Tips for the First Time Baseball Coach

By Melvin J Mudgett

Dads and moms who've just volunteered for their child's baseball team may be a little lost in the beginning. It's important to have a game plan. As a first time coach you may be a little nervous; but if you are prepared, you will feel more comfortable. You'll need to know the rules of the game, the basic fundamentals and how to teach them to your players. You must decide how to schedule your practices with drills and skills your team needs to know. You will also want to hold strategy meetings on how you want your team to play the game of baseball.

The first thing you should do is explore all avenues of information. The internet is a valuable resource. You can find whatever information you need on almost any subject. The library is another great resource for your informational needs. Most librarians are very knowledgeable and willing to help you find the perfect materials to assist you. Also, it doesn't hurt to get advice from other coaches. What greater resource can you get than someone who has done it before.

Remember, be prepared and have your own game plan. The more you know the game and rules the better you can teach your players. Make it easy to understand how to play. Begin with the basics and work from there. Discuss the rules and how important they are to the game. Make your expectations of the players clear.

Teach the basic baseball fundamentals first. That is where it all starts. Have specific drills that will develop your players catching, throwing, and hitting. While doing drills, you can analyze your players abilities and put them in the best positions for the team.

Plan your week of practices. Set up your practices ahead of time. Be sure to check the calendar. Take into consideration holidays and other events that may conflict with scheduled practices. Plan your practices with specific drills you want your players to get better at. As a coach, your job is to help each player advance their skills.

Don't forget to teach sportsmanship. Learning to win and lose with good sportsmanship is important. Having fun is one of the essentials in developing your players. If they are having fun at what they are doing, the interest will remain high. Playing as a team should also be taught. Learning these lessons will prepare them for the game of baseball and of life as well.

These are some basic baseball tips to get you started. You need to be as prepared as you would want your team to be. You are the coach. Your players look up to you for guidance, instructions, and structure. They all want to win, along with you. Your coaching confidence will grow stronger if you have a game plan.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7493287

Baseball Positions: Right Fielder Is The Best

By David J Weller

Right field is the best position on the baseball field. The right fielder has one of the strongest arms on the team. That strong arm combined with smart play can stop rallies. Right fielders also tend to hit for power, which gives them another way to affect a game. One aspect to right fielders that is often overlooked is their responsibilities for backing up throws.

A right fielder needs a strong arm. Some of the longest throws are from the right field corner to third base and from the right-center field wall to home plate. Having a reputation for a strong arm will keep runners from taking an extra base.

A right fielder that has a strong arm and is good at getting to the ball can stop rallies before they begin. Getting to the ball quickly will prevent a runner from going first to third on a base hit. If the runner does go, a strong throw will get him out at third. In one case, there are runners at first and second and the double play is still possible. In the other case, there is one more out and just a runner at second. Without a good right fielder, there are probably runners at second and third.

Right fielders also tend to hit for power. They hit home runs and drive in a lot of runs. This takes pressure off of the pitchers and the defense.

Another very important job for the right fielder is backing up throws. Any throw from in front of the pitcher to the first baseman is backed up by the right fielder. Also, any throw from third base or shortstop to second base is backed up by the right fielder. If any of these throws gets by the fielder, the right fielder gets to it and prevents the runners from taking extra bases.

So there you have it. Right field is the best position to play. Right fielders put an end to the opponent's rallies and produce rallies for their own team. They also back up certain throws and limit the damage of errant throws.

If you are a right fielder, you are in company with baseball greats such as: Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Roger Maris, Roberto Clemente, Tony Gwynn, Reggie Jackson, Frank Robinson, Ichiro Suzuki, Cory Hart, and Justin Upton. There are four right fielders in the top 13 all time home run leaders. It was a right fielder that held the single season home run mark from 1919 until 1998. An impressive feat, indeed!

This is part of a series of articles explaining why each position on the baseball field is the best. This series is aimed towards coaches at all levels. It is my belief that every position is important, and they each need players with different strengths. It is my hope that coaches can use this series to help inspire a love for the game of baseball.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7493788

Baseball Positions: Center Fielder Is The Best

By David J Weller

Center field is the best position on the baseball field. They cover the most ground. To do that, the center fielder needs a lot of speed. This speed translates very well to offense. The center fielder is also the captain of the outfielders.

Center fielders cover a lot of ground. They must patrol center field and both the left-center field and right-center field gaps. They need to get a good jump on the ball off the bat in order to cover that much ground. Good ones will turn singles into outs and extra-base hits into singles.

A center fielder's speed is crucial. It can mean the difference between a great play and a ball in the gap. They don't just use their speed on defense either. On offense, speed can help beat out a ground ball, take an extra base, or steal a base. All of these things lead to more runs scoring.

On top of their speed and quickness, a center fielder needs a good throwing arm. They will often be making throws from the gaps to home plate. These are some of the longer throws on the field. Because of the combination of speed and strong arm, young center fielders tend to be among the best athletes on their team.

Center fielders also need to be smart. They are the captains of the outfield. They help position the other outfielders and communicate with them to avoid collisions. On a fly ball, if they call for it, it is their ball. Everybody else yields to the center fielder.

So there you have it. Center field is the best position to play. Center fielders get to cover the most ground, using their speed and strong arms to shut down opposing offenses. They also have speed on the base paths that can create rallies by taking extra bases or stealing a base. And they are the captains of the outfield.

If you are a center fielder, you are in company with baseball greats such as: Ty Cobb (the all-time batting average king and fourth on the all-time stolen base list), Joe DiMaggio (56 game hitting streak), Hack Wilson (single season record 191 RBIs), Mickey Mantle (20 time all-star and triple crown winner), Willie Mays (24 time all-star), and Robin Yount (most hits in the 1980s). More recently, center field has been Jim Edmonds, Torii Hunger, Andrew McCutchen, and Mike Trout.

This is part of a series of articles explaining why each position on the baseball field is the best. This series is aimed towards coaches at all levels. It is my belief that every position is important, and they each need players with different strengths.

This is part of a series of articles explaining why each position on the baseball field is the best. This series is aimed towards coaches at all levels. It is my belief that every position is important, and they each need players with different strengths. It is my hope that coaches can use this series to help inspire a love for the game of baseball.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7493799

Baseball Positions: Catcher Is the Best

By David J Weller

Catcher is the best position on the baseball field. Catchers are in command of the defense. They are the ones that work with the pitchers. Catchers keep runners from taking extra bases. They also have a keen understanding of the game.

Catchers are in command of the defense. They are the only players that have a view of the entire field in front of them. They can see all of the runners, all of the defenders, and the ball. This view helps the catcher direct where to throw the ball.

Catchers work with the pitchers. They are the ones that call the pitches. They decide what pitches have been working, which ones will work against this hitter, and what location the pitcher should aim for. Catchers keep the pitchers in the zone. When the pitcher needs a breather, the catcher goes out to the mound to talk to the pitcher. A good catcher can bring out the best in a pitcher.

Catchers keep runners from taking extra bases. They do this in many ways. First of all, on a base hit, the catcher calls for the fielder to throw to certain bases in order to keep runners from advancing. Once a runner is on, the catcher blocks bad pitches and keeps the ball in front of them, thus keeping the runner from taking another base. And finally, the catcher throws out runners attempting to steal bases. All of these things make it harder for the opponent to score.

Catchers have a very good understanding of the game. They know the different game situations and how to handle them. They know where the defense should play against different hitters in different situations. Catchers understand the strengths and weaknesses of their pitchers, their defense, and the other team's hitters. They use this understanding to create opportunities for their team. Because of this understanding, many catchers make good managers after their career is over.

So there you have it. Catcher is the best position to play. They are the captain of the defense. Catchers work with the pitchers to bring out the best in them. They keep runners from taking extra bases, which makes it harder for the other team to score. And they use their knowledge of the game to help their team win ball games.

If you are a catcher, you are in company with baseball greats such as: Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Ted Simmons, Gary Carter, Tony Peña, Ivan Rodriguez, the Molina brothers (Bengie, Jose, and Yadier), Jonathan Lucroy, Buster Posey, and Joe Mauer.

Here are some former catchers who managed in the Major Leagues: Bruce Bochy, Bob Boone, Yogi Berra, Ned Yost, Joe Girardi, Mike Scioscia, Joe Torre, Mike Matheny, Joe Madden, and Jim Leyland. All four of the managers of the 2012 Championship series (Bochy, Girardi, Leyland, Matheny) were catchers.

This is part of a series of articles explaining why each position on the baseball field is the best. This series is aimed towards coaches at all levels. It is my belief that every position is important, and they each need players with different strengths.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7509784