Youth Baseball Coaching Clinic Official Blog

Welcome to the official blog of the Youth Baseball Coaching Clinic. Our blog features free youth baseball articles and daily posts on every aspect of coaching youth baseball including youth baseball practice organization, youth baseball practice drills for youth baseball, youth baseball coaching tips and baseball strategy for coaching kids. Make sure to save this site to your favorites. You will want to visit our site regularly because we update daily. Good Luck to You and Your Team!



Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Learn Baseball Hitting - Baseball Practice Plans

By Guest Author: Tracy Young

When you set for baseball practice plans, there should be an outline of the activities that you and your team are going to undergo. What is important there is to use the same routine during each practice but with a variety of drills. You must take note that practice lengths and frequency of practice will vary according to age of the players.

Click Here For Learn Baseball Hitting Instant Access Now!

The baseball practice plans should include the warm up, base running, throwing, stations and team work activities. The warm up exercises include slow jogging, stretching of legs, stretching of torso and stretching of arms. These exercises should all have 10 minutes duration. Base running exercises include infield hit, round first, run for a double and run for a triple. All should be done in 10 minutes duration. Do take note that after each sprint to a base you must jog back to home plate.

Practice throwing is done by two players; with one partner on the foul line and the other in the outfield. These should have 10 minute duration as well. The stations have a total of 40 minutes, with 10 minutes for each. These exercises are the ground balls, the pop ups or fly balls, hitting on field or in batting cages and fielding balls hit by batter or hitting off of batting tees. The ground ball and fly ball stations need to be outside of the playing field if the players are hitting on the baseball diamond.

The team work exercises include scrimmage, cut offs or relays, run downs, pitching drills, base stealing and base running or tagging up etc. This activity has 50-minutes duration.

These baseball routines are very essential for players to master. A lot of practice is what a player needs to perfect the skills in a baseball game. And another important thing to remember when practicing is to always employ the correct form.

Click Here For Learn Baseball Hitting Instant Access Now!

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Tracy Young - About the Author:

This author writes about Learn Baseball

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/learn-baseball-hitting-baseball-practice-plans-2354322.html#ixzz0sLmUrU2S
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution


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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Youth baseball coach sued by family of 12-year-old player

This is a bummer of a story..but all youth coaches should know and realize the reality of today's world.



Story Line...

"It was very, very stressful — the lawsuit itself and waiting for the lawsuit to come to trial. The whole thing really didn't make a lot of sense."

Mike Meissner coached a youth baseball team in North Carolina for sixteen years. "I think I've made a difference in some kids' lives," he says. He sought to teach his players not only about the game but about sportsmanship and being a good loser. But, when he thinks back on those sixteen years, the first thing that comes to mind is not the positive lessons he imparted upon his players -- it is the lawsuit.

One Saturday during a pop fly drill, a player dove for a ball. The sun got in his eyes, the boy said, and, instead of landing in his glove, the ball hit him in the mouth. The players family sued Mike and the league.

"When I first heard about it," says Marion Mayes, director of a nearby youth league in North Carolina, "I was kind of shocked because of the fact that that's just normal play."

The plaintiffs alleged that Mike had been negligent in conducting his drill. The lawsuit dragged on for years before going to trial. "It was very, very stressful," Mike said.

At first, the plaintiffs named Mike as a defendant personally. After about a year, he was dropped from the case, but he was still subject to extensive depositions and trial preparations as the lawyers prepared to argue the plaintiffs' claim that the league was responsible for Mike's alleged negligence.

Finally, a jury decided that Mike was not negligent in conducting his pop fly drill that day.

Though he was eventually vindicated, the lawsuit still taints Mike's memories of the many years he spent as a volunteer coach.

"What you don't need is something like this discouraging people from the thought of going out and helping other children," he says.

This video is part of the FacesOfLawsuitAbuse.org campaign.



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Monday, June 28, 2010

Baseball Hitting Tips - The Top 11

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Baseball Hitting Tips - The Top 11
By Guest Author Jeffery A Wise

How many articles have you read that contain the top 10 baseball hitting tips? There are actually dozens of hitting tips but I'm going to go over the top 11. It's time to rev things up and give you some high level tips that will help you immediately.

Baseball is a thinking man's game so you really need to read these tips and think about them before running out to the field and trying them out. You should also visualize yourself putting these tips to action and then you're ready to hit.

Be a confident hitter. Every time you go up to bat you should have the confidence that you can hit any ball in the strike zone. Be patient and always be ready to attack the ball.

Know your mission. Every time you go up to bat you need a mission. Is there a runner on third base that you need to get home? Is there a runner on second base with no one out that you need to get over to third? Be mentally prepared for your mission.

Know the strike zone. Be patient and disciplined and wait for a good pitch to hit in the strike zone. If you do that the pitchers will be less likely to throw you anything out of the strike zone that you might otherwise chase.

Have consistent hitting preparation. Whether you're on the bench waiting for your turn to hit or on deck, always have good mental preparation. Check the pitcher out and see how he pitches and look to see what kind of pitches he's throwing. Look at where all the fielders are positioned and understand the best you can the kind of calls the umpire is making.

Find a comfortable hitting stance. The key is to be as comfortable as possible in the batters box. Find foot positioning that is right for you. If you are uncomfortable in the box then it will mess with your head and your other mechanics will be off.

Strive for a consistent swing. Whether the ball is pitched outside or inside, be sure to keep the same smooth swing. You may need to adjust your timing or what part of the zone you swing at, but never change your swing.

Shake slumps quickly. Nobody likes to be in a hitting slump but even the pros have them every now and then. Avoid the mental slumps by never doubting yourself at the plate. If you're striking out a lot it's because you're swinging at bad pitches. Try and be more selective.

Hitting zones. Know the different types of hitting zones and master them, whether it's the back of the plate, middle of the plate or front half of the plate.

There's more to hitting than just home runs. Try to be a consistent hitter and hit to all fields. This will make the defense play you honestly. There are many other things to do in hitting than home runs. Hit and run, bunts, opposite field hitting and more.

The final two tips I have are to recognize each pitch that is thrown and remember that each spot in the lineup has a purpose, whether it's leadoff, cleanup or the number 9 spot.

Jeffery A Wise invites you to learn the proven system of baseball hitting tips so that you can learn how to hit a baseball better. Start learning today at http://www.baseballhittingtipsonline.com by reading our information and downloading our free report.

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

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Friday, June 25, 2010

Five Drills to Do When Hitters Pull Their Head


Five Drills to Do When Hitters Pull Their Head
By Guest Author Jack Perconte

One of the most common hitting problems involves hitters taking their eye off the ball before making contact. Solving this problem is rarely as simple as just telling a hitter to "Keep your eye on the ball" or saying, "See the ball hit the bat." Usually, hitters pull their head and subsequently their eyes off the ball because of an incorrect hip turn or having a long arm swing, failing to use their hands and forearms.

Having said that, there are some good hitting drills that baseball coaches can have their players do that will help ballplayers keep their eye on the ball. Also, by controlling their head throughout the swing, it will help all the other hitting fundamentals, which is an added bonus of these drills.

Head Control Drills that will help hitters keep their eyes on the ball:

1. During batting practice, place an object to the opposite side of home plate from where the hitter stands and a few feet in front of home plate. This object (player's glove, pop can, etc...) should be in line with hitter's eyes at contact with the ball. The object of drill is to have batters keep their eyes on this object after contact is made and until the completion of their swing.

2. Along the same lines and when performing tee, flips or dropped ball drills have the coach, who is standing off to the side, flash a number down with his fingers immediately after contact. The hitter is required to read the number before looking for the hit ball.

3. Behind the hitter flips are great for keeping a hitters head in on the ball. The coach kneels a safe distance behind the hitter where the catcher usually is and the coach flips balls forward into the hitting zone. Hitters watch the ball being released from the coach's hand and swings when the ball reaches the hitting zone. With this ball coming from behind, it will force the hitter to keep their head and eyes on the ball.

4. Writing a decent size number on a few baseballs during batting practice and having hitters try to read the numbers when hitting is also a good drill. This can be extremely challenging, of course, but will make the point of how well hitter's need to watch the ball.

5. It is important to realize that balance comes from the hitter's head. Practicing hitting on a balance beam or similar balancing object, can greatly help hitters keep their eye on the ball, as well as helping all swing fundamentals.

Finally, a habit that I use to incorporate in major league baseball was to watch the ball all the way to the catcher's glove on pitches that I did not swing at. Baseball coaches should teach young hitters to do that also. It will help them keep their eye on the ball when they do swing as well, which is the obvious goal.

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

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Thursday, June 24, 2010

Baseball Practice Planning Tips and Sample Baseball Practice Schedule

Baseball Practice Planning Tips and Sample Baseball Practice Schedule
By Nick Dixon

The word is PLAN

There are many four letter words that baseball coaches know, but few are as important as the word for today, PLAN. 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. In part one I discussed the important of the word Goal and the importance of setting a goal to drive a team toward success.

The Baseball Coaches four letter word of today is P-L-A-N:

Planning is one of the most important responsibilities of a head baseball coach is planning. Planning is organization. Planning is delegation of duties and responsibilities to your assistants. You must plan every practice. You must plan your season. You must have a game plan going into every game. Planning practice after you start is a sign of bad coaching. If the team has practice at 3:00 PM, and the head coach turns to the assistant coaches as the team is warming up, and says, Well, guys what do you think we need to do today? A team with a coach like this is destined to have a difficult year. The coach is not organized and does not have the dedication to do his coaching homework at home before he arrive at the field. Have a plan and a schedule before you arrive at the field. The practice plan should be in the can! Planning as you go will waste valuable practice time that will never be recovered. It is extremely important to have a daily practice schedule written down. You must decide on each practice activity for that day, the assigned amount of time to be spent doing each drill or activity, and the objective or reason for doing the activity. A written practice schedule is a must! You practice plan must be detailed, easy to read, and easy to understand. Your practice plan begins with the first minute of practice and ends with the last minute. Every minute is scheduled. Include breaks and transition times from one activity to the next. You should write out the practice plan, run copies, and give each coach a copy. The schedule will have time slots, each coach drills and duties, and location of each activity.

A sample practice plan:

3:00 to 3:12 Team Stretch and Warm-up

3:12 to 3:27 PFP (Pitching Fielding Practice)

3:30 to 3:45 Outfield Drill Work & Infielder Drill Work

3:45 to 4:00 Team Defense, Infield, and Outfield Cuts

4:00 to 4:45 Team Batting Practice

(4 Groups, 4 Station, 12 Minutes and Rotate to the next station

-Station 1 On-field Batting Practice -Station 2 Batting Cage Work -Station 3 Bunt Station -Station 4 Tee & Soft-toss

4:45 to 4:55 Break

4:55 to 5:15 21 Outs Drill

5:15 to 5:25 Base running Drills/Conditioning

Coaching Note:

6 Pitchers will throw after practice bullpens. List Names. The greatest difficulty in having a practice schedule is staying on time. You must have a set rule that when drill time is up, the drill ends. If the drill was performed so bad that it needs to be done again, it will be done over after practice. Always have a coaches meeting after each practice to discuss what the staff has to say about the day practice. You also need to ask what they think the next practice schedule should cover. Listen to your assistants and consider what they say when you make out your next practice plan. Another part of having a plan is the delegating of responsibilities. You can not do it all. Recruit some good volunteer coaches to help you.

Good coaches always delegate task and duties to assistant coaches. Let certain coaches work with certain positions. One of the crucial assignments on every team is the position of pitching coach. You must have a coach that oversees pitching practice, bullpen work, and that calls the pitches during the game. Another important role is that of the team hitting coach. The hitting coach is often the offensive coordinator and 3rd base coach. This coach oversees all batting drills, batting practice and base running practice. Organize you pregame routine. Plan it, write it down, and make sure every coach know it by heart. Have a set time when you start stretching and warming up. Have a set time that you take pregame defensive infield and outfield warm-up. a set time that players may have 3 minutes to go to the restroom if they need to. Have a set time that you have a team huddle. Plan what you are going to say during this team moment. Having a plan is having a purpose, a time, and a place for everything and everyone.

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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The Delayed Steal in Little League Baseball


The Delayed Steal in Little League Baseball
By Guest Author: Marty Schupak

The delayed steal is one of the better strategic and fun plays in youth baseball. Players on your team will love this when it works correctly. It is an aggressive way of advancing to an extra base. It is a strategy that should be practiced, but is unfortunately disregarded by many coaches. And though it is not full proof, I'll go over some key things to look for to keep the odds in your favor of succeeding. Let's go through the key indicators for the delayed steal to succeed.

As a coach, there are usually three key indicators I look for to determine if we should try the delayed steal. Any one, two, or all three that a coach observes being done, plus, depending who the base runner is, will determine if the coach should attempt the delayed steal. The first thing and probably the most important thing to look for is to see where the pitcher stands to retrieve the ball when there is a man on base. If the pitcher stands on the spot where he released the ball or goes back to the top of the mound to retrieve the ball from the catcher, this is a great indicator for a possible delayed steal. The further the pitcher is from the catcher when retrieving the ball, the more time the base runner has to steal a base. The second thing we look for is if the catcher drops to his knees when he throws the ball back to the pitcher with a man on base. The catcher that drops to his knees will not have a lot on the ball, and it is not moving very "speed like" back to the pitcher. This will also give the base runner more time to get to the next base. The third thing we look for, similar to the pervious, is if the catcher throws a rainbow type of throw back to the pitcher instead of a line drive. The looping throw, just like throwing from his knees, will not have a lot on the ball. Now, in a lot of situations you will have a catcher who does both, throws from his knees and also throws rainbows back to the pitcher. This is really a great advantage.

The base runner is also a determining factor. Youth coaches must be able to grasp the fact that the fastest player on your team is not necessarily your best base runner. I've had players that were among the fastest in the league but were not great base runners. Conversely, I've had players with only above average speed who were terrific base runners, and at 11 and 12 years old, had instincts beyond their age.
The job of the base runner is to not make his move too obvious to the other team. He kind of sneaks off the base in a subtle manner with his knees bent, and once he sees the catcher let go of the ball, he should turn toward the base he is running to, and once it is within reach, he must slide.

We practice the delayed steal at almost each practice. When your team gets a reputation for doing this, other teams will become very aware and make certain adjustments. This isn't to say that as a team after a few games with successful delayed steals, you shouldn't try it. But you should pick and chose your moment. Another residual benefit is that spending time practicing this will make your players pay more attention to the field of play when they are on base and this can result in getting extra bases via an overthrow from the catcher to the pitcher or a wild pitch.
The delayed steal is one of the more exciting plays that will help your team gain base running awareness and result in getting extra base running. But this must be practiced rather then just instructed your team to do it during the game.

http://www.YouthSportsClub.com

Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 18 years and is the video creator of "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice", "Backyard Baseball Drills","Winning Baseball Strategies","Hitting Drills & Techniques" and author of the popular book, "Youth Baseball Drills". He is also President of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.

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

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Top Four Tips For Game Day Hitting in Youth Baseball



Coaching Hitting in Youth Baseball
By Guest Author: Mike Xavier

The serious players on your youth baseball all star or travel teams spend endless hours on their hitting. Personal hitting coaches and batting cages at their homes are the norm. With all of this technical training and repetition, game day hitting can be successfully simplified with the following four tips.

The first step is to have your players relax and trust in the hard work they have put in. Central to relaxing is to make sure they breath. Upon observing your players closely, you will discover that a substantial number are not breathing. A quick reminder of this will yield great results especially when the game is on the line.

Next is for them to choose the right pitch. The quality of their at bats is directly related to the quality of their decisions. Take the time to teach them to master the knowledge of the strike zone. This fundamental of the game is crucial for your players to have game day success.

The third tip is to understand to focus on things that they can control and on game day that is a good swing with hard contact. If they choose to swing, what happens (i.e. hard contact, swing and miss, weak grounder)? Baseball has been around for over a hundred years so the positions are set to where the majority of the balls will be hit. All the player can control is hitting the ball hard. If that happens, but he gets out because it is hit right at somebody, that is still a good job.

The ability of making adjustments is the next game day hitting tip to master. This applies to all areas potentially needing adjustment such as the umpire is calling a ball and a half off the plate a strike or an opposing pitcher throwing with a lot of pace or no pace at all. They need to be able to recognize and adjust pitch by pitch. In the instance of the umpire calling an outside pitch a strike, get up to the plate and deal with it (versus just complaining about it and striking out). Another adjustment is changing your players approach when they have two strikes which would be a ball in play keeping a larger strike so nothing gets past them.

With your players focused on relaxing, making good decisions, spending their energy on what they control and developing their ability to make adjustments, they will achieve a tremendous amount of success hitting. This will become contagious with your entire line up and your team will be on the way to a championship.

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

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Monday, June 21, 2010

Youth Baseball Base Running
at the Championship Level


Coaching Youth Baseball Base Running
By Guest Author: Mike Xavier

Base running is one of the quickest areas to address to bring your youth baseball team to the championship level. Hustle has nothing to do with talent or skill so all players on your roster can bring something to the table.

Championship base running is centered around four main factors, that when combined, are extremely intimidating to your opponents and thrusts your team to the next level of base running.

The first factor is the Hard 90 (or 60, 70 or 80 depending on the length of your base paths). It does not matter if your player has smashed a screaming grounder or it was a dribbler back to the pitcher, they always hustle through first base at full speed. This sets the tone that your team is here to play and also applies to a batter being walked or hit by a pitch.

Next it is critical your players understand that they must play aggressive, but at the same time be calm enough to listen. There are several drills you can utilize to hammer this point home as they run the bases hard, but listen to your direction as to either slide at the next base, keep running or return back diving to the base they just came from.

Baseball is a game played two bases at a time (that is why second base is scoring position) which brings you to the third main factor, running the bases two at a time. This only works if your players mentally understand that they need to run hard from first to third or second to home and get stopped by the coach. It does not work running from first to second, hesitate and then run to third. Your player will be out the majority of the time.

The last item to teach your squad on the overview of base running is they are responsible for their own decisions and act on those decisions. The split seconds saved by a player choosing to go from first to third on a ball that is front of them or tagging up and leaving on their own judgment (instead of being told by the coach) will always yield more runs. They end up being safe by two steps rather than being thrown out by two steps.

There are several technical factors to teach your boys about base running, but the understanding of these four critical factors will place them well ahead of their peers and scoring a lot of runs including those close runs that win tight ball games.

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

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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Baseball Training Aids Can Be Costly

Baseball Training Aids Can Be Costly
By Guest Author: Joseph Harrison Jr

Baseball training aids can be costly and not assist the player being taught the game. This is because a lot of people attempt to make money off America's game because it is so popular. Everyone involved in the game should remember that a lot coaches and training aids are there to make money and do not have enough experience to teach the game of baseball.

The most important part of coaching is to know the basics of throwing, pitching, catching and hitting. When these basics are overlooked, the performance of the player suffers and a lot of money is wasted on inappropriate instruction. Each position on the field has different techniques that have to be considered and taught.

Beginning players need to know the basic techniques and master those techniques before moving on to advanced skills. Spending a lot of money on personal coaching or training aids that does not improve the performance of the player on the field will only frustrate the player.

Even if the coach has played on the highest levels of baseball, it does not mean that they have mastered the art of teaching the game to others. When someone spends a lot of money on something, then they expect to see the results. This includes personnel coaching.

It is important for the coach or training equipment to be qualified to teach baseball. This is easily done with research or inquiring from others who have used the coach or equipment before. When it comes to money for lessons, then individuals should pay attention to the value they will get from the expense.

Many non-experienced coaches are out there to just make a few bucks and are not passionate about the performance of their students. No one performs better when being taught by someone or something that does not have the experience, knowledge and proven results.

Each league that decides on who will coach each team will have to consider the experience of the coach. This is not a simple task and should be taken seriously by the board of the league. If the wrong coach is found for a team the players will be disheartened or become frustrated.

The baseball training aids involved in teaching young players should always be the most experienced and qualified individuals found and not just people who are willing to volunteer. The league should teach the coaches as much as instruct the players to make the game of baseball enjoyable for everyone involved.

I am Joseph Harrison, a baseball coach since 20 years ago. I love baseball since I am young, especially the feeling when you know you will absolutely crush the ball. Training your kid to gain interest in baseball will benefit him from both mentally and physically. In with he will gain team spirit, learn how to cope with teammates, and at the same time train up his physical, and concentration (to have good eye and hand coordination and the ability to use both at once). Go through my article and you will know all the benefits of baseball.

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

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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Secrets to Coaching Youth Baseball


By Stephen K Reynolds

Coaching Youth Baseball is a great experience for men and women to be involved in. One of the awesome things about being involved in it is the opportunity to be around young people and motivate them to be their best.

There are tons of books and materials on youth baseball so i wont try to re-invent the wheel here.
I just want to hit on some things that need to mentioned. Keep it simple!! The majority of reasons why teams aren't as good as they could be is because they don't do the simple things!

Coaches want to be smart and try to employ strategies that are just to sophisticated for young players especially for 9-10 year olds. Stick to the basics ground ball practice, fly balls, throwing fundamentals, basis pitching mechanics.

Incorporate games into the drills that way kids can see the result of why they need to use a technique correctly. Keep it light and fun that way your players keep coming back for more.

Remember long after the games are over the players will remember how they were treated, not what the score was!! Here is one for you Dads... Your Son or daughter will never be as good as you Thought you were!

Another important key is using stations, less standing around. lets face it there is never enough time as it is. The secret is to make good use of your time while you have your players.

Bottom line have fun with this great game and enjoy your time with the players it goes by very quickly!!

Stephen K Reynolds is publisher of the LSR Unlimted "Free" newsletter which focuses on helping newcomers and seasoned pros learn the secrets to marketing in the ever changing world of the internet! For more information on this e-mail lsrwealth@gmail.com

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Monday, June 14, 2010

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There is More to Baseball Training Than Simply Youth Baseball Drills


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Youth Baseball Coaching Tips
By Joseph Harrison Jr

Many new coaches would like nothing more than to simply jump right in with both feet and begin having their team play the game without teaching them youth baseball drills. Of course, this can simply be the absolutely worse thing coach can do.

As a coach, it takes hard work and even harder work to come up with a practice game plan. Going in completely unprepared is basically setting both you and your team up for a big fall. First of all, there are numerous places that a coach can explore to find drills to teach their team. And, there are many different drills out there that a coach can employ too. Therefore, specific drills cannot be stressed enough. But, with younger children, especially concentrate on the three main areas which are namely hitting, catching, and base running.

When using or creating drills that pertain to hitting, certain aspects will need to be considered. Items such as the player's stance, their swing, and even what they do with their feet are all equally important and must be addressed.

Keep their stance as wide as their shoulders and this will be a good start. This will allow the younger player to be able to balance properly as well as comfortably. Show them not only how to hold the bat, but also explain why they need to hold the bat a certain way.

When exploring these aspects, there is a drill that can be quite useful. It is primarily a way for both you as well as the player to be able to understand their swing. Stand on the mound and pretend like you are pitching to the player in the batting box. Go through the wind up and the pitch. The player is then expected to pretend like they are hitting the ball. All the while, maintain and stress the importance of the player being aware of how they are actually swinging the bat. This ensures that the player will see where they will need improvement.

Running the bases can be the fun part of learning the game of baseball. And, it may even allow the player the chance to get dirty too.

Certain drills are able to teach the finer points of base running. One very good drill is to have all the players line up at home plate and subsequently run after the coach calls out the type of hit that was made. For example, by calling out a single, the base runner would be expected to stop at first base. While a double would have them running to second base and so on and so forth. This can open a door for explaining the importance of how the player should turn after getting past first base and can even include a sliding drill on the other bases.

Catching a little white ball is not as easy as it seems, especially for younger players. The youngest players are usually quite afraid of getting hit with the ball and they will have a tendency to avoid any throws. This problem can probably be solved by one single drill. Have the player stand a short distance from you and easily toss the ball back and forth. While tossing the ball, explain how to properly hold the glove and to always watch the ball. Before long, the young player will gain confidence and will eventually lose their fright of getting hit with the ball altogether. Basically, they will realize that they are actually able to catch it and they will certainly do so.

Many younger players are quite familiar with the art of playing baseball. But, by using youth baseball drills, this can only improve.

I am Joseph Harrison, a baseball coach since 20 years ago. I love baseball since I am young, especially the feeling when you know you will absolutely crush the ball. Training your kid to gain interest in baseball will benefit him from both mentally and physically. In with he will gain team spirit, learn how to cope with teammates, and at the same time train up his physical, and concentration (to have good eye and hand coordination and the ability to use both at once). Go through my article and you will know all the benefits of baseball.

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

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Friday, June 11, 2010

Baseball Coaching Tip - How to best use your time.

Wasting time is something that baseball coaches should avoid. There is nothing more precious to a player, to parents, or to assistant coaches than time. Time spent at the baseball field must be considered valuable or constructive time. We are coaches because we love the game and we want to help young players grow up to great adults. We help nuture that process by teaching good morals, good values, and good habits. There is no more important thing for a kid to learn than the value of time and the importance of always being punctual.

The key to showing that you value someones time is to have your team practices, meeting, and other acitivites planned and organized.

Here are my 10 tips for showing the value of time:
1. Be punctual at all times. If a practice is schedule to start at 3:00. You should start it eactly at 3:00. Not one minute arly or one minute late. If the practice is set to end at 5:00, end the practice on time. A coach that is constantly running practices over is showing little regard for time and family life. If you do not end it on time. Why should you start it one time. You running a practice is not different than a player arriving 10 minutes late.
2. Stop drills when the alloted time is up. Do not run over.
3. Do not waste practice time having coaching conference. Have your coaching meeting after practice or 30 minutes before practice.
4. Have a practice schedule. Have every minute accounted for and planned. Use odd minutes in drills such as 7.5 minutes. This emphasizes the value of time.
5. Have agenda for team meetings. If you have a team meeting without a purpose or agenda, you may be wasting time. If you have a team meeting and ramble on and on talking in “circles”, you are wasting valuable time.
6. Have a designated place in the dougout for each player’s belongings. Make sure every players name or number is clearly visible on their glove, batting glove and bat. This saves time when a players has to find a glove, a bag, or a bat.
7. Do not talk through the fence with a parent or friend during practice. Kids should not do it and coaches should not either. You are showing a definite lack of respect for practice time. Make sure that you make it known that you will not have discussions or converstations with anyone during practice time.
8. Set all training equipment up before practice. Do not wate valuable practice time assembling, locating, or moving practice equipment.
9. Always disassemble and pack the training equipment up after the designated practice time is over. Do not waste valuable practice time packing way equipment.
10. Do not talk all night after a game. Set a time limit to post-game or post-practice meetings. If you can not say it in 5 minutes, they are not going to remember it anyway. Younger kids are going to “turn you off” after about 5 minutes. Save some of your talk for the beginning of your next practice.

Baseball Hitting Tips - Taking a Proper Stride


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Baseball Hitting Tips - Taking a Proper Stride
By Hunter Sendefer

For a young baseball player, one of the most difficult parts of a swing to master is the stride. The stride, however, is one of the most important aspects of the swing because not only does it help with the hitter's timing, but it also helps to generate power. Therefore, it is vital that a baseball coach helps the hitter to isolate each part of the stride and understand what the most important aspects of the stride entail.

For this drill, all that is needed is a bat and a helmet. This is a great way to start off a batting practice because you can coach the player before any balls are thrown. You can then incorporate balls into it once the hitter has mastered the stride, which will allow him or her to see the results of taking a proper stride immediately.

To start this drill, have the hitter line up in his or her batting stance, just like he or she would do in a game. The coach will then go into a windup and throw a simulated pitch. The player will then coil and stride, without completing the swing. He or she is to freeze once the stride has been taken to see where his or her body ends up during this process.

The first thing that you are looking for in this case is a proper distribution of weight. If too much weight has gone forward at this point, the hitter will end up lunging for the ball, which will lead to a weakly hit ball or a swinging strike. The weight will come forward when the hips are turned but during the stride, most of the weight should still be back.

Secondly, you will want to look at the hitter's hands. At this point in the process, the hands should still be back and they should not have dropped. The hands will come through the strike zone as the hips drive through but at this stage, the hands should still be back.

The body should also remain in the same alignment as the original stance. Many players begin bending their knees at this point in the swing, which can throw the body's entire alignment off. This leads to the player swinging through the ball, as he or she cannot readjust to make up for the bent knees.

The player's head should also be at the same height, which goes hand in hand with not bending the knees. In addition, the back should remain in the same alignment, so you are basically attempting to keep the body as still as possible while you take your stride. The more movement that they player has, the more likely he or she is to end up misaligned, which will produce an ineffective swing.

Have your players repeat this drill until they are able to produce the exact stride that you want to see. Have the players step out of the batter's box before each stride and receive a sign from the third base coach. That way, a proper stride will become a part of their routine and can be incorporated into every swing.

The author is a baseball enthusiast and frequent writer for http://www.batting-trainer.com, a website dedicated to providing the best baseball hitting trainers including the revolutionary new tool The Insider Bat For free baseball videos and tips, visit http://www.batting-trainer.com

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

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Thursday, June 10, 2010

Baseball Tips on Hitting - How to Overcome Two Very Common Baseball Hitting Problems!


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"Correcting Common Baseball Hitting Problems"
By Larry Cicchiello

Tension Is A Hitter's Worst Enemy!

I've heard this expression dozens of times and could not agree more. No, let's make that hundreds of times. If you have tension in your swing, it is next to impossible to hit the ball effectively. On the other hand, relaxing is a great asset to have.

An outstanding baseball coach I know has his hitters take a deep breath before every pitch and go into relax mode. Please note that I said outstanding coach and not good or very good. It is often referred to as "the calm before the storm." Hitting a baseball well on a consistent basis is NOT an easy chore. If you have tension before and during the swing, it makes it an almost impossible chore. A smooth and gracious swing is what you want to strive for and tension will make it very difficult.

Like I've mentioned before, sometimes a slight waggle at the plate will help you to relax. Or you can wiggle your fingers on the bat while waiting for the pitch. It's very difficult to have your body tense up if your body is moving. Learning how to relax at the plate should be very helpful to you!

You Must Be Short To The Ball!

1. You must go from point "A" where you are loaded up, to point "B" where you are making contact, in a straight line. The very beginning of the swing is NOT level at all. It is a DOWNWARD movement when going from A to B and NOT a horizontal movement. Way too many players level out their swing at the start. The reason it is such a common problem is because they have heard the words "level swing" hollered out to them since they were eight years old. I wish I had a dime for every time I've heard a coach, parent or teammate holler those two words out. Only at the point of contact should the swing level out and NOT before that. You can not lose a valuable fraction of a second if it takes a fast ball a fraction of a second to get to the catcher's mitt. Look at it as simple math.

2. Another possibility for your swing to be "long and looping" may be that you are dropping your hands at the beginning of the swing. This can cause you to be "long" to the ball and cause your bat to have a slight drag.

3. You may be pushing your hands out too far away from your body and that will create a longer swing. Remember the expression, "hands back and bat forward."

4. You must keep your front shoulder closed. If you open the front shoulder too early, it will cause your bat to drag through the hitting zone. This is often referred to as "casting" the bat and not swinging the bat. "Casting" is what you do when you go fishing and not when you swing at a baseball.

Let's face it. There are hundreds of baseball tips on hitting. Having a tension free swing, being "short to the ball" and keeping the front shoulder closed should be right near the top of your list! They are three things that are absolutely critical for successful baseball hitting.

Larry Cicchiello is the successful author of several very user friendly eBooks covering 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Check out some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips at LarryBaseball.com.

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


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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Hit and Run Play - How to Execute it Perfectly!


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The "Perfect Hit and Run Play"
By Larry Cicchiello

The responsibility of the batter is to swing at anything. If possible, hit the ball to the opposite side, whether it's toward the second baseman if you are a right-handed hitter or toward the shortstop if you are a left-handed hitter. At the very least, you should try to hit the ball on the ground, because a line drive caught by an infielder will probably kill your inning.

To improve your chances of making contact, some batters swing with their hands only, take no stride and keep the swing extremely simple. (It's amazing how when some hitters do this, they actually hit the ball very well even though they are keeping it quite simple. There may be something to be learned by this. Sometimes less is indeed more.)

By far, the best count to hit and run on is 2-1. It used to be 2-0 or 3-1, which doesn't make any sense at all and has become obsolete. Why should a hitter have to swing at a 2-0 pitch if it is going to be ball three? Why should a hitter have to swing at a 3-1 pitch if it is going to be ball four?

The hit and run play should be strongly considered if there is one out and a weak hitter is on deck. The reason is that if the hitter gets a single and the runner advances from first to third base, the weak hitter does not have to get a hit to get the runner in from third base.

Responsibilities Of The Batter and the Runner:


First of all, the runner breaking from first base must be SURE that the pitcher throws the pitch home.
The runner takes off for second base and either the shortstop or second baseman breaks to cover second base, thinking it's a stolen base attempt.
The runner should look toward the plate after a couple of steps. He should do this because it's very important that he knows whether the ball has been hit in the air, hit on the ground, swung at and missed, gets by the catcher, etc.
The batter MUST swing and try his best to make contact.
If the batter misses the pitch, the runner simply tries to steal second base. If the ball is grounded to an infielder or the pitcher, chances are there won't be a play at second base and the runner simply stays on second base. If it's a ground ball to an infielder, the runner has a chance to make second base safely or at the very least, a very good chance of breaking up the possible double play. If the ball goes through the infield for a hit, the runner can usually go to third base without hesitating.
The only time the runner needs the third base coach is if the ball is hit into right field because he can not turn around while running and watch the play unfold.
The batter's objective is to simply meet the ball and hit it sharply on the ground. If he can "shoot the ball" through the vacated area left by the second baseman or shortstop who are covering second base, that's an added bonus.

Usually, it's better to hit and run with a right-handed batter at the plate. If a righty shoots the ball the other way with the second baseman covering second base, the runner can almost always go to third base because it's a longer throw to third base for the
right fielder.

If a lefty shoots it the other way toward left center field with the shortstop covering second base, the runner probably can not go to third base because it's a very short throw for the left fielder to third base. The speed of the runner is very seldom a factor in determining whether or not to attempt the hit and run.

Something to consider before putting on the hit and run play is you should have a hitter up who is a contact hitter and very seldom swings and misses at pitches. Remember, you're looking for a well hit grounder so if the pitcher is one who throws high heat, you may not want to risk the hit and run against him.

The Best Possible Situation For A Successful Hit And Run:

If you have a contact hitter against a pitcher who strikes out very few batters and the pitcher is a low ball pitcher who gets a lot of ground balls. (You have three very positive things working in your favor.)

Your chance for success is very high in this ideal hit and run situation!

Larry Cicchiello is the successful author of several very user friendly eBooks covering 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Check out some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips at LarryBaseball.com.

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

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Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Baseball Pitching Tips - How to Greatly Benefit From the Long Toss!

By Larry Cicchiello

The "long toss" is simply a throwing session where you start out fairly close to your throwing partner, then gradually increase the distance between the two of you. You finish the drill by then gradually decreasing the distance until you are back to the distance you originally started from.

Many very good authorities believe that the best way for a pitcher to build arm strength and increase the speed on the fastball is by making very good use of this fabulous drill. It is totally acceptable to take a couple of steps when long tossing.

You can approach it basically the same way as if you are trying to throw a runner out from the outfield. You don't want to be throwing fly balls when long tossing. A trajectory that goes a little bit up and down is okay but try to keep it as low as possible.

How To Long Toss:

First, be advised that you may have to work yourself up to the distances listed below and BE PATIENT until you can comfortably work up to these distances. Adjust distances downward for younger pitchers. Be extremely cautious with both the distances and the number of throws. This is NOT a competition of any type between you and your throwing partner and DO NOT overexert yourself!

You and your throwing partner should be sure to loosen up your arms before doing the drill.

Possible Distances When Doing The Drill:

60 feet apart--6 throws 90 feet apart--8 throws 120 feet apart-10 throws 90 feet apart--8 throws 60 feet apart--6 throws

Remember not to overexert yourself and find distances and number of throws that are comfortable for you! I would NOT recommend long tossing on two consecutive days. If you have a somewhat serious session, I would take two days off before long tossing again.

During the season, I would recommend long tossing only occasionally. Some pitchers don't like to long toss at all during the season and love it in the off season.

It's going to come down to your personal preference as to how often you "long toss" and don't overdo it.

Long Toss In "OFF" Season:

In the off season, many pitchers use this drill every other day and gradually increase the repetitions to develop arm strength. Several outstanding professional pitchers have changed their off season throwing strategy and incorporated more "long toss" and less throwing from the mound. One M.L.B. pitcher actually gained 5 m.p.h. on his fast ball after increasing the amount of time spent on the drill and decreasing his throwing sessions from the mound. The drill has definitely grown in popularity the last several years.

Please Remember:


This is NOT a competition between you and your throwing partner.
Be VERY CAREFUL with the distances and the number of throws!
We do the long toss to improve arm strength and NOT to get injured. Please...proceed with caution!

Larry Cicchiello is the successful author of several very user friendly eBooks covering 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Check out some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips at LarryBaseball.com.

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

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Friday, June 4, 2010

How to Prevent a Hitting Slump - Eleven Baseball Hitting Tips For Players, Parents and Coaches

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How to Prevent a Hitting Slump - Eleven Baseball Hitting Tips For Players, Parents and Coaches
By Jay Granat

Last week, I got a call from a baseball player who plays the outfield for a Triple A team connected with a major league club. The man was concerned because he has been in a hitting slump on and off for several seasons. He wants to make it to the major leagues and he feels that time is running out on him.

Yesterday, I got a call from a mother of a college player who is also stuck in a slump. This parent happened to be a psychiatrist. Like many parents who call me for help, this worried mother said, "My son has a beautiful swing. He works with a top hitting coach. He is great in the cage, but terrible once the game starts."

This concerned and worried mother had even tried medication to help her son perform better at the plate.

Baseball players frequently call me when they are stuck in a slump. Fortunately, over the years, I have
developed many techniques, strategies and tools for breaking slumps.

However, it is useful if players can learn how to start the season with a positive and effective mental approach to hitting. Here are a few tips to help you get your baseball season off to a good start:

1. Learn the strike zone very well and swing at strikes.
2. Know what kind of pitch you like to hit.
3. Be aware of the count and the game situation.
4. Train your mind to think of nothing or have just one thought at the plate.
5. Practice relaxation techniques.
6. Learn how to stay calm, focused, confident and relaxed at the plate.
7. Learn how to stay in the present and the here and now. The most important
pitch and swing are the next ones.
8. Watch the pitcher carefully from the dugout.
9. Try to hit the ball into the gaps. You will naturally pull some of these for homers.
10. Keep accurate records on all of the pitchers who you face. Record what they threw, what you did and what you learned about hitting against them in the past. This is extra work, but these data will pay big dividends for you.
11. Once your swing is mechanically sound, you need to master the mental aspects of hitting.

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com

He has written several books and developed several programs to help people perform to their fullest potential at sports, at work and at school. Dr. Granat, a former university professor, has appeared in The New York Times, Good Morning America, AP, ESPN, Golf Digest, The BBC and The CBC. His books include Zone Tennis and Get Into The Zone In Just One Minute. He is also the author of How To Get Into The Zone With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, How To Lower Your Golf Score With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, 101 Ways To Break Out Of A Hitting Slump and Bed Time Stories For Young Athletes. Golf Digest named Dr. Granat one of America's Top Ten Mental Gurus. He was recently featured in a documentary film on long distance running. Dr. Granat writes a weekly column for three newspapers.

His new program for baseball hitters 101 Ways To Break Out Of A Hitting Slump and a free sport psychology book is available at http://www.stayinthezone.com/shop-stay-in-the-zone.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=21

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

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Thursday, June 3, 2010

Baseball Pitching Tips - How to Easily Improve Your Control!


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By Larry Cicchiello

Take a look at almost any inning in which three or more runs are scored and I would venture that in at least 75% of those innings one or more walks were involved. I teach pitchers that you must throw strikes consistently and I don't care if a batter hits the ball into the trees past the outfield fence. You can NOT give the opposing team free gifts. Often control problems are caused by pitchers OVER throwing the ball instead of throwing the ball.

A lot of people don't realize that control also means being able to throw a ball off the plate and not just over the plate. That means that I can throw a ball three or four inches off the plate to get a hitter out who "chases" bad pitches. If I'm ahead in the count, the batter almost has to swing at the pitch that's just off the plate.

Control obviously also means control within the strike zone. Being able to control pitches up and in or low and away is very important. If I'm shooting for low and away and I'm too high by a foot, the pitch is not nearly as effective and could very well get hit hard.

If I'm shooting up and in and I'm off by ten inches and get the middle of the plate, once again, it's not nearly as effective. If you are serious about pitching, you should aim for a target every time you throw a baseball. Every time you throw a baseball!

When I'm having a catch with my sixteen year old son and I'm NOT behind the plate, we play a game we invented called "Target." We are both very competitive and this game is FUN! Twenty points usually wins and you have to win by two points. We have a regular catch and give each other a target. The target can be left or right shoulder, left or right hip or basically wherever you want to place the target. If you are throwing and are within a foot of the target with a fastball, you get one point. If you throw a changeup or breaking ball and are within a foot, you get two points. (This gives you the flexibility to go after two points if you are trailing late in the game.)

Not only will this help your control, but you will have a blast playing it!

Even if you want to insult my son and I and NOT play "Target," remember that before we invented our game, I have always recommended that to improve your control, aim for a target every time you throw a baseball! It can be your throwing partner's left hip, right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder, etc. How can this not help your control?

Larry Cicchiello is the successful author of several very user friendly eBooks covering 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Check out some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips at LarryBaseball.com.

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

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