The sport of baseball is played by lots of people, making it truly a great sport. Your height is not important, nor does it matter how muscular you are, baseball can be enjoyed by anyone. If you want to learn the pros’ tips, read this article.
A coach knows that happy players are good players. Group outings will build team spirit. And remember, that it is just a game and that the world’s fate does not depend on it.
If you are a coach who’s struggling to maintain the attention of the team during practice, try changing things up. If you constantly do the exact drills, the team will get bored. Instead, build some different drills into the normal day.
When trying out for a new team, remember to always be respectful and professional. Whether for little league or a school, remember your manners when meeting teammates and your coach. This will help ensure that you are well liked on the team.
Safety comes first in all sports. This is very true for baseball. Always know where the ball is to help protect yourself from injury. An errant ball can cause you to lose a tooth if you are not paying attention. Also, a player sliding into a base could cause an injury.
Always wear a batting helmet. These helmets protect against head injuries. Some helmets will also come with a shield to make sure your face doesn’t get hit by the ball.
Do your best to hustle for your team. You want to lead by example. Strong leadership in the clubhouse can be a real game changer. Be the person that others look up to in order to make a difference.
10 Minutes
As a baseball coach, you’ll help out all of your players if you develop a regular practice routine and stick with it. This helps them get the most out of practices. For the best results, start with a warm up that lasts at least 10 minutes and then get into team and individual practice drills for another 20. This is followed by five minutes of running bases, then ten minutes of team defense and situation drills. The last 10 minutes should focus on drills for position-specific defense and cool down. Once practice is finished, meet with the team then go home.
Proper stride is key in baseball. If you’re a right hand batter, utilize the left leg and pick it up when a pitch is thrown. If you’re left-handed, do the exact opposite. When there is a pitch coming near you, start moving toward the pitcher to help build momentum towards him. Keep that stride forward under a foot if you’re shorter or younger.
Base Coaches
When you’re running to bases, don’t ignore the base coaches and their signs. Do not forget that the base coaches can see the entire field. Focus only on the coaches when you are running the bases. Allow the base coach to tell you whether to run or stay. If they tell you to stop, just stay at the base you’re on. If they want you to keep running, don’t hesitate.
Always use a broken in glove. A month or so ahead of time, begin getting your new glove out and working with it. Toss a baseball into it repeatedly. Apply a leather softener frequently to help the it loosen up. Use your fist to punch the weave. When you’re practicing, it’s much better to use a glove that you’ve already broken in well.
Stadium lights can be a big distraction from seeing the ball. So you do not end up blinded with spots, you need to follow the ball without looking into lights or the sun. Use all of your peripheral vision so that you find the baseball and get the best results.
You must learn to stretch to reach the ball when you are playing the first base position. Position your glove where you can easily grab it out in front of you. Your other foot should be striding towards the ball all while your back foot is making contact with the base.
You can learn a lot of great tips that will help you find enjoyment in the game. If you apply what you’ve learned here, there is no need for it to be difficult or complicated. Regardless of your level of involvement in baseball, use these tips to have fun with the game.