Youth Baseball Digest - 4 Important Factors That Can Help New Little League Coaches Be Successful

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Youth Baseball Digest - 4 Important Factors That Can Help New Little League Coaches Be Successful
By Nick Dixon

The 4 Most Important Rules that all New Little League Baseball Coaches Should Follow

Coaching Little league is a great way for baseball and softball players to give back to your community. Every baseball player remembers his first t-ball coach, coach pitch coach, little league coach, and high school coach. Baseball coaches have a profound effect on the lives of the players they coach. Being or becoming a great youth baseball coach requires a high level of commitment and dedication. There are 3 important rules that every new little league coach must always follow. Those rules are:

1. You must be a student of the game. To be a good youth baseball coach, you must have a good knowledge of how the game is played, how the rules are applied, and how certain skills and drills are performed. If you feel uncomfortable about a certain position, skill or fundamental, look for help. You may ask another coach. You may go to your local library or book store and find a book on how to coach baseball. You have access to an enormous amount of information about every aspect of the game through your computer and the internet.

2. You must have good help. You can never have too much help when coaching a youth team. Ask your parents and friends to find other volunteers to help you coach your team. It is best to have a parent meeting. Ask for parent volunteers. The parents that volunteer to help should choose a specific area in which they concentrate their effort. You will need at least 2 good assistant coaches. One needs to have enough knowledge and patience to be the pitching coach. One should be the hitting coach.

3. You must remediate your weaker players. In you draft, you may find that you must pick children that are good at certain skills but extremely week in other areas.One often overlooked and neglected aspect of coaching is remediation/ Remediation is special attention and help given to those players that need it. This is a job for what I refer to as the remediation coach. The coach that takes one or two players to the side and works on specific areas of the game in which they are too weak to compete. They may need help with swing mechanics, throwing mechanics, or simple footwork. These kids will master these skills easier and faster when they receive one-on-one personal attention. These "tutoring" lessons pay back huge returns if you can have enough help. The theory is that you must bring every player up to a certain level or much valuable team time will be lost to working with them during team drills. It is best to take these kids aside and work them separately from the team until they get their skill levels up. These lessons should be done in such a way to not embarrass the child or players involved.

4. You must work hard and set a good example. A willingness to work hard may be the most important trait of a successful coach. They work hard at planning, organizing, and executing individual and team drills for both offense and defense. They have high energy levels and are always willing to put forth that little extra effort to make a practice or game run smother.

I hope that you found this article to be helpful. Good luck to you and your team. Have a great day, Nick

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Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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

Baseball Coaching Digest: The Perils of Defensive Assumption in Baseball Action

By Nick Dixon

Assuming or taking for granted certain things when your team is playing defense can lead to costly mistakes and could lead to a loss. This article outlines three things that coaches and players should never assume when you are playing defense.

Assuming Every Player Knows the Number of Outs

This is the most common mental mistake a team or coach makes. They have a player that does not know how many out there are. I have witnessed in many different forms. Several times I have seen catchers think that there were three outs and the inning was over, so they rolled the ball toward the pitcher and allowed an alert runner on third score on a mental error.

I have seen an outfielder think that there were two outs when he caught a fly ball hit shallow into center field. He assumed that there were two out when he caught what he thought was the third out. He relaxes after the catch only to realize that the runner at third base has just tagged up and scored.

Making such mental mistakes can be prevented if the middle infielders relay and communicate the number of outs to the outfielders and other players after each out is made. It should be a standard procedure that every player on the team show at least one teammate the sign for the current number of outs after each out is made.

Assuming Everybody Knows the Bunt Coverage

Assuming everyone in the infield knows what the bunt situation is and the coverage that is on at the time can lead to a costly mistake. We have all seen it happen. The first baseman charges the bunt. The pitcher bounces off to the third base side and the catcher bounces out perfectly. The catcher calls the first base man off the ball, fields it, and comes up throwing to first. However, the second baseman was napping and did not get there to field the throw. The second baseman had what we call a "brain fart". He was not mentally alert and in the game. Therefore, it is important that the catcher call time, step out in front of the plate, and signal the bunt coverage that has been called for the situation.

Coaches must not assume that every player is alert. The key is communication between coaches and players. The coach must talk to his catcher and middle infielders constantly to make sure that they are in the game. Players should be taught to talk the game between pitches and communicate the situation, likely plays by the offense, and whose "got the bag" between pitches.

Assuming a play will or will not be made
Wrong assumptions can lead to devastating results when a team is on defense. A player should always hustle to a ball or to the correct position when the ball is hit or put into play. It can be costly for an outfielder to relax on a ball in the gap because he thinks the other outfielder is going to make the play. Not getting over to back up a fellow outfielder can cost a team valuable bases and even a run, if the ball is miss-played, missed or is a base it that gets by an outfielder.

Outfielders should always hustle, talk, and communicate when the ball is hit. Even if the other outfielder calls the ball, the outfielder should hustle over the back up on the play.

Outfielders should always back up throws as if the throw is going to be missed. Defensive players should never assume a catch. Catchers should sprint to back up throws at first base when there are not runners on. Just when the catcher assumes a ball will be caught, rather than missed, the first baseman will let the tying run get to second base with a miss-played short hop. If the catcher hustles to back-up on the play as he should, the runner does not advance to second base.

I hope that you found this article to be informative. I appreciate you taking the time to read it. For more articles like it, visit the Baseball Coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, and the Baseball Parent Guide websites and blogs. Good luck to you and your team.
Have a great day, Nick.

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Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Dixon coaches at Boaz High in Boaz Alabama. Dixon is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and Alabama Baseball Coaches Association.

Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is considered an expert in baseball training and skills development. Dixon also serves as an active consultant to baseball equipment companies and other sports product inventors.

Dixon is also a contributing writer for the Baseball Coaching Digest, the baseball Coaching Digest Blog, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Youth Baseball Digest Blog, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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

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Youth Baseball Digest: One Cause of Poor Hitting Performance that Often Goes Undetected

By Nick Dixon

Have you ever had a kid that had the perfect baseball swing but sometimes has difficulty hitting live pitching? In drills, the player simply kills the baseball. Every soft-toss rep is a line drive. Every front toss rep is a line drive with power. The player is perfect in every drill that your team but has difficulty hitting live pitching. The player often struggles to hit in games although he has one of the best swings on the team. What could cause a player to perform perfectly in practice but have a difficult time hitting the ball when a pitcher is pitching from regulation distances?

I am speaking from experience here. I once had a right handed player on my high school team that was absolutely a dream hitter in practice and a nightmare hitter in games and live inter-squad games. He would dominate every hitting station with his high velocity bat speed, precision bat control, and unbelievable ability to adjust to every pitch location with the perfect swing adaptation. However, when he faced live pitching he simply looked like "Ned in the First Grade". He would miss or be late on routine and average fastballs. He would be late or completely misjudge curve balls and when he should attack them.

I quickly realized that there was a problem and began to do some research. I soon found some definite performance tendencies. In day games, when he made contact, he almost always hit a ground ball to the second baseman. On ball he should pull, he nearly always got jammed. At night, he hit for 150 points less than in day games. With all these facts considered, we realized his cause for poor hitting. The cause was poor eye sight. We sent him to have his eyes checked. He had extremely poor vision in his dominate eye. He could perform well in our hitting stations and toss drills because they were all done at short distances. When the distance the pitch came from was increased, his ability to see and pick the ball up quickly was diminished. A new set of contact lens got him back on his "A" game. He quickly became as dominate in games as he was in drills.

So the moral of is that if you have a kid that is inconsistent from his hitting in practice to hitting in a game, make sure to have his vision checked. Poor eye sight may be the cause of his poor hitting performance.

I hope that you found this article to be informative and useful. I thank you for taking the time to read it. For more great articles on coaching baseball visit the Baseball Coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, Little League Digest, and the Baseball Parent Guide. Good luck to you and your team. Have a great day, Nick

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest.com, the YouthBaseballDigest.com, the BaseballParentGuide.com, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.com.

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

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Youth Baseball: Focusing on We, Not Me

Coaching Youth Player in Focusing on We, Not Me
By Guest Author Dave Rosene

Have you ever heard youth coaches tell their players, "Do this for me." or "I really need a hit or strikeout." or "I want to beat that team."?

Notice "I" or "me." Is their any mention of "team"?

I have heard variations of these quotes too many times, and it disturbs baseball people who watch youth games that a lot of youth coaches care about winning and not about teaching the game correctly.

This type of coach sends two dubious messages: the players are playing to please you; and you only care about the immediate result and not the development of the whole player, including playing as a good teammate.

Youth players are easily swayed, and when they hear "I" from coaches over and over again, they can start feeling pressure to succeed-a pressure that's intensified because it comes from an adult. The players also start to think of themselves first, instead of the team first.

"Me" is displayed in subtle and obvious displays. Coaches who espouse sportsmanship and teamplay teach their players in practice the rules, the strategies and the fundamentals of baseball. Players that go outside those parameters get punished appropriately in a way that it is still a team function. When players have to do pushups, or crunches, run sprints or 'poles' or a lap or two, the rest of the team would cheer or push to succeed until the exercises are completed. Then the coach explains that is a sign of team unity, that you don't practice without everyone, but you take away practice time when you break team rules, and the punishment will be more excessive if it happens again. If a player is really team-oriented it won't happen because he either hates punishment or he feels bad that he let his team down. Coaches can discover what players need to be a better teammates. In games individual infractions manifests itself in throwing equipment, doing things against team philosophy, or temper tantrums, and should be addressed immediately, with appropriate punishment at practice the next day.

Remember, team sports mean playing for each other, 'we' not me. Me never works!

Dave Rosene - Co-Founder, DNA Sports

DNA Sports' goal is to make sure all athletes are given the chance to succeed. Through the promotion of teamwork and sportsmanship our team clinics and private training clinics maximize an athlete's social, emotional, and physical talents. All of our clinics teach both fundamentals as well as detailed position skills like pitching and behind the plate catching. We have worked with over 1000 players-over 200 of which have gone on to play at the collegiate level and beyond.

To learn more, visit our website: http://www.dnasportsonline.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Rosene
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Baseball Hitting Instructional Videos - Hit To Middle Drill

This video is from ShapeFit.com's baseball training video series. The video provides basic tips on proper baseball hitting fundamentals. Whether you are a parent who is excited about getting your youngster or youngsters started out in t-ball, a teenager trying to improve your skills or even a college or professional player, these hitting basics hold true regardless of what skill level you are at.

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

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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.

Get your team hitting with more power and confidence in less than a week to win your tournament http://www.baseball-strength.com

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

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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.

Get your team hitting with more power and confidence in less than a week to win your tournament http://www.baseball-strength.com

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Baseball Swing Instruction - How Do You Practice Your Swing?

By Todd Thomas

I believe that how you practice is as important as the act of practicing itself. Good and productive practice is about more than just getting in your reps. If you're just practicing to mindlessly get your reps in, then you are missing out on how valuable practice can be.

Hank Aaron told noted Sports Psychologist, Dr. Tom Hanson, that practice was the single number one secret to success. Imagine that. Practice. But again, making your practice productive is equally important.

What important in making your practice productive is to have a goal for what you want to improve. If you are having an issue with something in your swing, my first question is do you KNOW what that issue is? How can you really improve or fix it if you don't know what it is? Have a knowledgable coach or instructor help you break it down to isolate what you want to work on. It's even better if you are able to identify the issue on your own through your own self awareness.

Once you begin the practice process of striving to improve or fix a fault in your swing, it's important to stay level headed if it's taking time or if you keep doing the same thing or if you are just struggling to get your swing where you want it to be. It does no good to get upset, frustrated, and angry and then give up. Stay level headed and as best you can, be "aware" of what is causing the problem. Be aware of whether what you are doing to improve is actually making you better.

Know where you are now. Know what your goal is and be aware of your progress. If you see improvement, then you know what you are doing is productive for you. If not, you might want to try something else rather than staying with something that is not helping you to improve.

Every time you are going to practice, ask yourself what you goal is for that practice session. If you don't and you just are "getting in your reps", then you're not giving yourself the best opportunity to reach you ultimate potential.

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

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Understanding Baseball Strategy

By Brian Schofield

I can't tell you how many times I've had someone tell me how boring baseball is to watch. People tell me all the time that they fall asleep during games and can't stand it. I'm thinking to myself, how can anyone hate baseball? But then it hit me. I hate to watch soccer and car racing because I think those sports are boring, but most of my boredom results from my lack of understanding of the rules, strategies, etc. So, to help you develop a further love of baseball I've decided to cover some of the common strategies of the game. My hope is that by understanding these strategies you will begin to enjoy watching the game as much as I do.

Hitting Count

I get really annoyed when I'm watching a game in a public venue and a fan yells out "Why did he swing at that pitch with a count of two balls and zero strikes (2-0)?" It kills me. I force myself to take a deep breath and remember that I to have made similar comments. It is lack of understanding. Pitchers don't want to walk batters. It's that simple. If they don't reach the base, they can't score. So, when you see a batter swing and the count is 2-0 or 3-1 you have to realize that the batter is expecting a good pitch. The batter knows the pitcher doesn't want the walk so he assumes the pitch will be where it can be hit. This is called a hitter's count. Watch how many home runs are hit when the count is 2-0, 3-1, or 2-1 and you will start to recognize the pattern.

Most Important Pitch of an At Bat

Clearly the most important pitch of any at bat is the first pitch. If the first pitch is a strike, the hitter is in a hole. Hitters don't want to strike out or "fall behind" in the count, so if the count is 0-1, you'll see a lot of batters swing at the second pitch. When facing an 0-1 count, most batters will hit .100 points below their typical average unless they are an amazing hitter. For example, if Alex Rodriguez gets behind in the count he usually ends up being a .200 hitter for the game instead of .300 which is his normal season average. When you are a player, that makes a big difference. Being behind in the count also forces the hitter into a more defensive at bat. In an attempt to not strike out, many hitters will simply try to make contact with the ball rather than trying to drive the ball. Again, that is typical of most hitters.

Advanced Scouting

Advanced scouting can be an amazing tool for baseball teams because it helps identify a player's strengths and weaknesses so they can be exploited in a game. Recently, Rick Ankiel of the St Louis Cardinals has burst onto the scene hitting home run after home run. As a result, other teams have issued scouting reports aimed directly at stopping the home run spurt. Teams have discovered how to pitch to Ankiel and it is working. They've learned to throw him hard fastballs inside so he can't extend his arms for home runs. Knowing a player's weakness isn't rocket science, but exploiting the weakness can prove quite tricky. I might know Barry Bonds' weakness, but just one slight mistake on my part and the ball is on its way out of the park. That's what I love about baseball! It's a dual out there and the best players are "the best" because they take advantage of mistakes when they happen.

Brian Schofield is the Sr. writer and editor for a baseball training website called BigLeagueSkills.com. Check out the site for more baseball tips and instruction.

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

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The 10 "Must Do's" of Coaching Baseball and Softball

The 10 "Must Do's" of Coaching Baseball and Softball
By Nick Dixon

I have compiled my list of the "MUST DO'S", that I feel every coach must coach by! These reflect the duties and responsibilities accepted when one becomes a coach. Here are my "MUST DO'S":

1. I MUST..."Always remember that I am a role model, on and off the field, for all players and kids. I must remember that everything I do is observed. Everything I say is heard.

2. I MUST..."Always remember that something I say or something I do not say can have an profound positive and negative affect on a player. I am a coach because I care! I care about the game. I care about my players. I must act like I want to be there! My player will observe and emulate my attitude. My attitude must show my dedication, excitement, and enthusiasm!

3. I MUST..."Constantly remember that the safety and well-being of my players is my responsibility and the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", is never truer than when it applies to sports accidents. Youth coaches should apply a team rule that that at practice no player should swing a bat, unless the coach has given them permission to do so.

4. I MUST..."Be fair to every player. I will treat every player equally with the same respect. I will always be honest with my players. I will be mindful that praise is a great motivator. I will at times use constructive criticism but I will always maintain a balance between correction and praise. I will speak "one-on-one" with every player, every day. This may be something as simple as the question, "Jon, how is your day going?".

5. I MUST..."Demand and receive respect from every player at all times. Disrespect will not be tolerated. I will remember discipline is a vital part of the game. Team and self-discipline is something I must teach and reinforce. Kids expect and love discipline. Many players do not get enough discipline at home."

6. I MUST..."Dress and look the part of a coach. I will keep a clean and neat appearance at all team practices and games."

7. I MUST..."Remember that to be a good coach, I must first be a good teacher. It is my responsibility to teach the fundamentals, rules and skills of the game. I will structure and organize every practice and pre-game ritual so that my players will know what to do, will know what to expect, will be focused and stay busy." I must remember "idle" time is "trouble" time when one is dealing with kids. I will always be the first to arrive and the last to leave all games, practices, meetings, and all other team events!"

8. I MUST..."Coach the details during the game to help my players learn and perform to their highest level". I will work hard at all times during practice and games. I will instill in my players the value of hard work and preparation.

9. I MUST..."Remember that character development and self-confidence are what youth sports is all about. Kids do not have to play. They play because they want to have fun! I must have fun, know how to laugh, and enjoy every minute along with my kids!"

10. I MUST..."Remember, that "WINNING is NOT EVERYTHING" but "EXPECTING to WIN" is. I must instill hope and confidence as I prepare my team for each game!

Visit BaseballCoachingDigest.com for a great selection of Baseball Coaching and Training Articles. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

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

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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

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5 Stations During Batting Practice For Little League

Advanced Skills Tee - The World's #1 Batting Tee
5 Stations During Batting Practice For Little League
By John R Di Nicola

It has been stated many times that pitching and defense wins ball games. We all know that it would be real boring if that is all teams did. It has been proven time and time again you can win without hitting. However we do have to address the issue so we have to practice hitting. Listed below are 5 stations that will help get your hitters ready for the live action of a game. You will need assistant to carry out these drills. It is important you recruit help. How much help you get will determine how many of these stations you will be able have in a practice.


Hitting off 'T"
Soft Toss
Tracking
Bunting
Batting Practice

Hitting off the "T"

You will for sure have to have hitting of a "T". This is mandatory. You will be limited to the amount of pitches you will throw each hitter. The more swings that get hitting off the "T" the better they will be prepared for batting practices and the game. The first few times through this stations have them hit the as if it were down the middle. Make sure the "T" is no higher than the players waist. Working on the following:


important that the feet are shoulder width apart and player is balanced
when hitting the ball the top hand always on top of the ball
hit the top of the ball driving it downward
pivoting back foot raising heel as the hands follow through hitting zone

As they get comfortable you can position the "T" for the inside pitch and out side pitch. Important when working on outside pitch to position the "T" behind home plate so as to illustrate to players they have to wait on the out side pitch. Also teach them to bring their hands back so their front shoulder turns in toward home plate. This will bring front foot in so they can drive the ball. Most players will open up the front shoulder and hit the ball off the end of the bat or completely miss it.

Soft Toss

The soft station is an extra in Little League. You may want to wait till later on in the season to use this station. Basically a coach on one knee positioned beside player and tossing ball to different zones of the plate. Players swings through ball using all the proper techniques from "T" drills. Hands on top of ball driving through the ball.

Tracking

This an an excellent drill to teach the Little League Player on keeping their eye's focused on the ball. Your above average hitters always work on tracking. Most of them will take pitches just to get the feel of how the pitcher is throwing. They always make the pitchers throw a lot of pitches. Teach them to follow the ball all way to the catcher mitt. This something they should do during batting practice and the game. The more they see the ball the bigger it looks. You can use a rag ball or a whiffle ball.

Bunting

The art of Bunting is so important at all levels of baseball and most neglected. In this day and age of baseball the Home Run is king. It has been proven in recent world series that small ball will win more championships than the Home Runs. Have them bunt at least five balls, down first base line and third base line. Later on you can work on bunts for base hits.

Batting Practice

Because you have so much do and trying to get all the players to hit you have to limit the amount of pitches to each batter (15-20). Have players first work on making contact. You will have the seasoned Little Leaguer who knocks the cover off the ball and then you will have the ones that you really have to work with to get them to make contact. This is why if you have the luxury of having the help to run the stations it would greatly speed up the learning curve.

Most likely you will only use the "T" and Live Batting Practices. Using this model will afford you to run a practice without having a marathon practices. Do not try and do all 5 stations the first practice. As you become comfortable you can adjust your practice schedule and add stations. Most likely you will never do all five in one practice

Observe

Make sure batter is doing correct mechanics. Never let them get it half right.

Practices Makes Perfect

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. If you would like further information on this topic or other information you can E-Mail me at: jdinicola@easypitching.com

You can follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/easypitching

Web site: http://www.easypitching.com

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

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How to Run a Great Baseball Practice

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How to Run a Great Baseball Practice
By Jack Perconte

Of course, the number one key to running a great baseball practice is organization. Legendary basketball coach John Wooden was famous for mapping out every detail of his practices, with every second of practice accounted for. This may be a little extreme for coaches of youth baseball but the point is that coaches who are organized will get the most out of their practice time. Baseball coaches should map out their preseason practices to be sure they cover every important aspect of baseball for the age of the player. As the season progresses, coaches can gear their practice time to cover the areas most needed, based on their team weaknesses. Following are some points that coaches should consider to run a great baseball practice:

1. Get in the habit of starting practice on time - parents who bring their child late will get the message early in the season that a late player will be missing out on some instruction.

2. Do not neglect warm-up time. This time is a very important time for coaches to teach the fundamentals.

3. Get help from assistant coaches and interested parents but be sure to inform them of the correct fundamentals that they should be watching for and teaching.

4. Keep players busy - players should not be standing around very often. Small group stations are recommended when coaches have help and game action drills or play is recommended when help from assistants is not available.

5. Keep stations relatively short so boredom does not set in and try to cover as many aspects of the game as time allows each practice.

6. Mix up the pattern of each practice - for example, if you work on hitting first one practice, work on defense first the next.

7. Safety is paramount at all times so don't forget helmets, etc... Use of softer balls for younger aged players can really help teaching all phases of the game.

8. Kids love competition and contests - the use of those when players begin to get bored, or tired, can spur enthusiasm. Using contests as incentive to work hard early in practice, with the idea of competition (games) later in practice when players work hard, can be a good idea.

9. When having contests, be sure to handicap them some so each player, or group of players, have a chance at winning. Make sure and let players know that a handicap system is in place for fairness.

10. Reward hard working "practice players" and not just star game players. Rewards for best defensive, offensive and hustle player(s) of each practice will spur good effort in practice.

11. Try to give the same amount of attention to each player. Players who feel slighted will be affected and other players will generally notice the slight of another player also.

12. Give homework. Inform players and their parents of the things you would like them to work on before returning the next time.

13. Long drawn out talks are never recommended. Bringing in a guest speaker or coach can be memorable for players.

Finally, coaches who remain positive, informative and hopeful will have the best chance of developing good players, as well as fun loving baseball players.

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

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

Are you looking for a great batting cage at discount prices? Are you considering building your own backyard batting cage and training center? If so, you should visit BattingCagesDirect.com now!
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Youth Baseball Digest - What is the "ERA" in Baseball? How Do You Calculate Baseball Pitching "ERA"?

Youth Baseball Digest - What is the "ERA" in Baseball? How Do You Calculate Baseball Pitching "ERA"?

By Nick Dixon

In baseball, the Earned Run Average or ERA of a pitcher is a number representing the average number of earned runs allowed by the pitcher in normal amount of innings in a regulation game. Earned Run Average is a statistic by which a performances of a pitcher is judged. It is a quick way to evaluate a ability of a pitcher and compare his performance to other pitchers on the team and on opposing teams. The higher the ERA, the more runs the pitcher has allowed. Pitchers with good ERAs are considered better performers than pitcher with high ERAs. The Earned Run Average is calculated with a simple mathematical formula.

This article clearly explains how to calculate a Pitching ERA.

Earned Run Average or ERA is number representing the average number of earned runs allowed by a pitcher in a nine innings. The ERA is calculated by taking the number of earned runs allowed by the total number of innings pitched and then you multiply that number by 9. You do count runs score by batters that get on base because of an error are considered unearned runs. Unearned runs do not count toward a pitchers Earned Run Average.

The simple formula for calculating ERA is: (earned runs / innings pitched) x 9 (6 or 7)depending on number of innings played in your league.

Here are points that you need to remember when calculating the ERA of your pitchers:

1. You can convert everything to a 6 or 7 inning format by using 7 in place of 9. This should be done if your league plays 6 or 7 innings. See examples shown below:

Example: 9 Inning Format
A pitcher has given up 10 runs and has pitched 10 innings, that pitcher has an ERA of 10 x 9 = 9.00.

Example: 7 Inning Format
A pitcher has given up 10 runs and has pitched 10 innings, that pitcher has an ERA of 10 x 7 = 7.00.

Example: 6 Inning Format
A pitcher has given up 10 runs and has pitched 10 innings, that pitcher has an ERA of 10 x 6 = 6.00.

2. An earned run is any run that is scored due to the pitching of the pitcher.

3. Each out counts as 1/3 of another inning, and any men base runners on base when the pitcher is taken out of the game are counted against that pitcher.

4. ERA is generally measured to two decimal points.

5. The two base statistics needed to calculate ERA are the earned runs allowed by the pitcher and the total innings he has pitched.

I hope that you found this article informative. I thank you for taking the time to read it. luck in the coming season. Have a great day! Nick

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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

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

Field A Ground Ball - How To Field A Ground Ball In Youth Baseball
By Brian McClure

Fielding a ground ball hit to you

Hands down facing the batter, knees bent so the glove gets down (butt down..gets the hands down and provides good balance). This is perfect if the ball is right to you. But what if the ball is not hit to you? You have to move your feet!

Get in front of the ball, and you have to move your feet quickly to do that.

As coaches we want our players to be in front of the ball because if there is not a clean catch the body still gives protection of keeping the ball from escaping the infield. I like to emphasize in boys youth baseball to use their eyes also. You cant catch what you cant see. If you move your feet to get in front of the ball have your glove in front where you can see the ball come into the glove, the youth player has a better chance of a good catch and making the play.

Fielding a ground ball to the right or left

There are two methods two catch this ball. One is the Shuffle step. This is used when the ball is hit just a little to either side and you can quickly get to the ball still in ready position. If the ball is hit to the left you shuffle step with left foot and the right foot moves quickly after to stay in the ready position.It's the opposite if the ball is hit to the right. 2 or 3 quick shuffle steps can be done by any youth baseball player in the ready position to field a close ground ball.

The second method is the Crossover. When the ball is a little farther away to the left..to move quickly to the ball the right foot will crossover in front of and past the left foot. The opposite is done for a ball hit to the right. Left over Right or Right over left is used when you need to get to the ball quickly and is far enough away you cant shuffle to it. A key point in doing the crossover is not to stand up. A good youth baseball tip is to remain bent at the waist during the crossover to keep from wasting time.

Author- Brian McClure

http://www.coaching-youth-baseball.com/

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How to Teach Fielding to Baseball Players

AdvancedSkillsTee.com

How to Teach Fielding to Baseball Players
By Dick Birmingham

Many coaches attempt to teach fielding to players by first hitting them ground balls. You cannot teach fielding and hit ground balls at the same time! In fact, the bat is the last item a coach should use in teaching the correct fundamentals of fielding.

There are many things involved in teaching good fielding techniques. Three very important areas that coaches should try to emphasize to players include: the glove, the ready position, and the fielding position.

The Glove

Like any job, fielding is easier when you have the right tool to use and when that tool is properly maintained. It has been my experience that many players, for various reasons, try to use gloves that are too big for them.

If you, the coach, have influence over the gloves your players buy, help them select a glove that is right for their size, age, and position. For example, if you have a young player who plays only the infield, he should not use a long-fingered pitcher-outfield glove. If you coach 8 and 9 year olds, they should not use gloves designed for 13-14 year olds.

How to break in the glove is also very important. Help your players break in their glove so that they form a wide-open pocket. This can be achieved by working the four fingers of the glove forward as opposed to creasing the glove so that the thumb is against the fingers. Breaking in the glove the wrong way will give it a flat appearance with a very small opening (players should never sit or kneel on their gloves!). By applying a small amount of glove oil or shaving cream which contains lanolin in the pocket area of the glove, the glove will become more flexible and will help to develop the proper shape of the pocket.

The Ready Position

It is very important that players develop a good ready position if they are going to be able to react quickly to the ball coming off the bat. Many times young players assume what they think is a good ready position when in fact, they are working against themselves.

A good ready position has been described by some as controlled imbalance.
This description suggests that a player should be in the ready position only during the time it takes for the pitch to travel from the pitcher's hand to the hitting zone. Players should be taught to step into their ready position as the pitcher reaches the pivot position.

In a proper ready position, the toes should he pointed straight ahead, the feet should be approximately shoulder width apart, and the pivot foot should be slightly behind the striding foot (the pivot foot is the glove hand foot). If you drew a line from the right toe of a right handed infielder to his left foot, it should align with the instep. The knees should be flexed, the hips lowered, shoulders squared, head and eyes facing the hitting zone, and the hands in front of the body.

The Fielding Position

The key to a good fielding position is balance. To achieve this balance, a player must form a wide base. That is to say, his feet should be at least shoulder width apart with the knees bent and the back straight. The hands should be well out in front of the body with the back of the glove near the ground. The throwing hand should be above the glove or to the side of the glove. As a player moves forward to field a ground ball, his forward momentum should change to a downward momentum to field the ball and then back to a forward momentum as he prepares to throw.

Repetition is very important in teaching young players good habits. Fielding drills should be designed to help condition players so that they execute the same fundamentals over and over again. As a coach, help players develop good fielding habits and you will win more games and develop your players.

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

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

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

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Tips For a Great Youth Baseball Batting Practice

Batting Practice Training Bats

Article Title: Tips For a Great Batting Practice
By Mike Posey

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

Batting Practices that Rock!


Stay in Small Groups. Divide your team into groups of 4 or 5. One group can hit BP, one can be in the field shagging balls, and one group can be with another coach in the batting cages working on tee drills or toss drills.
Good Batting Practice Pitchers Throw Strikes. A good BP pitcher must throw a lot of strikes and keep the pace moving. We also use a hack-attack pitching machine twice a week to supplement our pitching. Use coaches to throw BP when possible and let the players throw in scrimmages.
Take Quick Short Rounds Hit in quick short rounds of no more than eight (8) swings. Keep the hitters moving in and out. Usually hit 3-5 rounds.
Have a Goal for Each Round Each round must have a purpose. First round can be to the opposite field, second round can be hit and run, third round can be moving runners over from second, etc.
Use a Lightning Round at the End. Lightning rounds can be fun as the last round. The concept of a lightning round is every hitter gets one pitch, if he hits a line drive then he gets a second pitch. Every line drive will result in another chance. If they miss, then the next player jumps in. Keep them moving in and out.
Use a Roll On Batting Tunnel A portable roll on tunnel will help BP move much faster. Every league should invest in a good roll on to use every day at practice.
Hustle make sure everyone is busy and hustles when changing groups. Group in the field can rotate to the cages, the cage group rotates to the field BP, and the BP hitters go to the field. Use a stop watch or field timer if needed (you can even use an air horn when its time to change groups, train them to hustle)
Running the Bases If you have enough players for a fourth group, then add a base running group. If not, you can have groups of four or five, with two base runners while the others hit. But plan to practice base running at times during BP.
Take Ground Balls If possible, have fielders rotate into short and second. A coach (or volunteer) can hit fungo ground balls in between BP pitches.
Situational Hitting Some BP sessions can include a round of situational hitting. The coach calls out the situation for the hitter to execute (if you have runners on base, put them in a situation). For example, runners on third with no outs. (hit a ground ball in the infield or outfield fly ball) Runner at second base with no outs (hit behind the runner to move him up to third base)

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

Mike Posey "CP"
Expert Baseball Tips
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Posey

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