Coaching Baseball; Recommended Baseball Articles for Coaches

Coaching Baseball; Recommended Baseball Articles for Coaches


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Have a Great Weekend! Good luck to you and your team if you are playing. Here are some recommended baseball coaching articles for baseball coaches. Nick Dixon
Coaching Little League Baseball - Bad Habits Make For Bad Coaching

Article discusses 10 bad habits of bad Little League Coaches. These bad habits make it impossible for a coach to be an effective coach and role model.


Coaching Youth Baseball - Coaching Your First Baseman

Here are important points and skills that you must teach your First Baseman. Tips cover teaching the proper way to get to the bag, set up to receive the throw and how to stretch.


Baseball Coaching Digest - Stop and See - 1st & 3rd Double Steal Base Running Play

This 1st and 3rd Double Steal Play known as the Stop and See Steal. This play is used by offensive teams to score a runner from 3rd base by stopping the stealing runner short of the bag and tag.


Baseball Coaching Digest - Fake 3rd Out Defensive Trick

The Fake 3rd Out is a trick play ran by defensive teams to trick an unsuspecting base runner. If the base runner is not alert and aware, he may step off the bag and give the defensive team a cheap out to end the inning. Coaches should make their players aware of sure plays and tactics to prevent this trick from happening to their team.


Baseball Coaching Digest - Illegal Use of the Courtesy Runner Rule

Baseball coaches must be alert for one way that opposing offensive teams may illegally use the Courtesy Runner or Speed-Up rule. How does a team illegally use a courtesy runner? Here is the procedure outlined:


Baseball Coaching and the Importance of Goals For Team and Player Motivation

There are very few volunteer jobs more challenging, time-consuming or rewarding than being a coach in your local league. There are many four letter words used by coaches that I can not use here. Here I want to discuss the 4 four-letter words that can and will determine the amount of success a coach has during the coming season. The four words are Goal, Plan, Work and Time.




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Teaching Young Batters to Use the No-Stride Technique For a Good Baseball Swing

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Teaching Young Batters to Use the No-Stride Technique For a Good Baseball Swing
By Nick Dixon

If you watched the College World Series on ESPN SPORTS TV last June, I am sure that you saw, as I did, player after player, use the no-stride technique. The abundance of players using the "No-Stride" technique at the College World Series in Omaha shows how many baseball coaches today teach the "wider stance and no stride approach" to hitting. Here I cover the basics of teaching and coaching the "No-Stride" hitting method.

The "No-stride" technique is simply the process of swinging the baseball bat without taking a big step or stride forward during the swing. The front foot is the stride foot. The back foot is called the pivot foot. The "No-stride" technique allows the batter to swing and keep the head still, the weight back, and the eyes on the ball.

When using the "No-Stride" approach, the batting stance should be wide enough to insure a solid base and wide enough so that the batter can use a "soft or short" stride technique. It is best that the batter simply lifts the front foot up less than an inch and puts in back down in the same place. There is little or no movement forward by the front foot.

A wider base and shorter stride allow the batter to keep the head still and prevents the head from dropping during the swing. When a batter assumes a narrow stance with the feet close together, the batter must take a long stride during the swing. This long stride causes the head and eyes to "fall or drop" during the swing. This is the reason that many coaches teach the no stride technique. Of course, another reason is the fact that when a batters uses a "close stance" and "long stride approach" they often cannot hit the fastball velocity of many pitchers in the game today.

The optimum width of the feet would be slightly wider than shoulder width. The weight should be on the "balls" of the feet and off the heels. The front foot or stride foot should be "placed softly as if it is on a carton of eggs". This softness allows the foot to be lifted and placed back down easily. The back foot or pivot foot is also important during the swing. The back foot should not "move or leak forward" but should turn up "shoe laces to pitcher" when the front foot settles into place during the swing.

COACHING POINT: I recommended an "even toed" stance meaning that the toes of each foot are even when the stance is assumed. A closed stance is one with the back foot farther away from the plate than the front foot. An open stance is one with the front foot farther away from the plate than the back foot.

COACHING POINT: You may actually use a simple demonstration to illustrate how a long stride causes the head to drop and the eyes to move. Have a batter assume a narrow stance. As you face the batter, hold your hand palm down exactly even with the eyes. Have the batter take a long stride while you hold your hand perfectly still at the level where the eyes were when the stride began. A long stride will cause the head to drop and the eyes to drop also. This movement of the head and eyes makes it more difficult for the batter to "see and hit" the ball as it travels through the strike zone.

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

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

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

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Baseball Pitching Machines Dos & Don'ts - Softball Baseball Training Aids - Coaching Tools

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Article Title: Baseball Pitching Machines Dos & Don'ts - Softball Baseball Training Aids - Coaching Tools
By Jimmy Holmes


There is no doubt that using a good pitching machine has advantages. You can build arm, back, shoulder and upper body batting strength, hand eye coordination and improve batting technique if you use the machine properly. Whether you use a baseball pitching machine or a softball pitching machine they both have the same advantages, disadvantages and should be used properly to get the best results.

One of the first things to look for to find the right machine for you and the players on your team is the age group that is involved. If your child or group is five to eight years of age you would need a machine with pitch speeds from 20 to 40 mph. Preferably a machine that is very accurate and delivers pitches to the same general area every pitch. The last thing you need is to have the young player afraid of being hit! Never start off with to fast a speed when practicing with a young beginner.

I have been asked whether to use the practice balls or real balls when using a pitching machine. The answer is that practice balls are more accurate because the tire does not hit any seams. A seam on a real ball can cause the pitch to differ on every pitch however with older players that is not all bad. Never use synthetic balls in a machine. They leave a buildup on the tire that is hard to remove and the do not product accurate pitches.

Usually when a new pitching machine arrives the tire is brand new and needs to have the shine removed from the surface that contacts the ball in order to get a good pinch on the ball. This is done by turning the machine on and using a peace of sandpaper to remove the shine from the tire before using it in an actual practice.

A well built, quality machine should last for years even with heavy use. Be sure to check the warranty offered on a machine before you make a purchase. Warranties can range from a year to five years. Some pitching machines even come with a thirty day return policy. I highly recommend purchasing one with the return policy because if you get it and you are unhappy with it you can simply return it. Some pitching machine companies even offer free shipping as sales promotions. This can literally save you sixty to one hundred dollars.

One of the costliest parts on a pitching machine is the motor. Do a little research to see what brand of electric motor is used on a machine. If a top quality motor is used you can bet that the rest of the machine is top quality as well. Leeson is a motor used on some pitching machines. It is a world class electric motor and usually comes with a five year warranty that is covered by the pitching machine manufacturer.

Another costly item is the tire wheel assembly. I suggest not buying a machine with a solid rubber tire. When they get old they can literally come apart and cause an injury. I have actually seen this happen. "Warning"Always replace tires before they are old and worn no matter what kind of tire they have! Also on those models with solid rubber tires if you need to replace the tire you may have to buy the tire and wheel since the tire is usually glued or attached to the wheel.

For the older group of players from middle school through high school one of the two wheel curveball pitching machines models should be used. By this time players will be seeing curveballs, sliders, knuckleballs and different types of pitches. A single wheel machine simply will not product these types of pitches. The two wheel machine will produce the speed needed as well. Some models have speeds ranging from 20 mph to 105 mph. Even professional players seldom see a pitch of 105 mph.

Some models come with swivel action. That means that you can shoot a ball to right field then swing it around and shoot a ball to left field. It will also tilt up and down for grounders or popup's. This option is great if you intend on using it for more than batting practice.

If you purchase a baseball pitching machine or softball pitching machine there are other optional items that you may want to consider. A good quality batting cage will save on ball recovery time when used by two or three people and an automatic ball feeder can be used when one person needs to use the machine. The practice dimple balls will save wear and tear on your real baseballs or softballs and are more accurate. An additional option is an L-Screen to protect the person feeding balls into the pitching machine.

Never let a child operate the machine. When used properly they are safe but should never be left in the hands of minors. They are meant to be used to train and condition and should always be used with grownup supervision.

Pitching machines are great training aids. Coaching tools for batting, hitting, infield and outfield practice as well. When used properly they will greatly improve your batting and playing skill level. Choose a machine that is right for you and your child and you will have years of reliable service.

Visit my site FirstPitch Sales Buy a tough, durable, reliable and affordable pitching machine that is right for you.

http://www.baseball-pitching-machines.org

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

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Baseball Hitting Tips

Baseball Batting Cage Bat by SKLZ

Article Title: Baseball Hitting Tips
By Joe Brockhoff

Here are some of the many questions:

How long should it be?

What direction should it go?

Would it be best to eliminate it?

One thing is for sure: The stride, done poorly, will often do more harm than good. Here are some of those issues: Over-striding, stepping the bucket, and not getting the foot down in time.

One might think, let's just eliminate the stride. Or let's just put the front foot out, with only a little weight, and keep the rest of the weight back.

In all of our years of studying baseball hitting tips for research and development of the Super 8 Hitting System, we looked for answers to those questions.

I am a hitting purest, meaning that if the activity is not necessary, then we don't do it. In other words, economy of action, doing only the absolutes with no wasted motion is the way to go. So should we eliminate the stride? Many coaches teach this in their clinics and camps using many baseball hitting drills.

My belief is that while no stride is ten times better than a bad stride, a good stride is better than no stride. Against a good velocity pitcher, a hitter must have quick hips. He must be able to turn quickly, clearing his hips and getting his hands out in front for contact. The stride is an asset for this. It provides a continuation from linear to rotation for the fast ball and for transfer of weight through the ball.

Here is the timing factor:

Fast Ball: Stride - Stroke
Off Speed: Stride - Pause - Stroke

Think of the top that young people used to play with. With all of the electronic games of today, the old "top" has been sort of put away on the proverbial shelf. But the top used to be a favorite toy for youngsters. It's a rounded object with a pin on the bottom. They would wind the string around it, toss it forward holding onto the end of the string.

When the pin of the top hit the ground, the top would change from linear direction to rotational. It would spin, and spin until it lost its momentum and flopped over.

If the top were merely dropped straight down vertically, this would create a very loose rotation, if any, and it would almost immediately drop over on its side.

So what's the point? Like the linear action of the top gives it the force that it needs for strong rotation, so does the linear action of the stride provide a good rotation of the hips toward the ball.

Former Tulane Hall of Fame Baseball Coach, Joe Brockhoff, fully explains his baseball hitting drills with the Super 8 Hitting System, completely demonstrated with videos and hitting tips to help you hit with more power and raise your batting average. http://www.LearnBaseballHitting.com.

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

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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!

Baseball Coaching Digest - What is the Most Important Thing in Coaching Little League Baseball?

Baseball Coaching Digest - What is the Most Important Thing in Coaching Little League Baseball?

By Nick Dixon


If you ask 100 baseball coaches the question, "What is the Most Important Thing in Baseball?", you will get a wide variety of answers. Some will say winning is the most important thing. Some will say that "expecting to win" is the most important thing. Others will say that helping kids grow, mature, and develop a sincere love for the game is the most important reason for playing baseball. When I ask myself this question, I have one simple answer. This articles explains what I feel that the most important thing in baseball to me is that I see some level of improvement every day.

This "level of improvement" can be in any aspect of the game. I may leave practice knowing that our team improved their knowledge and skill in defending the bunt. I may leave a game knowing that our team, although we lost, learned how to "come back" and compete when we were down by 4 and made it a one run loss at the end.

You may see an improvement in team unity, team chemistry, or team leadership. You may see a certain player show improvement in pitching control, hitting the off-speed pitch, or reading the pitcher to get a better jump when stealing a base. See these improvements are what coaching and playing baseball is all about.

Is it better for a team to show absolutely no improvement in a season and go undefeated because they dominate their league or for a team to play.500 baseball on the season, but show incredible levels of improvement from the top of the lineup to the bottom? You see what I mean? Improvement is the "name of the game". Improvement is what coaching baseball is all about.
Coaches must keep in mind that only half of the teams that play every day, win. The other half lose. Should 50% of the coaches feel their day was a total loss ever day they play? When it comes to playoffs it is a fact that less than 1/100 of 1 percent of all baseball teams will end their season with a win each year. The other 99.999 % of the teams will find themselves ending their season with a loss or not being in the playoffs.

Now, I want you to know that I value winning as much as any coach on this planet. But what I am saying is that coaches must make winning a goal and getting better a priority. You should feel satisfaction when you see improvement on a daily basis. If you do not see improvement, chances are that you will find it difficult to win anyway. So the message here is to make it known to you team that you want to see them improve as players and as a team every day in some way. It is their job to make it happen. It is your job to give them the opportunity to do so in practices and games.

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

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer.

Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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

Too Much Emphasis on Winning! Not Playing Great Baseball!

Article Title:

Too Much Emphasis on Winning! Not Playing Great Baseball!
By Stephen K Reynolds

In Today's Climate of over bearing parents & coaches driving youth sports towards a win at all costs mentality it is difficult to sort out what is right for the players! There is too much emphasis on just winning and no focus on the players playing at there peak every play. I hear it every day, we need to win the game! Hey I like to win as much as the next guy and enjoy seeing the players win but a lot of coaches mistake that for Success!

The Great John Wooden said success is measured whether a player Has given a maximum effort during each and every game. You are only a failure if you give any thing less. Too often coaches think that just because the team won every thing is peaches and cream. Many games are won because 1 player had an exceptional game while the others played lousy! Coaches focus on the better players and don't develop the other players to there full potential.

Here is my point: You need to get the players to focus on each and every play and tell them that they have to bring an maximum effort mentally and physically in order to be successful. If you have an above average team the wins will take care of themselves. By getting players to be in the moment that takes the pressure off of them about having to win! When you do that the players can play to their full potential and enjoy the game at the same time!

If your team plays it best baseball and gets beat hey it happens! No shame in that! Oh sure you will be disappointed in the outcome but not your players effort! Remember why you are coaching Youth Sports!

Stephen K Reynolds is publisher of the LSR Unlimted "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 lsrwealth@gmail.com

(800)758-1282

http://www.mindsetiswealth.com

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

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Productive Outs at the Plate

By Larry Cicchiello

Sometimes it's a little thing that helps win a ballgame. It's not always what makes the headlines in the newspapers or something that draws the most attention. "Productive outs" definitely fit into the category of little things that aren't so little at all.

I think it's a truly great at bat when an important run is on third base with less than two outs and the batter hits a very weak six-hopper to the second baseman and the much needed run scores. If the infield is playing fairly deep with a very important runner on third base, just focus on contact. If you can put the ball on the ground it's usually enough to get the run in. If it turns into a hit, that's better yet. The main objective is that you put the ball in play. You must make contact and not give the pitcher the all important strike out that he desperately needs.

Another productive out is when an important runner is on second base and is advanced to third base with a grounder on the right side of the infield with no outs. Productive outs are especially important to teams that play lots of close, low scoring ball games because they may very well have to "scratch and claw" to get runs.

To Be Clear On A Couple Of Things:

Hitters in the heart of the batting order. They very seldom should be looking to make productive outs. I didn't say never. I said very seldom. For example, with no outs, they should not be trying to advance the runner from second base to third base and give themselves up for the first out of the inning. That's the same as if they're saying, "here, someone else take the responsibility to knock in the run, not me." The better hitters should not give themselves up and should not leave it up to other hitters to drive in the runs.

When trailing by several runs. If your team is trailing by several runs late in the game and you ground out with no outs and have your runner go from second base to third base, there is nothing productive about that at all. The same holds true with a runner on third base with no outs or one out and you are trailing in the game by several runs. If you ground out and the run scores, there isn't anything productive about that at bat either. The other team got the out that they wanted.

Make sure productive outs are true productive outs and not counter productive outs!

Larry Cicchiello is the author of "Excellent Baseball Coaching: 30 Seconds Away." His very user friendly eBooks cover 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY players, coaches or parents who want to help their child improve will be fully equipped! Some FREE tips are available at http://www.LarryBaseball.com/product/all

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

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The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, 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, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!

Looking for Cheap Batting Cages? Here's some Basic Advice

Buying a batting cage package with net and frame included is the cheapest and easiest batting cage to buu for home backyard use.

Article Title:
Looking for Cheap Batting Cages? Here's some Basic Advice
By Jason Gluckman

Cheap batting cages can be found in a number of places. One option is to look in your local newspaper for garage sales or in the ads under sporting equipment for sale. Garage sales would probably be a good place to look for smaller, cheap batting cages. It might also be possible to buy cheap batting cages from a school or recreation facility during an equipment upgrade.

Another option for finding cheap batting cages is to look online. Many sports equipment dealers have web sites, as well as individuals who are selling their sports equipment on the Internet, many of whom will be able to offer good deals. However, you should be careful that you obtain a warranty or guarantee on the item you are purchasing, especially if the item is used. If the item is of lesser quality than you were led to believe, it will be necessary for you to have a means to return it and get your money back.

Even used batting cages typically cost hundreds of dollars, but discounts may be available if you build one yourself. If you're interested in making your own batting cage, pipe for the frame can be purchased at a hardware store and netting can be purchased from a sports equipment dealer. You can purchase complete batting cage kits online, with varying prices, depending on the size and quality of the cage. Instructions for putting together your own batting cage are usually fairly simple. In addition, you will experience the satisfaction of having built something impressive and useful with your own handss

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2010 Worth Baseball Bat Reviews

BattingCagesDirect.com - We specialize in complete batting cage systems with net and frame shipped directly to your home.
By R. Nelson

Last year I said that Rawlings is the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball bats and their brother brand, Worth, is the Joe Piscopo of baseball bats. You know he's still doing comedy shows somewhere on earth but you just don't care. For the 2010 model year nothing has changed. Nobody seems to care about Worth bats and it's difficult to even find much information on their bats. Amazingly this is the case on their own web site where they don't tell you which baseball bats are for the 2010 model year! They only talk about their new softball bats.

Worth is owned by K2 (the ski company) which also owns the Rawlings and Miken brands. To the best of my knowledge it appears Worth has abandoned composite bats and is exclusively focusing on alloy bats in 2010. On the surface this makes sense as Miken and Rawlings are focused on composite bats. What's amazing is that Worth's 2010 alloy model is priced in the high end of the alloy bat category! Even Joe Piscopo is scratching his head about this strategy. Shouldn't Worth be K2's discount brand?

I'm including Worth's composite bats in my reviews even though they're the same bats they offered in the 2009 model year. They make no mention of any 2010 composite models on their web site. In addition, all there 2009 composite models have drastically reduced prices indicating they are discontinued.

Here is what Worth is offering:

Worth Composite Bats


Titan - Adult only 100% composite, one-piece bat with a balanced design. Worth does not specify whether this, or any of their bats, has a stiff or flex handle. This is the 2009 model and they do not have a 2010 model. The Adult -3 can be found for anywhere between $159 and $329. Clearly this bat is on the discount racks to clear it from their warehouse. Needless to say you should stay away from this bat.
Mayhem Comp - Youth only 100% composite, one piece bat with does not specify the handle flex. This bat is the youth version of the 2009 Titan. Like the Titan it's on the discount racks and appears to be discontinued. Stay away from this bat as well.
Worth Alloy Bats

Lithium Prodigy/Amp: This actually is a 2010 model. A 100% alloy, one-piece bat with what appears to be a flex handle and balanced design. The name is different for the Adult/Senior and Youth model but it's the same bat. The Adult -3 model retails for $199 which amazingly prices it with the Louisville Omaha and Easton V12. This bat should be priced around the $149. Unless you're playing T-Ball or want to be ridiculed while at the plate I'd go elsewhere for a bat.
Copperhead, Prodigy and Mutant: All low quality, bargain basement priced alloy bats. They are made with older material and have retail prices between $49 - $89.
Don't forget to take a look at My Baseball Bat Recommendations by Category for my picks in each category.

http://baseballbatreviewsblog.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Nelson


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Baseball Hitting Mechanics - Stride and Swing

HandsBackHitter.com - The mechanical ball launching tee that builds the perfect baseball swing.

By Kenny Buford

Stride

Each player has a preference about how big or small of a stride to take on the swing. Batters should do what is most comfortable for them, provided that they do not step on the line of the batter's box, as this will cause them to be called out.

When helping players determine how big of a stride to take, encourage them to experiment. A shorter stride is usually better than a longer one for control purposes, because it keeps the player over their body and does not allow things to get out of rhythm. As speed is a necessary part of batting, a short stride is desirable because it helps batters move to their next element, the swing, sooner.

As the batter is about to bring their hands forward to start the swinging motion, the striding leg should come forward toward the pitcher. The stride should be toward the area in front of home plate to help the batter get into better position.

Swing

During the swing, there are also small adjustments that players can make to ensure that they get the best swing possible. When working on hitting mechanics, even the smallest details count.

Throughout the swing, players should keep their back elbow up and close to the body. This allows the hands and the barrel of the bat to swing through completely. Finally, and perhaps most importantly when going through the swing, is to keep the head still. Keeping the head still ensures that you keep proper balance throughout the swing, which is otherwise hard to do because the batter is moving nearly every other part to connect with the ball.

Maintaining a still head also helps with creating a rhythm. If the batter's body has one still part that does not move or change during the swing, that batter will have a better idea of what part of their swing needs work or what part is not synchronized with the rest of the body. Whether in practice or in play, keeping a steady head is extremely important.

As the ball is pitched, batters should bring their hands to meet the ball. This mental picture will help players get the bat in contact with the ball in exactly the right place. At the same time that batters are bringing their hands to the ball, they should be keeping those hands level and still, so that the bat slices through the air on an even plane. A swing with any type of loop or wiggle can cause a dangerous pop-up, which can be detrimental to the team.

Run Drills

Just because a batter has been batting for years does not mean that they will maintain good form. In fact, more experience can lead to poor form because players become complacent and pay less attention to their form than when they were first learning it.

Every so often, at the discretion of the coach, players should go back and work on hitting basics. This means starting from a tee, using a whiffle ball. While some players may grumble about starting at such a fundamental level, you must show them the importance of being able to hit a whiffle ball off a tee, perfectly, every time. If players cannot hit a ball where they want it to go when it is sitting right in front of them, how are they going to be able to hit a ball moving toward them at 50 miles an hour or more?

When players hit a whiffle ball correctly from a tee, it acts like a knuckleball. When players hit is incorrectly, it spins uncontrollably and goes awry. Because of the air going through the ball, players will be able to see their mistakes easier and make adjustments as necessary.

After players become comfortable again with hitting from a tee, remove the tee and have them practice with regular pitches again. They will notice a difference in the way they hold themselves and approach the ball, and you will a difference in their effectiveness.

Kenny Buford is a baseball coach with over 20 years of experience and a founding member of Baseball Inner Circle. Discover the ultimate source for baseball drills, videos, and coaching tips that will immediately improve your players' skills and win more games for your team:
Baseball Inner Circle

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Buford
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Year-Round Training With Indoor Batting Cages

BattingCagesDirect.com

By Pinky Savika

As with all sports, baseball and softball require constant practice for you to become the best you can be. This means being willing to train come rain or shine, so that you can constantly improve on your skills. While baseball and softball are outdoor sports, it does not mean that you always have to train outdoors. Even in bad weather, you can still push through with the training with the help of indoor batting cages.

We all know how weather can make you cancel plans like training. This is because you do not perform the same in cold weather conditions; your grip at the bat is different, and so your performance is not at par with what you want. In other cases, rain also hampers you from playing at your best.

Indoor batting cages provide players with the convenience to train indoors. This means that you can work on your skills year-round, without having to consult a weather forecast prior to training. Ever got that itch to get on with the training, but you just couldn't because the weather is not cooperating? That won't have to be a problem anymore, because now you can keep that momentum going.

There are a handful of companies nowadays that offer custom batting cages. These companies tailor-fit the cages according to your needs, plus they also consider other factors like space and the weather conditions in a particular area.

Other business-minded individuals are also investing in such cages. Entrepreneurs can set up their own training facilities to accommodate the teams in their areas. While the cages are used to train people who are really serious about playing, other entrepreneurs-like restaurant owners-realize that a lot of fun can be had with these indoor batting cages. Sports bars allow their customers to play indoors; this then becomes a welcoming add-on to the establishment.

Learn more about indoor batting cages, please visiting http://www.ddksyxx.com/general/practicing-training-in-indoor-batting-cages/

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

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Hitting Like a Machine

Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Machine

By Todd Thomas

Line Drives. Statistics are clear on the fact that line drive hits go for base hits more than any other type of hit. So if you want a high batting average, hit more line drives. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? Sure, if you are a machine. But we (hitters) are not machines. We are human and prone to errors in judgment. Case in point... Even when the best hitters get the exact pitch they are looking for in the location they are looking and at the velocity they were expecting will miss hit that particular pitch, won't they? When all of those things line up for a hitter on a pitch, you don't want to miss (or "miss hit") it. But you have, haven't you? If a hitter is honest with themselves, the answer to that question if of course I have. But why?

It's as simple as understanding that players are not machines. A player will pop up a pitch they should have driven hard and many will react with a "you dipped your back shoulder!" Really? No kidding? He dipped his back shoulder? Of course he did. The pitch was thigh high and any good hitter trying to hit line drives WILL dip their back shoulder in an adjustment effort to get on plane with the pitch and hit a line drive. But he likely dipped his back shoulder too far as if the pitch were just above the knees. Ah, an error in judgment. That happens to us humans. But if he hadn't dipped enough (kept his shoulders too level on that low of a pitch), then he probably would have hit a dribbler or simple ground ball. By the way, statistics show that ground balls go for base hits the least amount of times than other type of hits. Too many ground balls equals a low batting average and the game not being very fun at all.

Should a player with those results go "back to the drawing board" on their mechanics? Most likely not, but maybe if it's a chronic problem. If the player is sound mechanically and is a normally a very good hitter, he should just try to be right on with his adjustment to the pitch next time as best he can. Knowing the difficulty in adjusting "perfectly" to any given pitch, should keep players, parents, and coaches from overreacting to a few not so good swings. But it doesn't. Overreaction is rampant. It's one of the things that keeps me in business, but I STILL discourage it. :-)

Ultimately, the BEST hitters will be the BEST at adjusting to pitches in different locations and speed changes and they often hit pitches with less than their best swing because they are gifted. Even though they may mis-adjust and miss-hit good pitches, they more times than not put their best swing on the best pitches to hit. It is my belief that the ability to adjust to different pitches is what separates hitters. It's the reason why Albert Pujols is a better hitter than some of his teammates even though they have the same core mechanics.

So how are players best prepared to put their best swing on the best pitches when they see them?

I ask players and parents all the time if they know how often the best players in the world (Major leaguers) take batting practice. More often than not they get the answer correct when they say "every day". So if the best players in the world take BP every day, how often should developing players take BP. Okay, maybe every day isn't practical for young players but frequent batting practice is essential for any player who wants to be their best. Does it always have to be live hitting? I say no. I believe in dry swing practice big time. Taking dry swings allows a player to practice their most important swing and that is their "A" (best) swing. I don't think players practice their A swing enough and taking dry swings is the best way to do it. Having that best swing ingrained when they get a good pitch to hit will help a lot of players simply hit better. Young hitters who have their best swing ingrained will normally do very well because there are a lot of mistake pitches being thrown. All of this said to say that BP (or dry swings) should be taken frequently (daily if possible and those with the most desire figure out how to make that happen). It's the best way to give oneself the ability to hit like a machine...or a close you can being a human. :-)

Todd Thomas is a Baseball Coach and Professional Hitting Instructor for Mike Epstein Hitting. Coach Todd's personal hitting website is http://www.HitItHere.net. Coach Todd also enthusiastically endorses http://PlayMyBestBaseball.com as a place where baseball and softball hitters can master the Confidence, Composure, Focus and Consistency of their game so they can reach their full potential.

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

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Home Batting Cage - 4 Reasons You Can't Live Without One

BattingCagesDirect.com

Home Batting Cage - 4 Reasons You Can't Live Without One
By James Quick

Home batting cages are increasingly becoming more and more popular. If you have the room to put one up you will be surprised at how many kids come wanting to practice with your kids. This gives them the security of knowing that they won't cause any damage in the neighborhood caused by a flying ball.

Having your own home batting cage is essential to raising your batting to the next level, not to mention the convenience and fun you can have. A home cage will also encourage a better practice routine.

One reason to have a cage is that they are becoming less expensive. You can even make your own using PVC pipe and netting. They do not have to cost a fortune nor do they have to be huge in order for your kids to get the practice they need to become a good player.

Having a home batting cage will cut down on all those trips to the park. You will no longer have to use the cages there and wait for a time to get in. You can also practice however long you want to. This allows for players to practice trouble spots more frequently and for a longer period of time.

The third reason to get a cage is because you will no longer lose balls. Balls have a tendency to grow legs and crawl places you cannot find them. If you use a cage they will always stay in the cage. You won't have to shell out money in order to purchase new balls all the time.

The fourth reason to have a home batting cage is because they last forever with care. They need to be taken down during winter months but are easy to put up again in the spring. You can go many years with just one cage and only have to make minor repairs on netting. Most commercial cages come with a warranty as well. You can get many years of practice out of a bit of pipe and some durable netting.

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Youth Baseball Digest - 7 Characteristics of Successful Little League Baseball Coaches

CompleteBattingCages.com

By Nick Dixon

All successful Little League Baseball Coaches have common characteristics that make them a "cut above" average youth baseball coaches. These character traits enable the successful baseball coach to have top quality practices and to get great game performances from his team. Successful coaches are able to compete season after season. They often coach their teams to championships. This article outlines what I consider to be the 7 character traits of successful Little League Coaches.

The 7 character traits of the successful Little League Coach are:

1. He has a true passion and love for the game. He truly loves spending time at the baseball field. He loves to practice. He loves to participate in games. The bigger the game; the more pressure; the more he likes it. He studies the game to increase his knowledge. He watches as many high school, college, and Major League Baseball games as he possible each season.

2. He has a sincere concern for each of his player's welfare. He takes care of his players. He listens to their concerns. He is concerned for their physical safety and mental well being. He wants each and every player to achieve to their highest potential.

3. He has great organizational skills. He carefully plans and organizes every practice. He carefully plans pregame and warm-up activities. He leaves nothing to chance. Everything his team does has a time, a place and a purpose.

4. He has great communication skills. - He knows how to make complicated explanations of a skill or drill sound simple and easy. He does not talk down to his players. He also has a good rapport with the parents of his players. He knows how important it is to openly communicate his goals and visions for the team to the parents.

5. He is enthusiastic about both practices and games. - He never dreads going to practice. He always gets excited about the next game. He has a high level of enthusiasm and his enthusiasm shows.

6. He has the ability to discipline without getting personal. He does not get personal when he corrects or disciplines a player. He makes sure that the kids know he loves them. He does not make smart comments that are said to embarrass or humiliate a player. He makes sure that when problems occur, he handles them swiftly and fairly. The kids know that he cares for them enough to want each of them to act right.

7. He has a positive attitude that is contagious. - He always displays a positive attitude and spirit. He knows that his attitude is emulated by the players. If he reacts in the wrong way to pressure, then his team will also. He must display patience and perseverance. He must keep his head up regardless of the score or the situation.

Above all, successful coaches know and remember the following two quotes. When it comes to players, "They do not care what you know...until they know how much you care!" and "Winning is not everything....Expecting to Win is."

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

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

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

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The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, 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, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!

ATEC Hitting Streak Pitching Machine is Supreme For 3 Important Reasons

BaseballCoachingDigest.com

By James Quick

The ATEC Hitting Streak Pitching Machine can be of great benefit to an individual player or to a team. It is a must have for younger teams because it can grow with the players pitching at lower speeds for young players and being able to set it for older players at higher speeds.

The first reason this machine stands out is because it allows players to practice batting in a very easy and versatile manner. The pitches can be changed from fast balls to curves and most other pitches. This machine will turn right around and give the fielder some great practice in fielding different balls.

The second reason is because although it is set up to work with electricity you can also purchase a 12 volt rechargeable battery to go with it. You can then take it anywhere you go. Take it to the home field, take it inside the gym, or take it when you play games at other fields. The unit is very portable which is a must when you're on the go, and as they say time is money and money is time.

The third reason is because it is so light weight and easy to take down and put up. Even a little league player could do it. The machine only weighs 26 pounds. It comes apart easily and although it might be a little bulky to carry around it can be done with ease.

Another excellent and most important aspect of this particular pitching machine is that it is quite accurate. That might be taken for granted because you would think most pitching machines are but a lot of machines are not as accurate as you may think. It really keeps the amount of stray balls you have to duck down to avoid being hit to a minimum (lol).

The ATEC Hitting Streak Pitching Machine is one of the best for teams as it will grow with the team. It will provide many hours of practice for both fielders and batters. It is the perfect machine for youth teams all the way up to college.

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Get free information about the Atec Hitting Streak including product videos and ratings or just visit http://www.atechittingstreakpitchingmachine.com for tools and tips on other great the Atec pitching machine

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

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The Baseball Swing - A Couple Fallacies

By Nate Barnett

Do you know why you teach what you teach to your hitters? If I stopped you right now and asked you to tell me a couple advantages of any part of what you're teaching, could you do it? If not, it's time to kick into gear your learning habit and pick up some instructional strategies.

I've picked a couple parts of the baseball swing mechanics I hear taught repeatedly that are incorrect. Don't worry, I'll follow my own advise and explain why. Don't just take my word for it, however, ask around. Get other perspectives. But most of all, build your baseball swing knowledge base. Baseball instruction is a funny thing. You can find information and hitting "experts" everywhere. However, please for your own sake make sure that you are qualifying your sources of information first before you accept it. If you don't, you'll end up spending a lot of money, and changing your philosophy often.

Two Mechanical Fallacies:

1. Keeping your back elbow up is NECESSARY for a proper baseball swing.

I hear this advice mostly in Little League or in some of the younger age leagues. There is no physical advantage or benefit for a hitter to keep his back elbow up (often sometime much above the back shoulder). I'm not quite sure where the idea originated, but I do know it spreads like wildfire. It's like the cure all for a poor baseball swing. When it doubt, it must be the back elbow! And you can be sure you'll sometimes hear from the dugout or the stands, "Keep your back elbow up, Johnny!"

Keeping the back elbow up for younger hitters is often a source of a slow and long swing. When the bat head travels into the zone, the elbow of the top arm on the bat is down and relaxed close to the hitters body (if done correctly). Because of that, it makes little sense for a younger hitter to move his back elbow from a stiff position in the stance to a relax and collapsed position in mid-swing. Extra parts moving during a baseball swing mean less consistency. As a hitter gets older, his preference may be of a back elbow that is raised some. At this point (assuming he understands swing mechanics) he can make the adjustments as necessary.

2. Rolling your wrists as your bat comes through the zone is a must to create bat speed.

I have to bite my tongue (quite hard actually) when I ever hear this advice being offered for baseball instruction. While the back elbow up philosophy can be dismissed somewhat as a youth baseball strategy that does relatively minimal damage, this wrists rolling business can not be ignored in order to create a fundamentally sound baseball swing.

What "Wrist Rollers" can't do:

A. Hit an inside fastball to the pull side (right field as a lefty and left field as a righty).

B. Hit an outside fastball with any consistency to the opposite field (left field as a lefty and right field as a righty).

C. Hit line drives with back spin consistently (you know the kind that get over an outfielders head in a hurry for a double).

Here is why I can make those statements so confidently. In order to roll the wrists through a baseball swing, your arms must be straight at the elbows on contact with the baseball to do so. Youth hitters can get away with this because the velocity of the pitch is not overpowering yet. Add another 10-15 mph to the pitch and those inside pitches cannot be hit (or if they do, it stings) because the bat will be slow to sweep into the hitting zone. Outside pitches will also be difficult because the barrel of the bat will only cover the outer portion of the plate a fraction of the time necessary.

So what to do?

Teach your athletes when hitting a baseball to have their palm facing up on their top hand as they come in contact with the baseball. As the hands stay close to the body through the swing, the hitter will extend his arms after contact is made with the pitch. This proper extension is extremely important for good bat speed and plate coverage.

Nate Barnett is owner of BMI Baseball designed to improve the mental game of baseball in athletes. Learn how to help your game by improving the skill of mental baseball

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


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Baseball2u.com/CoachesBest.com is the ultimate online baseball training and coaching store. With over 1400 products organized into categories Baseball2u.com makes finding that baseball training product easy and simple. Order securely online or by phone. Baseball2u.com is a fully licensed company and has a full time staff available from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. Their toll free customer service number is 1-877-431-4487.

The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, 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, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!

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