By Nick Dixon
Baseball Youth Digest: Before you purchase a new pair of baseball cleats, there are certain things that you should know about the baseball shoes. These things are related to how the cleats are made and how to size your new game shoes. This article lists and explains 6 important things that every baseball player, coach, and parent should know about baseball cleats.
Before you buy a new pair of baseball shoes, make sure to read and know the following facts about baseball shoes:
1. You should know the rules that you must comply with as they regard cleat length and kinds of cleats allowed. Some leagues do not allow players to wear metal cleats. The length of your cleats or studs must comply with league and association safety rules. Most leagues have a 1/2 inch length rule. Younger kids should have shorter studs to add stability and prevent turning of the ankles.
2. Molded baseball cleats have studs that are molded of plastic, rubber, or other urethane material. These studs or "cleats" are attached permanently to the sole of the baseball shoe. These molded cleats are usually made to last one season. Rubber molded cleats are recommended for use on hard surfaces. Molded baseball cleats are cheaper than detachable cleats.
3. Detachable baseball cleats have studs that can be removed and replaced with other stud designs. Replacement cleats have considerably less durability than permanent cleats. It is important to frequently check the detachable cleats because a gap between the sole and the stud does exist. Detachable cleats can be used for longer periods of times because the studs can be changed and replaced.
4. Combination baseball cleats use both metal and plastic cleats, as well as cleats of different shapes and lengths. Combination baseball cleats are used in wet and extremely muddy conditions. Combination baseball cleats provide excellent traction and control in slippery turf conditions.
5. Baseball players with speed often size their baseball cleats a 1/2 size smaller than their normal shoe size. Under or tight sizing your baseball shoes 1/2 size keeps the foot snug in the shoe. This snug fit prevents a sliding or slipping motion of the players socked feet inside the shoe when the runner accelerates to steal a base.
6. Make sure to lace your shoe tightly to insure a snug fit. As said before, a snug shoe reacts better to the movement of the foot inside the shoe. Many players are buying shoe designs with Velcro rather than shoe laces. They feel that Velcro can be use to get a tighter "lace up". Velcro also does not come untied like regular shoe strings or laces.
For more great articles on coaching and playing baseball visit the Baseball Coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, Baseball Parent Guide, and the Little League Digest. Good luck to you and your team. Have a great day, Nick
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
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sports Psychology and Baseball Hitting Tips - How and Why to Relax at the Plate
By Jay Granat
The baseball season is about to begin and I already getting calls from parents, players and coaches who are concerned about hitting slumps.
Anyone who has played baseball for any length of time has experienced the frustration of an extended hitting slump. And there are many causes of these performance valleys.
Some of the causes are physical. A breakdown in mechanics, poor balance, poor technique, a moving head, a tight grip on the bat or an injury can contribute to poor performance by baseball players.
Some of the causes of hitting slumps are mental. A batter who has been hit by a pitch can be scared in the batter's box. A player who has been hitting poorly can lose his confidence. A batter who is worried about impressing his coach, his parents or a scout can become quite anxious. A player who is conflict with teammates may find it hard to hit to his potential. Similarly, a player with stress related to his or her life off the field can have difficulty concentrating when he or she steps up to the plate.
Also, it is important to understand that there are many relationships between the mind and the body where hitting a baseball is concerned. For instance, a nervous player is apt to grip the baseball bat too tightly. Likewise, a tense player is apt have difficulty turning on a pitch.
Interestingly, some people believe that our vision gets worse when we are tense and that it improves when we are relaxed.
There are many ways to relax one's mind and one's body before you get up to bat.
Players can learn relaxation techniques, meditation, visualization or self-hypnosis. Some players benefit from listening to music in the dugout or before a game. Others do some aerobics before they take the field as they find that this helps them to relax when they get up to bat.
Tension will work against you at the plate, so it is important that baseball players learn how to get very comfortable when they face the opposing pitcher.
Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com. He is also the author of 101 Ways To Break A Hitting Slump With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis. http://www.stayinthezone.com/shop-stay-in-the-zone.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=21
Dr. Granat can be reached at 888 580-ZONE.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Granat
The baseball season is about to begin and I already getting calls from parents, players and coaches who are concerned about hitting slumps.
Anyone who has played baseball for any length of time has experienced the frustration of an extended hitting slump. And there are many causes of these performance valleys.
Some of the causes are physical. A breakdown in mechanics, poor balance, poor technique, a moving head, a tight grip on the bat or an injury can contribute to poor performance by baseball players.
Some of the causes of hitting slumps are mental. A batter who has been hit by a pitch can be scared in the batter's box. A player who has been hitting poorly can lose his confidence. A batter who is worried about impressing his coach, his parents or a scout can become quite anxious. A player who is conflict with teammates may find it hard to hit to his potential. Similarly, a player with stress related to his or her life off the field can have difficulty concentrating when he or she steps up to the plate.
Also, it is important to understand that there are many relationships between the mind and the body where hitting a baseball is concerned. For instance, a nervous player is apt to grip the baseball bat too tightly. Likewise, a tense player is apt have difficulty turning on a pitch.
Interestingly, some people believe that our vision gets worse when we are tense and that it improves when we are relaxed.
There are many ways to relax one's mind and one's body before you get up to bat.
Players can learn relaxation techniques, meditation, visualization or self-hypnosis. Some players benefit from listening to music in the dugout or before a game. Others do some aerobics before they take the field as they find that this helps them to relax when they get up to bat.
Tension will work against you at the plate, so it is important that baseball players learn how to get very comfortable when they face the opposing pitcher.
Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com. He is also the author of 101 Ways To Break A Hitting Slump With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis. http://www.stayinthezone.com/shop-stay-in-the-zone.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=21
Dr. Granat can be reached at 888 580-ZONE.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Granat
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Is There Such a Thing As Baseball Etiquette?
By Nancy Kelsey Smith
Some people feel that the term "baseball etiquette" is an oxymoron. These are the people who have witnessed some extremely rude and obnoxious behavior on the part of teammates and sometimes even by the coaches. Unfortunately this experience has not been limited to a small number of people, but rather has been evidenced by a great many individuals, myself included.
At a baseball game (or any other type of sporting event for that matter) people can get excited and tend to be a bit more vocal than they would normally be. This, in and of itself, does not have to be a negative. Cheering and encouraging are always a welcome contribution to the game efforts. Even harmless chatter and good natured "ribbing" have their place on the field. What does not have a place in the game is boorish, demeaning and tasteless behavior. Yet all too often this is the type of behavior that is exhibited by players toward members of the opposite team. Unfortunately, this behavior often starts at a young age and escalates over time. Coaches should accept a certain amount of responsibility for the behavior of their teams. In a perfect world each player (no matter their age) would be able to control themselves without the need for outside supervision or correction. We do not live in a perfect world, however, and many young people are growing up without role models and without a proper understanding of correct behavior.
That is when it becomes necessary for the coach of a team to take charge and make certain that his players understand some etiquette.
It is just as unseemly (if not more so) to see adults on a team exhibit behavior that would be more likely to be seen in a street brawl. It becomes offensive to players and spectators alike when abusive language or gestures are permitted without any consequence. The truth is, it takes a lot of the enjoyment out of a game to have to be subjected to such behavior. It shows such a complete lack of respect. Doesn't everyone desire (and deserve) respect. How about the game itself. Shouldn't there be some respect for a game that has been around for hundreds of years and has even long been considered the "great American pastime"?
One would like to think that as we anticipate the arrival of spring and with it, the wonderful season of baseball, we might see an improvement in the behavior of those who participate and those who view the upcoming games.
Nancy Smith is one of the owners of RobbinsSports.com, an online retailer specializing in volleyball nets and basketball backboards.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Kelsey_Smith
Some people feel that the term "baseball etiquette" is an oxymoron. These are the people who have witnessed some extremely rude and obnoxious behavior on the part of teammates and sometimes even by the coaches. Unfortunately this experience has not been limited to a small number of people, but rather has been evidenced by a great many individuals, myself included.
At a baseball game (or any other type of sporting event for that matter) people can get excited and tend to be a bit more vocal than they would normally be. This, in and of itself, does not have to be a negative. Cheering and encouraging are always a welcome contribution to the game efforts. Even harmless chatter and good natured "ribbing" have their place on the field. What does not have a place in the game is boorish, demeaning and tasteless behavior. Yet all too often this is the type of behavior that is exhibited by players toward members of the opposite team. Unfortunately, this behavior often starts at a young age and escalates over time. Coaches should accept a certain amount of responsibility for the behavior of their teams. In a perfect world each player (no matter their age) would be able to control themselves without the need for outside supervision or correction. We do not live in a perfect world, however, and many young people are growing up without role models and without a proper understanding of correct behavior.
That is when it becomes necessary for the coach of a team to take charge and make certain that his players understand some etiquette.
It is just as unseemly (if not more so) to see adults on a team exhibit behavior that would be more likely to be seen in a street brawl. It becomes offensive to players and spectators alike when abusive language or gestures are permitted without any consequence. The truth is, it takes a lot of the enjoyment out of a game to have to be subjected to such behavior. It shows such a complete lack of respect. Doesn't everyone desire (and deserve) respect. How about the game itself. Shouldn't there be some respect for a game that has been around for hundreds of years and has even long been considered the "great American pastime"?
One would like to think that as we anticipate the arrival of spring and with it, the wonderful season of baseball, we might see an improvement in the behavior of those who participate and those who view the upcoming games.
Nancy Smith is one of the owners of RobbinsSports.com, an online retailer specializing in volleyball nets and basketball backboards.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Kelsey_Smith
Monday, March 1, 2010
Baseball Hitting Drills - Teaching Plate Discipline
By Hunter Sendefer
Hitting drills are very important for young players and one of the best hitting drills that a coach can utilize teach plate discipline. It is very important that a hitter learns to have an approach at the plate, rather than simply swinging away at every pitch, so this drill is vital to the hitter's overall makeup.
This drill starts with the screen close enough to the plate that the batting coach pitcher can have excellent control. Each hitter then gets up to ten pitches, although only three strikes will be permitted. Before the hitter steps up to the plate, he or she will be told how many strikes he or she currently has, as this will directly influence how the hitter handles the pitches.
If the hitter is stepping up to the plate with a fresh count, he or she will begin by showing the pitching coach where he or she likes the ball. If the pitch is in the hitter's hitting zone and he or she takes a swing, the pitch count is reduced by one. If the pitch is outside of this hitting zone, but the player still swings, the hitter not only loses that pitch, but one additional pitch. If the pitch is outside of this hitting zone and the player does not swing, the pitch does not count at all. If the pitch is outside of the strike zone altogether and the player swings, however, he or she will lose half of his or her swings remaining.
If there is one strike, the penalty for swinging at a pitch outside the strike zone is less strict, as the player will only lose that pitch plus one more. This is because when there is one strike, pitchers will tend to come after the hitter a little more, which makes these pitches a little harder to lay off.
Finally, when there are two strikes, the hitter's goal is to be as tough an out as possible. If the player swings at a pitch that is in the strike zone, he or she only loses that pitch plus one more. If a pitch that is around the strike zone is taken, it is an additional pitch penalty because umpires tend to call borderline pitches strikes when there are already two strikes. If an obvious strike is taken, that player is done completely because it is never a good idea to take a third strike.
The goal of each hitter turning this drill is to make sure that he or she gets through all ten pitches without striking out. Also make sure that your players know that each strike that you call will be a judgment call, which is exactly how an umpire will make the call. By teaching your players to have an approach at the plate based on the strike count, you can turn them into smarter hitters. You will also be giving them a better idea of where the strike zone is, so they will know which pitches to take and when to take a cut.
Hunter Sendefer is a former player and current youth baseball coach who consistently coaches his teams to the winners column including an active 26 game winning streak. He frequently contributes to http://www.Batting-Trainer.com where you can sign up for free baseball batting videos and hitting tips or learn about the revolutionary new Insider Bat batting trainer. http://www.Batting-Trainer.com/features
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hunter_Sendefer
Hitting drills are very important for young players and one of the best hitting drills that a coach can utilize teach plate discipline. It is very important that a hitter learns to have an approach at the plate, rather than simply swinging away at every pitch, so this drill is vital to the hitter's overall makeup.
This drill starts with the screen close enough to the plate that the batting coach pitcher can have excellent control. Each hitter then gets up to ten pitches, although only three strikes will be permitted. Before the hitter steps up to the plate, he or she will be told how many strikes he or she currently has, as this will directly influence how the hitter handles the pitches.
If the hitter is stepping up to the plate with a fresh count, he or she will begin by showing the pitching coach where he or she likes the ball. If the pitch is in the hitter's hitting zone and he or she takes a swing, the pitch count is reduced by one. If the pitch is outside of this hitting zone, but the player still swings, the hitter not only loses that pitch, but one additional pitch. If the pitch is outside of this hitting zone and the player does not swing, the pitch does not count at all. If the pitch is outside of the strike zone altogether and the player swings, however, he or she will lose half of his or her swings remaining.
If there is one strike, the penalty for swinging at a pitch outside the strike zone is less strict, as the player will only lose that pitch plus one more. This is because when there is one strike, pitchers will tend to come after the hitter a little more, which makes these pitches a little harder to lay off.
Finally, when there are two strikes, the hitter's goal is to be as tough an out as possible. If the player swings at a pitch that is in the strike zone, he or she only loses that pitch plus one more. If a pitch that is around the strike zone is taken, it is an additional pitch penalty because umpires tend to call borderline pitches strikes when there are already two strikes. If an obvious strike is taken, that player is done completely because it is never a good idea to take a third strike.
The goal of each hitter turning this drill is to make sure that he or she gets through all ten pitches without striking out. Also make sure that your players know that each strike that you call will be a judgment call, which is exactly how an umpire will make the call. By teaching your players to have an approach at the plate based on the strike count, you can turn them into smarter hitters. You will also be giving them a better idea of where the strike zone is, so they will know which pitches to take and when to take a cut.
Hunter Sendefer is a former player and current youth baseball coach who consistently coaches his teams to the winners column including an active 26 game winning streak. He frequently contributes to http://www.Batting-Trainer.com where you can sign up for free baseball batting videos and hitting tips or learn about the revolutionary new Insider Bat batting trainer. http://www.Batting-Trainer.com/features
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hunter_Sendefer
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