By Guest Author: Rob Merlino
Obviously, as a coach, I can't play the game. My job is to put each kid in a position to succeed so the team will have success. The following is a handout I give to each kid and parent at the beginning of each season:
Little league is a competitive league. We have umpires, we keep stats, we keep score, publish scores and standings on the web and hand out trophies to the winner of the World Series. The goal of the Team is to win. The goal of each boy is to do his very best to help the Team win. Remember these three things:
Safety: Nobody swings a bat or throws a ball without checking to be sure that everyone around them will be safe;
Fun: We are here to have FUN. If anyone is not having fun, let the Coach know and he will work to remedy that;
Winning: "Winning" is an Attitude. If you are Safe, having Fun, and have a Winning Attitude, the Score will take care of itself!"
We will be putting an emphasis on pitching and would like to get as many kids on the mound as possible. You must demonstrate the ability to throw from the mound to the plate with consistency to get into a game. For the first few games kids will pitch one inning. Then they'll pitch one and "earn" the next inning. Over the course of the season, pitching ability will become evident and the kids who can really shut the other team down will get 3 or possibly more innings in an outing- it will depend on the game situation. We will throw in a few "pitching potpourri" nights where we'll revert to the one inning philosophy for all or part of the game. This becomes necessary when we have games that are bunched close together. We will use the walk rule: walk 3 in a row and you come out, walk 4 in an inning and you come out. This doesn't mean you won't get another chance-it just means you can't help the team that particular day with your pitching. Getting the boys to understand the importance of the team will be an underlying theme in everything we try to do.
We'd like to do as much scrimmaging at practice as possible and I am working on a pre- season scrimmage or two. We'll also devote time to all the skills through a variety of drills and exercises. Infield and outfield defense can only be improved upon by getting a lot of reps and we will get as many as humanly possible. The boys will have baseball homework: they must play catch for 10 to 15 minutes every day until the start of the season. Good arms come from thousands of hours of throwing, SO GET STARTED. On game days, at least one of us will be at the field an hour prior to game time. I do infield before every game. Come early for extra practice.
Base-running and Batting:
Base-running: Little League allows you to steal a base once the pitched ball crosses the plate. You can continue to steal bases as long as the ball is live. The ball remains live until the pitcher has the ball in his glove AND his feet are on the mound. Team base-runners will EXPLODE off the base as EACH pitch crosses the plate and will decide to continue to the next base or return to the starting base from about two strides out. The runner will SLIDE into any base where there is the possibility of a play. AAA rules state that if you do not slide into a base where there is a play, the umpire will call you OUT for creating an unsafe condition - (possibly colliding with the defensive baseman). The Team will become expert at sliding and stealing bases! Therefore, you must always wear long pants. Sliding pants (worn under your long pants) are a very good idea. Your outer long pants will get dirty and torn. Expect to get dirty at every practice and game.
Batting: We will emphasize Pitch Selection, Batting Discipline, Bunting, and drawing Walks. The purpose of an At-Bat is to get On-Base. You cannot score from the Dugout!
Pitch Selection and Batting Discipline: We will learn the difference between a Pitcher's Pitch and Batter's Pitch. A Pitcher's Pitch is outside of or along the edges of the Strike-Zone. A pitcher is trying to strike you out. A pitcher will try to get you to swing at a (lousy) pitch that is either too high (pop-up into an out), too low (ground out into an out), or too far inside or outside (foul off for a Strike). We will not swing at Pitcher's Pitches unless you already have two strikes. If you have two strikes, you will learn to Foul-off Pitcher's Pitches until a Batter's Pitch comes along. A Batter's Pitch is a pitch pretty much down the middle that you can readily put into play to get on base and/or advance a runner.
Bunting and drawing Walks: Hitting a Home-Run is glamorous and exciting. You may think that bunting or drawing a Walk is not so glamorous and exciting. However, the 2005 AAA Giants got into the playoffs because the smallest kid on the team drew a walk to get on base, and then ended up stealing home to win the final regular season game with two outs at the bottom of the 6th inning. The AAA Giants then went on to win the 2005 AAA World Series.You will often hear Coach say: "If you bunt or draw a Walk to First, you can Steal Home on the NEXT Pitch, and you better be Home on the Third Pitch!"
Team Rules and Expectations
1. All league rules will be followed, NO EXCEPTIONS. We will go over the League rules in person.
2. All kids will play each game, sometimes they'll play 3 innings, sometimes more. Kids who are at games and practices consistently, do their homework and work on their skills will have the best opportunity to play more.
3. If your kid can't be at a game or practice, please let the coaches know ahead of time. Please review the practice and game schedules and alert us of conflicts as far in advance as possible. If something comes up last minute, please call
4. Uniforms are for games only. Wear comfortable baseball clothes to practice. NO SHORTS! You will not be allowed to practice in your uniform, you will not be allowed to play in a game without one. Uniforms will require a $25 deposit this year. You can keep the hat and socks.
5. Players are expected to remain in the dugout during games unless enlisted to shag fly balls or coach a base. If a player must leave the dugout, they must ask the coach first.
6. Parents and siblings are not to be in the dugout. NO EXCEPTIONS.
7. All trash must be cleared from the dugout. You bring it in, you carry it out. Spectators please keep the field clean.
8. No batting or bats in hand unless you are at bat or on deck. Safety is important!
a. We will not swing a bat near any other people;
b. We will not throw the ball if there are any people behind either player in case of a missed catch.
9. ¾ walk rule in effect at all times-3 walks in a row or 4 walks in an inning and the pitcher will be replaced.
10. ALWAYS be respectful of teammates, opposing players, coaches and officials. Disrespectful behavior by players or parents will not be tolerated. Umpires are Human. If there is ever a disputed call:
-Players will talk to the Coach;
-Coach will talk to the Umpire.
11. Wear a cup!
12. Show up at the field ready to play ball!
13. PARENTS PLEASE keep the on field commentary to the "attaboy" variety. Conflicting instructions from a coach and parent in a game situation undermines the team. Say it with me "ATTABOY_______"
14. WE ARE A TEAM, I EXPECT EACH KID TO BE PERFECT. ("Perfect" means you always try your hardest-if you can look your teammates in the eye and know in your heart you did the best you could, then you're PERFECT)
That handout has evolved over the years and will most likely be revised for this year's team. I believe setting the expectations from day 1 of practice so everyone knows exactly how the season will progress. In the past, I have handed this out at the parent's meeting before the first practice. This year I am posting it on a team Blog before the parent's meeting and telling everyone that nobody plays or practices until I get a reply comment stating they read it with their kid!
When we practice, we have 6-8 stations that cover different skill areas. We have 2 kids at each station for about 5 minutes and we rotate until each pair of kids has run through each station. I always keep my kids moving so they don't have time to get bored. I like to have as many pitchers as possible so each kid feels he's contributing to the success of the team. Bunting is also huge on my teams and the kids who aren't the best hitters will bunt a lot. This gives them the opportunity to get on base and be involved in the games.
Another Hot Dog Truck [http://thehotdogtruck.blogspot.com/] special article. Stop by sometime....
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Merlino
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/463615
-------------------------
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Welcome to the YOUTH BASEBALL COACHING CLINIC. Our site features free articles, tips, and drills related to the successful coaching of youth baseball teams. Our information is useful to Little League, Dixie Youth, Babe Ruth, and Cal Ripkin baseball coaches.
Showing posts with label coaching little league baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coaching little league baseball. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Coaching Little League Baseball - A Guide to Keeping Young Players Focused
Thanks to our sponsor: 
Coaching Youth Baseball - How to Keep Youth Baseball Players Focused
By Guest Author: Jack Perconte
Keeping young players focused is a challenge in any sport but can be especially challenging in baseball because of the amount of time players stand around. There is not constant action or as much physical exertion in baseball as there are in other sports. Because of the amount of time in between pitches and the amount of pitches that are not put in play, it is easy for players' minds to wander. Coaching little league is a constant process of reminding young players to "keep their heads in the game." This is easier said than done, of course. Some young players have great sports instincts and are very focused and others are not mentally in the game at all. Most little league players are somewhere in between, where their focus comes and goes.
This is the reason why coaching little league baseball can be more challenging than coaching any other youth sport. Because of the lack of good little league coaching, many of the good athletes gravitate to other sports after playing little league baseball. It is a shame when good athletes choose another sport because coaches do not know positive coaching practices that will help young players stay focused. Following are good positive coaching practices that will help players remain focused during games.
First though, good coaches run fast moving practices with lots of attention given to each player and to the fundamentals of the game. Good little league coaches do not miss opportunities to teach game strategy during practice, as well as in games.
For keeping hitters focused, coaches should:
1. Never teach mechanics during a game at-bat.
2. Simply remind hitters to "see' the ball.
3. Teach the mentality to expect every pitch to be their pitch unless they see otherwise - with this in mind little league coaches should use a take sign sparingly, if at all.
4. Remind hitters they can only control one thing when hitting - talking good swings at good pitches.
5. Never get upset when players are aggressive and swing at bad pitches, just remind them to learn from that the next time.
For keeping fielders focused, coaches should:
1. Teach little league players how to get into ready position as the ball is being pitched.
2. Teach players to think two things before each pitch: what am I going to do with the ball if it is hit to me and what am I going to do if the ball is hit somewhere else. Of course, practice time is where players are taught the responsibilities at the various positions.
3. Teach pitchers to get in a quick rhythm, this will keep fielders on their toes and not allow minds to wander in between pitches.
4. Get in the habit of asking players, "Who wants the ball hit to them?" This mentality is slightly different than expecting the ball to be hit to them. I want players to want the ball hit to them.
5. Practice communication methods so players can remain aggressive, but safe, when going for batted balls.
For keeping pitchers focused, coaches should:
1. Explain to pitchers the importance of working quickly. After receiving the ball from catcher and taking a deep breath, pitchers should pitch the next ball. (Have pitchers watch Chicago White Sox pitcher, Mark Buerhle, to get the idea.)
2. Teach pitchers to focus on the glove and not the batter.
3. Teach pitchers what poise is about - the ability to stay in the moment and only worry about the things they can control - the next pitch.
4. Remind pitchers that they are a fielder after releasing the ball. Good fielding pitchers can help win games.
For keeping base runners focused, coaches should:
1. Remind players to be attentive to the scoreboard at all times - the score of the game, the count on the hitter and, most important, the number of outs in the inning.
2. Allow base runners to make their own decisions during games. This will force them to focus on the situation more, knowing they cannot rely on the coach to make decisions for them.
3. Work-on game-situation base running, rounding and leadoff technique as often as possible in practice.
Finally, it is always a good idea for coaches, before and after practices, to give players in-game scenarios and ask players what they would do in those situations. Players will begin to draw up the scenarios in their heads and will be more focused and prepared for those situations when they happen in games. This type visualization-challenge process is a good first step for players to focus their mind on baseball even when away from practice.
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.baseballcoachingtips.net and at http://jackperconte.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Perconte
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4731512
==============================
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By Guest Author: Jack Perconte
Keeping young players focused is a challenge in any sport but can be especially challenging in baseball because of the amount of time players stand around. There is not constant action or as much physical exertion in baseball as there are in other sports. Because of the amount of time in between pitches and the amount of pitches that are not put in play, it is easy for players' minds to wander. Coaching little league is a constant process of reminding young players to "keep their heads in the game." This is easier said than done, of course. Some young players have great sports instincts and are very focused and others are not mentally in the game at all. Most little league players are somewhere in between, where their focus comes and goes.
This is the reason why coaching little league baseball can be more challenging than coaching any other youth sport. Because of the lack of good little league coaching, many of the good athletes gravitate to other sports after playing little league baseball. It is a shame when good athletes choose another sport because coaches do not know positive coaching practices that will help young players stay focused. Following are good positive coaching practices that will help players remain focused during games.
First though, good coaches run fast moving practices with lots of attention given to each player and to the fundamentals of the game. Good little league coaches do not miss opportunities to teach game strategy during practice, as well as in games.
For keeping hitters focused, coaches should:
1. Never teach mechanics during a game at-bat.
2. Simply remind hitters to "see' the ball.
3. Teach the mentality to expect every pitch to be their pitch unless they see otherwise - with this in mind little league coaches should use a take sign sparingly, if at all.
4. Remind hitters they can only control one thing when hitting - talking good swings at good pitches.
5. Never get upset when players are aggressive and swing at bad pitches, just remind them to learn from that the next time.
For keeping fielders focused, coaches should:
1. Teach little league players how to get into ready position as the ball is being pitched.
2. Teach players to think two things before each pitch: what am I going to do with the ball if it is hit to me and what am I going to do if the ball is hit somewhere else. Of course, practice time is where players are taught the responsibilities at the various positions.
3. Teach pitchers to get in a quick rhythm, this will keep fielders on their toes and not allow minds to wander in between pitches.
4. Get in the habit of asking players, "Who wants the ball hit to them?" This mentality is slightly different than expecting the ball to be hit to them. I want players to want the ball hit to them.
5. Practice communication methods so players can remain aggressive, but safe, when going for batted balls.
For keeping pitchers focused, coaches should:
1. Explain to pitchers the importance of working quickly. After receiving the ball from catcher and taking a deep breath, pitchers should pitch the next ball. (Have pitchers watch Chicago White Sox pitcher, Mark Buerhle, to get the idea.)
2. Teach pitchers to focus on the glove and not the batter.
3. Teach pitchers what poise is about - the ability to stay in the moment and only worry about the things they can control - the next pitch.
4. Remind pitchers that they are a fielder after releasing the ball. Good fielding pitchers can help win games.
For keeping base runners focused, coaches should:
1. Remind players to be attentive to the scoreboard at all times - the score of the game, the count on the hitter and, most important, the number of outs in the inning.
2. Allow base runners to make their own decisions during games. This will force them to focus on the situation more, knowing they cannot rely on the coach to make decisions for them.
3. Work-on game-situation base running, rounding and leadoff technique as often as possible in practice.
Finally, it is always a good idea for coaches, before and after practices, to give players in-game scenarios and ask players what they would do in those situations. Players will begin to draw up the scenarios in their heads and will be more focused and prepared for those situations when they happen in games. This type visualization-challenge process is a good first step for players to focus their mind on baseball even when away from practice.
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.baseballcoachingtips.net and at http://jackperconte.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Perconte
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4731512
==============================
Check Out our sponsors:
Baseball2u.com - The Ultimate Baseball Training Store
Hit2win.com - Learn to Hit, Free Drills, Tisp & Articles
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Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Baseball Coaching Digest - What is the Most Important Thing in Coaching Little League Baseball?
Baseball Coaching Digest - What is the Most Important Thing in Coaching Little League Baseball?
Ny Nick Dixon
If you ask 100 baseball coaches the question, "What is the Most Important Thing in Baseball?", you will get a wide variety of answers. Some will say winning is the most important thing. Some will say that "expecting to win" is the most important thing. Others will say that helping kids grow, mature, and develop a sincere love for the game is the most important reason for playing baseball. When I ask myself this question, I have one simple answer. This articles explains what I feel that the most important thing in baseball to me is that I see some level of improvement every day.
This "level of improvement" can be in any aspect of the game. I may leave practice knowing that our team improved their knowledge and skill in defending the bunt. I may leave a game knowing that our team, although we lost, learned how to "come back" and compete when we were down by 4 and made it a one run loss at the end.
You may see an improvement in team unity, team chemistry, or team leadership. You may see a certain player show improvement in pitching control, hitting the off-speed pitch, or reading the pitcher to get a better jump when stealing a base. See these improvements are what coaching and playing baseball is all about.
Is it better for a team to show absolutely no improvement in a season and go undefeated because they dominate their league or for a team to play.500 baseball on the season, but show incredible levels of improvement from the top of the lineup to the bottom? You see what I mean? Improvement is the "name of the game". Improvement is what coaching baseball is all about.
Coaches must keep in mind that only half of the teams that play every day, win. The other half lose. Should 50% of the coaches feel their day was a total loss ever day they play? When it comes to playoffs it is a fact that less than 1/100 of 1 percent of all baseball teams will end their season with a win each year. The other 99.999 % of the teams will find themselves ending their season with a loss or not being in the playoffs.
Now, I want you to know that I value winning as much as any coach on this planet. But what I am saying is that coaches must make winning a goal and getting better a priority. You should feel satisfaction when you see improvement on a daily basis. If you do not see improvement, chances are that you will find it difficult to win anyway. So the message here is to make it known to you team that you want to see them improve as players and as a team every day in some way. It is their job to make it happen. It is your job to give them the opportunity to do so in practices and games.
The Baseball2u.com 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
Ny Nick Dixon
If you ask 100 baseball coaches the question, "What is the Most Important Thing in Baseball?", you will get a wide variety of answers. Some will say winning is the most important thing. Some will say that "expecting to win" is the most important thing. Others will say that helping kids grow, mature, and develop a sincere love for the game is the most important reason for playing baseball. When I ask myself this question, I have one simple answer. This articles explains what I feel that the most important thing in baseball to me is that I see some level of improvement every day.
This "level of improvement" can be in any aspect of the game. I may leave practice knowing that our team improved their knowledge and skill in defending the bunt. I may leave a game knowing that our team, although we lost, learned how to "come back" and compete when we were down by 4 and made it a one run loss at the end.
You may see an improvement in team unity, team chemistry, or team leadership. You may see a certain player show improvement in pitching control, hitting the off-speed pitch, or reading the pitcher to get a better jump when stealing a base. See these improvements are what coaching and playing baseball is all about.
Is it better for a team to show absolutely no improvement in a season and go undefeated because they dominate their league or for a team to play.500 baseball on the season, but show incredible levels of improvement from the top of the lineup to the bottom? You see what I mean? Improvement is the "name of the game". Improvement is what coaching baseball is all about.
Coaches must keep in mind that only half of the teams that play every day, win. The other half lose. Should 50% of the coaches feel their day was a total loss ever day they play? When it comes to playoffs it is a fact that less than 1/100 of 1 percent of all baseball teams will end their season with a win each year. The other 99.999 % of the teams will find themselves ending their season with a loss or not being in the playoffs.
Now, I want you to know that I value winning as much as any coach on this planet. But what I am saying is that coaches must make winning a goal and getting better a priority. You should feel satisfaction when you see improvement on a daily basis. If you do not see improvement, chances are that you will find it difficult to win anyway. So the message here is to make it known to you team that you want to see them improve as players and as a team every day in some way. It is their job to make it happen. It is your job to give them the opportunity to do so in practices and games.
The Baseball2u.com 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
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Pros and Cons Of Coaching Your Own Child's Baseball Team
The Pros and Cons Of Coaching Your Own Child's Baseball Team
By Mitchell Pierce
As children get older and become involved in sports like little league baseball, some parents make a choice to sign up to coach the teams themselves. At the onset of the idea it may seem like a lot of fun, but there is always a downside to any choice. How will it affect your child? Do you know enough about the particular sport? Will you be responsible for other children if they get hurt? All good questions, so let's take a closer look at the good and the bad of signing up to coach your child's baseball team. I'm going to focus on little league because that is what I signed up to do, so I can speak from experience.
Here is a look at some of the pros:
1. You will be spending more time bonding with your child and showing him that you care enough to take on this responsibility.
2. You can have a positive affect on other children and help them grow an understanding of the game of baseball and love for team sports.
3. Winning is always a bonus, but you might really feel a sense that you are connecting with the community and making new friends.
And now for the cons:
1. Because there are other children on the team, you may not have time to devote to your child which could make the child feel neglected or jealous that you are spending time and attention to other kids.
2. Politics and conflicts with the parents could come to being accused of favoring your own child or going easier on your child while being harsh on other children. This result is disastrous for both you and your child.
3. Less free time for other relationships in your life, and your wife or other children might feel like you are not spending enough time with them and too much coaching.
If you really want to have the experience and are dedicated and responsible enough to stay committed to the team, then I say sign up and get ready for the wild ride. On the other hand, if you are stressed already or just have a demanding job, or whatever the reason that you might drop the ball, then maybe your place is on the bleachers. Either way it is important to remember that creating the best and most fun season should be the goal no matter who signs up to be the coach.
About The Author
Mitchell Pierce hopes that you found this article helpful. Mr. Pierce runs several websites including a site that offers free advice on Internet Home Businesses, please visit the Internet Based Businesses site today. There is also a great hub page resource on coaching kids at this link, Coaching Youth Sports.
(C) Copyright, Mitchell Pierce, Internet Based Home Business Guide, All Rights Reserved World Wide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mitchell_Pierce
========================
Thanks to our sponsors:
BatAction.com - The original rotational hitting machine.
HurricaneMachine.com - Derek Jeter Baseball Trainer
AdvancedSkillsTee.com - Worlds most advanced batting tee.
QuickSwingTrainer.com - Joe Mauer Quick Swing Batting Trainer
HandsBackHitter.com - Teaches the perfect swing mechanics.
StayBackTee.com - Advanced Batting Tee for Advanced Hitters
BattingCagesDirect.com - Your best buy in backyard batting cages.
BattingCageDoor.com - NEW PRODUCT! Great for all batting cages! Safe, efficient, & convenient!
By Mitchell Pierce
As children get older and become involved in sports like little league baseball, some parents make a choice to sign up to coach the teams themselves. At the onset of the idea it may seem like a lot of fun, but there is always a downside to any choice. How will it affect your child? Do you know enough about the particular sport? Will you be responsible for other children if they get hurt? All good questions, so let's take a closer look at the good and the bad of signing up to coach your child's baseball team. I'm going to focus on little league because that is what I signed up to do, so I can speak from experience.
Here is a look at some of the pros:
1. You will be spending more time bonding with your child and showing him that you care enough to take on this responsibility.
2. You can have a positive affect on other children and help them grow an understanding of the game of baseball and love for team sports.
3. Winning is always a bonus, but you might really feel a sense that you are connecting with the community and making new friends.
And now for the cons:
1. Because there are other children on the team, you may not have time to devote to your child which could make the child feel neglected or jealous that you are spending time and attention to other kids.
2. Politics and conflicts with the parents could come to being accused of favoring your own child or going easier on your child while being harsh on other children. This result is disastrous for both you and your child.
3. Less free time for other relationships in your life, and your wife or other children might feel like you are not spending enough time with them and too much coaching.
If you really want to have the experience and are dedicated and responsible enough to stay committed to the team, then I say sign up and get ready for the wild ride. On the other hand, if you are stressed already or just have a demanding job, or whatever the reason that you might drop the ball, then maybe your place is on the bleachers. Either way it is important to remember that creating the best and most fun season should be the goal no matter who signs up to be the coach.
About The Author
Mitchell Pierce hopes that you found this article helpful. Mr. Pierce runs several websites including a site that offers free advice on Internet Home Businesses, please visit the Internet Based Businesses site today. There is also a great hub page resource on coaching kids at this link, Coaching Youth Sports.
(C) Copyright, Mitchell Pierce, Internet Based Home Business Guide, All Rights Reserved World Wide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mitchell_Pierce
========================
Thanks to our sponsors:
BatAction.com - The original rotational hitting machine.
HurricaneMachine.com - Derek Jeter Baseball Trainer
AdvancedSkillsTee.com - Worlds most advanced batting tee.
QuickSwingTrainer.com - Joe Mauer Quick Swing Batting Trainer
HandsBackHitter.com - Teaches the perfect swing mechanics.
StayBackTee.com - Advanced Batting Tee for Advanced Hitters
BattingCagesDirect.com - Your best buy in backyard batting cages.
BattingCageDoor.com - NEW PRODUCT! Great for all batting cages! Safe, efficient, & convenient!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Youth Baseball Digest - 4 Important Factors That Can Help New Little League Coaches Be Successful
HurricaneMachine.comYouth Baseball Digest - 4 Important Factors That Can Help New Little League Coaches Be Successful
By Nick Dixon
The 4 Most Important Rules that all New Little League Baseball Coaches Should Follow
Coaching Little league is a great way for baseball and softball players to give back to your community. Every baseball player remembers his first t-ball coach, coach pitch coach, little league coach, and high school coach. Baseball coaches have a profound effect on the lives of the players they coach. Being or becoming a great youth baseball coach requires a high level of commitment and dedication. There are 3 important rules that every new little league coach must always follow. Those rules are:
1. You must be a student of the game. To be a good youth baseball coach, you must have a good knowledge of how the game is played, how the rules are applied, and how certain skills and drills are performed. If you feel uncomfortable about a certain position, skill or fundamental, look for help. You may ask another coach. You may go to your local library or book store and find a book on how to coach baseball. You have access to an enormous amount of information about every aspect of the game through your computer and the internet.
2. You must have good help. You can never have too much help when coaching a youth team. Ask your parents and friends to find other volunteers to help you coach your team. It is best to have a parent meeting. Ask for parent volunteers. The parents that volunteer to help should choose a specific area in which they concentrate their effort. You will need at least 2 good assistant coaches. One needs to have enough knowledge and patience to be the pitching coach. One should be the hitting coach.
3. You must remediate your weaker players. In you draft, you may find that you must pick children that are good at certain skills but extremely week in other areas.One often overlooked and neglected aspect of coaching is remediation/ Remediation is special attention and help given to those players that need it. This is a job for what I refer to as the remediation coach. The coach that takes one or two players to the side and works on specific areas of the game in which they are too weak to compete. They may need help with swing mechanics, throwing mechanics, or simple footwork. These kids will master these skills easier and faster when they receive one-on-one personal attention. These "tutoring" lessons pay back huge returns if you can have enough help. The theory is that you must bring every player up to a certain level or much valuable team time will be lost to working with them during team drills. It is best to take these kids aside and work them separately from the team until they get their skill levels up. These lessons should be done in such a way to not embarrass the child or players involved.
4. You must work hard and set a good example. A willingness to work hard may be the most important trait of a successful coach. They work hard at planning, organizing, and executing individual and team drills for both offense and defense. They have high energy levels and are always willing to put forth that little extra effort to make a practice or game run smother.
I hope that you found this article to be helpful. Good luck to you and your team. Have a great day, Nick
The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.
Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Dixon
Saturday, November 6, 2010
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.
Nedco sports announces the release of a great new product for baseball teams and schools, the Batting Cage Door baseball pitching simulator. Sales for $199.95BatAction Hitting Machine Available now for just $119.95.
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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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.
Nedco sports announces the release of a great new product for baseball teams and schools, the Batting Cage Door baseball pitching simulator. Sales for $199.95BatAction Hitting Machine Available now for just $119.95.
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
=======================
Thanks to our sponsor: Xtender Batting cages and Heater Pitching Machines
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Monday, October 25, 2010
Coaching Little League Baseball - A Guide to Keeping Young Players Focused
Coaching Little League Baseball - A Guide to Keeping Young Players Focused
By Jack Perconte
Keeping young players focused is a challenge in any sport but can be especially challenging in baseball because of the amount of time players stand around. There is not constant action or as much physical exertion in baseball as there are in other sports. Because of the amount of time in between pitches and the amount of pitches that are not put in play, it is easy for players' minds to wander. Coaching little league is a constant process of reminding young players to "keep their heads in the game." This is easier said than done, of course. Some young players have great sports instincts and are very focused and others are not mentally in the game at all. Most little league players are somewhere in between, where their focus comes and goes.
This is the reason why coaching little league baseball can be more challenging than coaching any other youth sport. Because of the lack of good little league coaching, many of the good athletes gravitate to other sports after playing little league baseball. It is a shame when good athletes choose another sport because coaches do not know positive coaching practices that will help young players stay focused. Following are good positive coaching practices that will help players remain focused during games.
First though, good coaches run fast moving practices with lots of attention given to each player and to the fundamentals of the game. Good little league coaches do not miss opportunities to teach game strategy during practice, as well as in games.
For keeping hitters focused, coaches should:
1. Never teach mechanics during a game at-bat.
2. Simply remind hitters to "see' the ball.
3. Teach the mentality to expect every pitch to be their pitch unless they see otherwise - with this in mind little league coaches should use a take sign sparingly, if at all.
4. Remind hitters they can only control one thing when hitting - talking good swings at good pitches.
5. Never get upset when players are aggressive and swing at bad pitches, just remind them to learn from that the next time.
For keeping fielders focused, coaches should:
1. Teach little league players how to get into ready position as the ball is being pitched.
2. Teach players to think two things before each pitch: what am I going to do with the ball if it is hit to me and what am I going to do if the ball is hit somewhere else. Of course, practice time is where players are taught the responsibilities at the various positions.
3. Teach pitchers to get in a quick rhythm, this will keep fielders on their toes and not allow minds to wander in between pitches.
4. Get in the habit of asking players, "Who wants the ball hit to them?" This mentality is slightly different than expecting the ball to be hit to them. I want players to want the ball hit to them.
5. Practice communication methods so players can remain aggressive, but safe, when going for batted balls.
For keeping pitchers focused, coaches should:
1. Explain to pitchers the importance of working quickly. After receiving the ball from catcher and taking a deep breath, pitchers should pitch the next ball. (Have pitchers watch Chicago White Sox pitcher, Mark Buerhle, to get the idea.)
2. Teach pitchers to focus on the glove and not the batter.
3. Teach pitchers what poise is about - the ability to stay in the moment and only worry about the things they can control - the next pitch.
4. Remind pitchers that they are a fielder after releasing the ball. Good fielding pitchers can help win games.
For keeping base runners focused, coaches should:
1. Remind players to be attentive to the scoreboard at all times - the score of the game, the count on the hitter and, most important, the number of outs in the inning.
2. Allow base runners to make their own decisions during games. This will force them to focus on the situation more, knowing they cannot rely on the coach to make decisions for them.
3. Work-on game-situation base running, rounding and leadoff technique as often as possible in practice.
Finally, it is always a good idea for coaches, before and after practices, to give players in-game scenarios and ask players what they would do in those situations. Players will begin to draw up the scenarios in their heads and will be more focused and prepared for those situations when they happen in games. This type visualization-challenge process is a good first step for players to focus their mind on baseball even when away from practice.
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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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Appropriately Handling Winning and Losing in Youth Playoff Games
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Appropriately Handling Winning and Losing in Youth Playoff Games
By Guest Author Dave Rosene
Winning and losing graciously; that should be the goal of every adult coaching in a youth league.
If coaches place too much emphasis on the results of playoff games, it can cause damages in players' confidence as they proceed in their baseball careers if they fail in clutch situations or their team loses. Some of them eventually quit playing because of the pressure initiated by the adult coaches guided by their desire to win.
It is imperative that coaches stress sportsmanship and playing hard and smart, and applaud players' effort no matter what the outcome. They should place no more importance on playoff games and continually concentrate on teaching baseball strategies and situations, execution, and skill development.
It is a hard task because people that watch kids' games want their sides to win, but if it is established in the preseason that winning is a byproduct of good play, then the coaches will have an easier time conveying that to the players and to the adults who think that winning and losing are the be-all end-all.
With losing, youth players get upset with losses for a variety of reasons. A majority of players are embarrassed because their friends or players on the other teams will make fun of them, or they feel like they let down their parents, relatives or even the coaches.
As stated before, coaches must stress that the goals of the team and the league is learning baseball strategies, executing the strategies, improving individual skills, teamwork, and competing and playing as hard as possible. If this is emphasized when practice starts, the results can be played down as the season progresses because you have established a learning and development philosophy.
Difficult? Yes, because parents can be unreasonable. Impossible? No, if you stick to the program.
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To learn more, visit our website: http://www.dnasportsonline.com.
Dave Rosene - Co-Founder, DNA Sports
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Rosene
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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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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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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.
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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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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Friday, May 28, 2010
Baseball Coaching Digest - The Top 10 Worst Youth Baseball Coaching Excuses of All Time
If you coach baseball, you are going to hear your share of excuses from other coaches. If you are like me and most coaches, you absolutely hate to hear anyone make an excuse for bad behavior or poor performance. But, it really make me furious when I hear a coach make an excuse. Coaches are in the job of teaching kids to be accountable and responsible. They should never try to justify a mistake or poor team performance by making an excuse.
Most coaches refuse to make excuses. They understand that behavior and actions have consequences. However, there is that small percentage of coaches that are always ready with a reason or excuse for poor team performance.
The Baseball 2Day Coaching Journal surveyed baseball coaches. One of the questions was "What was the worst excuse you ever heard from a coach?"
Here are the top 10 worst coaches excuses of all time:
#10..."I forgot how many outs there were. The umpire should have told me"
#9...."They are only kids... they don not know any better. They are not a very smart bunch."
#8...."You should give up your practice time because I scheduled a game on this field without consulting the field schedule because I helped found this league."
#7...."I Can not get my short stop to come to practice. He has not practiced in 2 weeks." (shortstop started the game and made several crucial errors)
#6...."That kid is not coachable. He knows it all at the age of 12." (When talking of a kid)
#5...."I was too busy talking to my wife to watch that play." (coach missed a great defensive play by his third baseman)
#4...."I was riding around town and I did not know what time it was." (assistant coach missed a scheduled practice)
#3...."I thought the game was canceled because of the rain." (Assistant coach arrived late for the game because he assumed that the game was rained out - it rained at his home, but not at the field.)
#2(tie)...."We do not play good in early games" (youth coach after losing a Saturday morning game)
#2(tie)...."We do not play good in late games" (youth coach after losing a Saturday late night game)
#1(tie)...."I was talking on my cell phone."(Coach of the batting team did not get into the third base coaching box until his team had two outs in the inning)
#1(tie)...."I was texting my wife" (Coach failed to shake hands with the opposing coaches after the game.)
I know that you feel like I do. I feel that many of these guys are wasting their time attempting to coach youth baseball. If their excuses are true indications of their level of commitment and dedication, they need do what is best for the team and resign.
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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Thursday, May 27, 2010
Outfielder ADD - How to Keep Young Players' Heads in the Game
By Geoff James
I was never a very valuable member of my little league team. I could throw, catch, and even hit a baseball. I was a team player, and my mom always brought great snacks. The outfield, however, turned me into a liability. Put a kid in a classroom and ask him to pay attention to the person ten feet away for half an hour, you have yourself an uphill battle. Put that kid in a field and ask him to pay attention to a person forty yards away, and you may as well be asking him to bat .520.
In trying to hone your players' focus, it is important to remember how they think. Children resent authority but admire role models, operate on an incentives-and-aversions-based motivation system, and tend to be selfish (but influenced by desire to impress peers). Based on this rudimentary understanding of child psychology, you can capitalize on effective methods of improving outfield focus.
First, keep the suggestions positive. This is not to say that you should avoid being mean-spirited-that goes without saying. Instead, keeping suggestions positive means avoiding mention of the behavior you wish to avoid. Asking young players not to cloud gaze during baseball games just puts the idea in their heads. Instead, ask them to try to pay attention, do their best, etcetera.
Second, make the game interesting for them. This can be done without unfairly heaping pressure on their shoulders simply by showing a movie in which an outfielder makes an important play (almost every baseball movie) or perhaps setting up your own version of a golden glove incentive system.
Third, keep your players hydrated and well-fed. There is no better way to ensure distraction than to put thirsty, hungry kids in the outfield. Water and fruit are good choices because the natural sugar will give a cleaner, more sustainable source of energy to the players.
When you put these techniques into practice, you'll be looking at championships in no time. Come to us for all your baseball trophy needs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Geoff_James
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