Problems With Travel Baseball Under the Age of 12

By Andy Pohl Originally designed for middle and high school aged baseball players, summer travel teams are now providing opportunities for kids as young as 8 years old. I have even heard that in certain parts of the country they are offering travel t-ball. These youth league teams travel all around the country like big leaguers so kids still learning to read, write and complete elementary mathematical computations can play the toughest competition for the biggest prizes. Sounds like a great opportunity for kids who love baseball, correct? Not really. I believe that travel baseball is out of control, and the problems with travel baseball for kids under the age of 12 far outweigh its benefits. Proponents of travel baseball argue that playing more games against the best possible competition facilitates athletic development. It is hard to disagree with that. However, I urge parents with kids under the age of 12 to evaluate travel baseball with a more critical eye. In doing so, parents should ask the following questions: 1) Is my son really playing the best completion, or is he playing against mainly watered down teams in over-hyped tournaments? 2) Is the focus too much on winning and not on my son's athletic, social, and emotional development? 3) Is my son's travel schedule so rigorous that he has lost his ability to be a kid? 4) Is the pressure associated with playing tournament competition age appropriate? 5) What are my son's long term goals regarding baseball, and how does participating in travel baseball fit with those goals? While I would like to remove travel baseball all together from the 11-U youth league landscape, I understand that travel baseball is here to stay. With that being said, allow me to offer the following advice to parents: • Do not let your son play travel baseball until they are at least 12 years old. If you feel that it is absolutely necessary to play travel baseball before the age of 12, find a team that plays about 30 games with minimal travel. • Look for teams that focus on player development, not winning. Gravitate towards coaches who understand emotional and social development. This can be more important than baseball knowledge. • Seek out teams with professionally trained coaches or teams who have hired professional coaches to consult with the team throughout the season. • Find teams who run practices during the season. Running practices during the season is a critical component to the athletic development of young players, as this gives them opportunities to improve skills that were not performed correctly during games. • Be careful of newly formed travel team. New travel teams are usually formed by those who have self-serving reasons for creating this new team. Andy Pohl - Co-Founder, DNA Sports DNA Sports specializes in personalized baseball and softball skill programs, college recruiting education and preparation, and coaching clinics. Learn more: http://www.dnasportsonline.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Pohl Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6508469

Problems With Travel Baseball: Not Enough Practice Time

By Andy Pohl When travel league schedules revolve around tournament play, winning inherently becomes the primary focus. Rarely do these teams have time to practice due to the heightened amount of travel and games. This is a glaring problem with travel baseball, as kids need a combination of practice and games to best facilitate athletic development. Simply throwing young kids out on the field to play as many games as possible does not necessarily facilitate athletic development, as younger athletes need considerable practice time to develop their hitting and defensive skills in a pressure free environment. Basically, what travel baseball has done is put 8-11 year olds in an adult created setting where the pressure to win and perform takes precedent over the emotional and athletic development of the players themselves. A bi-product of this reality is the coaches themselves acting as if they were managing professional players - the yelling, the throwing of equipment, the arguing with umpires, the sulking after losses. And while it may appear that these travel coaches know what they are doing with their custom made dry-fit coaching shirts and Oakley Sunglasses resting on the brims of their fitted caps, the fact of the matter is that most of travel coaches possess the same amount of knowledge as your average house league coach. In fact, the majority of travel players are being coached by parents who don't know the first thing about baseball or the social and emotional development of kids. Many of these parent coaches cannot even properly parent their own kids! Rather than winning, the focus for youth baseball needs to be on development. After all, once these kids hit puberty, it is really not going to matter which travel team your son played on and how many tournaments they won. Athletic excellence and success cannot always be identified at an early age, and inferior athletes will frequently blossom and attain success in later years given the right opportunity to compete and develop their skills. Consistent practice time is a critical component to this development. Though some may disagree with several of the statements in this narrative, understand that my goal is to report in an honest and straightforward manner what I know to be true from my many experiences working with youth baseball players. I have no hidden agenda. The well-being of kids is always my top priority, hence the reason why I created this article. Andy Pohl - Co-Founder, DNA Sports DNA Sports specializes in personalized baseball and softball skill programs, college recruiting education and preparation, and coaching clinics. Learn more: http://www.dnasportsonline.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Pohl Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6508482

Bunting Drills to Allow You to Become a Much Better Baseball Player

By Thomas E Wilson Once you've learned the best way to bunt, it is important to practice this type and repeat the motions repeatedly. This will bring about you eventually doing this essentially without thinking when game time comes. The following drills will allow you to ensure success bunting at the plate if done as part of your regular baseball workouts schedule. Bunting Pepper: This drill requires four players. Have one player take his batting stance as well as the three other players form an arch around 20 feet from him. Starting using the player in the center of the arch, ask him to softly toss the ball on the batter whose job is to bunt the ball to one of these two other players who didn't throw the ball. The player who the hitter bunted to should now throw the ball to the hitter. Continue for a few minutes, after which rotate. On the Corners: This drill requires two players or one player plus a coach. Place a cone 10-20 feet abroad plate and 10-20 feet away from the third base line and the other cone 10-20 feet away from home plate and 10-20 feet out of the first base line. Have a coach or another player pitch towards the hitter. The hitter's goal is to bunt as many pitches as possible (that are strikes) between the third base foul line as well as the third base cone or involving the first base foul line and also the first base cone. The hitter gets 1 point for each time he successfully places the bunt. Soft Bunts: This drill requires two players or one player plus a coach. Have the hitter stand on the plate and put a bucket directly as you're watching plate. Have a coach or some other player pitch for the batter. The goal with the batter is always to make sure he is absorbing the velocity of the pitch therefore softening his bunts so they drop directly into the bucket. This is a crucial skill to learn to ensure that even as the ball player sees faster and faster pitching as he ages, he will almost certainly still be able to soften his bunts. Next practice, give these drills a go and see the way your players' bunting improves next game. Remember, if a player would like to see better results with his bunting, make sure he is also practicing these bunts as part of his regular baseball workouts program in the home! Are you interested in improving your game and being the best baseball player you can be? If so, check out www.BestBaseballWorkouts.com to find more helpful information as well as baseball workouts that will take your game to the next level! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_E_Wilson Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6525185

How to Buy the Perfect Size Baseball Glove

By Earl Crocker There are two main things to consider when purchasing a baseball glove. First, what position will you be playing? If you are going to play the infield, you will need to have a shallow pocket glove. This will give you better control and provide an easier transfer of the ball. When playing the outfield, you will need to consider a deep pocket baseball glove. This will allow for easier catching of fly balls and fewer errors. Next, you need to consider the age of the player. When buying a baseball glove for your kids, don't buy a glove for them to "grow into". This will only cause errors and frustration. Youth players need a glove made to fit. This means their glove may not last for years, but they will have a much better little league career if they have a baseball glove that fits. Baseball players ages 8yrs. and under should most likely use a 9 inch glove if playing the infield, or 11 inch glove if playing outfield. Ages 9yrs.-13yrs. should use a 9-10 inch glove for infield and 11-12 inch for outfield. High school/ Adult players may consider a 10.5-11.5 inch glove for infield and a 12-12.5 for outfield. When buying a catchers mitt the average youth will need a 31-32 inch mitt. The average adult size is 33-34 inch. However, to be sure of your correct size, here an easy formula to follow. First, find your regular glove size. If you don't know it then measure your glove from the heel of the glove (by your wrist) to the top of the glove on the palm side (near your fingers). Next, subtract this number from 12.5, then take that number and subtract it from 34.5. This will give you the perfect size baseball mitt, but remember, catchers mitts fit tighter than regular baseball gloves. So you will need to adjust the straps and allow time for breaking in your new catchers mitt. The best way to break in your new glove is to simply play catch with a friend. This will help your glove and your game. Also, it is good to use a little oil (not too much). And some people like to place a ball in the pocket of the glove and tie it shut, this helps form the pocket of the glove. Just remember, it's all about having fun! Whether you are 2 or 92, beginner or pro, boy or girl, baseball is a great sport, so get out there and PLAY BALL! Earl Crocker http://www.infinitebaseballgloves.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Earl_Crocker Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6548852

Pressure - Good Or Bad And How To Handle It?

By Jim Bain Baseball is no different than other sports, there are times of coasting and times of extreme pressure. Everyone pretty well knows how to coast, but not everyone knows how to handle pressure and there is no cookie cutter formula which applies to everyone on the team, so pressure can be good or bad depending on how it's handled. Even though, at the time of this writing, we don't know the final outcome of the 2011 Wild Card Race in the National league, the intense battle between the St. Louis Cardinals to catch the Atlanta Braves for that spot is exciting and quite a demonstration of handling, or not handling pressure. The Cardinals, just as any other ball club, has sustained numerous injuries to key players throughout the season. Their superstar, Albert Pujols, sustained a fractured wrist in a collision at first base and Matt Holliday, their enforcer whose powerful bat forces teams to pitch to Pujols, has suffered numerous injuries which have sidelined him for extended periods. There were many other injuries, including the loss of their Cy Young winning pitcher, Adam Wainwright, before the season began, but these are the types of situations which all teams must play through. The Cardinals led the National League Central division for months, slowly putting distance between them and the Brewers, Reds and the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, the Cardinals went into a tailspin where instead of not being able to lose a game, they were incapable of winning a game. As the hungry pack behind them inched closer, the Cardinals began to buckle under the Pressure, as their starting pitching, which had been praised for exceeding all expectations despite the loss of Wainwright, began to fail them. This in turn placed an ever increasing amount of pressure on their bullpen, which became overworked and began to fail miserably, continually blowing 1 and 2 run leads in the 9th inning, only to lose the game in extra innings. The inability for the Cardinal starting rotation to have quality pitching appearances and the failure of the bullpen to maintain 1 & 2 run leads, put a tremendous amount of pressure on the Cardinal offense, which many sports writers have declared the most powerful lineup in the National League, to not only produce runs, but produce an exceedingly increasing amount of runs per game. With this extra pressure the offense began to falter, hitting into more double plays than any other team in baseball and the once, very reliable 2 out hit, completely vanished. When teams are pressed offensively their defense usually suffers, which was the case for the Cardinals. Their offense produced 8 runs, but between walks, hits and errors, they allowed 9 runs and still lost. The Milwaukee Brewers caught and surpassed the Cardinals, completely dominating them in head to head play, and the Cards appeared to completely crash and burn. The Pressure had overwhelmed them. August came and the Cardinals, pre-season picks to win their division, were struggling to maintain their self respect with little thought given to playoff contention. All pressure to win was gone, only professional pride kept the team afloat. As the season continued through August, the lack of pressure on the team and the addition of few new faces, through trade and elevation of Minor League players to the majors, the team began to put together winning streaks, taking 2 of 3 or 3 of 4 games in each series against different opponents. Suddenly, the thought of playoff contention began to permeate through the club house. The pressure to win, as the Braves began to lose, increased with every game as they began to inch closer to their target, Wild Card Team. Ironically the pressure endured previously, which had all but sapped the strength from the club, had now turned into a driving force. The pressure, which had been a paralyzing effect, now became a motivator, and with each win the pressure increased. What happened? What caused the change? How could something so harmful to the club suddenly become their best ally? How pressure affects a team, or one player, is determined on how mentally tough that team/player is. A mentally tough team, which can be greatly influenced by the manager, knows what they have and are capable of accomplishing. They question the "bad luck" which seems to have them losing & losing, but they never question their abilities, and the ability me to play through the bad times, when even the toughest wonder if it'll ever end, once it does end and success returns, the pressure becomes the thrill of playing, of hitting next or pitching today. It's viewed with great anticipation, not dread. Pressure will always be a factor in sports, as in life itself. It's how you handle that pressure which determines if its' a friend or foe. Jim Bain, former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth, shares his advice on pitching baseball drills on his exciting info packed website: http://www.learn-youth-baseball-coaching.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Bain Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6579349

The Secret of Baseball Hitting Mechanics

By Dr. Chris Yeager The Secret of Baseball Hitting Mechanics is to effectively time and coordinate the proper movement of your Back Arm with the proper movement of your Back Leg. When you throw a baseball: •You will "step" toward your target and you will create energy/momentum to be transferred into your throw of the ball. •Your back leg will Abduct ( meaning your back knee will move toward your target) at the hip joint and drive your Center-of-mass (body weight) in a straight line toward the target. Your energy is created by the Back Leg Pushing Sideways against the ground and driving the body towards the target. Your energy/momentum created by the Back-Leg-Push is blocked and transferred to your hip segment by the Front leg. As your front leg plants, it "catches" your energy/momentum and drives it up the chain through your body. When your front foot lifted off the ground to LOAD the Back Leg by placing all of the weight/pressure onto your back foot: •your long bone in the upper arm, your humerus, should begin to turn in or IN-ternally rotate and lift (sometimes we call this elbow up) or raise your elbow up just as elite level infielders will do when taking the ball out of their glove. The scientific term for this is ABduct. This lifting of your back elbow is proper loading of your back arm in your throwing pattern. You will use this same universal loading pattern for throwing when hitting a baseball Fluid and relaxed lifting of the back elbow during the loading phase of hitting a baseball (scientific terms are: Abduction and Internal Rotation of the Humerus): This is a universal loading pattern used by quarterbacks, catchers, infielders, tennis players and other elite level athletes that may be throwing or hitting a ball. It is absolutely necessary for you to learn to load the back arm properly. Proper loading will give you a good start to an elite level baseball swing and throw. If you do not load properly, inadequate internal rotation("turning in" of the long bone in the upper arm or lifting/raising of the elbow) will often cause you to have poor rhythm, fluidity and speed in your throwing arm pattern as a baseball player. Extending at the back elbow is often a sign that you as an infielder, catcher or hitter have inadequate Internal rotation/"turning in" of the long bone in the upper arm (humerus). There are ways to fix this problem and help you begin your throwing and hitting motion with a high level pattern so that you can begin your hitting and throwing pattern like great baseball players begin their hitting and throwing motion. The lag position during the attack phase of the back arm when hitting or throwing a baseball In the attack phase of hitting: You will want to "slot" your elbow or bring your elbow "down and in" towards the ball - The scientific terms are Humeral ADDuction and External Rotation. The attack phase of hitting follows the load phase of the back arm during hitting where you lifted or raised your back elbow in an upward direction. This phase has your elbow simply doing the opposite of what your elbow does in the load phase of hitting and throwing. While the front foot is still in the air, just after the back leg has begun to pushing the direction of the target, the long bone in the upper arm will begin to reverse its direction and Externally rotate the shoulder joint ( aka turn outward). The bone will continue to "turn outward" as the Back Leg finishes its push, as well as during front-foot's initial interactions with the ground. This External rotation or turning-out of the long bone in the upper arm is how the ball when throwing, and hands & bat when hitting, truly gets back and stays back at the correct point of the throw/swing. •This "turning of the bone" creates your "lag". It can also be thought of as your second loading phase of the back arm. •The External rotation of the long bone positions the ball during throwing and your hand back during hitting as the last link in the Kinetic Chain, allowing the other body parts to do their work to create and funnel energy to the bat head for hitting and to the ball for throwing. Many pitching coaches will teach you to reach back and place the arm into a high, extended position as you take the ball out of the glove( you may have heard the term scratching the back wall), believing that this will help you get the ball "back" in the correct position. This is an incorrect attack pattern for you. Many pitching coaches are unaware that the truly critical "back" position is measured with a flexed elbow (greater than 90 degrees) at the maximum external rotation of the humerus - this is where the ball lays back for you just before your release. This means your arm should stay bent until just before release of the baseball when throwing. Throw the ball harder with a bent elbow before release The primary lesson that pitching coaches should teach you with regard to your throwing or pitching arm pattern is to achieve flexion at the elbow of 90 deg or more before the humerus begins to turn - this is when you lay the ball back before extending forward to throw the ball. Obviously there have been many professional pitchers who have been successful by achieving flexion after the bone begins to lay back, however, this sequence makes achieving quality flexion at the elbow much more difficult. If the angle of your elbow is too wide as the foot plants, your lever arm will be lengthened prematurely and there will be more stress placed on your shoulder and elbow joints. As your front foot plants, your hips reach their maximum speed. Your hips subsequently pull the torso and then your torso pulls your shoulders around. If your elbow angle is wide as your shoulders are being rotated toward the target, the prematurely lengthened lever arm created by the wide elbow will create more stress than a sharper/more flexed elbow would create. From a performance standpoint, your efficiency and effectiveness is also decreased with a wide elbow angle at Front-leg block. A wide elbow angle of less than 90 deg will reduce the degree to which the long bone in the upper arm can lay the ball back. Speaking biomechanically, a wide elbow angle of greater than 90 deg will reduce humeral external rotation before release. Use the example of a catapult to understand this phase of the throwing action. Assuming the materials, design, propellant of two catapults are the same, the catapult that is brought back the farthest will result in the greatest speed and distance traveled of the object. The case is similar for the thrower: Assuming two identical throwers in terms of size, strength, physiological make-up and delivery, the thrower that lays ball back the farthest will result in the greatest speed of the ball. Again - if all things are equal, you will see players with less external rotation(meaning more elbow bend) before release throw harder than players with more external rotation(less elbow bend). Other factors such as how ligaments and tendons attach to bone and muscle can affect this outcome. Comparing throwing pattern to Hitting Pattern It is important and interesting to note that when throwing the baseball the great majority of professional infielders and catchers do not extend/straighten at the elbow as they take the ball from the glove nor do they increase the degree of extension at the elbow until just before release of the baseball as the humerus turns inward to propel the ball toward the target. It is also important and interesting to note that the professional quarterback throws with a nearly identical pattern as a high level infielder or professional infielder. As the front foot lifts off the ground to load the Back Leg by placing all of the weight/pressure onto the back foot, the long bone in the upper arm, called the humerus, begins to turn in or Internally rotate as well a lift or Abduct. This IN-ternal rotation and lifting of the long bone in the upper-arm is how the elite player loads up for his throw. While the front foot is still in the air, just after the back leg has begun to push in the direction of the target, the long bone in the upper arm will begin to reverse its direction and Externally rotate @ the shoulder joint ( aka turn outward). The bone will continue to "turn outward" as the Back Leg finishes its push, as well as during front-foot's initial interactions with the ground. This External rotation or turning-out of the long bone in the upper arm is how the ball when throwing, and the hands & bat, when hitting truly gets back and stays back at the correct point of the throw and swing. Compare the elite level batter hitting patterns to the elite level thrower throwing patterns: •The elite level batter moves his back arm, which is the Bat-Head-Throwing-Arm, in a nearly identical pattern as the thrower. •As the front foot lifts off the ground to load the Back Leg by placing all of the weight/pressure onto the back foot, the long bone in the upper arm, the humerus begins to turn in or INternally rotate as well a lift or Abduct. (This IN-ternal rotation and lifting of the long bone in the upper-arm is how the elite hitter loads up for his throw of the bat-head behind the ball. The elite hitter has the same pattern as the thrower). Note: Inadequate Internal rotation/"turning in" of the long bone in the upper arm often reduces rhythm, fluidity and speed in the throwing AND hitting arm pattern of the baseball player and often forces the batter to attempt to load the back-arm inefficiently by extending at the back elbow. •While the front foot is still in the air, just after the back leg has begun to push in the direction of the target, the long bone in the upper arm will begin to reverse its direction and Externally rotate @ the shoulder joint ( aka turn outward). •The bone will continue to "turn outward" as the Back Leg finishes its push, as well as during front-foot's initial interactions with the ground. As the bone is turning, it is also moving down and towards the body or ADDucting. Most call this movement "slotting the elbow". •The player should "slot" this flexed or bent elbow in the direction of the pitch.... It should not be slammed into the ribcage. This External rotation or turning-out and ADDucting or moving down and in of the long bone in the upper arm is how the hands & bat truly gets back and stays back at the correct point of the throw/swing. Do not Extend at your back elbow during the load phase of hitting When you extend your back elbow during the load phase of hitting, similar to poor throwing mechanics, you are prematurely lengthening your lever. This is a poor start to your baseball swing. This makes your bat "heavy" very early in the kinetic sequence of hitting a baseball. Your bat is "heavier" to you when hitting when your back elbow extends because: •Your barrel moves away from your body and most often your bat barrel is flattened when your barrel moves away from your body. When your barrel is flattened, the center of gravity of your bat is moved out of alignment with your hands creating unwanted torque or force. •Your bat should be stacked directly over your hands in the science of a perfect swing and not in a poor position leaning away from your hands. By "flattening" the barrel of your bat early, you increase the difficulty of throwing your bat head by unnecessarily creating a "heavy" bat early in your hitting sequence. The elite professional hitters utilize much more efficient usage of the long bone in the upper arm (humerus) to increase rhythm, fluidity and speed. •Elite hitters reduce the tendency to extend at the back elbow which greatly assists in delaying the flattening of the barrel. When you delay the flattening of the bat barrel, you will create a mechanical advantage for yourself by having the center-of-mass of your bat closely stacked above the hands to keep your bat "light" by reducing the unwanted torque or unwanted turning force created by taking your barrel too far out of alignment with the hands. •The elite professional will load the back arm by lifting and turning the bone in the upper part of the throwing arm. This Abduction or lifting and internal rotation or "turning" is nearly identical to the loading pattern utilized by elite professional infielders. This allows the player to load up by "winding-up" the throwing arm and produces the most efficient throw for the baseball and the bat-head. Dr. Yeager is a PHD in human performance and an expert in the physics and physiology of the baseball swing and throw. He is one of the founders of Iso Baseball. Iso Baseball's mission is to design and develop scientifically based baseball/softball hitting instructional devices/ Please visit http://www.isobaseball.com to learn more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Chris_Yeager Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6579428

Beginners Need Baseball Hitting Basics

By Jeffery A Wise Baseball is an all-American sport and it is loved all across North America. It's even becoming more popular in other countries, such as Australia. From a young age, kids develop a love for baseball and they start playing on teams and in leagues. Just as with everything in life, the thousands of yearly baseball beginners need coaching and instruction. They must learn the baseball hitting basics before anything else. A balanced batting stance is important to learn very early on. A child should stand with their feet shoulder length apart and their knees should be slightly bent. Make sure they put their weight on the balls of their feet instead of their heels. When weight isn't properly distributed, it causes kids to swing off balance. Another thing a beginner must learn is how to hold the bat. They should line up their knuckles and grip the bat with their fingers. The bat should be held firmly but not too tightly. Make sure they also don't hold it too loosely as they may drop the bat as they swing or make contact. Of course, having the right bat is important too. A child's age, size and experience will determine which bat is the best for him or her. Allow them to practice holding and swinging several bats to see which size and weight is the most comfortable. Kids also need to constantly be reminded to keep their eyes on the ball and their head down. They will only be able to hit the ball if they are watching it. Teach them to be focused at the plate and to keep their eye on nothing else but the ball. As baseball players learn these important baseball hitting basics, they should then learn how to shift their weight during a swing. During the hitting process, a player's weight should shift from the front, to the back and then to the front again during contact. This technique really helps with power and bat speed. While this can be a difficult technique to learn, once you get it you're guaranteed better hits. To be good at playing baseball, a beginner must be willing to practice often. While baseball is a favorite sport by many, it is also a very difficult sport, especially the hitting aspect. It takes years to be a great hitter. Children should try not to get discouraged if they have a hard time. Most of all, baseball should be fun for all players. Remember that the reason to practice your batting is so that you can get better and practicing baseball hitting basics will give you skills and talent to become the baseball player you want to be. Find out why you should look into quality Cheap Baseball Bats that are comfortable in your hands which could help you out in a big way. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffery_A_Wise Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6587022

Finding a Batting Helmet That Provides Excellent Protection

By Scott Smoot Sports-related accidents have become more of a concern today as much talked about athletes as well as novice adults, teens and children playing the sport sustain concussions and other types of head injuries. In baseball, a batting helmet that is properly fitted is vital. Playing baseball with no helmet, or with one that doesn't correctly protect the head, is requesting trouble. Brain injuries brought on by wildly thrown pitches can result in bleeding around the brain which leads to cracked skulls or stroke-like bleeding on the brain. Children and teens particularly may become victims of badly thrown pitches or line drives since their fellow players are simply beginning to understand the art of ball control. Even pitchers today are starting to wear batting helmets while on the mound to avoid injuries from line drives aimed right at them. There are many items you should look for when you begin searching for batting helmets. The helmet's protecting padding is its most important feature. Experts suggest that a helmet have a minimum of a half inch of cushioning produced from polystyrene or comparable material to cushion the head. The materials should meet requirements set from the National Operating Committee on Requirements for Athletic Equipment. A few helmet producers offer dual foam construction that consists of an inner layer of high-impact density foam for protection plus an outer coating of memory foam that adjusts to the head, creating a much more secure fit. Players who are comfortable inside their helmets are far more prone to put them on. A batting helmet that offers excellent head protection still will not be well-liked if it hinders the player's capability to see the ball. There are numerous companies that are producing these with new technologies. This engineering can help to eliminate the glare which comes in the helmet's face guard. The technology has been called eye black for sporting equipment. A hot, cumbersome helmet can be another liability that may make players reluctant to utilize it. A helmet manufactured with lightweight supplies offers a much more comfortable fit. Present day helmet also features air vents that permit the player's head to breathe. It's much more pleasant and effective for a mixture to stand in the batter's box awaiting a pitch when perspiration isn't rolling down his or her face. RIP-IT batting helmets are created from the highest quality ABS material. This means they are the only batting helmets to be both functional and amazing to look at. The design of RIP-IT batting helmets takes into account all of the features players need in a batting helmet. If you play softball you know the importance of investing in a high quality bat. There are a variety of fast pitch and slow pitch softball bats bats on the market as well as batting helmets. You will want to test each of these out to see which one will help maximize your performance. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Smoot Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6623253

How to Hit Faster Pitchers

By Ryan A Knox The Science of Hitting the Fastball Some helpful tips how to face and conquer faster pitchers from Little League all the way up to the pros. When swinging a bat, every hundredth of a second counts. It can make the difference between a fair or foul ball, and also the difference between making contact or 'big whiffing'. That is why hitters spend so much time concentrating on improving bat speed. There are several tips below to help you increase your bat speed, as well as a couple drills. Hopefully, with this information, combined with your determination and hard work, you can see some improvements in your speed and overall improvements in your hitting game. Good luck! Increase Your Bat Speed Every split second counts. Imagine what it would feel like to swing a bat that felt as light as a broom stick. Not only would there be tremendous bat speed, but you'd be able to wait on a pitch and track it longer. That's a nice advantage to have over a pitcher because the longer you can track a pitch, the better you're able to adjust to it's movement. Combine bat speed with correct tracking utilizing visual acuity where the eye-brain connection has you seeing the ball almost in slow motion, and you can immediately understand the difference it could make in your hitting. By adding 1 oz weights gradually to a light makeshift bat, like a broom stick, we can accomplish this. Age and strength will determine your bat weight goal. Once there you can maintain and add more strength by overloading. Do this, but overload without stressing the joints. This will get more power to your bottom(lead) hand which is usually weaker than the top hand. Another great training method is to get a rubber ball about the size of a tennis ball. Squeeze the ball with your fingers (against the palm of your hand) hundreds of times a day. This will work your wrists and forearms. The end result is a stronger pair of wrists that will improve your bat speed through the strike zone. It will also have a good effect on your throwing. This exercise was done by Roberto Clemente when he was a kid. This exercise is very inexpensive. It is also quiet and can be done anywhere, such as class or work, if you do not make a big deal of your activity. One other real good quality exercise I've seen performed by major league hitters is to stand a bats length from a fence and swing the bat and try to keep it from hitting the fence. It helps to keep control of your swing and it will also works your muscles. This is more for control, but also works your muscles that determine reflex speed. Use a Pitching Machine to Increase Bat Speed I've seen increases up to 10 mph after extensive training with a baseball pitching machine. The adjustable speed and consistency of the machines make it easy to set up and work your technique as well as coordination. Training your eyes to "see" the pitches and really know what certain speeds look like as they come out the pitchers hands is a big bonus to having a pitching machine. This takes away a lot of the variables encountered when hitting off a real pitcher in practice or the back yard. You have speed variances, rotation variances, even mechanic variances. Normally these are all good to experience, as they will lend to keeping you on your toes and learning to pick up on different rotations and types of pitches. But for the sole purpose of increasing bat speed, I like to set up a pitching machine at a certain speed, say 60 mph and work 20 to 30 pitches off that. Then increase it by 5 mph and do the same number of pitches. Repeat until you are at the level you want to be at. Then decrease and start to work back down to your starting pitch speed. Then work back up. Once back up to your max speed, hit about 20 more and call it a day. Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day. This will take time and lots of dedication and practice, but the results are well worth it. There are some great pitching machines to be had at really affordable prices. First Pitch makes a model that is relatively inexpensive but the quality is right up there with the big boys of the industry such as Atec and Jugs. Another thing you might be interested in is good batting cages. Not a must, but could keep you out of a few window repair bills. If you don't have access to a pitching machine, go check out a local batting cage. I don't recommend this though, because if you really want to see results you need to do this consistently. And quite frankly, that could get expensive. A lot more than buying a cheap machine for the backyard. Weight Training Lastly, if done correct, weight training can offer increases in your swing. Abdominal Training The trunk (abdominals and low back) creates a powerful twisting motion during the swing. Rotational torque provides speed and momentum to the arms and eventually the bat head. Like other muscles, it is necessary to develop strength by using resistance. A common mistake with abdominal training is to perform body weight resisted exercises and expect the abdominals to continually gain strength. In the beginning you will develop a certain amount of strength. However, after a while the exercises become nothing other than calisthenics or maintenance type movements. To develop strength you must add some sort of resistance to the movement-as is the case in all exercises. The good news is that you can use most of the same traditional stomach exercises plus added weight, to get the desired results. The three areas for you to concentrate on are the lower, upper and oblique abdominals. Upper Abdominals Weighted crunches (non-weighted crunches shown) - Lying on your back with legs up in the air, knees bent at 90 degrees, hold a weight of your choice at straightened arms length. Using only your upper abdominals, raise only the upper body, keeping your back flat on the ground. Three sets of 20-40 repetitions. Lower Abdominals Hanging leg raises - Hang from an overhead bar, with your feet not touching the ground. Your grip should be about shoulder width. Contracting the lower abdominals, lift the legs together, knees bent at 90 degrees, so the knees are just above waist height. Lower and repeat. Three sets of 10-25 repetitions. * This a difficult exercise which does not require much weight to increase the difficulty. Use ankle weights for the resistance. * Do not rock back and forth to make it easier to raise the legs. * To increase difficulty without adding weights, keep your legs straight while lifting them. Rotational Abdominals Standing weighted twists - put yourself into an athletic stance with your feet spread at a comfortable distance and your knees slightly bent. Hold a weight about 6-to-12 inches in front of your body. After a slow warm up, begin to twist at the waist (do not twist or bend at the knees) as rapidly as possible. The key to rapid movement is maintain a low, balanced stance and make sure your shoulder reaches the chin on the twist. Three sets of 20-40 repetitions. Leg Strength Never underestimate the value of leg strength for good, powerful hitting. The legs do not appear active. And in terms of movement, they really are not. But it is the strength of the legs that enable the abdominals and trunk in general, to promote bat speed. As the swing begins, the stride is in place and the body begins to rotate. Without a firm base, the body will not be able to generate any strength from the legs into the trunk. The force is generated from the ground, into the legs, to the trunk and finally the bat. Without leg strength, the force necessary to start a powerful bat is not produced. To take it a step further, the swing might be flawed due to only upper body generation and nothing to stabilize the legs. Basic leg strength has been outlined in previous articles. Do not expect to have the best swing or the most powerful bat if you are only going to work on the upper body and ignore your legs. Forearms Beginning with the grip and finishing with the forearms (the two are connected), the bat head will take the proper path if there is strength in the hands. Notice how I say hands instead of forearms. This is because the grip strength (fingers, hand) is the most important part of forearm strength for baseball. Take a look at a swing and follow through. The movement is not about forearm flexors or extensors. There is really no point in the swing where these movements are dominant. However, the hand and hand strength are involved the entire time. You can have strong forearms, but not necessarily a strong grip. This is why you must work grip-specific exercises into your routine, such as squeezing tennis balls, racquet balls and softballs. This will strengthen the fingers, hand and overall grip. When you add these exercises to the already common wrist curls and reverse wrist curls, you'll have excellent results. Total Body When you are looking for running speed, a powerful swing or mph on your fastball, you don't just work the specific muscles involved. Take the approach that the entire body is a system and when all the parts work together efficiently, the outcome will be much more positive than singling out certain muscles. Train your whole body if you want optimal results, not to mention reducing the risk of injuring yourself. The baseball pitching machine is by far the greatest tool in a hitter's tool kit. As a long time coach, the secret I've found to great hitting has been to work constantly with a pitching machine. It allows the hitter to work alone and not have to rely on someone else's accuracy to replicate pitches. The best is to have a curveball pitching machine, but a standard machine will work also. Again, I cannot recommend or speak more highly of my dealings with Pitching Machines Supply. But I am not here to freely promote them. My focus is to educate young hitters so that they may grow into becoming one of the great hitters of our beloved sport. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_A_Knox Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6624346

3 Reasons to Wait Until December to Buy Your BBCOR Bat

By Ryan M Davis As a member of the high school or college baseball ball community you may be faced with a BBCOR Baseball bat purchase in the next 6 months. Given the expensive and uncertain nature of these bats, smart consumers are waiting until December to make their BBCOR bat purchases for a few good reasons. Reason #1 More BBCOR Models coming this fall As we approach the 2012 high school and college season BBCOR production will increase tremendously. BBCOR Bat manufactures are forecasting huge spikes in demand for their products as all high school and college baseball players must swing BBCOR baseball bats in 2012. This unique opportunity to sell tons of bats has bat manufactures and retailers buzzing about a lucrative 2012 baseball bat season. Many manufactures have plans to release new BBCOR models this fall just before the holiday season. With many new BBCOR bats hitting the market later this year it's a good idea to wait until December to ensure you see all the bat industry has to offer. Reason #2 Holiday Discounts The holiday season is typically a great time to purchase new bats as many retailers offer discounts to attract holiday shoppers. It's common for retailers to send out promotional holiday newsletters or email blast just after Thanksgiving or on Cyber Monday. These promotional newsletters and email blasts typically include coupon codes or sale details for their store or website. It may be a good idea to sign up for a few of your favorite retailer's newsletter to ensure you will be included in their holiday promotional efforts. Given the competitive nature of the BBCOR market it's safe to assume retailers will offer aggressive discounts to win sales. With many popular BBCOR models priced above $249.99 waiting until December can save you money! Reason #3 More Feedback on newly released BBCOR Bats One of the best reasons to wait until December to buy your BBCOR bat is the lack of product feedback and reviews currently available. Insightful product reviews can be very helpful when selecting a new bat. Many BBCOR Bats have only been on the market for a few months, and with limited product feedback it's difficult for consumers to make informed decisions. Its fair to assume the longer you can wait the better, as newly released BBCOR bats will have more time to accumulate product reviews. Waiting until December will ensure you have enough product feedback to make the perfect bat purchase. Smart consumers know, it pays to be patient. New product releases, retail promotions and additional product feedback are all great reasons to wait until December to buy your BBCOR baseball bat. About The Author: Ryan Davis is a baseball enthusiast and self proclaimed bat wizard. His website at http://www.bbcorbats.com offers in-depth BBCOR bat reviews, news, price comparisons, videos, products and podcast. Ryan's Free podcast is jam packed with insightful BBCOR information Subscribe for FREE at http://www.bbcorbats.com/bbcor_bats_podcast.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_M_Davis Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6428541

The Care and Cleaning of Your Baseball Glove

By Peter V. John Baseball glove care is often overlooked during the season and the off-season. Many players simply throw their gloves into their bags and walk away. To get the most out of your glove, one must take care of it in season and in the off-season. Here are a few tips for caring for your baseball glove: Keep it clean! Cleaning the glove periodically not only keeps it looking better, but it keeps the pores of the leather clear. Keep your glove dry, wipe off built up dirt with dry cloth. Never soak your glove in water or put it in a microwave oven to dry it off. Keep the glove conditioned with proper baseball glove conditioner. This keeps the glove leather hydrated and supple. After all, a glove's leather was alive at one time. It's skin. While conditioning, you don't need much. Put a small amount of oil on a cloth and lightly rub in and coat the glove. Do not allow oils to soak in as this will cause the leather deteriorate faster. Store a ball in the pocket of the glove. Whether it is in season or off-season, this will help keep the shape of the glove's pocket. Place a baseball or softball in the pocket and tie the glove shut with a rubber band or belt. A regular practice workout of at least 100 good tosses daily will continue to soften the glove and help mold the pocket to your hand. Store the glove in room temperature. Extreme heat will cause it to dry out and become hard. Extreme cold will cause the glove to become hard and not pliable until it warms up. Keeping a baseball glove at a constant room temperature when it is not in use will keep it from deteriorating as quickly. Keep the laces tight. Tighter laces keep the glove in shape. Loose laces are more susceptible to breakage and place tension on other parts of the glove, speeding its breakdown. This can result result in the glove becoming floppy and needing to be replaced sooner than it would otherwise. Quickly replace any frayed or broken laces. Frayed laces will break quickly. Broken laces transfer the tension to other parts of the glove, usually the other laces. Added tensions to these laces cause them to stretch and break quicker. Simply using your glove will keep it in good shape. The more play time your glove experiences, the better it will properly mold to your hand. Once your baseball glove is broken in, it will be ready to serve you for many seasons to come. If you follow these tips, they will help maintain the longevity of your baseball glove and aid in helping you Make the Play! Vinci manufactures a full line of baseball gloves and equipment. Find first baseman mitts, catcher's mitts and more. The Vinci baseball glove break in kit includes a wooden mallet, baseball glove conditioner, rubber bands and a plastic ball. Made for players of any level! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_V._John Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6634755