BaseballParentGuide.com - Official Blog

Welcome to the official blog of the Baseball Parent Guide. Our free baseball articles and daily post provide baseball parents with valuable drills and tips to help improve your home, team and backyard baseball practice. Our archive has hundreds of informative and useful articles and posts related to all aspects of baseball training, practice and skill development. Make sure to save this site to your favorites for future visits. Happy Hitting and Good Luck to Your Team!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Characteristics of Division I Baseball Players

Characteristics of Division I Baseball Players
By guest author: Andy Pohl


Below are the athletic measurables and characteristics needed to play at each level of competition. These numbers were put together from general feedback by college coaches. While there certainly are exceptions to the given parameters, these numbers will give you a better idea as to where you stand and what you need to work on.

For the most part, college coaches are looking for pitchers, catchers, shortstops, and centerfielders. Many college coaches will only recruit these four positions and move them to other positions once they arrive on campus. It is very important for high school baseball players to be aware of this fact.

Division 1 Baseball:

RHP: 88-90+ MPH consistently with movement; command of at least 3 pitches;

over 1K per inning pitched in HS

LHP: 86-87+ MPH consistently with movement; command of at least 3 pitches;

1K per inning pitched in HS

Catcher: 1.9 Pop Time or below; superior leadership skills & ability to call games

1B/3B: Tremendous size and power potential (8 + HR in HS)

SS/2B: 6.8 60 yrd or below; 85+ MPH from INF to 1B, 1.35-1.40 turn time

CF: 6.7 60 yrd or below; 87+ MPH from OF

Division II Baseball:

RHP: 85+ MPH consistently with movement; command of at least 3 pitches;

1K per inning pitched in HS

LHP: 83+ MPH consistently with movement; command of at least 3 pitches;

1K per inning pitched in HS

Catcher: 2.0 Pop Time or Below; superior leadership skills & ability to call games

1B/3B: Tremendous Power Potential

SS/2B: 6.9 60 yrd or below; 82+ MPH from INF to 1B; 1.45 turn time

CF: 6.8 60 yrd or below; 82+ MPH from OF

Division III Baseball:

Division III baseball/softball are highly competitive, despite the fact that they do not offer athletic scholarships. Some DIII programs are playing on a DII level, and professional players have been drafted from DIII schools. Due to the discrepancies between DIII schools, it is important that you research each program that you are interested in order to get a better idea as to what type of player they are looking for.

NAIA Baseball:

Like DIII schools, the discrepancies are far too wide to find any similarities in characteristics. Be sure to fully research each individual program to get a better idea as to what type of player they are looking for.

Junior College Baseball:

Junior Colleges have 3 divisions for the purpose of separating stronger JC programs from the weaker ones. While there may be somewhat of a drop off in talent between Division III Junior Colleges and Division 1 and Division II Junior Colleges, there is little difference between a DI and DII Junior College. Many Junior College players lack the 'polish' to be considered D1 players coming out of high school, but they already possess the necessary physical tools to be successful at the D1 level.

Andy Pohl - Co-Founder, DNA Sports

DNA Sports specializes in personalized baseball and softball skill programs, college recruiting education and preparation, and coaching clinics. Learn more: http://www.dnasportsonline.com

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




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3231532

===================
Thanks to our sponsors:

www.BatAction.com



---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com
---BatActionMachine on Ebay.com
---BatAction Machine Video Clips
---BatAction Trainer - 15 Reasons Why You Must Own This Machine
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here

Monday, May 16, 2011

Baseball Youth Digest - Bunting Made Simple - Teaching Bunting Skills to Beginners

Baseball Youth Digest - Bunting Made Simple - Teaching Bunting Skills to Beginners
By guest author: Nick Dixon


Bunting is a skill that must be taught and practiced just like throwing, hitting, and fielding. It is wise for t-ball or Little League coaches of coach pitch teams to introduce every young player to the basics of bunting. This article outlines 10 recommended coaching points for teaching and introducing bunting to beginners.

Here are 10 recommended coaching points for teaching bunting to t ball players and baseball beginners.

1. The bunter must move into the front of the batter's box. Moving to the front of the batter's box gives the batter more fair territory into which to bunt the baseball.
2. The bunter will square the feet around to get into the proper body position for bunting the baseball. The foot work should be a step and a step. The batter should not jump or hop into the bunting position. There are other techniques used to bunt should as the pivot or drag bunt. Those techniques are more advanced and complicated to teach. They should be introduced after the batter has mastered the square-around bunt.
3. The bat should be gripped with the top hand pinching the barrel. The fingers should not wrap around the barrel. Exposing the fingers to ball contact can cause injury to the fingers or hand.
4. The bat barrel should be kept level or at a position with the barrel slightly higher that the grip. The baseball will be contacted with the bottom of the barrel. Bunting the ball with the top of the barrel will pop the ball into the air, the worst thing that can happen in a bunting situation.
5. Bunting is not swinging or hitting the baseball. When hitting, a batter takes the bat barrel to the ball. In bunting the bunter places the bat into the path of the approaching ball and allows the ball to hit the bat.
6. The batter should set up close enough to the plate, that the bat covers the entire plate when extended.
7. The arms should be slightly bent. The bat is allowed to give a little when the ball contacts the barrel.
8. The bunter should bunt a strike only in a sacrifice bunting situation. The bat is extended in anticipation of a strike. However, if the baseball is not a strike, the batter will pull the bat back and take the pitch.
9. The baseball should be bunting in as safe zone toward first base or third base. An effort should be made to keep the ball in fair territory. But, the baseball should never be bunted directly to the pitcher in a sacrifice bunting situation.
10. The batter should not exit the batter's box or begin running to first base until the ball is down and on the ground.

I know these points are extremely simple and elementary. But, keeping the concepts simple and the instruction easy to understand makes it easy for beginners to learn. The use of bunting games and competitions is a good way to generate an interest in bunting and to have kids practice in a fun atmosphere. Bunting practice can be boring if the drills are not made competitive or fun.

I hope that you found this article to be informative and useful. I would like to personally thank you for taking the time to read it. I wish you and your team good luck in the coming season. Have a great day, Nick.

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

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

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




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3544600

==================
Thanks to our sponsors:

www.BatAction.com



---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com
---BatActionMachine on Ebay.com
---BatAction Machine Video Clips
---BatAction Trainer - 15 Reasons Why You Must Own This Machine
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

How To Motivate The Young Player In Youth Baseball


Available at:
Baseball2u.com

BatAction.com
Hit2win.com

How To Motivate The Young Player In Youth Baseball
By guest author: Stephen K Reynolds


Motivating young baseball players is always a challenge for the youth baseball coach. Many times coaches get wrapped up in the game and forget why they are coaching and don't remember to keep players motivated!

Coaches will get negative because a player made a mistake. Instead of You should talk to the player about what he did right followed by what ever error he made mental or physical and then follow up with a positive comment to close it out...commonly referred to as the sandwich technique!

Here is something else coaches need to be aware of when it comes to their relationship with their players.
Coaches need to be prepared at practice get your stuff done with the players and then on game day kick back call the shots and then let the players have fun and play the game. If players are making mental mistakes then it is back to practice the next day and its the coaches turn to get it going. Game day should be for the players.

It goes without saying that coaches need to know their players different personalities and motivate accordingly. Some players need to be pushed harder,they need you to be in their face from time to time, others don't need much at all to keep them motivated, while some need just encouragement to get the most out of them.

I would say the number 1 issue with coaching youth baseball and motivating players is how they are treated by their coaches as far as the rules go for the team. I Can't tell you how many times I have seen players miss practice and no consequences for that player. That sends the wrong message to the rest of the team. I know this sounds too obvious but if that is true why is it so prevalent in youth sports. This brings down a teams morale more than anything.

Now instead of players focusing on the game their more concerned about the fact that a certain player is getting special treatment. In other words be fair and consistent whether it is your super athlete or your average player.

In conclusion when it comes to coaching youth baseball and motivation think about what you are doing in regards to your players and how that is going to equate on the field. let's put our best into the game and if we get beat lets get beat with every one playing at their full potential and nothing less, that is not a failure but rather a winning effort!

for information contact me!

Stephen K Reynolds is publisher of the LSR Unlimited "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 youth sports coach in Western Montana. For more information on this e-mail lsrwealth@gmail.com

(800)758-1282

406-542-1723

[http://www.urticket.org]

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




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1117554

===============
Thanks to our sponsors:


www.BatAction.com



---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com
---BatActionMachine on Ebay.com
---BatAction Machine Video Clips
---BatAction Trainer - 15 Reasons Why You Must Own This Machine
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Youth Baseball Life Skills and the Iron Man Award

Youth Baseball Life Skills and the Iron Man Award
By guest author: Robert Bulka


Do you want to teach your kids about life? Do you want to teach them how to interact socially? How about learning sportsmanship, leadership skills, respect, discipline and other skills essential in life? Youth baseball leagues are the perfect venue. Youth baseball has everyone you need to teach your kids important lessons about life in general. And at the end of the baseball season, it makes sense to reinforce the lessons by acknowledging the achievements each player has made in this respect.

Leadership

Good leaders are made, not born. Young baseball players can learn the qualities that make someone a leader, including: education, training, and experience. Inspiring youth baseball players requires them to be able to get the whole team working together.

A good youth baseball coach should be able to provide every player the ability to act in a leadership by using some very simple techniques. They can empower each of them in a team captain role during practices, or they can assign tasks that require them to delegate responsibilities to their teammates.

Sportsmanship

Youth baseball leagues are a great vehicle for teaching our youth about sportsmanship. When we talk about sportsmanship, we are talking about playing fair, following the rules of the game, respecting the judgement of the umpires and treating players, parents and coaches with respect. Sportsmanship also includes courtesy and grace in losing. Youth baseball is a great proving ground for applying real life experiences to teaching this skill. As a youth baseball coach or parent, if you find yourself in the position where a sportsmanship issue needs to be addressed; do it alone and away from the rest of the players. There is no need to embarrass anyone.

Teamwork

Teamwork is an life skill to teach our kids. It is particularly important for a baseball team to function like a well-oiled machine. If just one member of the infield is unwilling to act as a member of the team, an entire game could be lost. Therefore, all members of a baseball team need to work together in order to encourage, applaud and truly give each play their all. As a parent, it is important to be part of the team by attending practices and games, cheering for every child on the field and celebrating the successes of each and every child involved in the games.

Competition

Youth baseball is a way to teach our kids about competition. Children who get involved with sports at an early age are more likely to maintain a good level of fitness and activity throughout their life. Youth baseball league competition helps kids boost self-confidence, improve coordination, and build discipline, focus and respect. Team sports teach social skills and cooperation, and give kids a solid foundation and sense of belonging and partnership.

Developing a child's competitiveness while teaching them to both win and lose gracefully can help them tackle the obstacles and accept the setbacks that life will naturally encompass. Many adults who are leaders and volunteers in the community are giving their time and experience to help make the sport(s) they enjoyed as youngsters enjoyable for another generation of children.

Overcoming Adversity

How critical is it to be able to overcome adversity. The game of baseball is full of adversity. Consider that a good batting average is considered anything over .300. A pitcher is considered good if his winning percentage is over .500. players make errors and strikeout. Youth baseball teaches kids how to come back after adversity. Each time a youth baseball player comes up to bat or goes into the field, they have a chance to redeem themselves from a previous failure. Overcoming adversity gives the kids confidence in themselves and gives them the feeling they can accomplish anything. Overcoming adversity is all about gaining confidence.

Hustle

Why is hustle a life skill? Hustle is an important indicator of work ethic. What employer wants a worker how is doesn't give their all? The same is true in youth baseball - lack of hustle is viewed negatively and is frowned upon. It is important for youth baseball coaches to emphasize hustle. This means running on and off the field, running out hits, fly outs and ground ball outs. Hustle is a true quality of a champion and shows passion.

Discipline

Discipline can be defined as a system of rules of conduct or method of practice, being well behaved, self control and training to improve strength. When we talk about discipline in youth baseball, we are talking about players being able to take constructive criticism, and then applying the advice given by the coach. It also is about having good behavior and controlling emotions, both on and off the field. In this day and age discipline seems to be the one life skill that many of our children need most.

Today's family structure is much different than the past. Kids parents are divorced or they come from a single parent home, which means the parents may not be able to put in the time. The may cut them slack because they feel guilty about not being there for them. Discipline is a life skill that our children will need to be successfully in life.

Acknowledge Success and Accomplishments

It's important to acknowledge the accomplishments of each and every player on your youth baseball team. You obviously need to reward those who have excelled in the physical accomplishments, such as the progress make in hitting, catching and pitching. But also reward them for the accomplishments made in the skills described.

But there is one more life skill that is very important for the development of our children. It is perfect attendance and being punctual to all youth baseball practices and games. This is so important, that our youth baseball league has created an Iron Man award.

IronMan - Perfect Attendance

The Iron Man award was conceived by a few coaches who wanted to reward the kids who were committed to their team. It was based on Cal Ripken's record of playing in a record 2,632 straight games spanning sixteen seasons, from May 30, 1982 to September 20, 1998. The award is given to every player who has attended every day of school and every baseball game in the season. Each recipient is awarded a cash prize (usually a U.S Savings Bond between $100 and $250 provided by local businesses) and featured in the local paper.

What an outstanding way to influence our kids futures. Not only does it make the kids and their parents proud, but it makes the whole community proud and gives kid good publicity instead of the never ending pounding of isolated negative incidents of America's youth. What a great way to support and encourage the future of our communities.

Robert is a youth baseball coach who is concerned with teaching our children life skills through the experiences in baseball.

Teach Kids Baseball is devoted to providing tips and techniques for coaches, parents and players involved in youth baseball.

He also recommends instructional baseball ebooks

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



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1617623

================
Thanks to our sponsors:


www.BatAction.com



---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com
---BatActionMachine on Ebay.com
---BatAction Machine Video Clips
---BatAction Trainer - 15 Reasons Why You Must Own This Machine
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here