reality of human nature and emotions, it is statistically unavoidable that one would bear witness to a wide variety of incidents ranging from the most hilarious to the most heart warming to the most shameful. And unfortunately, when I think back on it, I can't help but recollect that it was the adults who were almost universally responsible for every one of the shameful behaviors I witnessed, whereas the kids monopolized ownership of the hilarious and heart warming events. Funny how that worked.
While the shameful behaviors of parents and coaches make for interesting and easy news columns and blog essays, there's plenty of worthwhile entertainment to be had in recounting the hilarious and heart-warming stuff of the kids. Thankfully, these stories outweigh the shameful ones by a large margin. Here's just one that sprang to my mind the other day.
Simon
I had a boy on one of my Little League baseball teams one year whom I'll call Simon. Simon was the quintessential Little Leaguer by my definition. He came early to every game and practice. He was always fully decked out in baseball paraphernalia, with all of the coolest accessories like double-wristed sweat bands, flip-up sunglasses and a large wad of Bazooka gum tucked neatly in the cheek. His spitting ability was second to none, and his knowledge of Major League Baseball statistics and trivia would make Tim McCarver blush. He loved baseball. Unfortunately his athletic skills and coordination did not match his love and passion for the game.
Because of his weaker skills Simon did not qualify for the "major" league and was therefore playing on my "minor" league team with much younger players. He was nearing his last year of eligibility for playing Little League, and Simon had spent his first few years in the league logging a lot of bench time, pulling a lot of right-field-only duty and mostly batting last, if at all sometimes (believe it or not). He had never been on the pitcher's mound except to walk across it on his way to right field. His parents had written to me at the start of the season to say that his experiences in the past were demoralizing and had all but squashed his joy and desire for participating in the game. Their stories of past experiences were unsettling to say the least, and probably cruel by any standards of decency. I assured his parents that Simon had come to the right team this year.
On one particular early spring night we were excited to play a game under the lights on one of the premium fields in town usually reserved for the older players in the "major" league. It would be our team's first game with real infield grass instead of dirt, actual dugouts and a 200' fence outlining the perimeter of the outfield. Cool stuff for a bunch of 9 and 10-year-olds with visions of baseball grandeur still dancing innocently in their heads. And for Simon, it was baseball fantasy brushing against reality as he jogged onto the lush grass field with the giant overhead spotlights illuminating the perfectly manicured diamond. He took the field with his usual professional stride, happily ignoring the probability that any balls hit his way would once again not likely land safely in his glove. To Simon, that was not a devastating concern. Like his errors of the past, if another occurred he would once again shake his head, smack his glove a bit and raise his hand to us coaches as if to signal, "I shoulda' had that one, Coach. But I'll get the next one." And we'd simply give him a thumbs up and yell, "Great try, Simon!" It was a pretty good arrangement; stress free for all of us that way.
Being the true professional he was, I half expected Simon to tip his cap to the dozen or so "fans" as he strode out to his position. One thing was certain, Simon would savor every precious moment of his Little League experience, as long as somebody provided him with the opportunity to do so.
Bats, Balls and Bladders
Unfortunately, as Little League tends to go, our excitement of the big game under the lights began to dwindle around the third inning when the opposing team proceeded to score 10 runs, with no end in sight. I'm sure you know the inning well; walk after walk, error after error, stolen base after stolen base, relief pitcher after relief pitcher. It was painful for all, especially on what turned out to be a freezing cold, misty night. And as if the baseball follies weren't punishing enough, there was yet another side effect from this "Bad News Bear" moment. The inning lasted so long that I started to notice a few of our players in the field squirming, wiggling around and tugging at the crotch of their pants. Suddenly, while my fourth reliever was warming up, our second baseman bolted off the field towards our dugout.
"Coach," he pleaded, "I gotta' go bad."
"Go where?" I responded.
"I gotta' pee so bad," he replied with the look of desperation in his eyes. Darn those 24-ounce Gatorade bottles!
"Alright," I said, "go ahead, but hurry back. This game is taking long enough already." As he took off towards the latrine, the first baseman arrived right behind him.
"Coach, I gotta' pee bad too."
I told him, "Go ahead, but please hurry." Then comes the third baseman as well.
"Coach, can I go too?" he asked.
"Sure, why not?" I said. I was thinking that by the looks of our next pitcher's so-called warm-up pitches, this is going to be the longest inning in Little League history anyway. Hell, I thought, I might as well go myself. At least it's probably warm in the men's room.
As I glanced at my near-empty infield and realized that our only chance for turning a double play would have to take place in front of two urinals and a sink, I also noticed that the opposing coach was becoming annoyed by these further delays. I couldn't figure that one out. I guess he wanted to get on with the resumption of our slaughter before his team lost any momentum. Perhaps a future bench-coach position with the Yankees was hanging in the balance. Who's to know?
To be fair, the inning was dragging on for an eternity. But given the current state of my infield, my biggest concern was who else might be suffering from nature's calling. Back on bladder patrol, I once again scanned the field for more squirming and crotch tugging. Nobody else seemed to be in apparent discomfort, but suddenly I noticed Simon now also jogging to the dugout from the outfield. I met him at the fence and preempted his expected request by saying, "Yes, yes, Simon. You can also go to the bathroom if you have to."
But Simon replied, "No Coach, I don't have to go."
"Then what's the matter, Simon?" I asked.
He said, "I have to come out of the game to rest my eyes."
Rest your eyes?
"The giant spot lights are too bright and they are hurting my eyes. I'm afraid they may damage my retinas." And without waiting for my reply Simon passively took a spot on the bench and calmly removed his wrist bands and flip-up sunglasses. I never even got the chance to ask him why he wore sun glasses to a night game, or - since he did - why he didn't employ them to protect his retinas from spotlight damage. Simon sat down politely in the dugout, opened up a fresh piece of Bazooka and scanned the field with his usual enthusiasm, belting out a few supportive "C'mon guys!" to his teammates whom he still believed could engineer a comeback. Simon was not one to let reality ruin his baseball fantasy. And why should he? That's what baseball's supposed to be at that age.
Seeing Simon so matter-of-factly perched comfortably on the bench, I thought to myself, that was the final kicker. Our team was getting clobbered and the game wasn't half over yet, the night was freezing cold, my entire infield was taking a pee and missing in action (probably warming themselves under the hand dryer), my fourth relief pitcher was busy bouncing balls three feet in front of the plate during warm ups, and now one of my players had ejected himself from the game for fear of going blind.
The coaches and I had no choice but to look at each other in disbelief, and then, burst out laughing. You just can't make this stuff up.
By the way, Simon did finally get the chance to pitch that season for the first time ever. He gave up one walk, one hit and struck a player out. For that moment, for that boy, baseball fantasy became reality. The smile on his face proved it.
Doug Rogers is a retired corporate executive who now devotes his time to speaking and writing about Nice Guys.
http://niceguysfirst.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Rogers
----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Our Sponsor: Nedco Sports - BatAction Hitting Machines
www.BatAction.com
---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
Check out these video demos of some of the most popular baseball training products on today's market. Click below and see the Advanced Skills Tee, Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer, and the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine.
--Video of the Advanced Skills Tee is used by a college hitter during a hitting drill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M30Ti00ZaOk
--Baseball Batting Tee - The Advanced Skills Tee - Baseball Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvPoPWa7NU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Youth Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFE150AKDs
--Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer - Demo Tape Shows How the Machine Loads, and Operates During Use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFwoJ8Vh1nU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Machine - Baseball Backyard Batting Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtxZk74y1L4
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - The Backyard Basketball Goal for Baseball Players http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBn9VS9WDI
--Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ0JjILe73k
Friday, August 27, 2010
Little League Mayhem?
Youth Baseball: Little League Mayhem?
by Guest Author Will G. Stone
For many of us, summer means spending time outdoors. If you have kids, then it may mean Little League Baseball. I am a firm believer in kids taking part in sports and recreation because it gets them out from in front of the TV and computer and gets them active! A day at the ball park can be a very enjoyable time! Who doesn't love snacking on popcorn and rooting on the kids?
A growing problem at many events is parents who do not know their boundaries. You know the type: they think that they are God's gift to the sport and that the coaches have no idea what they are talking about. They also feel the need to bombard their child and other players with "tips" and "pointers" during the game. Admit it, it drives us all crazy. It is annoying and ruins an otherwise pleasant outing. What can you do about this?
The first thing is to be an example by knowing your boundaries. Honor the authority figures of the event. We teach our children to respect authority, right? We must set the example by allowing the coaches and umpires to do their job. Sure, we may not agree with everything they do, but no one wants to hear our constant criticism either. Come to grips with the fact that you have no control over the game, eat popcorn, and relax.
The second thing we can do is to let our kids have their time. Baseball is a game. It is meant to be fun! Kids cannot have fun when they are receiving "tips" and criticism from many people during the game. This makes them nervous and is counterproductive. Let the kids be kids! Let them play and make mistakes. After all, the outcome of the game is not life or death! Let them enjoy the experience.
The third thing is to boldly confront those around you who do not follow these guidelines. I am not talking about an argument. Speak to the "offending" parent/fan and remind them that it is only a game and to relax. Let them know that they are causing many people not to enjoy themselves by their constant outbursts.
The fourth thing is to love and support your kid's coach. They are spending lots of time with your kid and they may be a very positive influence in their life. Be encouraging and be sure to say thank you every now and then.
Last, but not least, praise your kid! Whether they win or lose, be there to support them. The kid usually knows if they played well or not, so be positive. Take them to their favorite restaurant or surprise them with a treat. Hug them and let them know that you love them and you are proud of them. One more thing: the summertime heat can be miserable. Stay properly hydrated. I hope you and your family enjoy our national pastime! Have a great summer! God bless you.
Will Stone is a former college/semi-pro basketball player who is now involved in the health and fitness industry. He professes Jesus Christ as Lord and is passionate about helping others live healthier lives. Visit his website: http://www.fitwithwill.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_G._Stone
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Our Sponsor: Nedco Sports - BatAction Hitting Machines
www.BatAction.com
---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
Check out these video demos of some of the most popular baseball training products on today's market. Click below and see the Advanced Skills Tee, Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer, and the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine.
--Video of the Advanced Skills Tee is used by a college hitter during a hitting drill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M30Ti00ZaOk
--Baseball Batting Tee - The Advanced Skills Tee - Baseball Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvPoPWa7NU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Youth Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFE150AKDs
--Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer - Demo Tape Shows How the Machine Loads, and Operates During Use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFwoJ8Vh1nU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Machine - Baseball Backyard Batting Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtxZk74y1L4
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - The Backyard Basketball Goal for Baseball Players http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBn9VS9WDI
--Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ0JjILe73k
by Guest Author Will G. Stone
For many of us, summer means spending time outdoors. If you have kids, then it may mean Little League Baseball. I am a firm believer in kids taking part in sports and recreation because it gets them out from in front of the TV and computer and gets them active! A day at the ball park can be a very enjoyable time! Who doesn't love snacking on popcorn and rooting on the kids?
A growing problem at many events is parents who do not know their boundaries. You know the type: they think that they are God's gift to the sport and that the coaches have no idea what they are talking about. They also feel the need to bombard their child and other players with "tips" and "pointers" during the game. Admit it, it drives us all crazy. It is annoying and ruins an otherwise pleasant outing. What can you do about this?
The first thing is to be an example by knowing your boundaries. Honor the authority figures of the event. We teach our children to respect authority, right? We must set the example by allowing the coaches and umpires to do their job. Sure, we may not agree with everything they do, but no one wants to hear our constant criticism either. Come to grips with the fact that you have no control over the game, eat popcorn, and relax.
The second thing we can do is to let our kids have their time. Baseball is a game. It is meant to be fun! Kids cannot have fun when they are receiving "tips" and criticism from many people during the game. This makes them nervous and is counterproductive. Let the kids be kids! Let them play and make mistakes. After all, the outcome of the game is not life or death! Let them enjoy the experience.
The third thing is to boldly confront those around you who do not follow these guidelines. I am not talking about an argument. Speak to the "offending" parent/fan and remind them that it is only a game and to relax. Let them know that they are causing many people not to enjoy themselves by their constant outbursts.
The fourth thing is to love and support your kid's coach. They are spending lots of time with your kid and they may be a very positive influence in their life. Be encouraging and be sure to say thank you every now and then.
Last, but not least, praise your kid! Whether they win or lose, be there to support them. The kid usually knows if they played well or not, so be positive. Take them to their favorite restaurant or surprise them with a treat. Hug them and let them know that you love them and you are proud of them. One more thing: the summertime heat can be miserable. Stay properly hydrated. I hope you and your family enjoy our national pastime! Have a great summer! God bless you.
Will Stone is a former college/semi-pro basketball player who is now involved in the health and fitness industry. He professes Jesus Christ as Lord and is passionate about helping others live healthier lives. Visit his website: http://www.fitwithwill.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_G._Stone
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
Just Beginning Youth Sports? Two Questions to Consider
Just Beginning Youth Sports? Two Questions to Consider
By Guest Author Greg A. Marshall
If you are the coach of a youth team (or planning to be one), you should share these thoughts with the parents on your team. You may want to prepare a handout with your coaching philosophies and distribute them at your pre-season team meeting.
Before a parent signs a up a child to participate in a youth sports activity, the parent must answer a couple of questions about the child's role in the activity as well as his own
A. Make sure your child is ready for Youth Sports.
Obviously, this is the most fundamental element of whether you and your child enjoy the youth sports experience. Many children play sports simply because their parents want them to play. Children WANT to please their parents, so naturally they will usually do what their parents wish whether they want to or not.
Ask yourself:
1."Does my child even WANT to play an organized sport?"
2. Is he/she physically/mentally ready for an organized sport?
If the answer to either of these questions is no, it is better to wait until next year, simply because of the level of interest and safety concerns.
B. Assuming your child is ready and wants to play, what must you, as a parent do to help get them ready to play?
Long before the first practice, spend some time in preparation. Begin by making the experience a fun and learning one. The best way is to begin teaching without the child even realizing that he or she is being taught - so it doesn't become "work." For example, to get ready for the baseball season, indulge in the pure enjoyment of "having a catch" with your child. This is great fun for you and your child, and will lay the foundation for many enjoyable hours later on. In "having a catch," you are teaching the proper way to catch and throw the ball. As your child's skill level improves, you (and they) will begin making more difficult throws and catches.
In addition to "having a catch," playing "wiffle ball" is a great (and inexpensive) way to begin developing batting skills. Developing the hand/eye skills necessary for batting is vital to success and satisfaction. Take a moment at the outset to demonstrate the proper grip, batting stance and swing. Don't allow yourself to become frustrated if it takes awhile for your child to grasp the concepts you present. That is the surest way to kill the desire to learn.
Whatever you do, give lots of praise and encouragement when warranted. The surest way to speed up the learning process is to praise when your young player gives solid effort and executes a procedure well. They will work extra hard to earn more praise. If they struggle, take a break, get a treat, and come back later. Sometimes a little time off does wonders.
Greg A. Marshall is the creator of Teeball-To-A-Tee.com, a unique website offering excellent teaching and coaching tools for coaches and parents of very young baseball enthusiasts. The resources on the website are designed for the parent or prospective youth coach who is overwhelmed at the prospect of starting from scratch. The website and materials offered are full of practical advice to help youth coaches from the very first day of practice. http://www.teeball-to-a-tee.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_A._Marshall
================================================================
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Blog4Coaches.com
WildSportsVideos.com
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YouthBaseballDigest.com
LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
By Guest Author Greg A. Marshall
If you are the coach of a youth team (or planning to be one), you should share these thoughts with the parents on your team. You may want to prepare a handout with your coaching philosophies and distribute them at your pre-season team meeting.
Before a parent signs a up a child to participate in a youth sports activity, the parent must answer a couple of questions about the child's role in the activity as well as his own
A. Make sure your child is ready for Youth Sports.
Obviously, this is the most fundamental element of whether you and your child enjoy the youth sports experience. Many children play sports simply because their parents want them to play. Children WANT to please their parents, so naturally they will usually do what their parents wish whether they want to or not.
Ask yourself:
1."Does my child even WANT to play an organized sport?"
2. Is he/she physically/mentally ready for an organized sport?
If the answer to either of these questions is no, it is better to wait until next year, simply because of the level of interest and safety concerns.
B. Assuming your child is ready and wants to play, what must you, as a parent do to help get them ready to play?
Long before the first practice, spend some time in preparation. Begin by making the experience a fun and learning one. The best way is to begin teaching without the child even realizing that he or she is being taught - so it doesn't become "work." For example, to get ready for the baseball season, indulge in the pure enjoyment of "having a catch" with your child. This is great fun for you and your child, and will lay the foundation for many enjoyable hours later on. In "having a catch," you are teaching the proper way to catch and throw the ball. As your child's skill level improves, you (and they) will begin making more difficult throws and catches.
In addition to "having a catch," playing "wiffle ball" is a great (and inexpensive) way to begin developing batting skills. Developing the hand/eye skills necessary for batting is vital to success and satisfaction. Take a moment at the outset to demonstrate the proper grip, batting stance and swing. Don't allow yourself to become frustrated if it takes awhile for your child to grasp the concepts you present. That is the surest way to kill the desire to learn.
Whatever you do, give lots of praise and encouragement when warranted. The surest way to speed up the learning process is to praise when your young player gives solid effort and executes a procedure well. They will work extra hard to earn more praise. If they struggle, take a break, get a treat, and come back later. Sometimes a little time off does wonders.
Greg A. Marshall is the creator of Teeball-To-A-Tee.com, a unique website offering excellent teaching and coaching tools for coaches and parents of very young baseball enthusiasts. The resources on the website are designed for the parent or prospective youth coach who is overwhelmed at the prospect of starting from scratch. The website and materials offered are full of practical advice to help youth coaches from the very first day of practice. http://www.teeball-to-a-tee.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_A._Marshall
================================================================
Thanks to our sponsors:
BattingCagesDirect.com
XtenderbattingCages.com
HurricaneMachine.com
QuickSwingTrainer.com
AdvancedSkillsTee.com
Suggested Links:
RottenSports.com
RottenCoaches.com
Blog4Coaches.com
WildSportsVideos.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
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