DiMaggio
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I used a 4'-0" 1 x 8 piece of wood and had the batters in coach pitch stand on it when I pitched to them. It really helped this particular problem, as they really focused on staying on the board. You might give it a try. After a few rounds most kids didn't want to use it and the threat of "If you keep stepping out, we'll use the board again" usually got them focused back to stepping into the ball and not the bucket.
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Just thought I'd post a thread where coaches can post what they get most out of caoching youth baseball and some of their more memorable moments that make it all worth while. So post away.
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Yaz, if this your first go round then two things. 1.) Any video will help and pick up some drill books and pick out what's appropriate for your age group. Above all keep it moving and keep it fun. Some things you don't think will work will and some you think will, won't. So keep experimenting and over time you'll develop a routine. Don't neglect fielding, throwong and hitting and keep attention to the lesser players. They usually end up proving to make the difference. Those teams who develop their mid and lower level players end up doing well. 2.) Use your high school practice experiance as a rough guide. A lot of coaches never had even that experience. I was fortunate and had a college experience to buildon from one of the best and a local University coach runs a camp and talks to the youth coaches to give then help in coaching youth ball. You could also call your old high school coach or a current one for tips. Good Luck! You'll find it can be a very rewarding experience...one that I'm glad I'm doing.
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I would concur with what the others have noted in their posts. However, I would add the following in terms of specifics: btw...How old are these kids? 1.) Fielding ground balls...teach them to "gator" the ball with their throwing hand above their glove and to use their glove like a dust pan. Watch Edgar Renteria, textbook example. 2.) Hitting...weight shift! Front stride foot at 45 degrees coming down on toe and lift back heel when front heel drops and rotate hips...back foot should be on toe with laces towrad the pitcher. 3.) Throw...Sort of what I call gunsight "L". Point the glove elbow toward the target as a sorta gunsite and then get the throwing arm into an "L" position to throw. 4.) Catching...if they can't catch, throw to the side until they gain confidence then work toward their front (assuming little kids). 5.) Baserunning...run through first, stop on second and third, run through home plate. You'll be surprised how confused the little ones are on this. Get a coach in the 1B coach's box and in the 3B coach's box and have the learn to pickup the 1B coach and learn when to go to second. Then have them learn to pick up the 3B coach and teach hem "hold up" (arms in the air), slide (arms going to the grown) and go on to the next base (windmill arm motion). I usually end practice with baserunning and the kids actually LOVE it and can't wait to run. It also helps wear them out for the parents. I will have them get in gator position then shift into the throwing positon in steps slowy and well work on each step, step by step until they get it and then go to live ground balls. Be sure to keep it simple and break it down for them...again assuming little ones. Most of all HAVE FUN and make sure the kids are having fun too. If they're not then back up and make sure you haven't gone overboard! Good luck.
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From the information you provide, I think his problem is not his weight back but rather that his weight TRANSFER is lacking. He may also be "casting" his swing resulting in a "long" or "loop" swing and can't catch up to the ball and get his bat through the zone. Try getting him to keep his hands in more closer to his body if he is "casting" them out. Watch his stride and see if he is transfering his weight correctly. If he is, he should place his front foot at about a 45 degree angle and come down on his toe. Then when his front heel drops he should be raising his back heel and spinning on the back toe...NOT SQUISHING THE BUG. When finished on his swing his back foot should be up on his toe with his laces pointed toward the pitcher.
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I'm trying to find a bat for my son who's small for his age. I've used the charts for bat sizing from various sites and they reccommend a 28" 16oz to 17oz bat. He is 4'-0" tall and only weighs about 47lbs. He is a 7YO (playing machine pitch, he'll have another year of machine pitch next year) and currently using a 26" 15oz LS "Response" Tee-Ball bat and I can clearly tell it's too short. He was using a LS TPX bat 27" 15oz bat but the bat's short barrel was causing him contact problems. Once we switched to the longer barreled (albeit shorter) Tee-Ball bat, he hit much better, making frequent contact. He bats left and has good batting mechanics, he just doesn't have the upper body strength of many of the other bigger kids. He's made a "living" this year on making contact and running...and defense. I'm just looking for additional opinions from some of you who may have dealt with this before. I'm looking for your opinion on bat size/weight as well as bat brand/type based on your experience with smaller kids.
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I've coahed the little guys for a while and have seen this often...the shot-put throw. Here's what I do... First they usually throw "open" or with their chest facing the target. I get them to turn their body sideways to their target and have them point their glove hand elbow at the target...I call it "GUNSIGHT" and tell them it's like a video game and this is their "cursor" for firing. You can usually find photos showing this in SI or on baseball cards to illustrate. Second I teach the "L"....that is to make a "L" with their throwing arm ( forearm and upper arm) and not a "V" which is what most Shotput throwers do, putting the ball against or near the ear. Then step and throw , using their whole body and not just their arm or upper body. Once they get the hang of it, it is eay to remind them with the word..."GUNSIGHT-L". ALSO: Teach them how to properly hold the baseball...Fingers on top, thumb (or as I tell them...the rudder) on the bottom and to throw using their fingers. Alot of the kids who shotput throw I found usually put the ball all the way back into their hand (almost like a change-up) which is why they can't THROW it and have to PUSH it. Get the ball out in the fingers. You'll be surprised how quick they pick this up and improve...I know I have been.
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I have never had much luck with the Worth-"less" bats. I'd stick with Louisville Slugger, Easton or even Demari (if you can afford that one). My son, who's younger than your's use the Louisville Slugger "Response" bat and it has been GREAT. Just be careful as alot of the bats today seem to have a "short" barrel and thin handle. This is why I chose the Response...it seemed to have a longer barrel and for my young kid that what he needs.
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It's similar to using an old tire to hit with a baseball bat.
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My son (7YO) plays both...well he sorta plays golf....however, he swings the golf club right-handed and the baseball bat left-handed. The swings are similar and yet different...thus why my son switches sides. Golf requires an even level swing bringing the upper body into play and minimizing the lower body...baseball swing is opposite. Many MLB play both...so I don't really know how to answeer your question...except to say that I wouldn't let him do one while playing the other. In our house there is no golf until baseball season is over.
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I purchased some equipment for my team yesterday and it got me to wondering how much I've spent this year on the team out of my pocket. Forunately I've always asked parents to purchase a ball or two for practice, which allows me to get a dozen or so practice baseballs each year and then I usually by a dozen myself. This year I've spent probably $200 on balls, some catcher's gear, whiffle balls, etc. Of course some of this will not have to repurchased next year and this is the first year we've had a true catcher. I could have used the league's gear, but I like my guys to have there own from the team for use if we practice away from the existing fields...again MY decision. Since starting in Rookie ball (coach pitch/tee-ball) two years ago, I think I've probably (starting from scratch) spent at least $500.00 out of my own pocket (bats, gloves, whiffle balls, batting tee, catcher's gear, practice bases for non-field use, scorebook, baseballs, baseballs, baseballs, etc.). How much have some of you spent or do you spend out of your own pocket in a year?
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I've learned a neat trick for salvaging wet baseballs and keeping them from being useless. After a "wet" practice, I take a ball bucket and put all the wet baseballs in it. Then, I pour in some of the "Diamond-Dry" type stuff we all use to keep the fields dry. The next day, I take the balls out and wipe of the Diamond-Dry dust and the balls are in great shape. Someone told me that sawdust or kitty litter will have similar results. Any other coaches have any neat "Hints from Heloise" type tips for us?
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I don't coach "kid pitch"...(I coach machine pitch)...but what I've seen from some of those who do coach that level say the problem is that in practice they trust you and see (hopefully) more controlled and consistent pitches. During games the "FEAR" factor of being hit becomes very real, especially if the kid pitching begins to struggle.
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h, I take it that the batter's toes are "facing" the fence when he is in his stance. is this correct? This drill might really work and be simple enough to also work with him on the aforemntioned "steps" of his swing.
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We had problems with the RIF-1 balls. However, the RIF-5 balls worked well without the big bounce for our 5/6 YO coach pitch league. Those RIF-1 balls are almost like using "sponge" balls. The RIF-5's are much better.