Coaching Youth Baseball - Coaching Your First Baseman

Coaching Youth Baseball - Coaching Your First Baseman
By guest author: Nick Dixon

Here are important points and skills that you must teach your First Baseman.

Getting to the Bag When the Ball is Hit

The First Baseman must get to the back immediately when the ball is hit by the batter. He should position his body to face the infielder making the play. The feet should be slightly apart, wide enough to straddle the bag, and near the bag. Straddling the bag allows him to stretch in any direction to field the throw.

Setting Up to Receive the Throw

It is crucial that the First Baseman learn to wait until the thrown ball is released and the throws path is determined before stretching. Waiting to the last moment allows the first baseman to adjust the feet and stretch to field wild or errant throws.

Stretching too early is a bad habit that must be identified and corrected. The ball must be caught. It is the first baseman's duty to do whatever he has to to stop or catch the ball. If he must come off the bag, then he must. Allowing the ball to get by will in most cases allow the batter runner advance to 2nd base. Good first basemen always find a way to catch high, low or wide throws. Coming off the bag is not a sin. Letting the ball get by is!

Teach the first baseman not to panic on short hops or balls thrown in the dirt. He should learn to play the short-hop. Fielding the short hop is a skill that must be practiced. He must understand that low throws are simply ground balls. He is an infielder and he must field those "thrown grounders".

How to properly stretch to catch the ball.

The leg extended in the stretch should be the glove side leg. Right handed first basemen extend the left leg and left-handed first basemen extend the right hand. The foot on the bag should be held on the front corner.

In later articles, I will cover coaching tips on teaching the first baseman to field, throw, and how to hold runners.

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

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Thinking About Baseball Training

Thinking About Baseball Training
By Jeffery A Wise

Recently I've been interested about what players and coaches do and think about during the off season. I've talked to many people and found that one thing on their minds is baseball training.

Players especially want to improve during the off season so they can be well equipped and play better when the spring season arrives. For most high schools that season begins in February.

There are several ways for players to improve during the off season, including playing fall ball, participating in winter baseball camps and participating in baseball training. Indoor batting cages and facilities will allow you to practice as often as you want.

It's a good idea for all high school players to train in the off season. Some players ages 12-14 may also benefit from training as it will help them take their skills to the next level.

Don't let cold weather keep you from training. There are indoor facilities all over North America and many schools now allow student athletes to practice in the gym during certain times. If all else fails, bundle up and hit the ball fields. That's what we did in Washington State when I was growing up. It only takes a few minutes of running around to get used to cold temperatures.

When training, consider a baseball specific workout, conditioning and nutrition program. These will help you get stronger as the years go by and keep your body in shape to last through the rigorous season. Avoid unhealthy, fattening foods. Do your body good and eat right. This will go a long way with your baseball training.

You can also participate in baseball training by locating materials that you can read and watch. Remember, baseball is largely a mental sport. The more information you know, the more likely it will translate physically during games.

Jeffery A Wise invites you to learn more about baseball training 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 start hitting the baseball with confidence.

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

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Teach Kids How To Hit A Baseball

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Teach Kids How To Hit A Baseball
By guest author: Jeffery A Wise

A baseball player will never forget the person or people who taught him how to play. It's a great opportunity for parents to influence their kids in a good way. My dad taught me how to hit a baseball when I was young and it meant a lot to me.

He wasn't just my personal coach, though. My dad coached Little League teams all through my childhood and he even coached my team when I was 14 years old.

My first coaching experience was one-on-one with a friend's son. I thought it would be a breeze. We were both excited, but I didn't realize how difficult it would be. He had been playing organized baseball for a few years so I just briefly covered the basic fundamentals of how to stand, hold the bat and swing. I was confident his dad and coaches had already covered those areas. I could also tell he wanted to bypass the training and get straight to the hitting.

I started pitching to him and I immediately saw the frustration starting to build. I remembered having the same feelings as a kid. Kids want to be able to hit every single pitch and hit it good or they start to get frustrated. Sometimes that frustration leads to lack in confidence.

There are two important rules you should remember when teaching kids how to hit a baseball.


They don't have to swing at every pitch. Train them to swing only at good pitches.
Teach them to relax, be confident and have fun. We all want to hit well but make sure they are having a good time.

If you see them starting to get frustrated, remind them of these tips and then start throwing to them again. Hopefully you will see a change in their attitudes and their hitting. If you don't, it's probably best to take a break from practice or work on other drills. Be patient when teaching kids to hit a baseball. Don't push them to do anything spectacular or place demands on them. They will learn at their own pace and that's okay.

Jeffery A Wise invites you to learn more about youth baseball and teaching kids to hit a baseball. Start learning today on Twitter as we tweet updates that are perfect for youth batting coaches.

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

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Baseball Tips & Training : Teaching How to Hit a Baseball

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What is More Important For Baseball, Running Speed Or Overall Athleticism?

By Mike Posey

A number of years ago I was helping at a local tryout camp for a Major League Baseball Team. We had about 50 attending an open tryout in the area for players ranging in ages from 16-23. I arrived early and helped measure and paint a line for the 60 yard dash. If you have ever been to any type of MLB tryout or even a top baseball showcase, they will always start the day off with a 60 yard dash. That morning was no different. We split the players up into several groups and had them begin stretching, then we started to run them in pairs. At the end of the testing we had a young man that was 23 years old and a recent small college football player that ran a 6.3 second 60 yard dash.

If you know anything about the 60, that is an extremely good time, and the best I have ever witnessed. The scout running the tryout (who had scouted for over 30 years and signed a number of big league players) said it was the best he had ever timed. In fact, he asked the young man to run it a second time, just to make sure. The time was the same. The next thing the scout said to me was "If he can hit, field, or throw we will sign him to a contract today" Unfortunately, he had never played baseball before and had no other baseball skills.

All MLB teams still use the 60 yard dash today, but only has a starting point to measure speed and quickness. It has been a standard for some time and is a good indicator of the speed needed on the field. The distance from 1B to 3B is 180 feet (60 yards). also outfielders have to cover a large area in the outfield when catching fly balls. The average major league player will run the 60 yard dash in a time under 7.0 seconds, but this is more important for middle infielders and outfielders. Power hitting first/third basemen, catchers, and pitchers do not need to run a good 60 time.

Overall a baseball player must still have specific skills and instincts. Without the ability to run the bases, throw and catch, and hit a fastball, running speed is not very helpful.

There are many that will tell you that Major League Baseball is behind in evaluating athletes and that the measurement for the 60 yard dash is outdated. In the late 1990s and early 2000 the SPARQ testing system was designed to test overall athleticism in several sports, baseball included. SPARQ stands for speed, power, agility, and quickness. The overall idea was developed by Rudy Chapa, a former All American cross country and track runner at the University of Oregon. The baseball testing for SPARQ was developed by ERic Trice of Trice Athletics in 2006, while he was working for SPARQ. Trice was a former track and professional baseball athlete. SPARQ has been used by Nike as overall marketing tool (a very popular one) since 2004 to sell cross training footwear, apparel, and equipment.

The SPARQ testing for baseball consists of the following tests:

- 20 Yard Shuttle Run: Lateral movement testing that measures agility
- 30 Yard Dash: Measures acceleration
- Rotational (3 kg) Power Ball Throw: Measures core strength, total body power, and rotational core movement common in baseball.
- Vertical Jump: Overall athleticism

The overall testing involved in SPARQ is good, but MLB still embraces the 60 yard dash. The SPARQ rating system has been accepted more by football than baseball so far, although a number of Universities and top baseball showcases are using the SPARQ testing.

Another component to the SPARQ system is SPARQ training. This second component is the training system to help young athletes improve. Individuals can obtain certification, videos, and training tools in order to set up shop and begin the business of training young athletes. The problem is that some individuals obtaining the credentials and equipment are not always fully certified athletic trainers. SPARQ is in the current process of reevaluating its rating and training certification, although many SPARQ events are still being held across the country.

For now, MLB will continue to use the 60 yard dash. One thing for sure, with the right type of training in both strength and technique, a player can become more athletic and explosive. With enough hard work and dedication by the athlete their running times can be improved and the overall confidence of the athlete will increase.

To learn more about improving your players time in the 60 yard dash and learn why football uses the 40 yard dash for testing CLICK HERE!

Mike Posey
Expert Baseball Tips from a championship coach's perspective and experience, offering creative insights into helping others learn the game of baseball. Sign up for a Free Baseball Newsletter

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


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The Problem With Baseball Training Aids

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The Problem With Baseball Training Aids
By Joseph Harrison Jr

When it comes to America's game, many people try to cash in on baseballs popularity by providing baseball training aids. This is something that coaches and teachers of the game should be leery of when getting involved with baseball instruction. Not only are there baseball instruction videos and equipment, a lot of the coaches of little league do not know the fundamentals of the game. This is primarily because they are fathers or mothers who just want to get involved with what their children are doing.

It is important for beginning players to be taught the basics of baseball before concentrating on other advanced techniques. If this is not done, then players get confused and may not be able to perform to their potential. Just because a person played baseball early in life does not make them an expert on the game or on teaching someone else about the correct stance, swing, pitch or catch. This game is a game of technique. If the aid or coach does not know the techniques involved in baseball they will not be a good coach.

It is imperative that a coach or training aid used to instruct players on the game of baseball is a qualified individual. They should have some instruction themselves from people who have taught the game at the highest levels or become an assistant to someone who knows how to train and teach the game of baseball. When it comes to throwing and hitting the techniques are important. These fundamentals should be taught from an early age to ensure that the players will improve from beginners to experts in their positions. When this is not done correctly then it will frustrate the player or even make them quit a game that can be played for the rest of their life.

Finding the right coach or training aid that will correctly instruct the players at each position is something that must be considered before getting involved in coaching. This should begin with the involvement of the league. Every league has a group of individuals who decide on who will coach each team and the rules of the game for their district.

When the league board chooses a coach or training aid for each team, they should take every aspect under consideration to prevent improper coaching or training. No one who knows the game of baseball will refuse to use the best baseball training aids available to ensure that the players perform well and enjoy themselves doing so.

I am Joseph Harrison, a baseball coach since 20 years ago. I love baseball since I am young, especially the feeling when you know you will absolutely crush the ball. Training your kid to gain interest in baseball will benefit him from both mentally and physically. In with he will gain team spirit, learn how to cope with teammates, and at the same time train up his physical, and concentration (to have good eye and hand coordination and the ability to use both at once). Go through my article and you will know all the benefits of baseball.

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



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Fix Your Hitting With Baseball Hitting Aids

Fix Your Hitting With Baseball Hitting Aids
By Joseph Harrison Jr

Hitter is one of the most important positions in baseball, and hitting a baseball coming at such great speeds is way more complicated than anyone would suspect. Many problems that keep a player from hitting the ball well are not too easy to detect, and this can cause some serious frustrations. Issues hindering a hitter's performance at the bat can be a lack of knowing the proper mechanics of hitting, which is often fixed through learning about your body and using baseball hitting aids.

Focusing too much on the upper body when hitting is among the most common problems a hitter faces, and this is not really thought of as an issue because you hold a bat in your hands; however, proper positioning of your lower half of the body is a must for great hitting.

Attempting to hit the baseball without knowing how to position your lower half is like building your home without laying a reliable foundation, it will never stay up.

Many problems faced by players include: shoulder dipping, which is a result of your backside collapsing, hunching way out over the plate, and when a hitters hands extend out and away from their body in the middle of a swing. All of these problems faced by hitters may be caused by not knowing what to do with the lower body during your time at the plate.

When hitters "load" right before the pitch, they are in fact shifting their weight onto the lack leg to gain stability, and if the weight does not stay there this could be a problem. If the player shifts their hips forward and in the direction of the pitcher, this will result in many if not all of those problems listed. This hips shifting problem is called "floating", and it is fairly common among baseball hitters.

Upon recognizing the problem you have as "floating" one can then begin to fix this problem with their swing. There are many hitting aids one can use to find and fix their hitting problems, and these include videos, books, and tutorials. These aids will have you ready to fix the upper body swing problems.

The use of these types of aids will allow you to recognize which of these very common issues you have and will then have you ready to hit better than you ever expected. Good sources for hitting aids could be your local bookstore, library, and also you can find many sources online.

I am Joseph Harrison, a baseball coach since 20 years ago. I love baseball since I am young, especially the feeling when you know you will absolutely crush the ball. Training your kid to gain interest in baseball will benefit him from both mentally and physically. In with he will gain team spirit, learn how to cope with teammates, and at the same time train up his physical, and concentration (to have good eye and hand coordination and the ability to use both at once). Go through my article and you will know all the benefits of baseball.

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

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