A Few Little League Baseball Drills to Teach Swing Mechanics

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A Few Little League Baseball Drills to Teach Swing Mechanics
By Joseph Harrison Jr

Batting a baseball is no easy task. Often it is especially frustrating and discouraging for a child. A successful swing requires control and sound technique. This article will cover basics of hitting and introduce some very simple and effective little league baseball drills, aimed at improving mechanics and technique.

First of all and most importantly your child should watch the ball all the way to the bat. Meaning when they hit the ball they should actually see the ball hit the bat.

There are several simple little league baseball drills you can do to improve "picking up", or seeing the ball.

Perhaps the most common is to stand, chin on front shoulder. As the swing is completed the chin will rest finally on the other shoulder. A batting tee can be used to develop this skill. Soft toss is equally as effective and can offer a change of pace. Both of this little league baseball drills are very effective at improving eye hand coordination and increasing bat speed.

To be a successful hitter balance is a must. Most people feel comfortable with feet shoulder width apart, although this is the norm there are a wide range of stances out there so go with what feels comfortable and more importantly with what works. However they stand be sure they are firm footed and well balanced.

A fluid swing is the result of several parts of the upper and lower muscle groups working together. Bat speed is created by the hands and wrists and is as important, if not more, than lower body muscle groups in hitting for power. A short, quick swing will generate more power than a long over extending of the arms. A shorter swing speeds your bat up, generating more power.

The hands are also extremely important in hitting. Hands should be held at chest level with the bat in front. This is a generalization, many prefer to hold their hands high and others low but chest level is the best point from which to begin a swing for most.

Avoid dropping the hands before swinging. This cuts the time a batter has to react to a pitch. The soft toss drill is one of several little league baseball drills that will develop wrists and hands. A tennis ball can be used to promote hand strength. Stronger hands mean more bat speed can be generated.

The lower body is also an important part of hitting. Many players over stride when swinging, creating an awkward swing. Have your child lift the front foot off the ground and simply place it back. This helps in keeping their weight back, creating more power in the swing.

Proper hip usage is crucial to a good fluid swing. Squashing the bug is one of several little league baseball drills to teach proper hip usage. Your child can practice swinging by placing the left hand out in front of the body over an imaginary strike zone. Then have them swing through with the right and make contact with the left in the center of the zone, keeping in mind to pay attention to form and technique. The drill is used to teach correct balance. The batter will sharply turn the right, or back, ankle as if to squash a bug with the toe as the hand swings through the zone.

The key aspects of hitting are balance, seeing the ball and precise timing of the body's lower and upper muscle groups. Hitting is very difficult by any measure. Improvement will come through good habits and practice.

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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Footwork Tips for Coaching Young Catchers

Footwork Tips for Coaching Young Catchers
By Chip Lemin

Hey Coaches,

The season is here. Let's get some last minute catching tips for you to check out.

Catchers can use two different types of stances. When there are no runners on base, you assume a position where you have the weight on the instep of your foot. The other stance is with two strikes on the hitter, or runners on base. Both stances are quite similar, the major difference is preparing to block pitches at certain times.

With the bases empty, and less than two strikes on a batter, the catcher should have their weight on the instep of the foot. To prevent the catcher from falling forward, and get caught lunging at pitches, they should have a strong center of gravity. The left foot should be slightly ahead of the right foot for a right-handed catcher. Weight should be evenly distributed over both feet to maintain balance. This positioning will allow you to shift in any direction without trouble.

The catcher's elbow should be resting slightly outside the knee. The fingers should be pointed up and relaxed along with the glove arm. The fingers in their glove should never be horizontal. The most important aspect of their throwing arm is to keep it protected. When there are no runners on base, keep the throwing hand behind the back or the leg. Even without runners on base, they must keep their intensity for a whole game. Catchers must be ready for all situations, without a lapse in concentration.

When there are two strikes on a batter, or runners on base, the throwing hand must be moved to behind the glove. There will be no change in weight, foot placement or throwing arm placement. Put the throwing hand into a fist behind the glove. Their hand is safe behind the glove as all foul balls will change directions and miss the hand. Keep the hand closed behind the glove as you catch the baseball, this will also protect the hand. The biggest benefit of keeping the hand behind your glove is being able to begin a quicker exchange to the ball when they need to throw out a runner. Keeping the throwing hand behind the back hinders a quick throw, and could affect a balanced position.

A common mistake young catcher's make is to move up into a more athletic position when runners are on base. Moving up into this position also raises the glove into a higher position. This higher more athletic position actually creates more openings for the baseball to get by the catcher. This higher target also encourages the pitcher to throw the ball up in the strike zone, which may produce unwanted results. To keep balls from getting past the catcher, the rule should be stay as low as you can.

Stay focused and intense, stay low, be ready to block all pitches, and be ready for any situation. Young catchers also like to take too many steps when they throw to bases. They feel they do not have the arms strength to get the ball to second base. A quick accurate throw by using proper footwork, is often more beneficial and productive than a late strong inaccurate throw. It takes practice for a catcher to believe that a simple drop step, and foot shift, will provide everything they need a strong accurate throw.

The catcher is the cornerstone of an exceptional defense. Your team must have an above average catcher to be considered a special team. Make sure to work in a solid backup catcher also. Resist the urge to not to teach your catcher another position. It is your job to keep them from becoming one dimensional. It will also give them a needed break late in the season.

Good Luck, Coach Chip.

Chip Lemin has been a promoter of youth baseball since they started using aluminum bats. That's a long time. I have witnessed many good people get into coaching without solid coaching skills and it is not fun for them or the kids.Today's newer coaches are also being shortchanged on sportsmanship, like there is none. Visit my site to sign up for a insightful, informational, free coaching e-course at http://www.baseballecourse.com

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Baseball Coaching Vs Having Talent - What's More Important?

Coaching Vs Having Talent - What's More Important?
By Stephen K Reynolds

My son and I just came off a tournament this past weekend where by we were beaten pretty soundly in all 3 games that we played. Sean is on a 12u travel team and he is the youngest at 10, 11 in April.

We probably have 6 travel level players and the rest are not! The manager and I were discussing the level of play on the way home and the topic came up as to whether we could make some of boys play better?

Coaches in competitive travel ball always are looking for better players and it is easy to assume that they are willing to take credit for the level of play of their team... Question is how much is coaching versus the quality of the ball players?

The big question is can you get kids with marginal ability to play like All-Stars? A lot of are kids can't hit and probably wont hit travel pitching no matter how much time you put in the cages, or throwing to them not to mention instruction. Players who struggling with the mental game and are marginal fielders probably are always going to be limited in their abilities.

It is frustrating because you want them to succeed and you feel responsible when they don't! I would say You want kids with above average ability and then you need to get them to play to the best of their ability. We don't like to hear it as coaches but quality players make us look good period!

Stephen K Reynolds and his wife LuAnne are publishers 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 baseball coach in Western Montana Working on the Internet allows him the freedom to coach little league baseball. For more information on this e-mail coachsteve56@gmail.com

(800)758-1282
http://www.mindsetiswealth.com

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Simple and Straight Forward Little League Baseball Drills

Simple and Straight Forward Little League Baseball Drills
By Joseph Harrison Jr

Batting a baseball is a difficult skill to master. This is often an especially frustrating task for a child. Successful batting requires body control and sound mechanics. In this article I will discuss some basics of hitting and introduce a few simple little league baseball drills aimed at improving technique.

The most important thing your kid can do is to watch the ball all the way to the bat. They should practice watching the ball hit the bat.

One of the many simple little league baseball drills your child can do to improve "picking up the ball" is to stand, chin on front shoulder (for a right handed batter). As they swing the chin should come to rest on the back shoulder. A simple batting tee is helpful in enhancing this skill. Soft toss is an effective alternative little league baseball drill used to teach this technique. Furthermore, this is a good drill for developing bat speed.

The second basic rule of hitting is balance. Your child, or anyone else for that matter, must have balance to be a successful hitter. As a general guideline have your child stand with their feet about shoulder width apart. This is flexible many people feel more comfortable with a slightly exaggerated open stance (feet wide apart) and others a closed stance (feet close together) Whatever their stance make sure they can swing the bat and stay balanced, they will benefit and be more consistent in the long term.

The upper body muscles play a pivotal role in a fluid swing. In fact, bat speed has as much, if not more, to do with hitting for power than lower body strength. Remember to swing quick and compact, hot hard. A simple adjustment of the swing to avoid over extending the arms can help achieve a shorter swing. A shorter swing speeds your bat up through the strike zone, creating more power. Many coaches refer to this technique as throwing the bat at the ball because in effect the batter is throwing the head of the bat at the ball.

The last prime component of the upper body in batting is the hands. Most batters hold their hands around chest level with the bat out in front. Again, this is a general guideline and not a rule, the most important thing is that your child is comfortable holding the bat.

When batting, it is also important to remember to never drop the hands prior to swinging. A lot of players drop their hands before they swing, meaning they dip the hands from the chest to the stomach. This drastically cuts down on reaction time to a pitch. Often batters that swing late do so because they drop their hands. They cannot make up the time they lost by dropping the hands resulting in a late swing. The soft toss drill is one of several little league baseball drills used for developing quick wrists and strong hands. Additionally, a tennis ball can serve as strength and conditioning tool simply by repeatedly squeezing it. Stronger hands equal more bat speed.

The last component to successful hitting is in the lower body. As previously mentioned good balance is mandatory for a proper swing. The biggest mistake hitters make is over striding, resulting in an off balance swing. Instead of taking a giant, clumsy step, have your child lift the front (left foot for a right handed batter) off the ground and simply place it back on the ground. This helps to keep their weight back, a crucial element to hitting well and for power.

The other key role of the lower body is the hip twist. A drill called "squashing the bug" is one of several effective little league baseball drills to teach hip twisting. In this drill, the batter will hold out their left arm (for a right handed batter) in front of their body and hit the left hand with the right mimicking a one armed swing. The drill should be used to emphasize correct usage of the feet and maintaining proper balance. The batter should look to sharply turn the right, or back, ankle as if to squash a bug with the toes.

Remember the core components of hitting, balance; see the ball and careful timing between the upper and lower muscle groups of the body. Hitting and hitting well is a difficult task. Improvement will only come with the development sound habits, practice and work ethic.

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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Free Youth Baseball Drills

Article Title: Free Youth Baseball Drills
By Kenny Buford

Defensive Drills that Don't Bore

One of the hardest things when selecting baseball drills for youth is coming up with drills that build muscle memory but don't bore the players so much they lose interest in the action altogether. This task is especially arduous when selecting defensive drills, since good defense is all about being prepared for whatever comes your way, and the only way to learn that is by playing out the various game-time situations. The following free youth baseball drills aim to keep players so engaged and interested they forget they're building defensive skills.

Catching the Notorious Pop Fly

One of the most important defensive skills is how to catch a pop fly. To prepare your team for these high, straightforward catches, try this drill. Give each player on the team a ball and have them line-up one behind the other. Player one runs towards the coach, tossing the ball when close enough. The player then runs long, starting around 50 feet, while the coach lobs the ball high up into the air.

Players then turn around, spot the pop fly and catch it. To up the competitiveness of the drill, players who fail to catch the ball are assigned a letter in a predetermined word, such as HORSE. Once a player gets all the letters, they are out. While players are running to catch the ball, remind them to stay on the balls of their feet, since it will keep their strides shuffling and quick.

Mastering the Unpredictable Grounder

The next of the free youth baseball drills is perfect for teaching players to properly field the often wildly unpredictable grounders that inevitably will come their way come game time. To set up the drill, set up your fielders in a row. To cut down on wait time, set up a number of different stations with a coach or assistant managing each station.

The coach hits five ground balls in a row to the first player in the line who fields each grounder and throws it back towards the coach. After fielding the five balls, the player returns to the back of the line. In this drill, the most important thing to remember is staying low when fielding the balls. Make sure players are standing with their feet slightly wider than their shoulders, and constantly keeping their eye on the ball.

When looking for free youth baseball drills for defense, sometimes you want a drill that players can perform on their own without much help so you can concentrate on watching each player and correcting them when you see errors. This drill is perfect for that, since players are set up facing a wall, which basically provides its own grounders.

Line up players facing a wall or fence. Players should be at least 15 feet apart and approximately 20 feet away from the wall. Give each player a ball and at the sound of your whistle, players begin throwing the ball towards the ball low enough to get a grounder back. Have players count the number of grounders that are able to successfully field in a row without having one slip past or between their legs in a one-minute time span. Encourage players to beat their personal bests, and if they are excelling at 20 feet try moving them further back from the fence.

About The Author

Kenny Buford has coached nearly every level of baseball in a career that spans several decades. You can get instant access to his championship baseball practice plans and more youth baseball drills by visiting his website:

http://www.Baseball-Practice-Plans.com/

For a limited time, all coaches who visit Kenny's site will also get a free copy of his special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Baseball Coaches Make". Go get your free copy today!

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

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6 Winning Strategies Guaranteed to Improve Your Coaching

6 Winning Strategies Guaranteed to Improve Your Coaching

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

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

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

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

Read this complete article at the BBCD.

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Speed in Baseball - Is the 60 Yard Dash Still Important?

Speed in Baseball - Is the 60 Yard Dash Still Important?
By Thurman Hendrix

As many know by now, the average body size of Major League Baseball players has greatly increased since around the mid 1990's. Players began to hit more home runs than in the past and coaches stopped calling as many steal attempts in fear of running into outs. Go back and look at the stolen base leaders through the years. In 1982, Rickey Henderson stole 130 bases. Nowadays, anything over 40 is considered a huge year. However, speed is still a big factor in the recruiting process and ultimately may be what gets you a roster spot, a scholarship, or a higher draft pick and signing bonus!

The ability to run is considered one of the five tools that scouts look for when recruiting players. The others are the ability to hit for average, power, throwing-arm strength, and defense. It used to be that speed alone could earn you a roster spot on a major league team. Other than a few rare exceptions, this is no longer the case. Currently in the eyes of many professional scouts, running speed is probably the least important of the five tools. In the past you may have heard a scout say, "Wow, this guy can run. Can he hit at least a little?" Meaning that speed alone could have gotten someone to the big leagues. Any hitting ability would be icing on the cake. Now, you are more likely to hear "Wow, this guy can run, but can he hit?" Meaning, it's great that the player can run, but they wouldn't get called up unless they were a major league hitter. This is, however, starting to change as the league is beginning to clean itself up. Home run totals are down the past few years and major league organizations are starting to put greater emphasis back into speed.

It may sound as if I'm saying speed is not that important. That is not the case at all! While it is true that speed is less important at the major league level, it does still play a huge factor in the high school and college game. This is especially true among teams that play in large, open ballparks and do not hit a lot of home runs. Also, even though professionally it is not as valued as it once was, speed is still a huge factor in your overall draft status and it can even make you appear to be a better hitter by boosting your batting average from beating out infield singles or bunts.

Scouts come across thousands of players and have the tough job of trying to predict who will succeed at the next level. Speed will obviously be the deciding factor when choosing between two players that have equal ability when comparing their other tools. During the recruiting process, speed gets you noticed. If you have ever been to a showcase, one of the first things they will look at is your 60 yard dash time. The purpose of this is to immediately weed some players out. If your 60 time is not where it needs to be for your position, they may have already crossed you off of their "watch" list.

I like to say that when assessing your five tools, each can be classified as a liability, average, or a tool. In terms of speed, a liability would mean that you are so slow for your position that scouts may not even look at what else you can do. Unless you are a super-freak hitter you are probably not getting to the next level. Average speed would mean that you are just fast enough to play at the next level, but it is not really going to impress either. Having speed as a tool means that you run better (sometimes exceptionally better) than most other players at your position. It is not the only thing looked at in scouting, but it is definitely a huge bargaining chip in your favor. Think of it as a credential on a resume. A doctorate degree looks better than a master's degree, a master's degree looks better than a bachelor's degree, which looks better than a GED, which looks better than no degree at all. Obviously, if interviewing for an upper level position, the job recruiter will first look at the person with the doctorate because he has the most credentials. The same holds true in the world of baseball recruiting. In essence, you are interviewing for an upper level position. The more credentials and tools on your resume, the more likely you will be looked at.

To learn how to improve your 60 yard dash and baseball specific speed visit: http://www.60yarddash.com

Thurman Hendrix is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and specializes in training athletes. As a former pro baseball player he will help you increase speed in a very short amount of time.

This article may be published on your web sites or other electronic publications assuming it is used in its entirety. The resource box, copyright info, and all references must also be included and all hyperlinks must be HTML clickable.

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