Composite bats

From Little League

November 29, 2010

Dear Little League Parents and Volunteers,

With the holiday shopping season upon us, we want to remind all that we are in the midst of a research effort with the University of Massachusetts (Lowell) to determine whether or not a moratorium will be placed on the use of composite 2¼-inch barreled baseball bats in the Little League Majors Division and below. We have already placed a moratorium on composite bats in the Junior League Baseball, Senior League Baseball, and Big League Baseball Divisions.

We anticipate making a decision on the use of composite 2¼-inch barreled baseball bats by Jan. 1, 2011, as promised in earlier communications on this subject.

Information on the moratorium on composite bats in the Junior League Baseball, Senior League Baseball, and Big League Baseball Divisions, as well as information on specific models of composite bats that have received a waiver of that moratorium, can be found here: http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2010/Sep-Dec/StatementFromLLCompositeBats.htm

We encourage local league officials to provide this message to parents and volunteers in the local league.

Sincerely,
Little League International

Don't forget to visit our Amazon store for Christmas!!  

Amazon Store for your xmas shopping!

Just for the holidays I have updated the Youth Baseball Store on Amazon.  Instead of just baseball items, I've added the Electronics and All Sports categories.

http://astore.amazon.com/renobaseballblog-20

Please pay us a visit and scoop up some great deals (like 20% off a Kindle!)

Baseball Savings Holiday sale!

BaseballSavings.com has some really awesome deals.  I'm picking up a bat at more than 60% off!

Reebok Sale! Vector O Baseball Bats...Orig $320.00, Now $99.98! Reebok Vector O Comp/Alloy Baseball Bats feature:
• VR950 alloy/composite offers unequalled power and performance
• Threaded Locking System creates one of the stiffest handles in today's game
• Shot-peened anodized barrel surface finish for extraordinary toughness
• Strategically placed O-Ports reduce drag when you swing
• Rbk tackified grip provides exceptional control and comfort
• Extended barrel profile maximizes the hitting area
• Vector Texin™ end cap for phenomenal durability
• 2¾" barrel
• 1-Year Warranty 

Training Bats

I have been researching different training products and was reviewing the MP28 youth training bat from www.theswingmechanic.com 

Not being a teaching professional I was curious as to exactly what the purpose was.  I read the site and got the general idea, but unlike the insider bat and other tools, didn't really see the function of the thick grip.  So I turned to a professional that I knew would give me the straight answer.

Chris Corso of Sandlot Stiks.  Here is my question and Chris' excellent response...

"Chris, I wanted to ask your opinion of that MP30 or MP28 bat / hitting training aid. http://www.theswingmechanic.com/  Seems it's just a heavy thick handled shorter wood bat.  What would they be trying to teach with that?"

Admittedly, this was kind of a direct question and I should probably work on my question forming...  And here is Chris' answer.

Hi Pat,

Good to hear from you.  I checked out the training bat you forwarded to me.  This is a very common thing among baseball players in college and pro levels.  Basically the short design forces you to make contact further back instead of reaching for pitches and the inertia of the heavier bat forces more complete follow through.  It trains the hitter to let the ball get deep and make contact at the proper point of the swing and to finish the swing after contact.   I don't think the Thick handle adds much of anything to the design.  Every player has a different hand size and grip which makes them who they are as a hitter.  The concept is nothing new...Mattingly bats has the same thing and louisville slugger makes the P89 28" trainer for the same purpose. 

At least what they are making is a specific product which is truthful in what it accomplishes.  The key thing to remember with any training product is this.. 

Without proper instruction of how to use it and proper mechanics and training most products are useless.  The best training aid is a solid wood bat constructed of good timber and made to a size which the hitter can handle with a weight drop of minus 3 or lower.  All the other products should be evaluated and those with practical purposes should be used to compliment the wood bat. 

Here is a list of what I consider useful training bats... 

Small diameter barrel - full length and weight wood bat such as our Pea Shooter - to help narrow the center of the hitting surface creating better hand eye coordination.

One hand bats of various lengths for different age groups and size players - For training the individual arm swing path

Sweet spot bats to help isolate the perfect hitting area on the bat

Bunt bat - To help isolate the bunting surface and for proper hand positioning ( Can be done with a regular wood bat as well )

Heavy full size bats to help increase strength and bat speed 

Short two hand bat such as the one you found or the Mattingly or Louisville bats

Everything else is mechanical or mental and needs to be optimized through professional training in order for any of the products to have a purposeful use. 

Hope this answered your question and gives a little more insight to the reality of most training aids. 

If you have any other questions feel free to ask and I'll give you the best answer I can.

Regards,

Chris Corso

Sandlot Stiks

CEO 

GameChanger and Little League team up.

http://www.gamechanger.io/about/littleleague

Back in January I was getting ready for the 2010 season and downloaded GameChanger.  Wrote about it here.  Still available for free and once you get used to it, a great tool.  It was hard to keep up with the lineup changes in Little League, but if you know that going in, you can drag and drop players.

Well Game Changer have teamed up with Little League and branded the same product.  They also added the "viewer" function as it's own app so you don't have to go to the web for your little Johnny's updates!

For iPhone/iPod users.  Who keep score for their managers or just themselves,  I highly recommend the product!

Great banner from webpage

Check out the header image on www.backbackback.com  (Associated with Parker Training).

Check out the commonality of all these shots.  Really emphasizes the power V of the back arm taught in rotational hitting.  Pujols was fooled on that pitch, but still keeps most of his form.    You can quickly show this image and explain how a long arm swing is slower and generates less power.

   

Love quick drills

As a parent and coach, I constantly look for quick, simple to implement drills that can quickly correct common mistakes.

I just came across one on Jack Perconte's site www.jackperconte.com.  Here's Jack's quick bio from his site

 "Jack Perconte played professional baseball for 12 years and compiled a .270 lifetime major league batting average. Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jack also played for the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. Jack grew up in Joliet, Illinois and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Murray State University."

This is a great tip for the teaching of keeping your hands inside the ball.  Easily executed and anyone can teach.  Perfect!

Helping a Player

Hi Jack, 

     I stumbled on your website and thought it was excellent.  My son is 9 and has always been a good hitter.  This year he is hitting the ball hard but always grounders to shortstop.  He can't get the ball on a line or in the air and is getting frustrated.  Any drills or suggestions to help him would be appreciated.  Thanks, 

Jack’s Response

     This is a trick question and answer because most people think that ground balls are from hitting down (chopping) at the ball. In reality, most ground balls are hit because the hitter’s bat is coming up and continually hitting the top portion of the ball, thereby producing ground balls. It is important to note that very few hitters actually chop at the ball. Some hitters give the appearance of chopping when their front elbow flies up, leaving the bat to trail and then having to roll their wrists early to hit the ball.     Two things can solve the problem:

     First, place the player’s fielder’s glove under their lead armpit and set the ball on a batting tee at the knee high level. Have player swing repeatedly until they can hit the ball solidly in the air with the fielder’s glove flying out after contact is made. This drill will force hitters to take their hands to the ball and give them a nice high follow through on their swing, eliminating many of the constant ground balls.     Second, lower the hitter’s hands and widen their stance so they have a better chance of getting to the bottom of the ball and not the top as when they are hitting ground balls.

Please visit Jack's site and get his book, subscribe to RSS feeds, and ask questions!

50-70 leagues for 2011

From Little League corporate..

"50-70 Pilot Program to be Offered Again in 2011

By Communications Division
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
September 27, 2010

Little League International has completed its assessment of the 50-70 Pilot Program that was made available to local leagues beginning in January 2010, and will offer more options for local leagues in 2011.

“By all accounts, the program was successful,” Patrick Wilson, Vice President of Operations at Little League International, said. “Survey results overwhelmingly showed that many local leagues that participated embraced the concept of a division of play that provides a bridge between the standard Little League Baseball field and a conventional baseball field.”

For the 2011 season, the 50-70 Pilot Program will be revised and expanded, based on the input from local league and district volunteers.

Each local league will have a choice to offer the 50-70 Pilot Program in one of the following age groups for baseball:

“Transitional” 50-70 Pilot Program for 12-13 Year-Olds

Uses Junior League Baseball Rules and Regulations, with the exception that age groups are limited to 12-13 only.
“Supplemental” 50-70 Pilot Program for 11-12 Year-Olds

Uses Junior League Baseball Rules and Regulations, with these exceptions: 1. Age groups are limited to 11-12 only, and; 2. Bats must meet the specifications for bats in the 12-and-under divisions.
A local league could choose to offer both of the above pilot programs, but not in combination. In other words, 11-year-olds and 13-year-olds could not be in the same 50-70 Pilot Program.

The Application for Charter/Insurance Enrollment Form for 2011 will not include a space where the local league can list the number of 50-70 Pilot Program teams. To add teams to the league’s charter, the local League President should simply go to: http://www.LittleLeague.org/50-70

If a league chooses to operate a 50-70 Pilot Program, it MUST open the opportunity to try out to ANY child who is of the appropriate league age above, and who has residence within the league’s boundaries. The league also should publicly announce the opportunity to register for the 50-70 Pilot Program, in the same manner that it publicizes registration for other programs.

Here are the stipulations that apply to each age group with regard to participation in the 50-70 Pilot Program in 2011:

Any 13-year-old who participates in one or more games in the 50-70 Pilot Program for 12-13 Year-Olds:

May also participate in the Junior League Division during the Regular Season.
Will be eligible for selection to the Junior League Division Tournament Team if he/she participates in at least 60 percent of the Regular Season games in either the 50-70 Pilot Program for 12-13 Year-Olds or the Junior League Division, as of June 15.
Any 12-year-old who participates in one or more games in the 50-70 Pilot Program for 12-13 Year-Olds:

May also participate in the Junior League Division during the Regular Season.
Will be eligible for selection to the Junior League Division Tournament Team if he/she participates in at least 60 percent of the Regular Season games in either the 50-70 Pilot Program for 12-13 Year-Olds or the Junior League Division, as of June 15. Note: A 12-year-old player who participates for one or more games during the Regular Season in the Junior League Division is not eligible for selection to the Little League (Major) Division Tournament Team.
Will be eligible for selection to the Little League (Major) Division Tournament Team ONLY if he/she participates in at least 60 percent of the Regular Season games in the Little League (Major) Division. (See note above.)
Any 12-year-old who participates in one or more games in the 50-70 Pilot Program for 11-12 Year-Olds:

May also participate in the Little League (Majors) Division during the Regular Season.
Will be eligible for selection to the Little League (Majors) Division Tournament Team if he/she participates in at least 60 percent of the Regular Season games in the Little League (Majors) Division, as of June 15. (Participation in the Pilot Program does not count toward this.)
May also participate in the Junior League Division during the Regular Season, but by doing so would no longer be eligible after that point in the Little League (Majors) Division. Such a player would be eligible only for selection to the Junior League Division Tournament Team (not Majors), and only if he/she participated for at least 60 percent of the Regular Season games in the Junior League Division.
Any 11-year-old who participates in the 50-70 Pilot Program for 11-12 Year-Olds:

May also participate in the Little League (Majors) Division, or the Minor League Division, during the Regular Season.
Will be eligible for selection to the Little League (Majors) Division Tournament Team if he/she participates in at least 60 percent of the Regular Season games in the Little League (Majors) Division. (Participation in the Pilot Program does not count toward this.)
Will be eligible for selection to the 10-11-Year-Old Tournament Team if he/she participates in at least 60 percent of the Regular Season games in the Little League (Majors) Division or the Minor League Division. (Participation in the Pilot Program does not count toward this.)
Field Availability

One of the most common challenges in establishing a 50-70 Pilot Program in 2010 related to field space. Many said they do not have a field in their boundaries that could accommodate a 50-70 division.

However, they may not realize that the field is not required to be inside the league’s boundaries to be usable. For instance, if only one field is converted to 50-70 play in a given area, any chartered Little League could use that field to play 50-70 games, provided certain conditions are met as noted below.

The field does not need to be owned or operated by the local Little League. As long as the field meets Little League standards, the owner of the field permits the use, and the local Little League Board of Directors approves the use of the field, it’s acceptable. (In this case, Little League accident insurance would be in force. The owner of the field may ask to be named as an additional insured on the liability policy, but this is not required by Little League International.)

That would allow, for instance, some or all of the leagues in a given district to charter for the 50-70 Pilot Program in 2011, and play those games on a single field.

Another solution may be to convert an existing “standard” Little League field (a field with 46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths) to a 50-70 field, but to allow that field to be used for BOTH divisions.

Such a conversion is possible. Little League International has provided a step-by-step tutorial on converting a field for dual use. It can be downloaded at: Converting a Field For Dual Use

Of course, a local league also can convert a conventional baseball field to the smaller 50-70 size. However, doing so would require two separate pitching mounds. (A portable pitching mound can be used in regular season, but not tournament play.)

Other Conditions

Leagues will be allowed to operate under interleague play and combined teams. However, players will only be eligible for tournament in the league where they reside. A combination involving teams from the “Transitional” 50-70 Pilot Program for 12-13-Year-Olds and the “Supplemental” 50-70 Pilot Program for 11-12-Year-Olds is not permitted.
Leagues will be allowed to structure the 50-70 Pilot Program so that their typical season is conducted, for example, on Monday through Friday. Then on Saturday and/or Sunday, leagues could offer the pilot program to players who wish to participate. All pitching guidelines apply. (Regulation VI.) Pitchers will follow proper day rest by age to determine pitching eligibility.
Participating leagues (and districts with participating leagues) will be permitted to organize tournaments using a Special Games Request Form for players in the 50-70 Pilot Program. Players may participate in both Special Games and the International Tournament under guidelines established in the Baseball Rulebook.
The 50-70 Pilot Program will not include an International Tournament element in 2011. However, as noted above, leagues and districts may organize Special Games tournaments if approved.
The fence distance in the 50-70 Pilot Program is up to the local league to decide. It is recommended that the distance be at least 200 feet, but not more than 300 feet.
In the 50-70 Pilot Program, the height of the pitcher’s plate, in relation to the level of home plate, is eight inches.
The maximum diameter of bats in the “Transitional” 50-70 Pilot Program for 12-13-Year-Olds cannot exceed 2 5/8 inches. The maximum diameter for bats in the “Supplemental” 50-70 Pilot Program for 11-12-Year-Olds cannot exceed 2 1/4 inches."

How to drive through the ball.

This is one of the better explanations I've seen on how to drive through the ball. I've always taken baby steps with my teaching. Kid who arm swings, teach how to swivel the hips. Long swing, hands inside the ball as your hips rotate.  Knowing full well that they really need long term training with proper technique. 

Here is a video that explains how to rotate, when to, and why.

Never too early to be healthy

If you want to succeed in life and sports, you've got to be aware of what you eat, when you eat and the results of your actions.

One free way to get great tips on workouts and diet is to visit Mark Sisson author of the Primal Blueprint.

Ball Drop Drill

I love this drill. You can't have a long swing and make contact. Forces the hips to rotate and hands through the zone.




There is a backyard / solo tool for this from the Mauers. Mauer Quicksting.

Welcome p01 Baseball!!

From their page..
"
ATTENTION BASEBALL COACHES!

Discover the most comprehensive baseball training program ever created. Visualize what it would be like to have all the secrets of the top coaches from around the country inside of one DVD program. The program was designed by coaches with over 30 years of instructional experience. As you continue to read you’ll discover that the program can be utilized by athletes of all ages to gain that competitive edge!! P01 Baseball: Pre-Practice and game program design, speed and agility, position specific drills, hitting system, strength training and much more!!

ATTENTION BASEBALL PLAYERS!

Whether sprinting to first, reacting to a ground ball, developing proper swing mechanics, enhancing hand eye coordination or improving position play this is the program you have been waiting for!! Any athlete from youth baseball all the way to the major leagues can benefit from the program. P01 Baseball training presents the most complete resource with everything from performance enhancement to hitting instruction and hundreds of baseball tips from the pros. These All-Star drills will develop your game to the next level!!
"

This looks pretty comprehensive and I'm excited to try them out.  I love these training drills.  My kid is only 10 but we do them together and it's a blast!

Visit them and check out their specials!

Super 8 Hitting system

Anyone have this?  Comfortable enough to write a review?  I'll post it and link to your site for any submission, or just leave it in the comments with your URL.

"
This weekend only, I'm giving YOU the keys to my private
"inner circle" private membership club that you can access
right now. You will have access 24/7 to my members only
club.
All you have to do is get one of our hitting packages (listed below), and you
will instantly gain access to our inner circle membership club at no charge.
But first, I'm giving you up to $261 worth of video
instruction and manuals that the general public will NEVER see.

Covering topics like:
The single biggest "key" to effective batting practice
14 never-before-seen drills to help you master hitting in no time.
Biggest mistake most youth coaches and players get DEAD WRONG!
Tactics we personally use to coach and train our players
Videos include, Bunting, Hitting, Running, Fielding, Bunt Drills and MORE!
Plus, you'll also get my Fire Drills and Combo Drills Manuals (worth $58)
Check out these Labor Day Weekend Bonuses:

1. Buy The Complete Super 8 Hitting System
Bonus - get six months of my "inner circle" membership at no charge ($261 value).
It will teach everything you need to know about baseball, i.e. hitting, bunting,
bunt drills, bunt defense, fielding, etc.
Get The 8DVD Set and SpeedBat - Click Here!


Or,

2. Buy The Introductory Super 8 Hitting System (about 20% of the complete system)
Bonus - get three months of our "inner circle" membership ($145 value).
Get The Intro Hitting System - Click Here!
Imagine feeling, for the first time... like the player and coach you've always
dreamed of becoming. It could start for you today...

Best to you and have a great holiday weekend...

Coach Brockhoff
4988 Farmington Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112, USA"

Instructional Media for Little League

http://www.youthsportsclub.com/  Here is a great one-stop-shop site for all youth baseball needs.

Safety First

From Little League corporate today I received this email...  Talk about a huge blow to the manufacturers.  Willing to bet there are some huge blowout sales coming up!!

"September 1, 2010

TO: Local Little League Presidents, District Administrators, and Regional Field Staff

FROM: Patrick W. Wilson, Vice President of Operations, Little League International

RE: Moratorium on Composite Bats in the Junior League, Senior League, and Big League Divisions of Baseball

A moratorium on the use of composite bats in the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League was enacted on Aug. 27, 2010, by the Little League International Board of Directors, effective immediately. The moratorium shall be in effect until further notice by Little League International.

The moratorium covers all games and practices only in the three divisions referenced above. It closely follows a similar moratorium approved in July 2010 by the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), based on a recommendation from its Baseball Rules Committee. The NFHS Board enacted a rule to prohibit the use of composite bats until they can produce consistent compliance with the standards through the life of the bat

Waivers of the moratorium may be considered by Little League International in certain circumstances. For 2011, a manufacturer may apply for a waiver of the moratorium for a particular model of composite bat if all of the requirements for a waiver, as established by Little League International, are satisfied. Composite bats that are certified by an approved independent testing laboratory as meeting the current Ball Exit Speed Ratio (BESR), and the Accelerated Break-In (ABI) procedure, will be eligible for the waiver in 2011. Little League International will provide a list of bat models, if any, that receive waivers of the moratorium.

Not covered under the Little League moratorium are wood bats, metal bats, or bats that have composite materials in the handle only. A composite bat is one that has a metal shell, but a woven composite of fibers on the inside of the barrel portion of the bat.

Currently, the moratorium on composite bats does not apply to the Little League Baseball (Majors) Division and below, nor does it apply to any division of softball. Little League International, in consultation with independent experts, anticipates being able to provide local league constituents clear direction regarding composite bats in the Little League Baseball (Majors) 12-and-under divisions, prior to the start of the 2011 season.

Sincerely,

Patrick W. Wilson

Vice President of Operations"

iPhone Apps for Baseball and Softball

As a coach and parent, I'm constantly looking for easier ways to track the game. Not to actually score the game, but for the stats. Accurate stats.

I tried to use GameChanger ( www.gamechanger.io ) on my son's iPod touch.  However at the AAA Little League level, there are too many substitutions to maintain positional players, let alone the pitching changes.  I like the interface though and the real-time live updates streaming on the web is great for parents who can't make the game.   Also keeps online stats for the kids to look at.  Maybe not important for 9yr olds, but the 11-12yr olds love it.

I started looking for other statistic tracking software on the web for Softball, Little League, High School etc..

Blackberry Pitch Counter  Tracks both teams pitchers, balls, strikes.
My Future Star Baseball   iPhone app, but for your player's stats, not full scoring.
ESPN iScore  iPhone app for scoring baseball, softball.  Easy to use.  Not sure of all the features.
K-Force Baseball  Pointstreak.com iPhone app, lite version is free.  Pay version has more features.

(Here's a review of the iScore and K-Force)

There are also multiple platform options at http://www.scorepad.com/

Are there others?  Obviously GameChanger has the best marketers and SEO staff, but I have no idea of how their product compares.

If you have used any applications, please let us know which one and on what platform (phone/handheld).

Thanks!

Baseball skills in Fall

Ahh Fall (or late summer)..

Finally time to sit back, relax and watch America's number one sport. Football.

As the All-Stars finish up, and you son reports to football camp, remember that core workouts are applicable to every sport.

So after little Johnny gets home, don't forget to follow up his football practice with some swings in the garage or back yard. Use a really heavy bat and concentrate on perfect form. The heavy bat will force the correct hand position for a quick turn and power through the zone. Then switch to a really light bat for 10 swings, followed by his game bat.

This is the best for creating bat speed and power. And after his practice, it will be a nice workout for his legs and abdomen.

What are the memories?

What do 9-10 year olds remember? The game, the experience or both?

Last night was my son's championship game for the District 1 Renegades. Washoe LL vs. Sparks Centennial. A hard fought game between the teams with good pitching and hitting. Close game until the 5th inning when one team pulled away.

Then the mayhem.

Top of 6th with one out and a runner on 1st from a nice base hit. Then the sprinklers come on. That's fine. Funny things like that happen in little league. So after about 10 minutes it is 11:05PM with both teams in the dugouts and a packed stands, the lights turn off!

Still a funny event, just chaotic with zero visibility and siblings at a large park and no communication from the officials or umpires.

After 10 minutes of darkness with sprinklers, instead of getting everyone's attention and letting us know what was happening, the umpires walked over to the dugout and said something to the coaches letting them know they had won. The kids are going crazy, the parents/fans are scrambling to figure out what to do, the other team wasn't notified, no hand shaking or congratulations.

So instead of a ceremony of any sort, everyone is scrambling to find their equipment and meet under the street light next to the snack bar. Not exactly the winning experience.

So my question is, what will the kids take away from the experience? The game, the winning, or the chaos?

Rod Carew's hitting tips.

Rod Carew has a new product and website called the GAPHitter.

IMO, kind of a weak product but anything that gets kids swinging the bat with a moving target and I'm all for it.

But, Rod Carew is posting hitting tips on the site.

Here is the 10 important keys to hitting:

The Art & Science of Hitting by Rod Carew

Editor's Note:

Rod Carew was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. He won seven American League batting titles and retired with 3,053 career hits. One of baseball's most sought-after hitting instructors, Carew has seen players such as Jim Edmonds, Garrett Anderson, Troy Glaus, Darin Erstad and Torii Hunter blossom under his watchful eye.

Rod’s useful hitting tips on becoming a great hitter will appear regularly atwww.rodcarewbaseball.com. 
In the 43 years since I debuted in Major League Baseball, I've watched thousands of great and not-so-great hitters. I've seen what works and what doesn't, and I've sought to understand the fundamentals of success and failure. I've spent thousands of hours experimenting, watching video tape and refining my own hitting techniques. In the end, I've developed a few basic beliefs, and 10 important keys to good hitting.

Do not fear the baseball. The greatest asset any hitter can have is to be fearless at the plate. You can't be afraid of being hit by the ball if you want to be a good hitter.

Stay within yourself. Know who you are as a hitter, your strengths and weaknesses, and play within your ability.

Use your hands. Become an “aggressive hands” hitter. This allows you to wait longer on the pitch and react to changes in pitch direction, both horizontally and vertically in the strike zone.

Be confident at the plate. Know what you want to do when you get up to home plate. Combine purpose and discipline. Control the confrontation, do what you want to do, not what the pitcher wants you to do.

Stay flexible. You can't be static in the batter's box. You must be able to keep your stance and outlook flexible enough to react to different pitches and situations.

Practice makes perfect. Work hard to hone your skills, to fine-tune fundamentals. Be willing to pay the price of success, to put in the time necessary to complete against those athletes who pride themselves on having a strong work ethic. Because Coach John Wooden says, “perfect practice makes perfect,” I like to teach on a training aid called The Game and Practice (GAP) Hitter.

Hit the ball where it's pitched. Learn to utilize the entire field, foul line to foul line. Learn to hit the ball pitched down the middle through the middle, to pull the inside pitch, to slap the outside pitch the other way.

Be aggressive. Swing to make solid contact, to hit through the baseball, remembering not to become so aggressive you begin swinging at bad pitches and start pulling the ball.

Develop a one-component swing. Strive to swing in one fluid motion, with all of your body parts functioning together. Avoid the step-turn-swing approach to hitting.

Stay in shape. Work year-round to get – and keep - your body in shape, to draw the most out of your physical abilities."

Long Toss programs.

There are many long toss programs available.

I'm a big proponent of long toss for arm development and this video from Yaeger Sports emphasizes the important part of being loose and flexible.  Note:  It is a rapid progression in the video and should never be attempted by someone just starting out.

Put the ball in play.

This is an update from CBS Sportsline.

"Braves 2B Martin Prado is now 11 for 19 (.579) over his last four games. Prado went 3 for 5 on Wednesday against the Rays and has three three-hit games in his last four contests. He had two hits in the other one. Prado has four three-hit games in his last six. He's batting .338 on the year. Prado increased his NL hits lead to 95. "First of all, you've got to be patient," Prado said. "Just hit it somewhere. No secret."

I spent the whole year telling my team "When you put the ball in play, good things happen."  I don't care what level you are playing at, that saying applies.  "Just hit it somewhere. No secret."

Great give back to the community.

From the area in Northern California from which I came..

www.winecountrybaseball.com

"In 2000 Leonhardt founded Leonhardt Vineyards a grower and producer of red wines in Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, California (www.leonhardtvineyards.com). In 2009 in their first try their wine won a Gold Medal at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Leonhardt Vineyards provides a minimum of 25% of it's profits to charitable causes. They founded in 2009 Wine Country Old Fashioned Baseball League with 8 teams in Sonoma County and 4 team teams in Napa County (www.winecountrybaseball.com). 50% of the gate and concession profits from each game goes towards supporting local charitable causes. The league is working to secure 10% celebrity owners for each team to help bring attention to the charitable causes. Leonhardt Vineyards announced spring of 2010 a sponsorship relationship with the San Francisco Giants Baseball Club which includes two large panel advertisement boards behind home plate at the team's AT&T Park. Both the vineyard and the baseball league has booked a full page advertisement in the June issue of Wine Spectator."


50%!!!! of the gate goes towards a local charitable cause!!  Wow.  Play baseball, or watch as a fan, and help the local communities.. Incredible concept.

Activity Emporium has awesome frames!

http://www.activityemporium.com/Baseball-Framed-Sports-Display-p-100001.html

Great frames to honor your coach, your team, or your all-star! Many sports to choose from.

http://www.activityemporium.com/Baseball-Framed-Sports-Display-p-100001.html

Endless Summer?

Your season is either winding down or over already.  When it's over, does your bat and ball go into the garage only to be picked up next year?

What happened to endless summers and pickup games at the park?  Whiffle ball tournaments until it got hot then the river or pool followed by a home run derby into the darkness?  Over the line with your best bud and little brother?  Lefties having to go opposite field because the other guys were tired of switching for you?  Stirkeout with a tennis ball on the LL field when you were in Babe Ruth?

In this age of kid safety, endless training, one sport dedication and tournament teams, are our kids missing the most important things?  Like being a kid for the summer?

If this doesn't bring a tear to your eye.. You have no emotions..

Where is the Passion..

This is a guest post from a grade school buddy of mine Ron Lingron.    Ron was all passion and spitfire from age 5-..  still is at 40.  Especially on the field.  Still the only kid who knew I was going to pull a liner to Right Center every time I got up because that was my only swing...  Here's a copy of his post from Facebook..

Thanks Ron.. I've got a feeling that this is universal for our age of ex players..

"I grew up on the river. There it is. Forestville, CA. 30+ years before I got married and moved far far away to......Windsor. I played Little League there from the ages of 7 years until I was 15. I went to Forestville again last night, and the El Molino Little League fields where I cut my teeth playing the game. I drove out there and the first thing I noticed was there was no game and plenty of parking on the bottom portion of the park. This was unusual and kind of shook me up a little because I remember when there used to be five days worth of games during the week and more on Saturdays. Also, there were people out there who didn't live there when I did. Fair enough, as this was 25 years ago. I get it. Things change. What I didn't expect was I also saw people who were all too comfortable playing the PC game at the Little League field. NO COACHING ZONES. Pitch counts. Warnings? What happened to the Forestville Little League I knew? You know, the one with a full 6 teams per league that actually played baseball on weeknights with passionate parents, who were passionate enough to bring their kids from freaking TIMBER COVE to play on a Tuesday night. The Little League that actually played baseball opening day instead of doing a fundraiser? The one with teams like the Reds, A's, Indians, Dodgers and Tigers? I saw the River Cats play the Storm yesterday and had to shake my head as all of this started to add up. I actually told my wife I'd rather my 4 year old never play Little League and let's just get him a racecar and we'll race instead. This coming from a lifelong baseball fan who also was pretty damn good at the game to the point of having his picture on the wall at El Molino High School. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? 

I gotta admit, playing Little League to me was a rite of passage. One year, I was in orange, the next, when I turned 13, I was in blue. The teammates changed and you realized nothing was forever. You grew as a kid and made some new arch enemies on the team that was your rival, even if you slept over at their house later that evening. Every year, you'd have practices leading up to the greatest day of the season, OPENING DAY. When it got close to opening day, your coach would bring THE BOX to practice, and everyone would see THE BOX throughout practice. You were distracted by THE BOX and it may have caused you to lose concentration on the fielding drill because your eyes were transfixed on THE BOX. For those transgressions, you might have had to do pushups or running drills. I know "everyone on the line" were words you'd never be able to enjoy when said consecutively. Why was THE BOX so important? It held the Holy Grail of baseball, your crisp new uniform. You'd work out during class in school (sorry teachers, the digestive system of a salamander just wasn't as important) the returning players would probably get their old numbers from the year before, and the numbers rarely went over 16, so you'd have it narrowed down to a few precious numbers that you'd like to get, kind of like a pseudo NFL draft but with baseball jerseys. Upon the end of practice, THE BOX would make it's appearance and the 12 year old version of trading at the Stock Market would commence. There were elbows thrown, barters made, might even have been a bribe or two to other players to get that precious number 7, which was vacated by the kid who wore it last year who moved out of town. Once in your hands, you were now ready to attack the world. Upon the arrival of opening day, you'd also break out the new cleats, the new hat (which was also the only official place to keep track of your team's record throughout the year), check it in the mirror a few times before you left for the opening ceremonies and then prayed you'd make it through the day to your game with it still clean, which inevitably it never was. The entire schedule was known to everyone and you'd stop to watch games to see the ace pitchers face each other, and when it got out of hand, head over as a group to get a soda from the snackbar or head to the playground for a game of hot box. This was Utopia.

Nowadays, that opening day adrenalin kick has transformed into a money grab with no games being played. The Opening Day Carnival is now a yearly occurence. The first game of the season is played on a weekday? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?? Does Major League Baseball stop to say "It's Opening Day! There will be no games played!" Hell no. They play ball. This particular trip to Forestville saddened me to see no games being played on the bottom field and the Storm playing the River Cats on the top field, with signs that said NO COACHING ZONE on the fences. What happened to the guy yelling over the fence in Left Field? He's been replaced with that sign. The parent giving signs from the stands? Nope, now he's holding a pitch counter. What happened to the US vs. THEM? Last night a coach from the other team was giving the other coach advice on how to help a kid mid-at bat. WHAT HAPPENED TO LITTLE LEAGUE? I used to have a baseball card of Rickey Henderson in my back pocket. Nowadays, it's an addition to the "uniform" and most likely would be considered a health hazard. I don't get it. Our coach recommended beer and marshmallows before, during and after games. An obvious joke, but in yesterday vs. today's Little League dichotomy (thank you El Mo High), chances are a kid would tell their parents and instead of laughing, a parent would tell the League Board of Directors and that coach would be removed for telling a joke. What would today's Little League say about our batting tee which was a car rim with a pipe welded to it with a radiator hose holding the ball? Is this safe? Will someone sue us? Forget the fact we all were near passing out and throwing up at a practice as we experienced our first taste of Copenhagen at 12 years old. I'd like to think that's why I DON'T chew now. Hell, it's a wonder I graduated with the negative influence Little League had on me. Looking back, it was the greatest time of childhood, those summers in Forestville followed by swimming in the Glover's pool afterwards/going to Lemos's house after a game and seeing all the guys at J's Amusements afterwards.

Last night, I watched for four innings and couldn't do it anymore. It was baseball, yes. But a controlled, vacuum sealed, skeleton of baseball. I saw one "coach" who I'd recommend continue. The rest were there in uniform only. It's basically a two hour daycare, except with more restrictions. What about little brother in and around the stands running around throwing apples and climbing on trees? Nope. This tree was braced to prevent climbing, presumably to save the tree or prevent the tree from running away.

I just don't understand where my El Molino Little League went. Maybe the ones who are still there didn't see it coming and rolled with the punches so to speak. Maybe they just don't know any different. Even scarier, but maybe they don't care.

To the ones who were there and then left and came back, it's downright depressing."

SKLZ Pitching machine.

Anyone have one of these?  A player of mine has one and loves it.  I've heard with that and the thin bat it works great on consistent contact training.

Will get one soon and write a review.  Haven't been happy with the SKLZ products historically.

Hands inside the ball part deux..

There is an earlier post about keeping your "hands inside the ball".

Here is a great drill to keep your kids from casting their hands away from their body and elongating the swing.

The other drill is facing the net. Hold the bat at your belt buckle extending toward the net so that you are the bat length away. Swing normally without hitting the net.  This forces you to bring your hands through the zone first.  The natural motion of your wrists and bat will "throw" the bat through the zone creating bat speed.

Great post on B. A. L. L.

Beyond Athletic Life Lessons or BALL is a site dedicated to the life lessons of sports. "Because life is more than just a game".

Today's post offers a wonderful analogy for those coaches who have to make tough decisions.

Here's the excerpt that caught my eye.

"Here's the point: The fact that I am only using the first eight that I take off the shelf doesn’t diminish the value of the four that are still sitting there, does it?"

Add them on Facebook as well

Why the pros are pros

Does everyone know Martin Prado of the Atlanta Braves? Starting Second Base. If you don't you should. He's 2nd in the National League in Average hitting .426. Top 10 in doubles, 2nd in the league with 20 hits.

Yet he's concerned about his mechanics. "It's good for me that all the results are happening in a good way right now," Prado says. "But in the long term, if you don't fix your mechanics, everything ends."

Here's a guy in the top 5 hitters right now in all of baseball and striving to get better.

Take the time in the cage to work on your swing. Strive to get better. Do everything with a purpose.

Then in the game, get up there and rip. Let your practice dictate your performance knowing that you've put in the time.

Baseball Coaches Club

http://www.baseballcoachesclub.com/

Paul Reddick of the 90Mphclub.com, Yogi Berra baseball camps and many other accolades is starting a new coaches video club.

Quickly developing pitchers.

As a Little League coach at the now AAA level, AA last year, it is extremely hard to develop pitchers in 3 weeks and 6 practices.  Especially when our league rules (all of LL?) only allow for other players to catch for them AND they must have a helmet and catcher's glove.

We only have 1 glove and helmet, so it's hard to give it the dedication pitchers deserve.  And we all know that throwing strikes is the most important thing for this level.  Not speed.  Strikes limit pass balls.  Strikes get weaker kids out.  Strikes produce playable balls in the field.

So there are many drills that can be done without the catcher's gear.

My favorite is simply throwing from one knee.  They can practice arm position, follow through and balance.  Keeping proper form throughout the motion.  Have them throw a bucket of balls at a target or to another player on their knee before throwing bp or a bull pen session.  30-40 softer throws using proper technique prior to getting on the mound helps re-enforce proper form when throwing hard.

Here is a video from youtube.. Even though I hate Expert village..

Too much information.

Speaking to the lower levels here (AAA, AA, A etc..).

All too often, coaches over coach.  We tell them something every swing at batting practice.  Every play in the field.  Every throw.  All the time we are giving them tips, instruction, reminders..  Too much.  We need to shut up.  Let them play.  Encourage them every play.  Then the next inning, maybe a tip.

If you correct your players every play, they will be reliving that play the next play.  Thinking about that last play instead of the next one.

Get your kid's head in the next play, not the last one.

Chipper Jones in slow mo..

Talk about your weight behind the ball.   You can see the torque he gets when he straightens his right leg and launches his hands at the ball.



Find more videos like this on CheckSwing

Wood fungo for coaches.

I recently won a 35" fungo bat from Superior Bat Company on Checkswing.com.

Last night I finally got to use it and it was sweet. One handed infield practice and soft swings launched fly balls to the OF.

If you have a chance visit their site.  A fungo bat is a one time purchase that you can use for the rest of your coaching career.

I highly recommend this product.

http://www.promaplebats.com/

Visit CheckSwing

Two Strike Approach

This is a post by http:www.CoachLisle.com  Check out his page and happenings going on at www.bayareabaseball.com.  Good stuff.

"As coaches we always talk to our players about 2 Strike Approach (meaning what we do at the plate differently when we have 2 strikes). As coaches we teach our hitters to spread out, get the front foot down early, get as close to the plate as possible, and to take away the outside pitch.

The advantages of this are: By being spread out and getting our foot down early our concentration is on making contact and not getting beat by a fastball. By getting close to the plate, we might get lucky that the pitcher makes a mistake and goes too far inside and we get a free base by getting hit by the pitch. Also by getting close to the plate and looking outside we are gambling on the fact that statistics show at younger ages most 2 strike pitches are on the outside part of the plate. If you make these adjustments at the youth and high school level, you will have more success with 2 strikes.But here’s some food for thought…

Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano and many other major leaguers have said that they’re 2 strike approach is to look for the high inside fastball instead and adjust otherwise. Now if the pro’s approach is High and Inside and the youth approach is the opposite (low and outside), should we change our approach? is our approach wrong? Or not as effective? Or does the traditional youth approach work because it applies to youth/high school level baseball and the pro’s approach applies to pro pitching? Something to think about…http:www.CoachLisle.com

"

David Wright in 2001..

What a ridiculous swing. So balanced and compact. Timing is crazy.

http://baseballfactory.com/video/?vid=1087

http://baseballfactory.com/video/?vid=1085 (Amazingly soft hands.)

The BaseballFactory.com is a place for kids to get recruited and noticed for the upper levels of baseball. But it is worth the visit just for the videos of current pros when they were in high school or just out.

Check it out.

Stretching and equal strength to add MPH.

You want to add a few MPH to your fastball without doing anything special?

Stretch. Yep, get your flexibility equal in each leg and hips. This simple trick will allow you to be balanced and more fluid when your hips rotate creating better torque and keeping you online.

Lie on your back. Place one leg flat on the ground and have a partner stretch your throwing side leg back. Keep your leg straight and notice how far that leg can stretch backwards. Now switch legs. I guarantee they will be different.

Get these equal and you'll see a performance enhancement in most of your playing. And you'll add MPH to your pitching without even trying.

This tip was in the first video available from the 90MPHclub.com

Tis the season!

It's go time for many leagues this weekend!!

Visit our new store on Amazon!

"Hands inside the ball"

"Keep your hands inside the ball".   Every hitting coach stresses this technique. I"m 40 years old have have no idea what that means.  I see students in lessons nod in agreement but they have no idea what it means.

Just what does this mean?  How does one change their swing to "keep your hands inside the ball"?

My suggestion:  Through instruction teach how to lead with the hands and knob of the bat NOT the barrel.  Start the swing with your weight transfer and hip rotation and then the KNOB of the bat.  You'll find that the younger players will naturally break their wrists in front of the plate creating bat speed and maximizing the time the barrel is in the ball path.

This will help with kids who drop their hands before the swing, kids who roll their wrists during the bat path, and have longer swings.

The power V concept of the elbow is confusing.  Emphasizing leading with the hands and the knob is a concept that the younger kids can understand.

Beyond Athletic Life Lessons: One more kid's career...ruined?

Beyond Athletic Life Lessons: One more kid's career...ruined?

When parents know more that doctors.. something is wrong.

This is what its all about right?

The www.renoaces.com (page on MILB.com) interviews a Reno Aces player or coach weekly.

While reading this weeks',  Here,  with Manager Brett Butler I saw this question and answer..

"RA: Many young fans wanted to seek your guidance on becoming a Major League player someday. What advice would you give to the young kids out there who are dreaming to reach the level at which you played.


BB: The advice that I would give to any young person wanting to play Major League Baseball, is that if you have that dream, do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. If you do not believe in yourself, then nobody else will believe in you! Go for it!"

Isn't that what it's all about?  Encouraging those who love the game to play and believe in themselves?  Whether baseball, soccer, music, academics..  shouldn't we all be teaching confidence and pride as much as their chosen activity?

Expert Village and eHow

Are Expert Village, now eHow, good for the game or destructive?

I tend to think the latter.  Anyone, and I mean anyone with a computer, can upload a video to eHow and viola, they are an expert.  Or at least it's presented that way.  Do any search on "hitting a baseball" or "fielding a baseball" on youtube and you are flooded with Expert Village videos.  They have flooded the market with bad technique and the majority of the readership should go back to Oprah..

Your thoughts?

http://www.ehow.com/how_2047791_field-baseball.html

Tournament "Teams" and the destruction of baseball.

Paul Reddick of the "90MPHClub.com"  nails it.   Watch the full video and comment.  Problem is, this completely falls on deaf ears if you are a the target of his comments.

Baseball / Softball signups in the paper

Each Wednesday the RGJ posts the local sports signups.

http://www.rgj.com/article/20100210/NEIGHBORHOODS/2100390/1247/NEIGHBORHOODS/Youth-Sports-Sign-ups

Baseball

RENO NATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUE is holding registrations for players ages 5 to 12 for the spring season. Cost: $85 for t-ball and $95 for rookie-major. Bring copy of birth certificate and proof of residency. Details:www.eteamz.com/renonational.

SPARKS BABE RUTH holds sign ups for 13- to 15-year olds from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at Round Table Pizza, 550 E. Prater Way in the Baring Village Shopping Center. Other in-person registrations are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and from 6 to 8 p.m. March 3 at Tommy's Grand Stand, 830 Merideth Way. Cost: $140.00, players new to the league must bring an original birth certificate. Details: 775-846-0949 orwww.sparksbaberuth.com.

SOUTH RENO BABE RUTH is holding sign-ups for baseball players will be between ages 13 and 15 prior to May 1. In-person registrations are from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 and 28 and from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at Kelley Athletic Training Center, 4056 Kietzke Lane. Games are played at Jack Tighe stadium, 325 Burris Lane. Cost: $155 per player, new players must bring an original birth certificate. Details: 775-843-0695.

GAMER BASEBALL holds tryout preparation clinics from 9 a.m. to noon for players age 8 to 12 and from 5 to 8 p.m. for players age 13 to 15 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Kelley Athletic Training Center, 4056 Kietzke Lane. Cost: $100 per player ($90 per additional sibling). Details: 775-997-9541, gamersgetdirty@yahoo.com or www.gamerbaseball.com.

RENO AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE is accepting registrations through March 1 for the upcoming season. Boys and girls ages 5 to 12 as of April 30. Games are played at Terrace Sports Complex, 2525 Robb Drive. Details: 775-747-3323 or www.renoamerican.com.

CHALLENGER DIVISION of Little League Baseball, a league for special needs youth, is accepting sign ups until March 1 for the spring season. For ages 5 to 21. Fee: $25. Details: Kathy Crawford at 775-853-4065 orbccjr76@sbcglobal.net.

TOMMY'S GRAND STAND, 830 Meredith Way in Sparks, is collecting new or gently used baseball equipment, such as cleats, bats, socks, belts, mitts and equipment bags, for children ages 4 to 14 whose families can't afford to buy it. The business/restaurant also has baseball/softball instruction, batting cages and tunnel rentals by appointment. Birthday, business, team parties no facility charge. Also, there's a $6.95 special for students ages 5 to 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, which consists of a meal selection, beverage, batting cage tokens, project tables and arcades. Children must be supervised by an adult. Details: 775-355-7323 (facility information) or 775-830-8252 (donation information).

Softball

ENVY 18U TRAVEL SOFTBALL holds tryouts for the upcoming season Feb. 21. For more information, call 775-842-7292 or 775-378-9110.

RENO FASTPITCH is seeking girls ages 4 to 8 for T-ball and girls and women ages 8 to 23 for softball. Online registration is available atwww.renofastpitch.com or in person at Absolute Graphics, 3545 Airway Drive at the following times: noon to 2 p.m. Saturday ; from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 17 and 24; noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 20, 21, 27 and 28. In-person sign-ups are also planned at Reno Fire Station No. 11, 7105 Mae Anne Ave. at the following times: noon to 2 p.m. Saturday and 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 19 and 24. Details: 775-376-0555.

GAMER SOFTBALL holds tryout preparation clinics for players ages 8 to 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Kelley Athletic Training Center, 4056 Kietzke Lane. Cost: $100 per player ($90 per additional sibling). Details: 775-997-9541 or gamersgetdirty@yahoo.com.

WOLVERINES GIRLS FASTPITCH now holding tryouts for 16U. For additional information call 775-772-7069.

Babe Ruth Softball & t-ball sign ups for spring are under way. Registration for softball players age 8 and older prior to March 1 is $85. T-Ball for girls ages 4 to 7 is free. Details: 775-378-3531 or nvfastpitch@hotmail.com.

STEALTH HD 12U girls fastpitch tournament team is looking for players who are athletic, and have a good attitude and committed parents. Details: Mark Cooper 775-745-8115.

The Nevada Fire is looking for two impact players, preferably a pitcher or catcher but other positions will be considered. Details: Kristie or Gary Keller 775-219-8592 or 775-359-3496.

The Lady Aces 10U girls fastpitch softball tournament team (formerly the Nevada Wildcats) are holding tryouts for the spring tournament season. Details: Troy Batastini 775-233-9306.

Nevada Lightning 10U tournament girls softball team is looking for girls interested in competitive traveling fastpitch softball. Details: Eric Stroshine 775-232-8911.

Pack 96 is having tryouts for its 14U fall/spring team. Looking for players born in 1995 or 1996. Tryouts on Sundays, call for location and time. Details: 775-338-8528 or 775-343-5559.

Nevada Lightning 18U is looking for players. Details: Jim Miller 775-721-7056.

Nevada Lightning 12U girls fastpitch softball is looking for players born in 1997, 1998 or 1999 to play in the upcoming tournament season. The Lightning 12U team provides outstanding coaching covering all the aspects of tournament level softball. Details: Chris Wessel 775-762-4272 or Brad Betker 775-450-9000.

Sparks Storm is looking for girls who want to play at a competitive level, but also have a fun time playing tournament teams. Looking for two-three players to finish filling rosters for two 14U teams. Details: Johnny Collier 775-691-7843 or Phil Brown 775-425-6512.

The RENO HEAT 12U fastpitch softball team is looking for an experienced travel ball pitcher to complete the spring/summer roster. Interested players should contact Don Angotti 775-690-7330 for a tryout.

The North Valleys Babe Ruth fast-pitch softball league is looking for girls ages 4 and older. In-person registration is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at O'Brien Middle School. A food drive for Evelyn Mount community outreach is also planned then. Games take place at O'Brien, 10500 Stead Blvd., and Mayors Park, 12000 Mt. Charleston St. Details: 775-379-9861.

Reno Rage 14U team looking for competitive tournament players, specifically an experienced pitcher and a utility player. Details: James Walker 775-378-9342 or Keith Mull 775-772-3722.

Team Mojo is looking for multi-sport athletes. For more information, log on to www.martinisports.net and select the "contact us" tab, or call Joe Martini 775-247-3234.