Problems With Travel Baseball: Not Enough Practice Time

AdvancedSkillsTee.com


Problems With Travel Baseball: Not Enough Practice Time
By Andy Pohl

When travel league schedules revolve around tournament play, winning inherently becomes the primary focus. Rarely do these teams have time to practice due to the heightened amount of travel and games. This is a glaring problem with travel baseball, as kids need a combination of practice and games to best facilitate athletic development. Simply throwing young kids out on the field to play as many games as possible does not necessarily facilitate athletic development, as younger athletes need considerable practice time to develop their hitting and defensive skills in a pressure free environment.

Basically, what travel baseball has done is put 8-11 year olds in an adult created setting where the pressure to win and perform takes precedent over the emotional and athletic development of the players themselves.

A bi-product of this reality is the coaches themselves acting as if they were managing professional players - the yelling, the throwing of equipment, the arguing with umpires, the sulking after losses. And while it may appear that these travel coaches know what they are doing with their custom made dry-fit coaching shirts and Oakley Sunglasses resting on the brims of their fitted caps, the fact of the matter is that most of travel coaches possess the same amount of knowledge as your average house league coach. In fact, the majority of travel players are being coached by parents who don't know the first thing about baseball or the social and emotional development of kids. Many of these parent coaches cannot even properly parent their own kids!

Rather than winning, the focus for youth baseball needs to be on development. After all, once these kids hit puberty, it is really not going to matter which travel team your son played on and how many tournaments they won. Athletic excellence and success cannot always be identified at an early age, and inferior athletes will frequently blossom and attain success in later years given the right opportunity to compete and develop their skills. Consistent practice time is a critical component to this development.

Though some may disagree with several of the statements in this narrative, understand that my goal is to report in an honest and straightforward manner what I know to be true from my many experiences working with youth baseball players. I have no hidden agenda. The well-being of kids is always my top priority, hence the reason why I created this article.

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

=========================

Thanks to Our Sponsor - Baseball2u.com

BatAction Youth Hitting Machine
BatAction 360
SKLZ Lightning Bolt Pitching Machine
SKLZ Light Bolt PRO Pitching Machine
Joe Mauer PX4 QuickSwing Baseball Trainer
Advanced Skills Tee by Muhl Tech
SKLZ 5 Position Batting Tee
ZipnHit Pro Baseball Swing Trainer
Jugs Small Ball Pitching Machine

Teaching Kids How to Hit a Baseball

YouthBaseballTrainer.com


Teaching Kids How to Hit a Baseball
By Guest Author Jeffery A Wise

There are differences and similarities when comparing the hitting instruction for young players and older players. No matter the age, you can teach kids how to hit a baseball properly as long as you have the right instruction.

The basic fundamentals of hitting are the same throughout baseball, whether you're a kid or a college player. Proper hitting fundamentals remain the same and should be taught to kids early on. Here are the basic fundamentals that are the same no matter the age.

1.Proper hitting stance is shoulder width apart. At a young age don't worry about teaching open or closed stances.
2.Hold the bat vertical 6-8 inches away from chest level. Angle the bat slightly over the back shoulder.
3.Trigger mechanism to shift weight back to front at contact. This trigger generates the power in your swing.
4.Keep your eyes on the ball at all times. You can't hit the ball if you can't see it.
5.Maintain a smooth, consistent swing through the hitting zone. You will feel most comfortable if you have an established way to swing the bat.

Those are the main hitting fundamentals that every player needs to know.

There are differences, though, in what kids should be taught depending on their age. When teaching kids how to hit a baseball, you want to adjust your approach. Be very patient when working with kids. Don't rush them or get upset if they don't understand something. It's more important that they have fun than get it right. If you are going over hitting drills with kids and you see they are bored after awhile, then move to another part of practice, another hitting drill or something different all together.

Thirty minutes of well-planned hitting practice is more than enough for a small group of kids. If you want to teach kids how to hit a baseball better, then you need to do some practice too. Improve your knowledge by reading articles, books and watching baseball hitting videos. Soon you and the child will feel comfortable and confident.

Jeffery A Wise invites you to learn more about how to hit a baseball so that you can become a better hitter and help your team win. Start learning today at our site through articles, blog posts and videos and begin hitting the baseball with confidence.

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

================

BatAction Links

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

BatAction Demo Videos on Youtube

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:

•You will be spending more time bonding with your child and showing him that you care enough to take on this responsibility.
•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.
•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:


•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.
•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.
•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

=================

Baseball and Softball Urls for Blogs
**********************************
Baseball2u.com
HurricaneTrainer.com
BatAction.com
HandsBackHitter.com
QuickSwingTrainer.com
AdvancedSkillsTee.com
BattingCagesDirect.com
BattingCagesrUs.com

Baseball Blogs - Baseball Coaching Blogs

Check out our network of baseball blogs:
Blogger (Blogspot) - baseballcoachesdigest
Blogger (Blogspot) - baseballparentguide
Blogger (Blogspot) - baseballhomeworkhelp
Blogger (Blogspot) - batactionbaseballtraining
Blogger (Blogspot) - battingcagebuyingguide
Blogger (Blogspot) - coachesbest
Blogger (Blogspot) - teeballcoachingclinic
Blogger (Blogspot) - hurricanebaseballtrainingmachine
Blogger (Blogspot) - teeballparentsguide
Blogger (Blogspot) - youthbaseballcoachingclinic

Shop Baseball2u.com for your baseball coaching needs including baseball training aids, training videos, and other coaching supplies. Check out the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting machine by SKLZ at HurricaneTrainer.com.

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

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

Build a better swing. Correct Hitting Flaws. Increase Power & Bat Speed. Visit Hit2win.com now!

Free Youth Baseball Drills & Tips from the Baseball Coaching Digest

You are invited to join the Baseball Coaching Digest community and begin receiving the Baseball Coaching Digest free every month. This emailed newsletter contains free baseball drills, free baseball coaching tips, articles on how to teach hitting, articles on how to teach pitching mechanics, and baseball practice planning tips and templates.

BaseballCoachingDigest.org

===========
Thanks to Our sponsors:

Hit2win.com
Baseball2u.com
AdvancedSkillsTee.com
HurricaneBaseballTrainer.com

How to Hit a Baseball

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.

=====================
Baseball2u.com – The Ultimate Baseball Coaching & Training Store
Baseball2u.com Store Categories

Youth Trainers
Advanced Baseball Trainers

Baseball Training Bats

Baseball Pitching Trainers

Baseball Defensive Trainers

Batting Cages

Pitching Machines

Jugs Pitching Machines

Jugs Baseball Training Packages

BATA Pitching Machines

Heater Pitching Machines
Cimarron Pitching Machines

Game & Practice Baseballs

Baseball Screens & Nets

Baseball Portable Pitching Mounds

Baseball DVDs
Baseball Hitting DVDs

Baseball Pitching DVDs

Baseball Drills Videos & Books

Baseball Coach Strategy Books & DVDs

Coaching Youth Baseball DVDs & Books

Coach Marty Schupak's Youth DVD's

Change-Up Versus Curveball - Which Should A Youth Pitcher Learn How To Throw First?

It's not just for coaches! We have thousands of parents that gain useful and practical training tips for home and backyard use from reading our monthly newsletter.
Join Now, Click the link. BaseballCoachingDigest.org

Change-Up Versus Curveball - Which Should A Youth Pitcher Learn How To Throw First?
By Joshua S Stickel

This is a question that comes up all the time in youth baseball. Coaches, Parents, and Players are concerned about throwing the curveball because they are afraid of the damage it could inflict on their arm. However, some youth players decide to try to learn how to throw the curveball anyway because they feel it is a more effective pitch than the change-up.

There are multiple problems with this idea of learning the curveball first. The most important problem is youth pitchers try to teach themselves how to throw the curveball which almost always leads to arm problems. The arm problems usually originate at the elbow which can cause major damage and take a long time to recover from. If you want to learn how to throw a curveball I would suggest that you wait till you are 12 years old. In addition, you should always learn how to throw a curveball from someone who is a professional coach and knows what they are doing. I would still advise you not to start throwing a curveball too early.

So, if you can't learn a curveball right away and you want to have more than one pitch to be a very effective pitcher you have to learn how to throw a change-up. The change-up is a much underrated pitch. It is very deceptive because it looks just like a fastball coming out of your hand, but is 5 to 10 mph slower. The change-up can also break down and away giving the pitch movement along with the change of speed. One of the best parts is the change-up will not do any additional damage to your arm and it is easier to learn how to throw. In fact the difference between a fastball and a change-up is a fastball is gripped on the finger tips and the change-up is gripped deeper in the palm. Your arm angle and arm speed stay the same, which is why the pitch is so deceiving.

I hope this article helped you decide to choose to learn how to throw a change-up before you learn how to throw a curveball for the sake of the health of your arm. It is an easy pitch to learn and once you learn how to throw it is an easy pitch to locate. I really hope that you learn the change-up first, then learn the difference between a two seam and four seam fastball before you learn the curveball. The difference between a two seam fastball and a four seam fastball is the grip. You grip the two seam fastball where the seams come together. You grip the four seam fastball on the side of what looks like a horseshoe on the seams. The two seem fastball will move more but the four seem fastball will be faster.

If you liked this article then you should check out my main site the #1 youth baseball site. In it there is one on one coaching, free tips, contests, practice equipment, the best baseball equipment, instructional programs, youth leagues and camps, and of course exactly how to throw a change-up. You want to be the best on the diamond? Then click here The Youth Of Baseball Once you learn the change-up how about you Add 5 to 10 mph on Your Fastball

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





It's not just for coaches! We have thousands of parents that gain useful and practical training tips for home and backyard use from reading our monthly newsletter.
Join Now, Click the link. BaseballCoachingDigest.org