How to Improve Your Baseball Hitting Techniques by Proper Baseball Training

How to Improve Your Baseball Hitting Techniques by Proper Baseball Training
By guest author: Chris Moheno

Many people think in order to become a great baseball hitter they must work with a trainer to get the best results possible. Although if you get the opportunity, take it but many people can only do things on their own. Realizing this there are a few simple things you can do on your own to get the baseball training necessary in becoming an efficient hitter.

The most important thing is to be yourself. Seriously, it sounds odd but the next time you go to the batting cages watch all the Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, and Ichiro Suzuki stances used by others around you. Yes those three are great hitters, but with all do respect the way they bat may not work for you. Effective hitting doesn't mean trying to hit it out of the ballpark every time either. You will need to have patience, good vision, quick hands, strength, and the ability to take criticism while learning. Then of course you will need to find a bat that fits your size and arm length. Once you have all this you can interact with certain baseball drills to fine tune your batting.

Don't be afraid to experiment with everything. For instance staying away from "hitting the ball off of tee" because it´s boring. Make it fun, and remember if players like former batting champion Tony Gwynn did it while he was a pro then so can you. It will help you learn to hit the ball cleanly and hit line drives which will only increase your overall batting average. There are a few major things to remember about how to train yourself to be a better hitter; practice, practice, practice. However, keep in mind if you are practicing drills without tweaking your batting stance to become better or bringing a heavier bat along with you to hit as far as you can then your not really practicing.

If you are going to take baseball training seriously it would be in your best interest to make a schedule, and keep it. In doing so you will begin to get in a routine that between such and such an hour this is what is practiced throughout the week. Add different things for each day of the week so you won't be burnt out quickly. Its definitely hard work to become a better hitter, but when it happens the rewards are exciting and fun. Here are a few more things to think about when getting up to the plate.

When you take your swing at a pitch be sure to keep your stride short and sweet. This will allow your body to move in one fluent motion. If your strides are long you have a greater chance of throwing your balance off in the process. Keeping your head still is another solid point to remember during every swing. It allows you to focus on the ball, what kind of pitch, and helps your plate discipline deciphering if its good or bad. If your head is moving to the left or up to the sky you'll know that you can't see the pitch hit off the bat which can take away from your strengths becoming more luck than skill.

While many of these are basics of the game and have been told over and over again they are the most important parts to your baseball drills. Once you have mastered these you will see it in your overall offensive statistics during the season. Just remember to keep it fun, and learn to try new things if what you're doing now isn't working or you've hit a slump. The smallest change may make all the difference in becoming a true baseball hitter.

Discover more about how to improve your baseball hitting techniques on baseballtrainingsecrets.com

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

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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!

Youth Baseball Training - Pitching Drills for Little Leaguers

Youth Baseball Training - Pitching Drills for Little Leaguers
By guest author: Jake Wyatt

In youth baseball training, the coach shouldn't wait until problems develop to use pitching drills. Pitching baseballs should be practiced all the time to promote good pitching habits and fundamentals. Here are some pitching drills that can be used by Little League coaches.

Before beginning pitching drills, you must know pitching mechanics. The type of pitching drills and number of throws depends on the age and strength of the player. Every coach should teach the mechanics first. This will be boring for the players but the coach must require proper mechanics of all his pitchers to prevent injuries.

Here are some great pitching drills for young players:

1. Balance Drill. This involves the pitcher "playing ball" from the mound, to get the feel of compensating for the slope of the mound. Have a "catcher" set up in front of the plate, giving a good target to the pitcher. Since the distance is shorter, the pitcher can work on his mechanics while not using his arm as much. This drill helps reinforce the wind up and throw, with balance, while throwing strikes.

2. Stay-closed Drill. This is another drill that helps reinforce good mechanics. Again, the catcher will position himself six or so feet in front of home plate. After warming up, have the pitcher stand sideways on the mound with his feet spread the approximate width of his stride. Next, have the pitcher shift his weight to his back foot to throw the ball to the catcher. You want the pitcher to develop good tempo by smoothly transferring his weight from back to front. The goal of this drill is to make sure the pitcher's head stays on line with the target and to have his head down as he finishes the pitch (have him take his hat off and pick it up at the end of the drill to reinforce this). The goal is to throw efficiently, not hard, in this drill.

3. On-your-knee Drill. This drill reinforces the hip and trunk rotation needed for a mechanically correct delivery. Have a right-handed pitcher place his right knee on the ground, with his left shoulder closed and pointing toward the catcher. Have the catcher set up in front of the plate to make the drill easier. Have the pitcher "rock back" and throw the ball. Make sure the pitcher keeps his head in line and finishes the delivery properly. This drill is good for developing curve balls and changeups.

Making pitching drills part of your regular practices will improve your team's pitching consistency and help prevent injuries as well!

In order to be the best possible baseball player, training should happen year-round and be a joint effort between the coach, the player and the parents. Get more free tips to improve baseball performance, reviews of e-products related to baseball, and links to training resources at http://youth-baseball-training.com.

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Baseball Drills - Staying Motivated While You Practice

Baseball Drills - Staying Motivated While You Practice
By guest author: Nate Barnett

One of the biggest challenges a coach faces is to successfully instill a long-term motivation and vision in practice during the typical lengthy baseball season. It's not uncommon for a high school player to spend February through August doing baseball drills, workouts, training, and of course participating in games. So the question must be asked, how can you create a sense of urgency and long-term focus during the hundreds of hours of baseball drills throughout the season?

This is where goals come into play. Though I will say, be careful how you use the term "goals", the reaction of your athletes may be less than excited. I prefer the term, "road map". Whether it be to play in high school, college, or professionally, you will be much more likely to find your athletes will perform the baseball drills and workouts you create efficiently if you help them continually expand their road map. Without a clear and defined road map, you'll end up wasting a lot of practice time and will most certainly find it tough to help your players stay motivated throughout the duration of the season.

I'm sure you've agreed with me thus far that a road map creation process is vital to the success to an athlete. But let me give you one tangible and practical way to help enlarge the thinking of your players.

Think of it this way. If the goal is to get to the Big Leagues, there are some serious rewards that come with the title of Big Leaguer. One of the benefits of course is economic. Lets say a talented and successful player makes one million dollars annually playing professionally. Broken down over a career of practicing and working hard on baseball drills, that's about 20 grand per practice! Obviously it largely depends on the age of the athlete whose dream is to play in the Bigs, but I'm sure you can do the math and figure out the amount of money per practice. Have the athlete deposit the money in his mental bank account only if he's worked hard during his practice.

The mind is an amazing thing. Help your athletes develop it so they may achieve their full potential.

Nate Barnett is owner of The Pitching Academy and improves the mental game of baseball in athletes. Help your game by improving your pitching.

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Baseball Coaching Digest - Base Running Basics

Baseball Coaching Digest - Base Running Basics
By guest author: Nick Dixon


There are certain base running rules that every base runner should learn. Here is each base and basic rules that players should know about each.

First Base


1.Sneak a peek when running to first. If the ball does not get by the infielders run through the bag. Make sure that you foot lands on the front half of the bag.
2.When you cross the bag, always look to your right to see if the throw got by the first base man.
3.If the ball gets into the outfield, do a "fish hook" move to get a flatter path to second base.
4.Get your signs from the 3rd base coach with both heels on the bag.
5.Make sure to take you lead using the proper steps and shuffle footwork.
6.Remember it is your job to get a good jump or start. The job of the coach is not to start you but to rather stop you.
7.Should a deep fly ball be hit to the left field, go away from the bag as long as you can read the numbers on the back of the jersey of the left fielder. When he stops and turns to field the ball, you should stop and read what happens of the play. If he sets up for the catcher, you should retreat to first base with a full sprint.

Second Base


1.When advancing toward second base, always pick up the 3rd base coach visually about ½ of the way to second base.
2.If there are less than two outs, take your lead in the line or base path directly between the bags.
3.If there are two outs, get a deeper lead, to give your self a flatter angle to turn at third base should you have to score.

Third Base


1.Always take your lead in foul territory with no part of you body extending into fair territory. This is prevent an out being called if a ball is hit down the line and you can are hit by it.
2.Make sure to take your walking lead with timing that has your right foot landing when the ball gets to the plate. Do not get caught flat footed. When the ball hits the mitt, you either score on the play or retreat to the bag immediately.
3.When you return to third base, always return to the inside corner of the bag. If the third base man has his glove out, go in high, and block the block from home plate. This may deflect a throw from the catcher.

I hope this article was beneficial and useful to you. Visit the Baseball Coaching Digest Blog and the Youth Baseball Coaching Clinic Blog for daily post and articles on every aspect of coaching baseball.

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Baseball Tips - Catchers - Just Let 'Er Rip!

Baseball Tips - Catchers - Just Let 'Er Rip!
By guest author: Chico Reese

Did you ever get to a game and as you're watching the players warm up you notice that the catcher seems to have a pretty good gun? He's snapping throws off to other players and throwing ropes in long toss. He just looks good.

Then the game starts. Well, inevitably, a guy with half descent speed gets on first and gets the steal sign and takes off on a following pitch. The catcher pops out of his crouch and throws an absolute rocket towards second base. However, it's too high and sails into centerfield.

The next thing you hear is the coach yapping away with things like:


•"Hey! Get it down! No one can do anything with that throw!"
•"Hey! Follow through!"
•"Hey! Throw down, not up!"
•"Hey! Get it down! I'd rather have it in the dirt instead of out there!"

All of the above is true, for the most part. If you've ever caught, you've probably heard good advice during a game and many times heard bizarre things that leaves you shaking your head. This is very true if you have a coach that doesn't know that much about catching and has never caught before either.

Later in the game, another guy gets on and steals. The catcher pops out of his crouch and fires off a...well, not a rocket, but a medium fast, arcing throw towards second.

Safe.

It got there, but there was nothing on it. It didn't, however, end up in centerfield did it? But, how good is that throw anyway? And that's how the rest of his throws go. The catcher has been reduced from a kid throwing rockets before the game to a catcher who is taken a great deal of velocity off his throw and is now "aiming" his throws. It looks like he's throwing darts at times.

Here are a few baseball tips for you catchers, especially the young ones. Also, coaches should be thinking about these also.

First, catching is an explosive position. There are no big wind ups, long strides, and so on. Watch the pros. When someone steals the catcher fires up and just puts everything into a short, fast motion. The mask is usually flopping all over the place and the chest guard is flopping around. It has to be this way. That's how momentum is built up and released.

What can stop this explosiveness and produce crappy arcing throws?

Fear.

Fear of what?

Well,


•There is a fear of failure.
•There is a fear of looking bad or stupid.
•There is a fear of getting yelled at during the game by a coach.

If you are a catcher and you have a fear of throwing , you better fix it and get over it because when the time comes, you "gotta let 'er rip"! Don't worry about overthrowing because of your velocity. Always, always, always throw hard!

What you need to do is focus on your footwork and your release and try not to aim or "throw darts", which will kill your velocity. You need to understand correct throwing mechanics and footwork. Learn them. Find someone knowledgeable who can teach you these things. The best thing is to get your hands on catching videos and DVDs showing proper throwing techniques. These are produced by college coaches and pros who know what they're talking about. You only need one or two. Watch them and then watch some major league games on TV and you'll see that the pros are doing exactly what you've watched on your tapes and DVDs.

So, learn and practice...over and over. You can never practice footwork too much. Once your footwork is correct and your release is correct you won't worry about overthrowing. Your velocity will still be there, probably better now. And as a catcher there are times when you do overthrow. Big deal! But, you have to feel what you just did, feel that your feet were too fast or too slow or feel that you were too far in front too fast, and so on. This comes only with knowledge and practice. Don't blame yourself for throwing too hard!

Overthrowing second base has nothing to do with throwing hard. You must know that as a young catcher. As a coach you should always encourage hard throws. Don't yell about the overthrow...make the catcher think about his feet and delivery. Go over it after the inning is over. If you've trained the catcher with proper footwork and delivery he should be able to tell you what went wrong with that throw. And it should never be, "I threw it too hard."

So keep your catchers throwing hard. You can prevent full potential by yelling about overthrowing. Remember, you overthrow second base by having bad mechanics for that particular throw, not throwing hard. That's as silly as telling a traffic cop that the reason you drifted through the stop sign was because you were going too slow.

On rare occasions, excessive thinking or fear of throwing can lead to the most devastating throwing "afflictions" you can ever witness or go through. This is the Steve Blass Disease or Sasser Syndrome. Sasser was a catcher for the Dodgers. There are other names for this but the most notable case in recent years was young pitcher Rick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals.

So catchers and coaches, consider the baseball tips above for a little bit. Learn proper footwork and delivery and practice it over and over and over. Then you'll be very confident and not afraid to "just let 'er rip!" when you know someone just got the steal sign and is taking off on the very next pitch.

Chico Reese has been closely involved in youth baseball, softball and High School Baseball over the last twelve years and enjoys working with young catchers.

For excellent Catching instruction, drills, training and other valuable baseball tips, consider the following sources:

Catcher Instruction, Training and Tips To Make You A Better Catcher

http://baseballcatcher.baseballgloverestore.com/

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

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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!

Rediscovering the Magic of Youth Baseball

Rediscovering the Magic of Youth Baseball
By guest author: Dave Rosene

I have seen significant changes how youth baseball has been 'taught' in the U.S. since the 1960's, and the changes haven't been positive. I didn't say coached because coaching refers to strategy and competition, and the concentration of youth baseball must be on skill development, rules understanding, and team play. We need teaching coaches for that, because today's players show deficiencies in these areas more than previous generations. When people of my era started playing baseball, it was the most popular sport in America and engrained in our culture. There were many different forms that helped improve individual skills: fast pitch, whiffle ball, ledge, penner, or just throwing popups to yourself, and we didn't need parents to organize these activities. We called our friends who would call their friends, we threw off walls or our house steps, and we had games with whoever was around and made up our own rules. We became better players by thinking or playing baseball every day. Plus we learned the game by watching baseball on television or going to major league games if we were lucky enough to get tickets.

Most youth American players today lack the knowledge and experience that we had because they have more options to take up their free time and they therefore have varied interests. By not spending more time practicing, playing, or watching baseball, they are lagging behind kids from other countries in skill development and general baseball knowledge. Why do Latin American players dominate professional baseball? In most cases playing baseball is the only sport available to kids there to participate in, and by playing constantly they progress quickly.

Can we and should we go back in time to help our youth rediscover the magic of baseball? How can we, as teachers and coaches, make the game relevant and necessary for players who get distracted and sidetracked easily. We have to show kids what made us love baseball, and pass along that love. That's the challenge we want to take on. In future articles we will discuss how to effectively teach and coach our youth athletes to maximize their talents while identifying the negative methods to avoid that I've seen too much of in the past 30 years.

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

Dave Rosene - Co-Founder, DNA Sports

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Dustin Pedroia Baseball Training Tips

Dustin Pedroia Baseball Training Tips
Uploaded by StackBaseball Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox, provides a baseball training how to, addresing the importance of hard work and the difference between high school and college training. Pedroia: ""I went to Arizona State, and in the fall there, when we weren't playing, it was always, get as strong as you can as fast as you can for the season. I try to take that into professional baseball as well. That's why I train at ABI and get ready for the season, because I feel like it's the best fit for me, and makes me become the better athlete that I can be. I trained in high school too, but it got more advanced when I got to college. I think in high school, you just go in there and any time you can, you just go in there and lift weights any time you can, but once you get to college they have people that prepare you and they have strength coaches where in high school it was just our baseball coach telling us what to do and to lift weights. I think once you get to college, you'll understand that there is a program that you need to be on.""

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Problems With Travel Baseball: Not Enough Practice Time

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

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The Importance of a Good Baseball Weight Training Program

The Importance of a Good Baseball Weight Training Program
By Guest Author Ron Wrigley

Serious baseball players understand the importance of starting a baseball weight training program during the off-season. Sure, they could spend the off-season reliving the wins and losses of the past season, but that does nothing to improve their game. A smart program will only improve a player's skills.

In recent years, there has been much buzz about famous baseball athletes who performed well and then were found to be using steroids and other harmful substances to increase their performance. Instead of participating in these illegal practices, it is important to know how to train properly so that you can be the best in the sport.

Baseball players mostly use the core muscles in the body: those located in the stomach and the back. Some of the key elements in the sport are power and the ability to be quick. Major league teams have recognized that a players ability to bring these elements into the game relies heavily on their weight training. Most of these teams have incorporated weight training rooms and fitness centers in their stadiums, as well as trainers who are professionals at coaching sports competitors.

The barbell push press is very effective at training the muscles in the shoulder area, allowing a baseball player to achieve a very strong swing with the bat. The front squat will benefit any athlete in increasing leg and shoulder strength as well as balance and stability. The barbell bench press, jump shrugs, and squats are other exercises that ball players should practice which strengthens the entire upper body.

Lunges and jumping jacks will help with endurance skills, and practicing jumping hurdles can be another great exercise for athletes to take part in.

Not only is it important to increase your stamina and weight lifting skills, but you should also practice sprinting and agility drills so that you are quick on your feet. Do your best to be in good physical shape for the games before your season begins and you will be well on your way to a winning season.

Click Here [http://www.baseballweighttrain.info] for more training tips.

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Youth Baseball Training - Three Tips to Increase Baserunning Speed

Youth Baseball Training - Three Tips to Increase Baserunning Speed
By guest author: Jake Wyatt


Youth baseball coaches spend a lot of practice time focusing on batting, throwing, and fielding skills. Speed training often consists of just having the kids run the bases as fast as they can a few times. Coaches that take the time to work with their players on their base running speed will make their teams more competitive.

Here are some specific tips to use to help your players run faster. Working with each player individually to help them increase their speed will have the most benefit, as each player will need different improvements.

1. Arm position. The runner's arm position should be close to the body at a 90 degree angle and about waist high. As the player runs, the arms should be moving front to back. Sideways movements will slow the runner down. The shoulders and hands should be relaxed. Have players practice the correct movements in slow motion until they develop the appropriate muscle memory.

2. Focus. The runner should be looking at his destination, not at the ground in front of him. For baseball players this means the next base. However, the player does need to be aware of what's going on around him, so he doesn't get tagged on the baseline or run into another player.

3. Foot position. Keep runners OFF their heels. The proper foot position for the fastest speed is to land on the ball of the foot and push off, rolling forward to the toes. Professional running shoes have the cleats only on the front of the shoe, because this is where a runner's power comes from.

If a coach spends a few minutes every practice working with his players on their running form, his team will be faster overall. And a faster team wins more baseball games!

In order to be the best possible baseball player, training should happen year-round and be a joint effort between the coach, the player and the parents. Get more free tips to improve baseball performance, reviews of e-products related to baseball, and links to training resources at http://youth-baseball-training.com.

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

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Baseball Fielding Drills

Baseball Drills for Infielders - How to catch a ground ball



http://www.baseball-training-instruction.com/youth-baseball-bats.html

Four Baseball Fielding Drills to be used indoors or out. They will improve technique while giving players a baseball specific workout.

Baseball Tips: Taking a Lead

Baseball Tips: Taking a Lead
Uploaded by playsportstv
Visit PlaySportsTV http://www.playsportstv.com/baseball for more great youth baseball drills and baseball coaching tips. Learn how to take a lead from first base in this baseball training video.

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Coaching Little League Baseball - Bad Habits Make For Bad Coaching

Coaching Little League Baseball - Bad Habits Make For Bad Coaching
By guest author: Nick Dixon

Here are 10 bad habits of bad Little League Coaches:


1.Laziness is the #1 trait of bad coaches. It is impossible for a coach to fool the players. They more than anyone else know when a coach is lazy. It is difficult to get players to work hard enough to be successful if the coach is not willing to put forth the effort.
2.Lack of knowledge is another trait of an inadequate coach. They do not know enough to properly teach and instruct. If a coach did not play as a child or teenager, they should become a "student of the game" and learn the correct terminology, fundamentals, techniques and strategies to be successful.
3.Not being organized is another trait that bad coaches are good at. They seldom have what they need or have a plan for practice or games.
4.Not being on time is another characteristic of a terrible coach. They arrive late for practice and games. They often have to miss practice or have to leave practice early. They find it impossible to find enough time to be a good coach.
5.Negativity is a trait that helps make a bad coach worst. They are always expecting the worst. They expect it to be a bad day and most of the time they are right. They expect to lose and often find a way to justify losing.
6.Lack of attention to detail. They are too busy to see what is happening or to pay attention to small details that make big differences in a player's and team's success. They often ignore swing flaws, mechanical mistakes, and sub-par performance at practice or a game. They chose to over-look the mistake than correct it. They do not consider little things important. Therefore, their players and teams never reach their fullest potential.
7.Bad coaches often speak before they think.
8.They are quick to panic or over react. They are impatience.
9.They are not consistent in teaching and instruction techniques.
10.They don't really like kids.

Visit the Baseball Coaching Digest Blog for daily post and articles on every aspect of coaching baseball. The Baseball Coaching Digest Blog. Check out the Bat Action Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

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

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Baseball Training Fundamentals

Baseball Training Fundamentals
By guest author: Wade Lockstock

When you're dealing with baseball training, you have to look at a few factors. For example, how to you hit the ball with the bat? Getting it just right will make or break a team. A good baseball hitter has to have some natural talents, crack the basic skills of baseball and a certain level of confidence.

Natural talent covers the body, having good arms, wrist, hand and the ability to synchronize the ball with the bat. You could have all the natural ability in the world, but if you don't get the fundamental basics down, you won't be a successful hitter. Being self-confident comes from the constant success in hitting the ball with the bat.

Standing correctly is one of the biggest things to get right. You should stand up straight with the body weight being equally distributed on the feet. The feet should be shoulder width apart. When the ball is coming the person should lift up his front foot up a few inches then slide it forward towards the pitcher. The timing has to be just right and your hands should be one on top of the other when swinging the bat.

The bat is held differently for both right and left handed batters. You move you're hands down as you swing the bat. When you hit the ball, then you run to first base.

Running is the easiest step to do. There are all types of running and sliding into the bases. When you run, take one step in front of another keeping balance on both feet. The ball will tell you how far you can run. If the ball runs up the field you can try to get to base 2 or 3. It just depends on how far or short you hit the ball and who catches it.

Having a good pitcher can make or break the team. The pitcher is one of the most important players on the team. He can be of a great uplift when the team is down. You have to be strong and confident. If the pitcher is no good, you can find the team being in last place for the season.

The pitcher should have a good throwing arm. He also has to be able to throw the ball where he wants it to go. The object is to get the ball over the strike zone so that you can get the batter to strike out.

The pitcher needs to be in great shape too. He needs to be calm, cool and confident that he can do his job. No matter what happens the pitcher has to do the best that he can in pitching. Now you know some of the baseball training tips you can use on your next game.

Want All The Baseball Training, Tips And Tricks To Have You Playing Like A Pro? Visit: http://www.baseball-training.org.

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

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Baseball Coaching Digest - Can You Name 20 Ways to Score From Third Base?

Baseball Coaching Digest - Can You Name 20 Ways to Score From Third Base?
By guest author: Nick Dixon

How many ways can you think of that a runner can score from third base.

I am a firm believer in the strategy of getting the runner to third base with less than two outs any way you can. Below, I have listed 23 ways of scoring a runner from third base that do not score the same runner from second base.

I am sure that there are more than 23. That is all that I could think of today.

1. Pitcher throws a wild pitch.

2. Catcher allows a passed ball.

3. Pitcher commits a balk.

4. Batter hits a sacrifice fly.

5. Batter properly executes a squeeze bunt.

6. Catcher commits interference.

7. The pitcher allows a base on balls.

8. Runner steals home.

9. Baseball hit ground ball that is fielded quickly by an outfielder.

10. A "bounce away" error by an infielder which requires the infielder to make a move to recover the ball.

11. Fly ball misplayed or dropped by an infielder in fair territory with 2 outs.

12. Fly ball misplayed or dropped by an outfielder in fair territory with 2 outs

13. Short fly ball hit in the outfield that is misplayed or dropped.

14. Soft line drive hit over the infielders head.

15. Pitchers hits batter with bases loaded.

16. The catcher makes an errant throw back to the pitcher. The pitchers misses the ball thrown back to him by the catcher.

17. With no outs, the batter hits a double play ground ball, with runners on 1B and 3B and the opposition turns the double play.

18. An infielder while attempting to make a play to first on the batter makes an errant throw.

19. Catcher throws the ball into center field attempting to throw out a runner trying to steal second base.

20. Middle infielder misplays and drops the throw from the catcher on a runner stealing second base.

21. Pitcher throws the ball away at third base while attempting a pick off.

22. Pitcher throws the ball away at first base while attempting a pick off.

23. Catcher throws the ball into left field while attempting to pick the runner off at third base.

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Make sure to visit Blog4Coaches and the Baseball Coaching Digest for free coaching articles, drills and tips.

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

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Youth Baseball : Little League Baseball Batting Tips

Youth Baseball : Little League Baseball Batting Tips
Uploaded by eHowSports

Teaching little league baseball players how to bat requires a great deal of practice, patience and making sure each kid feels comfortable at the plate. Get the most out of your hitters with tips from a professional baseball instructor in this free video on little league baseball batting tips.

Expert: Mickey Hiter
Contact: www.sandlotter.com
Bio: Mickey Hiter played baseball at Lipscomb University.
Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge

Series Description: Little league and youth baseball coaching requires a great deal of communication skills, patience and understanding of baseball. Be a great coach and mentor with tips from a professional baseball instructor in this free video series on youth baseball.


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Baseball Playing & Coaching Tips : How to Pitch a Ball

Baseball Playing & Coaching Tips : How to Pitch a Ball
Uploaded by expertvillage
Pitching a baseball is done by stepping towards the target and stepping forward with the opposite foot of the throwing hand. Throw a baseball accurately with tips from a professional baseball instructor in this free video on baseball.

Expert: Mickey Hiter
Bio: Mickey Hiter played baseball at Lipscomb University.
Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge

======================
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Baseball2u.com and CoachesBest.com is your online super store for baseball batting cages, pitching machines and protective screens and nets. This fully licensed company has a full time staff to help you from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. You may order securely online or by phone, toll free, at 1-877-431-4487.
Check out these categories that are featured at Baseball2u.com.
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Batting Cages
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70' Portable Batting Cage
Extender Batting Cage 30'
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…and if you are looking for Youth Training Equipment, Advanced Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, and Pitching & Throwing Trainers, or Portable Mounds, they have those too!
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Unique Baseball Drills

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BatAction.com
Hit2win.com




Unique Baseball Drills
By Jim Bain

While observing an advanced skill level team practice have you ever noticed a metal folding chair setting somewhere around the dugout, bull pen or other area adjacent to the practice field? If you have, you've probably either noticed it, but it didn't register or raise any questions in your mind, or you just figured it was for a coach to sit and take a break.

Did it ever occur to you that you were looking at a very important training tool? You heard me right... a baseball training aid which is utilized for rather unique and skill specific training.

We teach hitting mechanics in a systematic building block process which includes, but is not limited to the legs, core, hips, shoulders, wrists and starting mechanisms. Sometimes a player will develop a problem, or bad habit, with one or more of these elements which must be corrected.

The use of the metal folding chair, or a similar chair devise, as a coaching tool begins here. For instance:

1. If a player develops a bad habit of opening his hips too soon while swinging, he will either hit an excessive amount of foul balls to his left, if a right handed hitter, or to his right if a left handed hitter, or pull off the ball, which shortens his bat length and prevents him from being able to reach a pitch on the outside of the plate.

In order to correct this problem, it is imperative you remove the legs and hips as part of the swinging process. By having the player sit in the chair, with his ankles wrapped around the front legs, you accomplish this goal. The coach will soft toss a ball to the player and the player will swing, attempting to hit the ball solidly, but will only be able to utilize his core, shoulders and arms.

Repetitive use of this drill will retard the impulse of opening the hips too soon, as the muscle memory of the core will over ride, yet work in conjunction with the hips and legs, resulting in a quick bat and power generated from the entire body.

2. On the defensive side of the coin, the chair is utilized for drills which increases hand speed and fielding ability. Obviously the legs are an integral part of fielding just as they are with hitting, but there are times the legs will get a fielder where he wants to go, to the ball, in time, but a bad hop occurs which tests the fielder's ability to quickly adapt with his hands and glove.

The player will sit in the chair slightly bent over in a semi-fielding position. The coach will position himself about 10 foot away, facing the player and throw tennis or rubber balls at him in various ways.

The reason tennis or rubber are used instead of a regular baseball is they bounce better, can be made to bounce and skid erratically and for safety as the player is restricted in his movement.

The fast paced drill requires the fielder to react quickly with only his glove and upper body, which replicates the identical situation presented by a bad hop. Repetitive use of this drill will increase the players' hand speed and agility.

So next time you're at a practice field, don't just look...actually see what's going on. There's no telling what you might learn.

Jim Bain, former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth, shares his advice on hitting baseball drills on his exciting info packed website: http://www.learn-youth-baseball-coaching.com

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


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3 Drills to Help Improve You Pitching Mechanics in the Offseason

3 Drills to Help Improve You Pitching Mechanics in the Offseason
By Jim Bain

You may be able to throw a baseball 110 mph but without proper pitching mechanics and endurance you'll never become a quality pitcher. Pitching strength is the ability to throw that 110 mph fastball, consistently for strikes, for 9 innings.

I can't show you how to throw 110 mph, but I will teach you drills which will train you in proper pitching mechanics and increase your pitching strength.
These drills are the basic building blocks, the foundation, of the long road to perfecting our pitching mechanics. They may seem simplistic at first, but similar to "Wax On -- Wax Off " of the Karate Kid, they will build into sound pitching mechanics.

Mastering Upper body mechanics is the first issue to be dealt with and the "Knee Drill" or "Upper Body Drill" will teach these proper techniques.
This drill requires 2 players, both kneeling @ 30 - 50 feet apart. A right handed thrower kneels on his right knee, lefty on his left knee. From this kneeling position they simply play catch.

Without Lower Body involvement, the player is able to concentrate solely on developing good arm mechanics. Special attention should be paid to:

A. The shoulder alignment with the target, shoulder should directly face the other player.
B. Check for Good Circular arm rotation. Bad rotation results in shoulder problems.
C. The elbow should be at least as high as the shoulder, forming a right angle with the head / shoulder as the arm comes pass the ear.
D. Complete follow through is important. The pitching hand should completely cross the body ending at the opposite hip or knee. Finishing your pitching motion is every bit as important as the beginning step.

Performing this drill religiously until perfected will engrain proper upper body pitching mechanics into muscle memory, which will then become automatic.

Balance is critical to every aspect in baseball, but especially pitching and hitting. Without having good balance, besides all the other problems of control and velocity it causes, it will sap your strength reducing your endurance and quality pitching starts. This drill will help teach you how to maintain balance while pitching.

This drill is to be performed without a baseball and will include the full wind up and stretch position.

Perform your normal pitching delivery as if you were throwing to a batter. When you reach the "lifting of the leg" portion of your delivery -- Stop! Now hold that position for 5 seconds. There should be no teetering, wavering or wobbling. If properly balanced you should feel as if you could hold this pose indefinitely.

Finish your pitching motion. You have now, through intense practice of these two drills, learned proper Upper Body pitching mechanics and Balance. You are well on your way to becoming a quality pitcher.

Tarp Drill: This drill is especially helpful in allowing a pitcher to attain accuracy and velocity, because it can be performed without the need for a catcher. The player can do this by himself in his back yard.

1. Buy a 10' X 10' colored plastic tarp and cut it into 4 - 5' X 5' pieces.
2. Paint or Tape a rectangular strike zone on the tarp piece and securely hang it.
3. Place a pitching rubber, in line with a rubber home plate in front of the tarp, at ¾ three quarters the player's age regulation pitching distance.
4. Throw from the full wind up and the stretch position. After obtaining the skill to consistently throw strikes from this distance, move the rubber back to regulation distance.

As the pitcher's accuracy and velocity increases, divide the rectangular zone into 4 separate zones and have the pitcher throw at each zone within the zone.

Jim (Coach) Bain is a former Minor League Player and Coach of Youth Baseball for over 10 years. He has drawn from fellow successful coaches' experiences and combined them with his own extensive experience to create a Baseball Teaching Website. The site is packed with 100s of tips, drills, history and instruction on how to play and coach the game of baseball.
http://www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com

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

Coaching Baseball - Two True Base Running Blunders That Teach a Lesson

Coaching Baseball - Two True Base Running Blunders That Teach a Lesson
By guest author: Nick Dixon

We all know the importance of good base running. We know that "solid" base running scores runs and wins games. We also know that poor base running can easily cause a team to lose a game. The following two stories are true stories of base running mistakes that cost the team a win. All the team had to do to win was to have the base runner advance to the next bag. These two stories are great stories that you can tell to your players to teach young players two important rules of base running:

1) Always hustle and run everything out and never assume anything when you are running the bases.

2) On a game winning base hit, always advance to and touch the next bag.

Coaching Baseball Base running: The stories of two base running mistakes that teach a lesson

It was a high school game. The home team was batting, down 3-1, with bases loaded and two outs. The #6 hitter, with average speed was at third, #9 hitter, a fast runner, was on 2nd and lead-off hitter, a super speedster, was on 1st. The count was 3-2, with bases loaded and all three runners were moving on the pitch. The #2 batter was the batting for the team trailing by two runs. He was expecting a fastball on the outer half of the plate that and he got "all of it"! He ripped a hard line drive right at the second baseman. The second baseman leaped into the air and the ball hit his glove. The batter seeing the ball go into the glove immediately slumped in disappointment about a 3rd of the way to first. He goes down to his knees with his face in his hands. He was basically "feeling sorry for himself". In the meanwhile, he was unaware that the ball went completely through the webbing of the glove of the second baseman and landed 15 feet behind the fielder. The second baseman had to go get the ball and make the throw to first for the out. The second baseman was quick as a cat so it did not take long. The batter realized what had happened, tried to beat out the throw, but was out by a step at first base.

However, if the batter had he been running, he would have been easily safe at first. The saddest fact of all is that the runners on 3rd and 2nd scored easily what would have been the two tying runs. Plus, the runner at 1st, the super speedster, crossed the plate during the play to score what was the winning run. But, the team lost the game. If the batter had simply run the ball out, his team would have won the game. A hard lesson learned and one that will never be forgotten.

The Great Base running Mistake in Baseball History

The following is the story of what is commonly called Merkle's Boner. It is the most costly mistake ever made by a baseball player running the bases. It happened in September of 1908, in NY City. The Cubs were facing the Giants with the pennant on the line. Each and every game was a must-win situation. The score was tied 1-1, in the bottom of the 9th inning; the Giants had runners on the corners with two outs. Fred Merkle, a 19 year-old rookie, was the runner on first. The next batter lined a single. The runner at third came home. It appeared to be a Giants victory, they had won the game and taken the lead for the pennant, and the cheering fans swarmed the field.

Merkle looked toward home plate and saw his teammate cross the plate. Merkle was startled as he saw the huge crowd pour out of the stands and onto the field. In his excitement, he simply stopped half-way to 2nd base. Thinking the game was over, Merkle sprinted off the field. But, he had forgotten an important rule of baseball; he did not go touch second. With him on first, there was a force out at second if the defense can get the ball to second base before he touches second base. The Cubs retrieved the ball, went and touched second. The game was declared at tie because order could not be restored because the fans could not be removed from the field. The two teams went on to finish the season in a dead tie for the pennant. They had to play a one-game playoff. The Cubs won and went to the World Series. One loss, the loss, that day knocked the Giants out!

Merkle was never forgiven by the NY fans for that blunder. He went on to have a solid career of 14 years and a lifetime average of 273. However, everywhere he went he always was reminded by fans of his terrible mistake on that day of his rookie season. This is a major league mistake that will always be called, Merkles Boner. I hope these two stories are useful to you. I appreciate your interest and you taking the time to read my writing.

Visit the Baseball Coaching Digest Blog for daily post and articles on every aspect of coaching baseball. The Baseball Coaching Digest Blog. Check out the Bat Action Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

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

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www.BatAction.com



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