Showing posts with label baseball teeball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball teeball. Show all posts

Friday, August 26, 2011

How to Hit a Baseball

How to Hit

How to Hit a Baseball demonstrates the key elements of the proper swing. This is proper instruction for a baseball player, based on how hitting is actually done, not on folk wisdom.

Bob Caswell has worked as a hitting instructor for professional teams, college teams and leagues, and has coached amateurs at all levels. He's providing some great baseball hitting tips to help you succeed.



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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

An Easy Way to Motivate Young Players

An Easy Way to Motivate Young Players
By Tony Argula

As a youth sports coach you will find that through a long season, it's difficult to keep your players excited, motivated and focused throughout the season. A long season coupled with young, easily distracted players, pose a great challenge for any youth sports coach. A great and simple way to help motivate your players and keep them focused is with the Golden Ball Award.

For the Golden Ball Award, all you need is an old ball and a can of gold spray paint. To make the Golden Ball Award, simply take any old ball (baseball, football, basketball, soccer ball, etc.) and spray paint it metallic gold. Let the ball dry, and presto, you have an award that will motivate your young players to push themselves and give 100% in each and every practice.

The coach should award the Golden Ball to the player that has performed the best in a practice or game. At the end of a practice, present the player with the award and explain to the rest of the team why the winning player deserved the award. The player who is awarded the Golden Ball will get to keep the ball until the next practice or game. You will be surprised how much this simple award means to young players as well as how motivating it is.

The coach should remind the team of the award at the start of each and every practice and challenge them to win it. Try your best to ensure that every player wins the award during the year.

This motivation technique can work for any sport: Youth Football, Youth Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, etc.

Tony Argula

targula@coachyouthsports.com

For more great coaching tips, articles, drill and practice plans, visit us at: http://www.CoachYouthSports.com.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1738304
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Friday, July 8, 2011

Just Beginning Youth Sports? Two Questions to Consider


Just Beginning Youth Sports? Two Questions to Consider
By Greg A. Marshall

If you are the coach of a youth team (or planning to be one), you should share these thoughts with the parents on your team. You may want to prepare a handout with your coaching philosophies and distribute them at your pre-season team meeting.

Before a parent signs a up a child to participate in a youth sports activity, the parent must answer a couple of questions about the child's role in the activity as well as his own

A. Make sure your child is ready for Youth Sports.

Obviously, this is the most fundamental element of whether you and your child enjoy the youth sports experience. Many children play sports simply because their parents want them to play. Children WANT to please their parents, so naturally they will usually do what their parents wish whether they want to or not.

Ask yourself:

1."Does my child even WANT to play an organized sport?"

2. Is he/she physically/mentally ready for an organized sport?

If the answer to either of these questions is no, it is better to wait until next year, simply because of the level of interest and safety concerns.

B. Assuming your child is ready and wants to play, what must you, as a parent do to help get them ready to play?

Long before the first practice, spend some time in preparation. Begin by making the experience a fun and learning one. The best way is to begin teaching without the child even realizing that he or she is being taught - so it doesn't become "work." For example, to get ready for the baseball season, indulge in the pure enjoyment of "having a catch" with your child. This is great fun for you and your child, and will lay the foundation for many enjoyable hours later on. In "having a catch," you are teaching the proper way to catch and throw the ball. As your child's skill level improves, you (and they) will begin making more difficult throws and catches.

In addition to "having a catch," playing "wiffle ball" is a great (and inexpensive) way to begin developing batting skills. Developing the hand/eye skills necessary for batting is vital to success and satisfaction. Take a moment at the outset to demonstrate the proper grip, batting stance and swing. Don't allow yourself to become frustrated if it takes awhile for your child to grasp the concepts you present. That is the surest way to kill the desire to learn.

Whatever you do, give lots of praise and encouragement when warranted. The surest way to speed up the learning process is to praise when your young player gives solid effort and executes a procedure well. They will work extra hard to earn more praise. If they struggle, take a break, get a treat, and come back later. Sometimes a little time off does wonders.

Greg A. Marshall is the creator of Teeball-To-A-Tee.com, a unique website offering excellent teaching and coaching tools for coaches and parents of very young baseball enthusiasts. The resources on the website are designed for the parent or prospective youth coach who is overwhelmed at the prospect of starting from scratch. The website and materials offered are full of practical advice to help youth coaches from the very first day of practice. http://www.teeball-to-a-tee.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_A._Marshall

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Coaching Tee Ball: Drills for Tee Ball that Work at All Levels

Drills for Tee Ball that Work at All Levels




On http://ClubHouseGAS.com , Jim Weldon talks about tee ball fundamentals that work at all levels of baseball. Also check-out http://YouthSportTravel.com

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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Who Invented the T-Ball Game?

Who Invented the T-Ball Game?
By Chris Moheno

For those who are somewhat unsure as to what the term T-Ball denotes. It is not baseball as a rule. However, it is a unique type of sport. It is directly taken from baseball and is an introduction to youngsters as a fun means to go about learning baseball skills.

The baseball coaching of T-Ball involves teaching young boys and girls baseball as part of the regular teaching regimen overall. Kids have a great deal of fun learning T-ball while picking up all the general things that are associated with the game of baseball. It is also a very effective way for children who are too young to play in actual baseball to be able to learn baseball skills for a lifetime and to face many of the very same challenges that baseball poses.

The generic name is T-Ball but the trademark name is officially registered as Tee Ball. This is just one of the many interesting facts that give this fascinating sport broad appeal. Nevertheless, amid the many curiosities that do surround T-Ball, one that does stand out is exactly who was the person or persons that invented the T-Ball game? Who is the actual father to this game?

The game's origins date back to the 1940s and the 1950s. However, numerous people claim that they were the inventors of it. Who are the people and or places that claim to be the beginning of T-Ball? One of the first of these in mention is no other than Albion, Michigan, that states that the sport was in creation there exclusively in 1956. However, there is also another town that lays claim to this as well and that town is no other than Starkville, Mississippi. Starkville, Mississippi says that their town is where Tee Ball was born in 1961. In addition, Claude Lewis, who was the director of Warner Robins, put together a t-ball league of his own back in 1958. Claude Lewis was with the Georgia Recreation Department and he was the designed the rulebooks for this new game.

So who did actually invent the T-Ball game? As it was stated here, many take credit, apparently, for this specific honor, but to say who exactly is the inventor is something that must first be examined up close. A person cannot even begin to attempt to make an assumption as to who it was specifically from the evidence here. Therefore all one can do is present the main contenders and draw a personal conclusion from there.

However, before that can be explored further, a little more about Tee Ball needs to be talked about as a sport upfront. It is very interesting, offers young children so much from a baseball perspective, and gives them something that they will always have with them. One of the differences between t-ball and baseball is obvious and that is that there is usually not the presence of a pitcher. A pitcher is required only for defense purposes. However, part of baseball coaching for some t-ball clubs, adult coaches do employ baseball pitching to some of its boy and girl players by pitching them balls so they can try to get a hit before using the tee. This approach helps those who need it the most to develop better batting ability.

Even though the T-Ball coaching is different from the sport of baseball in a number of ways, the overall objective of t-ball and baseball are pretty much the same in that both train players to be the best that they can be. Baseball pitching in t-ball involves the usage of a tee that is set on top of the home plate to suit the height of the specific batter. Some of the rules that govern t-ball also vary from that of baseball and the playing field is smaller too.

Now back to who invented the t-ball game? The trademark for Tee Ball was originally in registration with the United States government in the early 1970s by a man by the name of Dr. Dayton Hobbs. Dr. Hobbs openly credited the United States Navy for being responsible for the introduction of t-ball overseas. Dr. Hobbs was a man who had been coaching baseball for kids since the 1950s. It is said that he was the one who created t-ball baseball and promoted the game. This promotion brought interest in the game that only grew and grew over time. Was Dr. Hobbs the sole creator of t-ball? One can only guess.

The t-ball game's connection with Albion, Michigan, is also said to have been created by Coach Jerry Sacharski who came up with the game in the summer of 1956 for youngsters between the ages of six and eight to play. T-Ball was called by the locals in Albion as Pee Wee Baseball and was employed by the coach to teach boys the basics of regular baseball such as batting, pitching, and the like. Did Coach Sacharski invent t-ball? Again, only one can guess.

The claim for t-ball credit is also claimed by the town of Starkville, Mississippi. Another man by the name of John Zareas, 75, also attests to being the father of tee ball. He also had a book published in 1965, which is all about tee ball rules for youngsters in 1965. Are any of these also valid claims? It is still anyone's guess.

Thank God that they did create such a great form of baseball that is not really baseball. Because kids love it and that is what counts the most.

Besides this fact, it is not just a sport per se; it is also lasting preparation methods from a baseball coaching and a baseball hitting perspective for youngsters as well.

Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically.

His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game.

Discover more about baseball training on baseballtrainingsecrets.com

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

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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Youth Baseball Digest - Can You Name 10 Ways a Batter Can Safely Reach First Base?


Coach Nick Dixon - Nedco Sports - Boaz High Baseball

Youth Baseball Digest - Can You Name 10 Ways a Batter Can Safely Reach First Base?
By Nick Dixon

Have you ever thought about how many ways a batter can safely reach first base? I have pondered the question and I have come up with 10 different ways for a batter to safely reach first base.

The ways that I thought of include the following:

1) Base Hit - Batter swings the bat and hits a base hit. In baseball statistics a base hit is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory.

2) Walk or Base on Balls - A base on balls or walk is credited to a batter when the batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. The walk can be intentional or not intentional.

3) Error - A batter reaches on an error when, in the judgment of the official score book keeper, a fielder misplays a ball hit by the batter allowing the batter to reach first base. The ball misplayed is one that the official scorer judges to be a play that should have been made with reasonable or ordinary effort. What this means is that the fielder misplayed a routine play.

4) Passed Ball on a Strike Out: The batter strikes out but the catcher misses the ball. The batter becomes a batter-runner and reaches first base safely. This play should be officially scored as a strikeout and passed ball, a strikeout and wild pitch or a strikeout and a fielders choice.

5) Catcher Commits Interference - Catchers interference is called when contact is made by the bat of the batter. With catcher interference, the result is the same as with all interference, The batter is awarded the results of the swing or first base. The manager of the offense may advise the plate umpire that he elects to decline the interference penalty and accept the play

6) Fielders choice - A fielder`s choice is a play made on a ground ball in which the fielder chooses to put out an advancing base runner, thus allowing the batter to reach first base safely.

7) Batter-Runner Interference - Once the batter hits the ball the batter becomes a base runner. The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without interference by a defensive player. If interference occurs, the manager of the offense may advise the plate umpire that he elects to decline the interference penalty and accept the play.

8) A Sacrifice - The batter hits a sacrifice fly or executes a sacrifice bunt.

9) Double Play - The batter reaches first on a double play by the defense that did not involve a throw to first base.

10) Hit by a Pitch - The batter is hit by a pitch thrown by the batter. The batter must be in the batting box and in the judgment of the umpire did not "lean" into the pitch.

I am sure that you may think of one or two more. These are what came to my mine because they are the 10 ways that occur most often. I hope that you found this article to be informative. Thanks for taking the time to read it. I wish you and your team good luck in the coming season. 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

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Monday, June 28, 2010

How to Get Your Kid Interested in Baseball

Help Your Kid Become Interested in Baseball
By Guest Author Sarah Calvin

Most parents will always want the best for their kids. They work hard t give their children the best education, nutrition and equipment. There are a lot of things that you want your child to engage in. You always want him to excel in every activity that he does.

There are sports activities that you always like your kid to join. One of the best sports that he can ever join is baseball. This sport has lots of benefits. It can make your child physically healthy and will surely improve his confidence. This can also improve his social skills. There are some ways to get your kid interested in baseball.

BEGIN EARLY

One best way to get your kid interested in baseball is to start while he is still young. You must expose him to baseball as early as possible. You can do this by putting baseball themed toys in his room. He will surely put much interest in things that have been familiar to him since he was just a small kid. You can watch baseball games with him and tell him how interesting it is.

This will surely influence his interest towards the sport. If you seem so happy watching baseball matches, your kid will surely feel happy too. He will adapt the feeling and as well as your interest towards the sport. Always remember that when your baby detects that you are having fun, he will surely have fun too.

BRING THEM TO BASEBALL GAMES REGULARLY

Another thing that you can do to increase your kid's interest in baseball is by bringing him to baseball games regularly. This will surely make him more familiar with the sport. You will help him create a bond and connection with the sport as you expose him to the intensity and fun of the game. This sport can also bring entertainment for your kid so he will surely enjoy watching games.

TEACH HIM WHAT YOU KNOW

You have to teach your child basic rules and skills of baseball. Teach him on how to throw and catch properly. This will surely make him more interested. You can play with your child and just enjoy the game. Try to bring him to people who have the capability to teach young individuals about baseball. They can help your kid develop his skills in baseball.

Baseball is an enjoyable sport that your kid can possibly engage in. You just need to expose your kid to baseball as much as possible to increase his interest towards the activity. There are some ways that you can do to get him interested with the sport. Just make sure that he will enjoy these activities.

Try your best in giving your baby good care. Visit Kids Helmets and you will surely find things that can help you care for your young kid effectively. Try to learn more about Flip Front Helmets. These will surely make your kid happy and contented.

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

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Friday, June 25, 2010

How to Get Better at Baseball


Tips for Getting Better at Baseball
By Guest Author Jack Perconte

How to get better at baseball? Of course, the easy answer is to play as much as possible. Increased play however does not guarantee that a ball player will get better. The secret lies in the quality of practice and play. Performing a skill numerous times and playing in games without the correct fundamentals only leads to tired ball players. Coaches and parents should stress quality first. Quantity is good only if the skill is being done correctly. Parents may have to search out a baseball coaching specialist in order to find out the correct fundamentals and drills that will help develop correct baseball skills. In my opinion, it is well worth it to get this information at a young age if baseball appears to be their favorite sport. Once bad habits are formed, they become much more difficult to change. Correct fundamentals, formed early in their career, will to give baseball players their best chance at success and reaching their potential. With this in mind following are other suggestions for helping players get better at baseball.

1. Observe - Young ball players should be encouraged to watch fundamentally sound players and picture those good actions in their own mind. Most behavioral experts will tell you how important this "visualization" is to improving performance. Putting a good fundamental picture in their mind and then trying to perform that action can help skill development. Watching good players performing a skill over and over will lead to quality practice time.

2. Make practice fun - Playing in games is usually fun for kids at least up to a certain age or competition level. Coaches and parents who can make practice fun go a long way to developing hard working, dedicated baseball players.

3. Teach strategy - It is one thing to know how to hit, field and throw and another to know the strategic details of the game. Good coaches teach game "know-how," also.

4. Play with good players - Playing with higher caliber players can bring out the best in players. Of course, some players may become over matched with this suggestion.

5. Encourage old fashioned neighborhood play - Teaching kids how to play baseball skill games like in the old days (when I grew up) is important. Playing pitch and hit, three flies up, pickle, pepper, etc... with a couple of friends can help players. Using safer baseballs in crowded areas can help encourage play when an open field is unavailable.

Often, I hear dads complain that their kids do not play baseball unless it is with their organized league. Part of the problem is that parents have not done a good job of passing along some of those above mentioned, small group games that were so much fun and helpful.

Former major league baseball player, Jack Perconte gives baseball hitting tips and batting practice advice for ballplayers of all ages. His baseball hitting lessons 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 parenting blog can be found at http://positiveparentinginsports.com

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

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Monday, June 21, 2010

Competitive Baseball Teams - When to Start Playing at That Level


Competitive Baseball TeeBall Teams - When to Start Playing at That Level
By Guest Author: Tom Read

A World Series for tee ball, really? Every summer my home town hosts a world series for tee ball teams. I do not think tee ball is the age to start playing travel baseball. So when is the best time to leave the comfort of recreational baseball and move on to competitive baseball? You know the cost, the time commitment, and the pressure is going to greatly increase. When should you and your son make that leap?

You are only going to become better by playing better competition. So why not jump to a competitive team at the first chance? Well, first off, the cost is going to go through the roof. Competitive teams travel a lot. And that right there is a big cost. The price to play in these tournaments is also very expensive. And a lot of teams have paid coaches. That comes from you. Most teams have fund raisers, but they are no fun and usually do not cover a third of the cost. Competitive baseball is a financial drain.

Next is time commitment. After investing all this money, the team wants to perform well, and that means practice, practice, and more practice. Maybe year around. Recreational teams practice once a week, maybe twice. Competitive teams three or four time a week, maybe more. If the weather is bad, recreational teams cancel practice. Competitive teams find an indoor facility. More practice time, and more cost.

The last big concern, and this should be your biggest concern, is the increase pressure on your son to perform. It starts with tryouts. Players are put thru certain drills, and then some make the team and some get cut. It is a pressure cooker for a young boy. Recreational teams usually have playing time rules. Not so much with competitive teams. Everybody will get some playing time, but it is no way equal. Remember, they want to win. So if your son makes the team, then there is always the pressure to play well, or be riding the bench.

If your son is good enough, then at some point he will need to play competitive ball to get better. When depends on you and your son. Consider the above three points before deciding. Talk it over with your son.

My rule of thumb is not before ten, and at least by thirteen if you hope to play high school baseball.

After my many years of coaching, watching and traveling to out of town baseball games, I decided to share my baseball tips and stories that I have learned and experienced along the way. To check out more articles that I have written, please visit my website at http://baseballknowledge.info

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

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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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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Teaching a Balanced Batting Stance


By Guest Author:Jack Perconte

Putting the ball in play on the ground is not always a bad thing, but turning ground balls into line drives will definitely help the hitter's batting average and chances of playing baseball at the higher levels. Hitters with good speed can prosper by hitting the ball on the ground, especially in youth baseball, but at some point the ability to drive the ball into the outfield is necessary. Of course, hitting ground balls is better than hitting pop-ups but hitting the ball consistently on the ground is a sign of a faulty fundamental swing.

People generally think that hitting the top of the ball, which results in ground balls, is caused by hitting down on the ball or chopping at it. In my 21 years of coaching baseball, rarely would I come across hitters who actually chopped at the ball. I observed that most ground balls hit were caused by the hitters hands were on an upward path on the initial portion of the swing, usually caused by the lead elbow coming up at the beginning of the swing. This incorrect action is generally known as a chicken-wing, which does not allow hitters to bring their hands to the correct palm-up, palm-down hitting position at contact.

With this in mind, here are the drills which will generally turn ground balls into line drives.

Drill # 1 - To rid the player of the chicken wing problem, have them place their fielder's glove under their lead armpit and take numerous swings this way, allowing the glove to fall out on the follow through.

Drill # 2 - Have the hitter stand belly button away from a net and take swings with the end of the bat just scraping the net as it comes through the hitting zone. This will prevent the hitter from casting the bat out and over the ball which can cause ground ball hitting. This drill and the next on will help players develop the correct hands to the ball and hand position necessary to hit the ball in the air.

Drill # 3 - Place a tee at knee high level and have hitters work on hitting balls at this height until they begin to hit line drives or solid fly balls. Hitters with incorrect swings will continually hit ground balls at this pitch level. Hitters will have to develop the correct hip turn and swing in order to hit solid line drives on the knee high pitch, as stated.

* Hitters can combine these drills and perform all three at the same time. This becomes more difficult but can accelerate the process of developing the correct baseball swing.

For hitters who consistently hit solid ground balls, as opposed to weak or chopped ground balls, a slight adjustment in their stance or hand position may lower the bat position on the ball just enough to hit the lower back portion of the ball instead of the top of the ball. Hitters who widen their stance and bend their knees slightly may see the necessary line drives. Also worth a try is lowering the height of the hitter's hands a couple of inches in their initial set-up position. This may allow the hitter to get to the back of the ball more consistently. Following these few guidelines should turn those ground balls into solid line drives. For photo illustrations of these drills please refer to my book, The Making of a Hitter: A Proven & Practical Step-by-Step Baseball Guide.

Former major league baseball player, Jack Perconte gives baseball hitting tips and batting practice advice for ballplayers of all ages. His books and baseball hitting lessons 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 parenting blog and books can be found at http://positiveparentinginsports.com

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

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Tuesday, June 8, 2010

6 Winning Strategies Guaranteed to Improve Your Coaching

Winning Strategies for Baseball Coaches


6 Winning Strategies Guaranteed to Improve Your Coaching

6 Winning Strategies Guaranteed to Improve Your Coaching
by: David Huizar & Matt Zavadil

Are you sure you're doing everything you can to be the best coach possible? Absolutely sure?

I've been a coach and I've had a lot of coaches. You know what I've found? Some coaches put all the pieces together and some just don't invest time developing the coaching skills that make a difference.

I can't turn you into a coaching superstar overnight but I can get you started with these six powerful communication skills. I'll break them into two groups: Verbal and Non-verbal

Read this complete article at the BBCD.

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Friday, June 4, 2010

Teaching Litlte League Baseball Players To Be Smart!

By Stephen K Reynolds

Stephen K Reynolds Is an Internet Marketer who consults to others for assistance on how to earn a living on the Web! He is married ...

Coaching little league baseball players is a blast! I think it is an awesome thing to volunteer your time for.

In order to get the most out of your team it is imperative you let them figure out certain situations. I see coaches making this mistake all the time. Oh sure they have good intentions, they want to see the team get that force out at second. I'm a big believer in letting the kids figure out for themselves what to do. Here is what happens say in a minor A game 9-10 year olds. The hitter grounds a ball to second baseman, the runner is running due to the force and the 2nd baseman throws to 1st gets the out but could have tagged the runner and then threw to 1st. Parents and the coach are screaming to tag the runner, lets say that he does tag the runner and throws on to 1st. Sounds great.

Problem is from tee-ball all the way up Little League Baseball players are being told what to do during the game. They continue to look to the coaches for help when the play is going on. This is a slow process of teaching the kids what to do. You need to look long term so your players will be smarter because they solved the problems themselves. Talk to the players after the inning is over about what happened. Remember you are a teacher. Teach the game properly!

Little League Baseball Coaches need to do their work in practice so the kids can enjoy themselves during the game. If it didn't work out then it is back to the drawing board in practice. Coaches motto should be have the practices organized and fruitful, this is the coaches time and then when it is time to play the game sit back and call the shots and let the players play the game and have fun doing it.

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

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

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

5 Things Baserunners Should Always Be Taught To Do:

Baserunners Should Always Be Taught To:

1. Always know the situation.

2. The player's job is to start movement to the next base.
The coach's job is to stop it.

3. Anticipate the "dirt ball" pitch. Expect the ball in the dirt. Read the "dirt ball" and use the off speed or fastball in the dirtto advance or take the next base. Start yourself! "Make a decision and live with it! Trust your eyes!

4. Take the proper lead depending on the situation and number of outs.

4. Pick up the 3rd base coach early.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Visit the Baseball Parent Guide for Free Articles and Tips for Baseball Parents

Visit the Baseball Parent Guide for Free Articles and Tips for Baseball Parents

BaseballParentGuide.com - This informative sites features articles is many interesting categories realted to helping a baseball player imrove and deal with issues related to today's game.

make sure to bookmar the BaseballParentGuide.com for future visits.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

5 Simple Hitting Drills That Will Raise Your Average Overnight!

By Janet K Hansen

The best hitters in the game use a variety of hitting drills to improve hand-eye coordination, bat speed, and power. These drills will have you or your players hitting the ball more consistently and with more power, with the ability to place shots more effectively. The result will be higher average and better run production in just a week or two of practice.

1. Ball on a Cone or Tee: Hand-eye coordination is the key to all good hitting, in any game and at every level. Improving your ability to match what your eyes are seeing with the trajectory of your swing creates the kind of contact that produces more line drives, and with time, more power. Hitting legend Ted Williams used to practice by using a cue stick to hit bottle caps. That's not a bad idea, but these drills will serve the purpose, too.


Ball on a cone: Put a traffic cone on the floor 3 feet out from a mat. Kneel, or have your players kneel, on the mat. Put balls on the cone and have the players focus on hitting a line drive. Hit 15 to 25 balls in each session, more if time allows - the more the better. The drill emphasizes contact using just the arms and upper body, which is essential to hitting the ball consistently.

T-Ball: Kids start in t-ball for a reason - they learn to make contact, plain and simple. Since solid contact is the key to all good things in hitting, contact drills never go out of style. Pro, college, and top amateur teams continue to use hitting tees to warm up and find the hitting touch, especially after layoffs. Start hitting practice with a round of tee drills to emphasize keeping an eye on the ball, with a bonus feature being an increase in confidence. When pitch speed is added, the improvement will be noticeable. When the game starts, sharper hitting will lead to more base runners and more RBI's. VARIATIONS: place the tee on the inside, middle, and outside parts of the plate to encourage hitters to go with the pitch, so they learn to drive balls to all fields. Most hitters try to pull everything, and this will help break that habit.

2. Wiffle Ball: This drill emphasizes bat speed and a compact, powerful swing. Using either a pitching machine or a live pitcher, stand 20 feet in front of the plate and use waffle balls for safety. Set the machine to about 40 mph, or gauge your pitch speed accordingly. Batters have to get the bat around in a hurry. The drill will expose swings that are too long - the kind of swings that keep pro players in the minors. On the positive side, it encourages increased bat speed to be able to get around on the pitches, and a shorter, more compact swing that is the foundation of power.

3. Wait and Explode: Many hitters develop the bad habit of starting their swing far too early. The results are all bad. For instance, the hitter will often stride into the pitch too early and then have to hold back the upper body waiting for the ball. Timing and hand-eye coordination is thrown off, plus if contact is made, it's only the upper body involved. The powerful motion of the legs is eliminated. Misses, weak grounders, and lazy fly balls are the result. Here's how this drill works. Have the batter stand in the box and coach them not to move at all until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. Keep it up until the hitter learns to be patient, reserving their energy until they can complete the swing in one powerful motion. Hitters with good contact skills but poor power will start driving the ball much harder with this drill.

Another way to encourage a "wait and explode" approach is to use tennis balls and bounce balls up to the plate. The hitter must not move a muscle until the ball bounces, 6-8 feet in front of the plate. Patience is learned, and hand-eye coordination is also improved. A short, compact, energetic swing will result.

4. The Barrier Drill: This drill will teach good mechanics. Have the players stand one back length back from a barrier, such as a net or string, and take their cut. If they hit the barrier with the bat, they are taking too long a swing, unlocking their elbows before the shoulders are fully engaged. Point out what's happening and see if they can make the correction, which will produce a compact, powerful cut.

5. Reward or Run: There's nothing like the possibility of a little physical exercise to get players to concentrate. Using a pitching machine, or reliable batting practice pitcher, feed each batter 15 pitches. On strikes only (make swinging at a bad pitch an out, no matter if they hit it or not), count well-struck balls versus misses or weak hits. If the batter has 8 or more good cuts reward them in some way. If 8 or more bad swings happen, it's time to run! As the season continues, and the players improve, bump your better hitters up to 10 or 11 quality hits to avoid running. Tailor the drill to stretch each player to achieve their best.

Each of these drills is used by many professional, college, and top amateurs teams every year. Employ them on your team and start noticing immediate results in terms of contact and power. You'll enjoy better run production from the first time through the order!

Janet Hansen is a softball coach in NC and helps others understand how to choose the right softball bat for their needs, at her Softball Batting website, http://www.SoftballBatGuide.com. You can also learn batting tips and join in the discussion along the way!

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

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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Teaching Young Batters to Use the No-Stride Technique For a Good Baseball Swing


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Teaching Young Batters to Use the No-Stride Technique For a Good Baseball Swing
By Nick Dixon

If you watched the College World Series on ESPN SPORTS TV last June, I am sure that you saw, as I did, player after player, use the no-stride technique. The abundance of players using the "No-Stride" technique at the College World Series in Omaha shows how many baseball coaches today teach the "wider stance and no stride approach" to hitting. Here I cover the basics of teaching and coaching the "No-Stride" hitting method.

The "No-stride" technique is simply the process of swinging the baseball bat without taking a big step or stride forward during the swing. The front foot is the stride foot. The back foot is called the pivot foot. The "No-stride" technique allows the batter to swing and keep the head still, the weight back, and the eyes on the ball.

When using the "No-Stride" approach, the batting stance should be wide enough to insure a solid base and wide enough so that the batter can use a "soft or short" stride technique. It is best that the batter simply lifts the front foot up less than an inch and puts in back down in the same place. There is little or no movement forward by the front foot.

A wider base and shorter stride allow the batter to keep the head still and prevents the head from dropping during the swing. When a batter assumes a narrow stance with the feet close together, the batter must take a long stride during the swing. This long stride causes the head and eyes to "fall or drop" during the swing. This is the reason that many coaches teach the no stride technique. Of course, another reason is the fact that when a batters uses a "close stance" and "long stride approach" they often cannot hit the fastball velocity of many pitchers in the game today.

The optimum width of the feet would be slightly wider than shoulder width. The weight should be on the "balls" of the feet and off the heels. The front foot or stride foot should be "placed softly as if it is on a carton of eggs". This softness allows the foot to be lifted and placed back down easily. The back foot or pivot foot is also important during the swing. The back foot should not "move or leak forward" but should turn up "shoe laces to pitcher" when the front foot settles into place during the swing.

COACHING POINT: I recommended an "even toed" stance meaning that the toes of each foot are even when the stance is assumed. A closed stance is one with the back foot farther away from the plate than the front foot. An open stance is one with the front foot farther away from the plate than the back foot.

COACHING POINT: You may actually use a simple demonstration to illustrate how a long stride causes the head to drop and the eyes to move. Have a batter assume a narrow stance. As you face the batter, hold your hand palm down exactly even with the eyes. Have the batter take a long stride while you hold your hand perfectly still at the level where the eyes were when the stride began. A long stride will cause the head to drop and the eyes to drop also. This movement of the head and eyes makes it more difficult for the batter to "see and hit" the ball as it travels through the strike zone.

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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

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Little League Digest - The KISS Rule of Teaching Youth Baseball Players a Proper Swing


By Nick Dixon



Coaching baseball is not rocket science. I believe in the KISS rule of coaching young baseball batters. The KISS or "Keep it Super Simple" rule means that the coach will present the batting instruction in a way that it is easy for young baseball players to understand, visualize and perform. This article explains the 6 simple steps in teaching youth baseball batters using the "KISS" method.

The KISS method of coaching little league batters can be broken down into 5 easy steps:

Step 1 - GRIP & HANDS - The knocking knuckles must be aligned. This grip places the handle in the fingers and away from the palm. A proper grip increase hands speed and power.

Step 2 - STANCE - The feet should be shoulder width part with the insteps of the feet aligned under each arm pit. The toes should point straight toward the plate.

Step 3 - STRIDE - The stride is the step or weight transfer achieved during the swing. The stride may be a simple motion such as simply easing the weight off the front foot and restoring it. The front foot can move but does not have to. The less movement of the front foot forward is better. However, a wide stance is necessary to give the hitter a good lower body foundation and strength.

Step 4 - SEE TARGET - The batter should concentrate on the ball. He should try to see it come out of the pitcher's hand and track it with his eyes as it approaches the plate. The batter will watch the ball all the way to the bat or the catcher's mitt. The batter should keep the head down and the eyes on the ball. The batter should concentrate on hitting the top half of the baseball. Hitting the top half will insure that a fly ball will not be hit. The batter should try to hit a ground ball or a line drive.

Step 5 - SWING - The swing should be level and quick. A short quick motion taking the bat directly to the ball is desirable. A long sweeping motion or upper cut swing is not desirable. A wood chopping swing is not acceptable.

Step 6 - FINISH - The younger batter should finish the swing with two hands. The batter should concentrate on keeping the head down through the finish. Prematurely pulling or jerking the head up to see where the ball is hit, is a batting flaw that should be eliminated immediately.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article. Good luck this season! Have a great day, Nick.

The Coaches Best 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 and the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine. Dixon is also a contributing writer for Baseball Coaching Digest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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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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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Monday, May 24, 2010

How to Coach T-Ball

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By Kenny Buford

T-ball is the most popular youth baseball program in Little League, including other youth baseball leagues around the country, and has the most participants. However, coaching t-ball can be a daunting experience at first. But don't worry too much, there are many strategies about how to coach t-ball and the main objective is always to enjoy the experience.

Get Organized:

Unfortunately, a late start in a sport like tee ball typically means players won't make up the difference until the following season when they can get a better start. If you want to learn how to coach t-ball, then get organized, develop a plan, and prepare to work hard. Learn as much about t-ball and baseball as you can. Prepare to learn enough about baseball to be able to present the material in "kid terms."

Use Analogies Kids Can Understand:

Kids don't know what it means to "take an extra base" or "turn two" until you teach them and show them. Successful coaches know their audience and use analogies and common visual imagery to establish an intellectual and cognitive connection with their players. For t-ball players, these images are best when they are a bit dramatic. For instance: point the belly button toward the part of the field where you want to hit the ball (get your hips rotated), make your arm like an elephant's trunk when throwing (don't launch the ball like a catapult, throw it), and point the button on your cap in the direction the ball came from when fielding a ground ball (keep your head down).

Be Serious:

Whether your league keeps score or not, or whether you have a team that can win games or not, don't ever fail to take your responsibilities as a coach seriously. Being a serious t-ball coach means that you'll try to teach your players something about baseball, basic skills, and sportsmanship. It means that you're attentive to player safety, and it means that while you're asking your players to put their best foot forward, so are you.

Be Patient:

Having been a great player is no assurance that you will be a great coach any more than being a great student necessarily means you will be a great teacher. However, a good coach has to be a good teacher. A coach has to be patient, he has to be confident and decisive, nurturing when his players get hurt or make mistakes, and he has to be able to get as much as he can out of his players without going too far.

Get Help:

T-ball coaches need the assistance of their players' parents. You will be surprised to learn that parents are normally willing to help out if they aren't too busy. The more people you have helping out, the better. Just remember, that you are the coach so don't let them take over your responsibilities.

Administration:

Keep meetings with players and parents brief since young kids get restless quickly and create distractions. To communicate important information such as league rules, game schedules and uniform information, use handouts that the parents can read later. When learning how to coach t-ball, try to have fun and make everyone enjoy the experience.

Kenny Buford is a baseball and t-ball coach with over 20 years of experience. You can make your t-ball coaching life even easier by downloading his t-ball practice plans at the site below:

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

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Friday, May 21, 2010

Baseball Hitting - The Basics to Success


By Chris Moheno

Baseball hitting is a lot more then just swinging a bat around and hoping to get lucky. When it comes to learning how to hit a baseball, you have to remember that there is a lot more skill, technique, and focus needed then meets the eye.

There has to be a lot of practice hours put in or you will never be able to swing the bat like some of the great names in baseball history. By practicing hard and keeping a few simple tips and hints in mind you will be able to swing like a pro in no time at all.

Remember though, besides hard-core technique, there is also a lot of room for the practice of visualization and positive thinking in your baseball training, which has proven to help many people.

If you have been swinging for a while but just want to learn to hit better the first thing you need to do is to avoid any major changes in your stance. Even though this seems a little bit backwards considering you are trying to hit better, it is an important move. Many players, even the not so great ones, naturally develop certain stances in order to make up for something such as a dominant right eye. Before you make any drastic changes make sure that you figure out why it is that you do what you do. If there is no reason for the stance, the grip, or the swing that you have other then laziness or lack of knowledge then it is time to get to work on that.

Time to get ready for the hit. If you do not have a lot of experience with this then make sure that you have a bat you are comfortable with and get up to bat. Get in a proper fitted stance. Keep your chin tucked in along with your front shoulder. Make sure that your head is completely turned so that you are able to clearly see the pitcher. Stay off of the heals of your feet by remaining on the balls of your feet. And most importantly, keep your head still. Even though you may find that over time your stance will change, it is extremely important to keep those simple things in line. Always stay on the balls of your feet and never take one eye off of the pitcher. These are the rules no matter what stance you adopt.

Time to select the right ball to hit. Even though you may be willing to swing at anything that comes at you it is important that you do not. Not every pitch is a good pitch. Be selective and be patient about it. There is no reason to go in overly aggressive. Just make sure that you are concentrating on putting the ball in play and use the entire field to do it. As you are waiting for the ball to come your direction you will want to carefully think through what it is that you are trying to do at the plate.

Imagine and envision yourself striking the bat against the ball. Picture complete batting success before you even have the chance to hit the ball in real life.

The last step would be to take all of the skills you have learned and hit the ball. Make sure that you swing with force and that you follow through with it. Imagine where in the field you are sending the ball and see what happens.

If you feel you need more help with your baseball hitting then you need to seek out some one on one help. Having someone right next to you through your baseball training is always a great thing to have. There are also many DVD's that are being sold in order to perfect your skill. Watching the exact technique played out is a great way to make sure that you are doing everything you should be doing.

Keep practicing and then one day everything will suddenly click and you will be hitting every ball that comes your way.

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

Discover more about baseball training secrets on baseballtrainingsecrets.com

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

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