Youth Baseball Digest - What is on Base Percentage? How is on Base Percentage Calculated?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] On Base Percentage (OBP) is a vital baseball
statistic that tells how effectively a batter is getting his job done at the plate. On baseball percentage is often referred
to the OBP. On Base Percentage is often referred to as the "on base average" or OBA.
Youth Baseball Digest - Good Pitcher Sometimes Can Not Throw a Strike - 10 Things to Check First
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] If you have a young baseball pitcher that
at times looks like a Josh Beckett or Randy Smith and other times he struggles to throw two strikes in a row, what can cause
of his control problems? There are 10 key elements of his delivery that should always be checked first. Those key elements
are outlined in this article.
Baseball Coaching Digest - What Baseball Coaches and Umpires Expect From Each Other
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Baseball coaches and umpires often have
a love/hate relationship. Coaches often make an umpire's job difficult. Umpires sometimes ruin a coach's day with a crucial
call. Coaches expect a high level of professionalism from the umpires in the crew working a game. Umpires expect a high level
of professionalism from the coaches of both teams. Here I outline 5 things coaches expect of umpires and 5 things umpires
expect of coaches.
Youth Baseball Digest - How to Calculate Your Batting Average
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Individual and team batting averages are
one of the best indicators of how effective your practice drills and game preparation is. Batting average is a simple 3 digit
number that expresses how often a batter has gotten a hit for the total number of at-bats. There is a simple formula used
to determine your batting average. This articles clearly explains how your average is calculated.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Baseball Strategy - What is the 5 Infielder Defense? When is it Used?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Utilizing a 5 infielder defense is a rare
strategic move used by coaches of the visiting team when the home team is in their last at-bat and the winning run is on third.
Though it is extremely rare to see this strategy employed, it is a defensive strategy that every baseball coach should know
about. What is the 5 Infielder Defense? When is it used. That is the focus of this article.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Home Batting Cages - Two Misbeliefs Concerning Baseball Batting Cage
Use
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Two Batting Cage Myths that are simply not
true are (1) A Batting Cage must be long for it to be usable for all ages and (2) A batter must see 75 mph pitches to receive
maximum benefit from cage work. This article discusses how many batting cage buyers are mistaken or misled in buying or building
a new baseball batting cage.
Yankee Derek Jeter - All Baseball Players and Coaches Can Learn From His Mental Approach to the
Game
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Derek Jeter's mental approach to baseball
is one that every player, coach and parent should take notice of. He is a true American Sports Hero yet he does not consider
himself bigger than the game itself. His words and quotes reflect his attitude, his commitment, and his love of the game.
What can all baseball coaches learn from Derek Jeter's mental approach to the game? He is one of the most "decorated" Major
League baseball players in the past decade. But, more impressive than his talent is his ability to keep the game in proper
perspective mentally. He is humble. He knows how important the game is to him. He appreciates the opportunity he has to play
the game and he considers it an honor to wear the pin stripes. In this article I present Derek Jeter quotes that I feel reflect
how every player should approach the mental part of the game.
Youth Baseball Digest - 7 Characteristics of Successful Little League Baseball Coaches
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] 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.
Baseball Coaching Digest - 10 Recommended Safety Tips For Making Pitching Machine Use Safer
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] It is important that all coaches and parents
that use a pitching machine with players know the dangers involved. There are definite safety precautions that should be observed
to insure the safety of all players, coaches and parents during pitching machine use. This article outlines 10 safety tips
that teams and families should remember to follow to insure that no injuries occur during the use of a pitching machine.
Youth Baseball Digest - What is a Hitting Spray Chart? How is a Spray Chart Used?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] A hitting spray chart is a scouting chart
showing where opposing hitters have hit the baseball in previous at-bats. The Spray chart is used to help a defensive team
determine how to pitch an opposing hitter and how to set the defense for that particular player. This article covers the basics
on how to make your own spray chart and how to use it to give your team an advantage.
Youth Baseball Digest - 4 Important Factors That Can Help New Little League Coaches Be Successful
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Coaching Little league is a great way for
baseball and softball players to give back to your community. Every baseball player remembers his first t-ball coach, coach
pitch coach, little league coach, and high school coach. Baseball coaches have a profound effect on the lives of the players
they coach.
Youth Baseball Digest - 5 Safety Rules That Must Be Followed by Every Little League Team
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Player and coach safety must be the concern
of every Little League Baseball Coach. All youth baseball coaches must establish certain team rules to insure the safety of
both the players and the coaches. There are 5 basic safety rules that help protect players are coaches. This article outlines
each of those 5 safety rules.
Youth Baseball Digest - What Constitutes a Productive At-Bat? What Makes an Out a Productive Out?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Having players go to the plate and have
quality at-bats and productive outs are the keys to offensive success in baseball. We do not like wasted outs. In youth baseball,
you team is allowed only to get 18 or 21 depending on your leagues rules.
Baseball Coaching Digest - When Can a Pitcher Throw to an Unoccupied Base Without Balking?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] The answer to this often debated question
is yes. The pitcher is allowed to throw to an unoccupied base if a runner is making an attempt to reach that base. The pitcher
does not have to step off or clear the runner to make this throw. Here I explain the situation and the rules that apply.
Baseball Coaching Digest - The 4 Key Elements That Help a Batter Hit a Baseball With More Power
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Every baseball player loves to hit the ball
hard and far. The power required to hit the baseball deep comes from the generation of maximum bat speed. The generation of
bat speed is created by the correct use of the lower body, hips and hands. Four key elements are required to make the batting
swing more powerful. This article outlines and explains those key elements.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Batting Flaw - Young Batter Has Started Popping Up Every Time He Bats
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] It can be very frustrating to have a talented
young batter go into a mid season slump. This is going to happen to at least one or two players on every youth baseball team
in America this summer.
Baseball Coaching Digest - 3 Common Mistakes Made by Parents When Buying a New Baseball Bat
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] The 3 biggest mistakes parents make when
they buy a new baseball bat are: 1) Buying a Bat that is Not Appropriate, 2) Buying a Bat with the Wrong Intentions, and 3)
Buying a Bat That is Illegal. I will now explain each of these mistakes. I will now offer explanations of how these mistakes
are made. And I will tell how each of these mistakes can be prevented.
The Five Elements of the Major League Little League Baseball Swing
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] There is nothing more beautiful in sports
than when a "major league" swing whether it be at the tee ball, little league, high school, college or Major League Baseball
level of play. A "major league" swing is what I consider to be a perfectly executed swing.
3 Strength Building Drills to Make Your Baseball Bat the Most Powerful in Your Baseball League
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] These 3 batting drills should be a part
of every serious baseball players daily batting practice routine. These hitting drills are well known and recognized for increasing
bat speed and power. If you use these three strength building drills regularly, they to make your baseball bat the most powerful
in your baseball league. These drills should be done regularly during the off season.
Baseball Coaching Digest - 6 Basic Rules Tee Ball Players Should Learn to Insure Their Safety
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Tee Ball is the very first experience that
most baseball players have with the game of baseball. There are physical skills that must be learned. There are mental aspects
of the game that must be learned. But, there is no more important elements of the game that a player must learn than the basic
rules of the game that provide safety and protection for the players, coaches and umpires involved.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Baseball Rules - Understanding the "Infield Fly" Rule
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] The "In-field Fly" rule is one of the most
intimidating, confusing, and misunderstood rules in baseball. The rule is often a point of controversy among coaches, players
and spectators watching the game. Many ask, "Why do we have the 'In-field" fly rule? When does the "In-field Fly" baseball
rule apply? Here I outline the reason for this rule of baseball, the situations under which this baseball rule applies, and
other information to help you better have a better understanding of it.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Young Batter Hits Great in Practice But Struggles at the Plate in Games
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] One of the most frustrating and often puzzling
things to witness in youth baseball coaching is "game time" failure that was totally unexpected.. We have all seen it happen
at one time or another. You have a player that absolutely rips the ball in batting practice but looks horrible at the plate
whenever he bats. Before the games started the player was expected to be one of the best hitters on the team. But, when season
starts and the games begin he is absolutely terrible at the plate. I am assuming that the batter has a swing that is mechanically
sound.
Baseball Coaching Digest - The Swing Looks Perfect But the Batter Always Hits a Weak Ground Ball
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] We have all seen this scenario. The batter
has above average bat speed, above average hitting skill and is always extremely aggressive at the plate, but is simply not
getting on base. The swing looks great but weak or poor contact is made. The batter is in a serious hitting slump.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Survey Results - The Top 10 Worst Parent Excuses of All Time
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] The word "excuse" is a bad word to most
coaches. A parent excuse is a reason given by a parent to explain or justify their son's poor performance, tardiness, or inappropriate
behavior. Coaches really would prefer that someone simply say they were wrong or give a legitimate reason rather than a ridiculous
excuse. The Baseball 2Day Coaching Journal surveyed baseball coaches. One of the questions was "What is the worst excuse you
ever heard from a parents? Here are the top 10 worst parent excuses of all time.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Can You Name 20 Ways to Score From Third Base?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] How many ways can you think of that a runner
can score from third base. I am a firm believer in the strategy of getting the runner to third with less than two outs any
way you can. Below, I have listed 23 ways of scoring a runner from third base that do not score the same runner from second
base.
Coaching Baseball - The Importance of Teaching Batters to Hit the Ball Where it is Pitched
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Great hitters at all levels share one common
skill. They know when and how to attack every pitch location. Great hitters read and react to every possible pitch location.
If you watched the 2008 Baseball College World Series, you quickly realized that great college hitters can catch up to any
fastball regardless of the velocity. You also saw college baseball batters that apply and execute one of the most important
and basic skills of hitting a baseball, the skill of "hitting the ball where it is pitched".
Coaching Youth Baseball - Things to Say During the Game to Build a Batters Confidence at the Plate
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] In coach pitch baseball and youth baseball
the batters are getting their first experience at hitting live pitching. Here are few things that youth baseball coaches should
say to youth baseball batters during an at-bat. These communications are most often conveyed to the better by the 3rd base
coach.
Baseball Coaching Digest - The Catcher, Your PR Player
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] This article explains one of the most important
roles that your catcher will play in every game. The role is that of being the team's public relations representative with
the umpire staff. The catcher's attitude and behavior can have a huge effect on an umpire's attitude.
Coaching Youth Baseball - 25 Common Baseball Terms and the Meaning of Each
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Coaching Little League or Youth Baseball
requires a good knowledge of the game. Many good youth baseball coaches have never played the game before. They make it their
mission to study and learn the game. This article presents a list of 25 common baseball coaching terms and gives the meaning
of each.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Base Running Basics
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] There are certain base running rules that
every base runner should learn. Here is each base and basic rules that players should know about each.
Youth Baseball Coaching - 8 Elements of a Super Baseball Swing
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] The perfect baseball swing is a thing of
beauty. There are few movements and actions in sports that are practice more often than the baseball swing. Players take thousands
and thousands of practice swing during a season. The key to game swing quality is practice swing quality. There are certain
basic rules that every batter should remember when taking a swing in practice and games.
3 Things Every Tee Ball Baseball Batter Must Be Taught When First Learning to Hit
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] It is important that very young baseball
players receive proper instruction in baseball hitting mechanics. Young baseball players benefit greatly from top quality
instruction and teaching that is easy to understand, simple to execute, and consistent from one lesson to another.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Trick Play Alert - Fake Time Call by the Batter
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Article discusses the Fake Time Call trick
play used by baseball teams to disrupt the motion and concentration of young baseball pitchers. Coaches should warn their
pitchers, particularly young pitchers, not to fall victim to this trick play and underhanded play used by some teams to draw
a balk.
Coaching Baseball - Four Valuable Coaching Tools That Every Baseball Coach Should Own
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] This article is about 4 relatively inexpensive
components that are valuable baseball coaching tools that are available in your favorite mass merchant store. I feel that
these components should be in the carry bag of every baseball coach at every level of play.
Baseball - First & Third Double Steal Defensive Strategy
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] The "First and Third Double Steal" situation
is when the batting team has a base runner at first base and a base runner at third base. Often times the offensive teams
will put on a base running play to attempt and confuse, fool, or trick the defensive team into making a mistake that will
cost them a run.
Coaching Baseball - Bunting - How to Execute the Sacrifice Bunt
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Bunting is a skill that must be learned
and practiced on a regular basis. It is often one of the most neglected aspects of a team's offensive strategy. There are
various techniques of bunting and each should be taught and practiced. This article discusses 10 coaching points of teaching
players how to execute a sacrifice bunt.
Baseball Coaching Digest - Deep Lead in the Outfield Base Running Play
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] This offensive play is called "Deep Lead
in Right Field". The play is run when a team has base runners at 1st base and 3rd base. The play is used to put pressure on
the defensive team in an attempt to force an error that will allow the runner at 3rd base to core.
Coaching Little League Baseball - Bad Habits Make For Bad Coaching
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] 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
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] 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
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] 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
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] 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
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] 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
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] 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.