Coaching Youth Baseball | Are You Working Hard Enough ?

Here is a coaching youth baseball story I wanted to share. Its about work ethic in youth baseball and achieving your goals.
  I was a bit early so I got see the end of a core strengthening workout.  The guys (mostly 9th graders) were beat.  Legs shaking, core fatigued, and sweating rolling off them like crazy.  It was great to see.  At the end of the practice one of the coaches asked, "Who gave 100%?"  Many raised their hands.  The reply came, "That's all I ask for." 
I know there are quite a few guys on this particular team I've mentioned who have dreams of playing collegiate baseball and beyond.  Who knows if that will happen or not.  The decision to be selected for a high level baseball team is completely out of your hands, so stop worrying/thinking about it.  Instead, place your time and energy into increasing your work habit to where it needs to be, now. 
The nice thing is that work habit is not age specific or talent dependent.  You can bust your butt at age 8 just as well as you can at age 16.  It's all relative. 
Are you working harder/smarter RIGHT NOW than 90% of the athletes in your home town? 
How about your state?  What about your nation?  The globe?
IF your dream is to play professional baseball, your work habit better match what it takes to get there.





Learn more about coaching youth baseball

First Base in Youth Baseball |2 Rules for First Base in Youth Baseball

Tips on Playing First Base in youth baseball coaching-youth-baseball.com

Here are some tips and key points to playing first base in youth baseball that players and coaches need to recognize.

Coaching Youth Baseball | How To Be A Good Youth Baseball Coach

There is not a magic way to perfectly coach youth baseball or even how to be a good youth baseball coach. The keys to being o great or good youth baseball coach is having the desire to help  kids succeed , learn and grow , and to properly manage your teams time effectively as well as your own. Here is a list of some best qualities for coaching youth baseball and being a good youth baseball coach


http:coaching-youth-baseball.com

Warning

This Baseball Hitting Package won't make you popular with opposing coaches. How to WIN more games, have more FUN, and be the kind of youth baseball coach your player"s will LOVE and their parents will BRAG about. 

Finally , A baseball coaching package that has it all

Base Running Youth Baseball | Base running important part of youth baseball

Base Running Youth Baseball | Base running might be the most important part of youth baseball

Coaches often avoid base running because it might seem boring, but usually coaches don’t totally understand how to teach base running . But if you think about it, base running is critical to winning games – the goal of a baseball game is to score runs, and base running is the means by which we do that.

So here are some youth baseball base running tips to help you get your team running and thinking about how to run the bases the right way.

Contact – Getting out of the Box/ Run Thru First
Whether you’ve tapped one off the end of the bat or raked a hard line drive down the line, your first goal is always to get out of that batter’s box in a hurry. There’s no excuse for not hustling, so run hard down the first base line.

1) If it's a dribbler or or a play can be made by the defense ..run as hard as you can to first base , stepping on the bag on the side closest to home plate, and do your best to beat the defense.
If it’s a solid base hit, run hard and move gradually into foul territory in order to make a smooth turn at first base. Whatever you do, don’t get caught watching the ball for too long – that only slows you down.

2) It’s a Hit – What Now?
If you’ve earned a hit, round first with the full intention of going to second. Quickly find the ball on the field and make another decision – is the defense in control of the ball? If not, decide whether you can make it to second base and go! If the defense has the ball and is in a good position to throw you out at second, stop and return to first base. As a coach I like to say "turn and look" defense could make an error..As a coach I will help too if I see it first or see a weakness in the defense.

A good rule to follow: “Run until the defense stops you.”

3) Get a Good Lead (Open Bases) / (proper lead)
Two and a half steps or a body length), that’s a good guideline to follow when taking a lead. Keep your eyes on the pitcher and never cross over your feet – you want to be vigilant in case the pitcher makes a sudden move and you want your feet to be ready to change direction quickly. Take your lead off the back edge of the base – that increases the distance any pickoff throw must go and also makes it harder for the first baseman to tag you. Every little advantage helps including lead with your right foot not left.

4) Keep up with the Pitch
On every pitch, you should generate momentum towards the next base in a secondary lead. Think of shuffling with three hops and count them in your head – one, two, three. As the pitcher starts delivery to the plate you begin advancing towards the next base in the form of those three hops. You want your youth baseball players feet to come down on “three” just as the ball enters the strike zone. You can't start to early. Good pitchers will pick you off.

Based on what happens—a strike, a passed ball, a hit—make a decision on whether to advance or return.

5)Third Base – The Walking Base
The shuffling method of taking a secondary lead works for first and second, but when you’ve reached third base, it’s time to take a different strategy. Now you’re going to walk towards home with three steps – right, left, right, counting in your head, "one, two, three."
Just as in the shuffling secondary lead, when you get to “three,” your right foot should be coming down and the ball should be entering the strike zone. React quickly to whatever happens and focus on taking advantage of every opportunity to score.

6) When in Doubt, Slide
No matter what base you are approaching (except for first base), if there’s even a slim chance of a play, slide. Too many injuries occur because runners are indecisive. Sliding is always a safer alternative to slamming on those breaks.
And you never want to be tagged out standing up when simply sliding could have saved your team an out.

7) Don’t Let Up
You should always hustle, everything you got..but when it comes to first base and home plate, you absolutely need to run straight through those bases. Nothing feels worse than to let up on your way to first only to realize the defense has made an error on what seemed a sure out.

Your team will also be pretty upset with you if you fail to run hard through home plate, even when the defensive play may be at another base. Fail to cross home plate before the third out is recorded and your run simply doesn’t count.

Conclusion :
When looking at the square created by the base paths, as a youth baseball coach you should really picture a circular path for  base runners. This saves time, increases speed, and helps prevent injuries that can occur when trying to make sharp turns at full-speed.

We see many base running errors simply because it is not practiced ..be sure to include base running and incorporate it into your youth baseball practices.

Ever Disagree with An Umpires Call ?

Disagree with an umpires call 

Ever Disagreed with the Umpire's Call? Of Course You Have! MLB Players Share Advice on How to Handle the Frustrating Calls and disagreeing with the umpire.

Ever been in a game where the runner was clearly out but the umpire called him safe? Have you ever seen the ball  seemingly 15 feet above the plate but still called a strike? Of course you have. We all have, including Major League Baseball players. They will be the first to tell you that sometimes getting along with umpires can be tough. We have all disagreed with an umpires call at some time or another.

But the advice from MLB players on dealing with the officials is pretty consistent:  you need to respect the ump in order to play the game, and it doesn't do you any good to freak out in the middle of the action.

Philadelphia Phillie pitcher J.A. Happ has learned how to keep his cool when he disagrees with umpires, but he admits it took him some time to get to that point.

"When I was younger, I wasn't the best," he said. "But maybe between innings, you can ask them politely where they think the pitch was. For the most part you have to shake it off."

Minnesota Twin reliever Clay Condrey admitted youth baseball is different in dealing with umpires than when you get to the Big Leagues. Once it's your profession, it can be more difficult, he said. But he also admitted it's hard for the umpires to always get it right.
"It's a game of human error," he said. "Making a bad call goes with the game."

When emotions get going it can be tough keeping that in mind, but controlling those emotions is key to succeeding in baseball.

Phillies closer Brad Lidge was on the hill to record the final out when the Phillies won the World Series in 2008. Having patience with the umpires is something he says is necessary to stay focused.
"I think the only time it can be a problem is if you let it take you out of your game," he said. "The most important thing is to say to yourself, ok, that happened, now I have to move to the next pitch. "

Lidge's teammate, All-Star Second Baseman Chase Utley, agreed.
"There are always times where you lose your temper, but you learn from those times," he said.
Utley is known for his cool demeanor on the field. He doesn't allow the umpire's actions to change his disposition and he rarely argues. It might have something to do with his experience behind the backstop: in college he did some Little League umpiring himself.
"At that level the umpires are learning. They're trying to improve as well," he said.

Most arguments can be made effectively by your manager which allows you to keep your cool to stay in the game. If he does, Lidge said you have a better chance to handle your frustration in a productive way.

The challenge, of course, is adjusting to an umpire's strike zone. They are not all going to call the same balls and strikes and at times, you may feel they're not staying consistent. That's one of the biggest complaints pitchers usually have. But Lidge was firm in his approach to those moments.
"You have to realize that each pitch is an opportunity to reset things. Start over from where you want to be. Come to terms with your situation and just think of what you need to do next," he said. "If you get really heated, it's something you're not going to be proud of the next day."
And, as he also reminded us, it's not all about you when those times happen. "You might hurt your team," he said.
Additionally, Condrey pointed out that you've got to set an example for the guys you're playing with.
Utley explained that the player/umpire relationship is delicate and comes down to one important factor.

"The more you respect umpires, the more they'll respect you," he said.

In baseball, the calls are made and they don't get overturned. The bottom line is to not allow it to affect your performance or you could hurt your chances of bouncing back. And the team is counting on you to do just that. No matter what umpires do, you have to stay strong mentally.

"Always look forward, never look back. If you keep looking forward, then whatever happened has happened. There's no reason to go back to it in your head," he said. "Just focus on the next thing you need to do with your situation." 
This article has been re posted from Junior Baseball

Youth Baseball Coaching | Tips on being a good youth baseball coach

How to be a Good Youth Baseball Coach | Coaching Youth Baseball
After years of coaching youth baseball, creating select youth baseball teams, creating a new league even !.. We still see the same mistakes made over again. We come across an article that had many key points of being a good youth baseball coach and thought we should let everyone in involved in coaching youth baseball to see for themselves. Read more and find out our most important rules of coaching youth baseball.

There is no magic way to coach youth baseball or even to be a great youth baseball coach. The keys to being o good or great youth baseball coach is a true desire to help the kids succeed , learn and grow , and the discipline to manage your teams time effectively as well as your own. Here is a list of some best qualities for coaching youth baseball.

1) Teach during practice - review and work on weaknesses from previous practices and games

2) Motivate - Its not about coaching youth baseball..its about the players


3) Teaching how to win -  It is more important than winning. I know everyone hears that crap..But if the effort is there..the wins will come. You should teach your kids to strive to excel and do their best as a part of the team.


4) Baseball is a Game - Games are supposed to be fun. Make practice hard work and fun. Then you don't have to work during the game..the game is a game and games are supposed to be fun, right ?

5) Be a student - There are many educational resources available..not to mention rule changes every year.

6) Bad things - The bad things..errors and other negatives can be made into positives. I relate this to" learning by doing."If you did it wrong ..now you know that doesn't work, what do we do right?

The Most Important Rules of Coaching Youth Baseball

1) Positive Example - You are a role model and this can transgress into all aspects of a child's life. Players will remember you the rest of their lives. Let's make sure it is a good one.

2) Establish Rules - Three good reasons for authority.. Safety , Direction , Correction


3) Be Organized - Write out practices and games, use help if offered..find a place for other parents willing to contribute. Know what you want to review and improve, and introduce new in practices. Know where your kids are going to play. 

For a free youth baseball field diagram to help in assist in organization and more check out 
Coaching Youth Baseball Free Account

Coaching Youth Baseball- Infield Fly Rule | the Infield Fly Rule for Coaches and Parents

Infield fly rule explained coaching-youth-baseball.com

Infield fly rule | It does not happen very often but when it does coaches and parents need to know the official rulings because many umpires in youth baseball do not. You might be surprised. 
https://coaching-youth-baseball.com/infield-fly-rule-the-infield-fly-rule-explained-for-coaches-and-parents/

Cheap Youth Baseball Bats | Pick the right youth baseball bat

Check out this website I found at youth baseball equipment

A good youth baseball bat does not have to be expensive. this baseball mom lets us know where and how to find quality cheap youth baseball bats. My son and I actually was at a store and found a Louisville Slugger TPX for sale for $299. After reading this article we actually found one for $149 !! Many youth baseball bats can be found for even much less.

Youth Baseball Preseason | What youth baseball players should be doing for preseason

Youth Baseball Preseason

For those of you lucky enough to live in warm weather climates where baseball can be played year round, youth baseball preseason / off season  probably does not hold great importance. However, for many, the cold and snow of January and February do make the coming of baseball season seem light years away. For those of you in those climates, please, keep the faith! Baseball will be here soon. Note that the big leaguers are beginning their Spring Training seasons in Florida and Arizona by the end of next week, which means that the snow will eventually melt and baseball will be played in your neck of the woods in a matter of a few short months.

Who Else Wants to be a better hitter in less than a week?

The Super Eight Hitting system

To help keep the mind sharp and hopes up for the upcoming baseball season, you can use the coming of big league Spring Training as a time to make sure you are getting your own game in gear for the coming year.
For the youngest players, baseball spring training / off season is good time to find your glove and make sure it is in shape, break the bat out of the closet and practice gripping the ball.  For those who do not have equipment yet but are excited to try baseball this spring, this time of year is a good time to begin thinking of getting your equipment situation in order.

For the intermediate players, this would be a good time to sneak out and have a game of catch with a friend or your dad when the weather permits. While running around on the field isn’t possible yet, there’s surely a driveway or a street path that can allow a quick game of catch that can get the eyes, arm, and body used to the movement of the ball and the excitement of playing once again.

Baseball Hitting Drills  Be an  Explosive , more Powerful Hitter

For the advanced player (anyone in high school or in advanced travel leagues), you will probably want to be able to get outside and play some catch come heck or high water. Your arms and legs will need some conditioning before the season starts, and this is the time of year to get the blood flowing and the muscles ready for action.  In addition, any open space that can allow you to get some ‘dry swings’ (swinging at air) in would be great. An average professional or collegiate player would be getting 100-300 swings per day throughout January and February, so you should strive for at least 50-100 swings at air per week.
Most of all, keep the spirits up and get ready! Baseball season is on its way.
 

Check out  Youth Baseball Drills | Youth Baseball Tips , Instruction and Drills for more youth baseball tips and drills

 

Coaching Youth Baseball | First Time Coaching youth Baseball

Coaching Youth Baseball

Coaching kids, especially for the first time in youth baseball, can be a pretty interesting task. It can be a lot of fun and very rewarding coaching youth baseball, but also it requires plenty of time. So, to have less stress as a coach, it is important to try to learn how to run practices so that the coach and the kids are happy and productive. There is no reason why coaching youth baseball and the normal drills cannot be both fun and productive. The most important thing is to keep practices interesting or at least somewhat exciting for the kids and to keep the kids learning at least a little something.
Coaching Youth Baseball   is a free site for youth baseball parents and coaches to help make any season a fun and educational experience. They have lots of free youth baseball drills and tips for everyone.

You can also find more free youth baseball drills at Youth Baseball Drills 

Infield Fly Rule | What is the Infield Fly Rule

  Official Baseball Rules - Illustrated

coaching-youth-baseball.com/   has published a new article on the infield fly rule. If you want to know what the infield fly rule is or why  the infield fly rule was called in a game you were watching or coaching, this article is for you. Learn why there is an infield fly rule and when it is in effect at
Infield Fly Rule

Fun Baseball Practice Drills | Youth Baseball Drills

Youth Baseball Drills  - Make it fun

If you're coaching a little league, high school, or college team, it doesn't matter; make youth baseball practice drills should be fun for your players. Do your youth baseball practice drills, situations, etc. but then play a live game, set up some competitions, or play some stickball. There are many ways to work on the skills and have fun in the process.

Find more fun youth baseball practice drills at
Youth Baseball Drills | Youth Baseball Tips , Instruction and Drills

Free coaching youth baseball newsletter

Youth Baseball Hitting Drills|How to use A tee In baseball hitting drills

Baseball Hitting Drills are very important for everyone in youth baseball. The proper baseball hitting drills can help make any player a better youth baseball hitter. However the wrong baseball hitting drills can cause years of practice to correct.

One of the best underused baseball hitting drills is the batting tee. Pros and college players use them, thus our youth should be doing youth baseball hitting drills from the tee also.
See the proper way to use a tee and become a better, more powerful hitter with baseball hitting drills.

Youth Baseball Drills| Bunt Defense youth baseball drills

Youth Baseball Drills|Basic Bunt Defense

You can see the full article with two youth baseball drills on bunting and bunt defense at youth baseball drills.

Who Else Wants To Be A Better Hitter In Less Than 1 Week?
Youth Baseball Hitting Drills

To begin this youth baseball drill, first we put a pitcher on the mound, a catcher behind the plate (in full gear), a runner on first base, and/or second base.
We then need fielders at each of the infield positions and a batter in the box (with his helmet on). Extra players will be the bunters and base runners.
Pitchers work on holding runners and getting off the mound quickly to field bunts.
Catchers practice receiving the pitch and fielding bunts.
Infielders practice charging the bunt and cover the right base according to where the ball has been bunted.
Also in this youth baseball drill our offense will do some work as well.
Base runners work on seeing the bunt on the ground before breaking and the batter should work on recognizing the game situations that could call for a bunt.
As a youth baseball coach you can make this a competition. The offense gets 1 point every time a runner moves over and defense gets a point for getting the out at first. You could even give an additional point for getting the lead base runner. This competition makes the youth baseballs drills more fun and puts a little game pressure on.
Warning!
This baseball coaching package won''t make you popular with opposing coaches. Finally, A baseball coaching package that has it all! How to WIN more games, have more FUN, and be the kind of youth baseball coach your player's will LOVE and their parents will BRAG about.

Youth Baseball drills | Free Coaching Youth Baseball drills

We should try and split our players into groups for the biggest part of our practice section. It is much easier for coaches  to provide youth baseball instruction with youth baseball drills with just a few players instead of the whole team.  It is also much better for the players, they get more repetitions for each skill more quickly and their attention span is held more easily.

There are times we need a situational practice. There are several instances in youth baseball where we need to know why , how, and where to go with the baseball.
Cutoffs is one of those instances we need to have a full field on the field with base runners to teach cutoffs in youth baseball. Learn more at youth baseball drills 
Get the free cutoff youth baseball drill at coaching-youth-baseball.com