Overcoming the Fear of Being Hit by the Baseball

Overcoming the Fear of Being Hit by the Baseball
By guest author: Jim Bain

Seems all young baseball players want to be a pitcher, the man who controls the game and who is involved in every play of the game. No day dreaming in the outfield if you're pitching.

Ever wonder why very few players want to be a catcher, who being the second half of the pitching battery, is every bit as important and involved as the pitcher?

Ever cross your mind that maybe the players are afraid of being hurt if they became a catcher? That's not to say every player should want to be a catcher or are afraid, but what about the strong armed kid who runs like a tortoise, making him an excellent candidate for the tools of ignorance, but who shivers when you suggest he try it.

Fear of the baseball is not an uncommon issue with younger aged players, for example, some players will give a coach heartburn all season long because they bail out of the batters box as soon as the pitcher releases the ball.

Fear is a natural instinct God gave us to protect ourselves from our own ignorance, but fear of the baseball can be overcome. The coach is charged with that responsibility and it's a hefty one, but totally achievable with a little patience and coaching.

Let's briefly, without getting into a bunch of physiological mumble jumble, look at why a player is afraid of the baseball. Simply put, he's afraid it will hurt if he gets hit. Pretty basic human stuff, no different than you not wanting to hit your thumb with a hammer; it'll hurt.

Obviously our job is to eliminate that fear by showing the player, if properly equipped, getting hit by the baseball will not hurt.

Let's look at a drill specifically designed to eliminate fear of being hit by the baseball for a prospective candidate for the catching position.

A coach, with an accurate throwing arm, is essential for this drill or don't even try it. The drill is intended to eliminate fear, not intensify it, and a badly placed throw could do just that.

Help the player put on his full complement of protective catching gear. Assist even if the player knows how to don the equipment because you want to establish a "I'm with you every step of the way" and there's nothing to fear attitude.

Joking and kidding around with the player is a crucial part of the mental game, as humor replaces fear. A human can not properly experience two conflicting emotions at the same time.

Have the catcher go to the catcher's position behind home plate, but have him stand instead of squatting and instruct him he is not to catch the balls, but rather let them hit him. The coach will stand 20' to 30' in front of him as the pitcher, with a bucket of rubber balls. Do not use tennis balls if possible, they are not as effective for this drill as harder rubber balls are.

This is where accuracy is essential on the coach's part. Begin throwing the rubber balls, at medium speed, at the player hitting him in different parts of his equipment.

After 20 to 30 throws have the catcher assume the squatting position and throw another 20 to 30 pitches hitting him in every piece of equipment, including the mask, as possible.

Most players will overcome their fear of being hurt after one drill session, some require two and others never will adapt. And that's OK. If just one kid overcomes his fear, you have been successful and if nobody overcomes the fear, you've still helped them overcome the fear of being hit by a pitch while batting.

Two requirements to never forget are, an accurate throwing arm is a must and always be sure the player protects his hands during the drill.

Jim (Coach) Bain is a former Minor League Baseball Player and successful Coach of Youth Baseball for over a decade and a half. He has drawn from fellow successful coaches' experiences and combined them with his own extensive experience to create a Baseball Teaching Website. The site is packed with 100s of tips, drills, history and instruction on how to play and coach the game of baseball.
http://www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Bain

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Major League - Famous Baseball Movie You Should Watch

Major League - Famous Baseball Movie You Should Watch
By guest author: Suzie Sanchez

Baseball, being the most popular game in the U.S. has been made as the main theme of several movies that have left good impressions in the hearts and minds of people. Everyone had a good laugh, some tears, and heartwarming memories brought about by baseball movies. In fact, for those who were not actually that fond of baseball; these movies paved the way into having more baseball fans.

There have been a lot of movies that have depicted the heart of the game of baseball. One notable movie is Major League. If you still haven't watched this movie, then you surely have been missing out a lot.

Major League is a movie that focuses on a losing baseball team in Cleveland. Their players were so lousy that if force the coach to look for some players who were not actually professionals. These players consist of a convict, a voodoo practitioner, a baseball has-been, and some other incidentally far-out players. The crazy stuff they did together, the process of training them, and the hilarious ways that they were able to overcome their differences and weaknesses made the movie really awesome.

Most baseball players could relate to those in the team since they all reflect the human side of baseball. The part where they have to train themselves really hard just to achieve their goal of winning and keeping the team was a glorious appreciation of the human will.

Major League 1 focused on the story of a has-been who felt that he could no longer be the same player he used to due to a leg injury. But the time came that he was finally able to overcome the feeling. He was able to put his act back together again with the help of his team.

The sequel of Major League 1, the Major League 2, was another great story. This time around, it focused on the same ex-convict pitcher who succumbed to the glitz and glamour of famous personalities. It got over his head that he no longer practiced for the game like he used to. Soon enough, his game started to fail, and the team suffered heavily. Luckily, concerned people never stopped caring, and soon he was able to revert back to his old self, which assured the team's success in a major event they joined later on.

Although movies are simply for entertainment, yet they often depict what is really happening in real life. Like the Major League 1 and 2, baseball movies would always tug at the hearts of people. And, it would also be something that would constantly remind baseball players and fans of what baseball really is all about.

Suzie has been writing articles on interesting topics including sports, relationships and family. Her new interests are in duvet covers such as zebra duvet cover and girls duvet covers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzie_Sanchez

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Little League Tee Ball, Planting Positive Seeds

Little League Tee Ball, Planting Positive Seeds
By guest author: Marty Schupak

Tee Ball is the most popular youth baseball program in Little League, including other youth baseball leagues around the country, and has the most participants. As the 5- and 6-year-olds whom participate in Tee Ball get older, there is a drop off in youth baseball participation each year. Traditionally the largest drop off of players in most youth leagues occurs after players reach their twelfth birthday. Soccer is almost a year round sport and youth lacrosse is growing, which are both in direct competition with youth baseball. Baseball parents, coaches, and leagues are almost compelled to make the first baseball experience for young kids a positive one.

Youth baseball leagues can develop certain positive philosophies that will maximize the chances of retaining baseball players in their leagues. I'll touch on just few that I feel most appropriate. First of all, Tee Ball leagues should strive to make it as non-competitive as possible. Some overzealous parents who are very competitive will look upon their own child's first tee ball experience as the Major League World Series. Leagues must set a standard with this non-competition philosophy. Not keeping score is an option leagues try. But, from my experience with my own kids, as much as parents and coaches try, some of the kids themselves will be keeping score and reminding the coach and the other teammates every time a player crosses home plate. This will also lead to the kids keeping track of wins and losses. One option leagues might consider is to mix the teams up every 3rd or 4th game. This option affords tee ball teams to still have a team concept because they will practice with their team, and 75% of their games will be together. One thing they will have to overcome is two sets of different colored uniforms playing on the same side. Maybe one way to overcome this is to have players come to these games in white tee shirts and the leagues supply cheap colored vests. Maybe we call these games "All League Games", or another positive term that everyone can accept.

The other part of the game that needs to be addressed is that at the age of 5 & 6, the skill level will vary tremendously. Leagues need to treat the tee ball season as a progression type situation. In a 20 or 25 game season, maybe use a larger ball when hitting off the batting tee for the first five games. In practices, coaches should use a larger ball on a tee early in a season. One thing I did when coaching tee ball is to take a bathroom plunger, turn it upside down and place it into the batting tee. Now a coach can rest a beach ball or a kick ball on top of the tee for the kids to hit.

When teaching fielding, coaches need to make the task as achievable as possible. I used to start the season using a Velcro ball and Velcro paddle to catch a fly ball. The kids love this. On ground balls, teach the players to make contact with the ball with their glove, keep it in front of them, and not necessarily catch it.

On throwing, keep the distance short, spreading the players out very liberally and moving them back after every five throws.

These are just a few ideas that leagues should address, keeping in mind that we must start with baby steps and progress as the season goes on.
Parents must realize that they will have their fair share of competition as their kids move up in age. Tee Ball should be a positive experience in every sense of the word. Skills should be the theme of tee ball and less competition. In the world of youth sports, which includes playing time problems, parental sniping, and on the field arguing, youth baseball Tee Ball should be immune to this problems as much as possible.

http://www.YouthSportsClub.com

http://www.VideosForCoaches.com

Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 18 years and is the video creator of "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice", "Backyard Baseball Drills", "Winning Baseball Strategies", "Hitting Drills & Techniques", “Pitching Drills & Techniques”, and author of the popular book, "Youth Baseball Drills". He is a principle with Videos For Coaches and is also President of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marty_Schupak

Using Practice Balls For Fencing Training

Using Practice Balls For Fencing Training
By guest author: Walter Green

Hitting the target is one of the essential tasks for a fencer. This means that accuracy training is an important part of any fencer's development as an athlete. Unfortunately accuracy comes with practice - lots of practice. Experience in the martial arts suggests that 10,000 or more repetitions of a skill are needed to develop mastery. As you can imagine, your fencing master and your fellow fencers really get bored being a target to get to those sorts of numbers. This means that a training aid that is simple, inexpensive, and portable is worth exploring.

There are a variety of sophisticated target trainers available--the Target Speed is an excellent example and the various flexible arm systems are another. However, these are a reasonable investment for a club, but can be somewhat pricey for the individual. Plastic balls with holes in the shell, the practice ball, offer one option.

These balls are readily available in three sizes: a softball sized ball, a baseball, and a golf ball. Each of these represents a different target. The softball approximates the shoulder in epee or any of the flat surfaces in the primary target zone from low line under the weapon arm, up on the inside of the forward chest. The baseball is an approximate lower arm, the available target as an opponent quickly reverses direction with a parry after seeing the start of the final action of a feint attack, or the target on an opponent with a large bib and a crouching on guard. The golf ball is approximately the exposure of the hand and lower arm on a careless epee guard.

The ball you select as a practice partner depends on the target you are training to hit. But it also depends on the level of your training. Start with the biggest ball available. As you go through the drill progression, go back to the big ball every time you start a new level. When you are hitting it reliably, even when moving, move to the next smaller ball. Read more.

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