Choosing a Baseball Bat

What is the best youth baseball bat? That used to be a relatively easy question to answer as you just surveyed what type of Louieville Slugger was the most popular.

However, the days of one major manufacturer monopolizing the baseball bat industry have passed as well as the wooden bat being the only option.

Today there are many different manufacturers and hundreds of different baseball bats of various compositions. We must understand what we're buying in order to determine what is the best youth baseball bat for our player.

With the inclusion of the standard wood bat, the available types of baseball bats are separated into 3 different categories with Aluminum and Graphite/Titanium lined bats being the remaining two types. Let's exam each of the three categories with the pro and cons associated with each.

A baseball bat made of Aluminum is light weight which allows the player increased bat control and bat speed through the hitting zone. This can be of great benefit to any age player, but especially a younger player just learning the basic mechanics of hitting.

The various mixtures of zinc, magnesium, aluminum and copper increases the size of the bat's Sweet Zone on the bat barrel, which makes the bat more forgiving of a swing where solid contact with the ball is not accomplished. The bat also tends to make the ball travel 5% or more farther than a traditional baseball bat.

A baseball bat made of graphite/titanium lining, is actually an aluminum bat with a reduced amount of aluminum in the barrel head, which is replaced with the graphite/titanium lining around the barrel. This makes the already light aluminum bat, lighter yet, which only enhances bat control and increases bat speed through the hitting zone.

The graphite/titanium lining increases the bats durability, which increases the integrity of the bat's sweet spot. This was, of course the manufacturer's intent, however this could result in the bat's undoing. Due to the increased bat speed through the hitting zone and the increased velocity and speed which the ball comes off the bat, there is a real safety concern for infielders, especially third base and the pitcher.

Some leagues and colleges have begun banning the use of certain types of these bats because of the danger. Make sure your league allows the usage of these types of bats before forking out $300 - $400 for one.

The wooden bat remains a staple of baseball and are made of Maple, Ash, Hickory or a Bamboo combination. The wooden bat offers greater barrel and taper options for the hitter and are less expensive than composites, but also break more frequently, which may result in the cost savings being negated through replacement costs.

Composite bats do have one major flaw which wooden bats do not have, but few people know of it. A composite bat must be properly broke in. That's right. Just as you would break in a new glove, you break in a composite baseball bat.

The general rule of thumb is you must hit 100 to 200 baseballs with the bat before the sweet spot is 100% efficient. The balls must be of a quality leather, so rubber coated baseballs of the type used in batting cages are not allowable.

The leather baseballs must be traveling at least 40 mph and preferably faster, so hitting off a Tee is not allowed. While hitting these 200 pitches, remember to consistently turn the bat an 1/8" each time you hit a ball in order to break in the entire bat barrel and not just one side.

What is the best youth baseball bat available? That's your decision.

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

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What Baseball Scouts Are Looking For - A Parents' Perspective

Trying to understand baseball scouting can be confusing and frustrating for hopeful baseball players, parents and coaches. Why some players are considered "prospects" and get drafted whereas other players who appear to be more successful are not given the time of day, creates the confusion and frustration.

Before going into detail on what baseball scouts are looking for when scouting, there are some questions players and parents should answer as to whether a player is a possible draft choice.

1. Is the position player far and away the best athlete on the team? If a player is not the best athlete on a high school or college team, chances are they do not have major league potential. The only exception is a hitter who has unbelievable power.

2. Does the player or pitcher dominate at his level or have the "wow" factor? This player may or may not have overwhelming statistics but they definitely possess the "wow" factor. A player who displays a skill where everyone watching says "wow" is what I am talking about. Chances are if the player does not over-match or show the wow factor at the pre-professional level, they are not good enough to merit a professional opportunity.

3. Even if a player dominates, is the competition level advanced enough to determine that a player may have pro potential? It is important to watch how a player does when facing the top players on the opposing teams. Many players can dominate against average competition but not against the top competition.

4. Does the player appear to have a love of playing baseball? Many apparently dominant players are never drafted because they do not have a passion for the game. Without an intense passion for the game, scouts know that players will never withstand the rigors of a 162 game season.

I have had many experiences dealing with baseball scouts on my way to a major league career, as well as helping my son play professional baseball. I was a player who had borderline major league skills but was drafted in the major league draft. My son, who has very projectable major league skills, never was drafted into professional baseball. Once again, understanding what scouts are looking for can be confusing and frustrating, but there is a method to the madness.

It is important to understand a couple of common baseball terms that baseball scouts use. The first one is projectable. Baseball scouts are in the business of projecting where a baseball player will be in a few years. They look at players' physical attributes and try to determine if they can realistically play major league baseball. The second term that is necessary to understand is tools. In baseball, scouts rate players tools - running, throwing, fielding, hitting and hitting with power for position players. Pitchers tools are rated on a different scale - arm speed, arm action, arm strength, off speed pitches and control.

Players must possess "plus tools" by the time they reach draft age in order for scouts to consider them for the major league draft. Observing scouts must feel like a drafted player can develop and refine their advanced tools to major league caliber skills. Rarely will a player develop professional tools if they are not evident by the time a player reaches draft age, 18 to 21 years old. Therefore, if a player cannot run, throw or hit close to major league skill levels by these ages, they will not be drafted into professional baseball.

What are those levels for position players?

1. Players must be able to throw the ball at least 85 miles an hour.

2. They must be able to run the 40-yard dash well under 5 seconds, with catchers given a slight exception.

3. They must be able to get the ball to jump off their bat producing groundballs that get through infield holes and line drives that can get to and through the gaps in the outfield, if not out of the park.

4. They must have good hands where they can develop the ability to catch balls hit at major league speeds.

Pitchers:

1. Must be able to throw the ball 90 mile an hours or higher. Pitchers who throw in the high eighties must have great ball movement, control and off-speed pitches.

2. Must display an easy-throwing arm action and demonstrate a respectable amount of control.

Most drafted players have exceptional tools in one or two of the areas and are average in the others tools. Potential star players have the ability to be well above average in all the tools. Baseball scouts are most interested in players' raw skills and not necessarily as concerned with a player's statistics. Scouts ask themselves, "With the proper training, do I see this player playing in the major leagues in a few years?" If they can answer yes to this question, the player is put on the scouting list to be further watched for the intangibles of attitude, heart, character and work ethic.

Once a baseball scout believes a player has potential major league skills and the listed intangibles, they have a good chance of being drafted. Of course, it is not an exact science because a few potential major league players slip through, but baseball scouts do have an advanced, keen eye for talent.

Former major league baseball player, Jack Perconte gives baseball hitting tips and batting practice advice for ballplayers of all ages. His baseball playing lessons, books and advice can be found at http://www.baseballhittinglessons.com/baseball. Jack is the author of two books, The Making of a Hitter and Raising an Athlete - his positive parenting advice and books can be found at http://positiveparentinginsports.com.

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One Player, One Season, Three Teams - How Much Baseball Is Enough?

Youth baseball is a pastime shared by millions. In virtually every town in America on a summer evening, a baseball game is probably played. Perhaps, 10,000 or more games may be played even simultaneously and the outcomes while important to the participants ultimately have little significance in world affairs. Still, many young people and their parents devote countless hours to the preparation, practice, transportation, and games of baseball because they enjoy the game. Dreams of becoming professional ball players abound for pre-teen and teen players. However, the reality for millions of these players is few will actually realize a big-league dream.

The talent and skills necessary to become a professional player are scarce and only found in a select few. Of these players with a chance at a big league dream, the way to realize the dream requires hours of practice and playing hundreds of baseball games during a youth career. The only way to improve at the game is playing it. Repetition is the secret to becoming better at anything. Playing baseball and practicing baseball makes average players become good players and good players become great players or even exceptional players. Playing time mixed with consistent practice is often a recipe for success. In warm weather climates, players usually play longer seasons and have a stronger advantage over players in cold weather climates. In order for cold-weather climate players to improve, they have to play more games in compressed periods of time. To improve, players seek the best competition during these compressed periods of baseball worthy weather. However, some argue there may be too much baseball if five, or six or even ten games are played in a week for an 8-12 week period in the late spring and summer.

How much baseball can a young player play? Does playing five or six days a week make a player better? Is there something to the mental toughness a player develops by playing the game everyday and even for more than one team? What other intangible attributes are learned, mastered, and developed when a player plays "a lot of" baseball? Does a player become more confident, exude stronger leadership, and maybe even have more fun through more involvement with his/her friends on multiple teams?

This spring and early summer, I discovered some of the answers to these questions while coaching my son in three baseball programs simultaneously. While my son and I did not originally set out to become involved in three programs at the same time, opportunity and whispers from divine places seemed to indicate this was a path to take at this time in my son's life in the game.

Another aspect related to this decision was my son's age and the milestone leap he was moving into and leaving in the game of baseball. As a twelve year old 7th grader, he has played with boys mostly a year or more older than him. Since the age of eight, he was playing 9U baseball and continued playing with older boys through his baseball career. When boys move on to 13U baseball, as many involved in the game know the field dimensions change to Pony dimensions with longer bases, 54-foot pitching distance and deeper fences. The game takes on larger proportions. The 12U fields are approximately 10-15% smaller on average and this can have notable outcomes on the players' effectiveness and contribution in the game.

Recognizing this time as a one-year window for him to play both dimensions and perhaps have some great experience being a mentor and leader on a 12U team while playing 13U baseball also, we decided to pursue the challenge to play on two travel teams in the spring and summer. Moreover, because of the rules of our village, my son would also be required to play on a house league team during the months of April, May, and early June. Therefore, he would be on three teams simultaneously while most boys would only play for two teams.

The schedule would be rigorous from early April to late June, playing over 60 baseball games in this short 10-11 week period. The average player would play 30-35 games. There would be a number of days he would play 3 games in one day for two different teams or maybe even all three teams. Some parents and coaches would question whether this is possible to do without too many game conflicts ensuing and conflicts would usually occur if some preplanning and scheduling did not happen. In order to make this happen, we examined the usual routine of our house league and the beginning and ending seasons of the two travel teams for which he played. While there was some overlap, we recognized most of his house league games would be played on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from mid April to mid June. Therefore, his travel games with his 12U team could be scheduled for Saturday and Sundays and some Tuesdays and Thursdays. He would have games 5-7 days a week on average with some double headers on weekends with tournaments etc.

To make this program of baseball work, we had to have agreement from coaches that my son would miss some house league games to play with his 12U team in travel games and also his 12U coaches would not expect him to make every practice scheduled during the playing season. Additionally, he had to make his 13U team a priority if they had a game and miss 12U games if there was conflict with a 13U game. In total, during the months of April, May, and June, approximately 8-10 game conflicts arose and the agreement was fulfilled by my son to play where he suppose to play.

One of the most interesting challenges in coaching him and helping him navigate this process was switching between different uniform and equipment needs for the different teams. Baseball in 13U uses metal spikes and 12U still uses cleats so he needed two pairs of shoes. He had four different uniforms, one uniform for house league, one for 13U, and two for 12U (one for home games, one for away games). Many times we had to pack three uniforms and head out the door. We had to make sure he had both pairs of shoes, both batting helmets from his two travel teams, and all his gloves.

As a parent and head coach for one of teams and an assistant for the other two teams, I also had to be very organized. I laid out all my equipment daily and prepared all my line-ups in advance. Communication via email was pivotal to the success of this endeavor. Using GPS to find travel games all over our region was also a necessary component. My wife and other family members showed patience while I participated with my son in these games. Getting rides from other coaches and parents also become necessary at times because of various work conflicts, which arose.

In assessing the value of the experience for my son, my conclusion is he benefited from the intensity of the experience and the repetition of the game. He was given great responsibility to help his 12U team and afforded the opportunity to play in virtually every position on the field because of his skills. For his 13U travel team he usually plays second base only and pitches occasionally. By playing all positions in the field, he learned the game from numerous perspectives and became a smarter baseball player. He also developed his defensive acumen of the game and became a stronger field general on the infield and outfield. He came to enjoy playing catcher; a position for which he had shown little interest in before and he showed great skill when given the chance by playing 12U baseball. His hitting improved in his house league over previous seasons and his confidence at the plate improved. While his overall batting numbers did not jump off the page, his quality at the plate improved by having a better ability to foul off pitches, make contact with the ball, and find ways to get on base.

There were some small consequences of playing so much baseball in that he had little time for some of his other friends or interest during this time. He also was tired at times and perhaps felt some reservation about throwing on the uniform and playing once again. However, he always moved forward and when he got to the field, he went about his business and gave his best on the field. I believe he learned a great deal about himself in this process. He learned he is capable of doing more than he thought. He realized he could be a leader on a team and others looked to him for leadership. He had enjoyment through his interactions on and off the field with 34 other players from three teams. Some of the core intangibles his 12U coaches shared with me are how his presence on the field inspired his teammates to improve their awareness and game skills. Having him around gave them more confidence.

My hope is the experience will translate for him to more success in the game of baseball and in his life. While it is too early to know if he has significant future in baseball, the odds are not likely, I know he has a future path in life. The lessons learned on the diamond this year, I am certain will translate into leadership in some future endeavor. I always like to think that we never know how far reaching something we say or do today may have on someone or something in our lives. This past baseball season is reminder of this belief.

Dr. Warren Bruhl is a practicing pediatric chiropractor in Glencoe, IL. Dr. Bruhl has coached youth baseball for 11 seasons and spent thousands of hours developing youth baseball players. Dr. Bruhl is available for questions and comments at dc4kids@aol.com.

Dr. Warren Bruhl

Dr. Warren Bruhl has practiced on the North Shore of Chicago for 21 years. He is board certified in chiropractic pediatrics through the ICA Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics. Dr. Bruhl has been featured on ABC News and Parenting Life. He is the author of, "The Chiropractors Exercise Manual." Dr. Bruhl practices a variety of soft chiropractic techniques that involve no cracking of the spine. He also offers his patients traditional cracking spinal methods. His practice is diverse and offers massage therapy, exercise rehab, physical therapy, clinical detoxification programs, and nutritional therapy. Dr. Bruhl is a practitioner who practices what he teaches. He is a former bodybuilder and triathlete. He loves to coach little league baseball and is highly active in the community. Dr. Bruhl is married with three children. He is available for public speaking and writing health related articles for publication. Dr. Bruhl may be reached at (847)835-4700 or contacted through his website at http://www.lakefrontchiro.com

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Better Youth Baseball Gloves

A good ball glove can have a big effect on youth's enjoyment of playing baseball and even about whether baseball is a worthwhile sport for them to participate in. Kids could be playing many other sports, and in fact, participation in basketball and soccer is growing fast in the US. There's no better summer sport or pastime than baseball though. It has a rich American tradition that other sports don't possess and that's an important part of your own child's sports experience.

Baseball is a game that is dependent on equipment though, and if the equipment is poor quality or in doesn't suit the kids using them, it can dampen their enthusiasm for little league baseball. It's important to buy youth baseball gloves for your child, not small adult baseball gloves which will discourage your youngster.

They had poor equipment back in the old days, including rotted out or horribly stiff leather gloves. Some would actually throw the glove down and try to catch with their bare hands. It may not be that bad today, but in visiting your local sporting goods store, you've probably wondered about the quality of the gloves on the store shelves. Some are weird shapes and feel uncomfortable and the selection is many times limited.

The Good Old Days

Have you ever wondered whether baseball glove manufacturers are producing better ball gloves now than in decades past? Well, if you happen to have an old baseball glove still around and compare it to modern youth baseball gloves, you'll notice a big difference. Those old gloves didn't make catching and fielding easy for infielders, outfielders and especially catchers. You actually had to have some outstanding athletic skills and knowledge of catching to make a catch. In those days, you used both hands to catch a ball because you had to.

That's not to say these new gloves are suited to the ball player that's using them. These kids range in physical size greatly, and play different positions. The child that has a new, well-fitted glove is going to catch the ball better and play with a lot more confidence.

Young ball players with their metal bats are hitting the ball hard, so infielders and outfielders need good gloves just to catch them, let alone throw the runner out at first. We shouldn't just assume that any glove would do for our child. Each youngster has their own level of coordination and confidence, along with their own style and preferences, and fortunately, there are so many types and styles of gloves available now, that you should be able to find one they like. You don't see kids get hurt often but it does happen and it will happen more often with the child that feels uncomfortable with the baseball equipment they're using.

Bad Bounces

Last week, while watching a youth baseball game (11 year olds) a batter hit a ball hard up the middle, fortunately missing the pitcher. The ball hit the side of the mound and bounced up to hit the base umpire in the shoulder. She was hurt and lay on the ground several minutes before getting up. That highlighted well, the speed the balls are reaching and that the young infielder playing with awkward baseball glove is going to playing with fear. Yes, some fear is good, as it keeps them sharp and makes the game exciting, but too much fear and they're going to get discouraged.

Many of the kids on these teams have gloves that are too small, and overwhelmingly, you see their reluctance to catch well-hit grounders. They generally wave at it going by them and sigh in relief that it wasn't hit right at them. One youngster in the outfield ran to make a diving catch only to have the ball pop out of his glove. They used to see that if your glove touched a ball, you should have caught it and it is an error for you. When a ball is in your glove, it should stay in there. In this kid's case, the ball was clearly in his glove and yet it popped out. The reason for that is that the glove didn't fit his hand and the web wouldn't close tightly.

He walked dejectedly back to centerfield, his position, and cursed at himself for dropping it. It was like a scene out of a Charlie Brown episode. If he'd hung onto that ball, he would have been walking on clouds and be the pride of the team. I don't have to tell you how important peer pressure is with kids these days and when kids never catch the ball, it can deflate the team and even the crowd of parents watching the game. Sometimes, it's downright torture to watch a ball game if the kids can't catch or throw properly.

Young pitchers too, can have trouble throwing strikes, and after walking batter after batter, you can sense disappointment. The glove on the pitcher's hand acts as a counterbalance when throwing and if it doesn't feel comfortable for him, you may be in for a long inning.

A fair number of kids come from homes that can't afford a new glove every year and they may not be able to afford baseball shoes. If there's one piece of equipment you need to focus on for youth baseball players, it has to be the glove. Your child is out there standing for half of the game, with this glove on their hand. If it's uncomfortable, and doesn't fit, that has to take some of the enjoyment out of it.

There's a mind-boggling array of youth baseball brands out there to choose from Rawling, Mizuno, Wilson, Spalding, Rawlings, Nokona, Akadema, Kelly, Nike, Louisville, SSK and more. The problem with many of these big brand names is not only the inflated prices associated with these brands, it's the weight and stiffness of the gloves. The materials and the stitching are sewn well enough. They aren't designed with kids in mind who after all, don't have time to break the glove in. Within one year, they will have likely outgrown the glove, so what's the point of buying a glove like that? The glove ends up unused in a closet or on the garage floor becoming a nuisance object.

Kidsportsinc.com offers a good selection of baseball, soccer, basketball, golf, boxing and football equipment for kids. The Web site is all about low to mid-priced sporting goods and it?s the kind of equipment kids love. There are lots of fun sports games too. You?ll find kidsportsinc.com?s selection of youth baseball gloves and youth baseball equipment is outstanding. Speedy delivery and an outstanding reputation make kidsportsinc.com the place to buy children and youth?s baseball gloves.

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3 Tips for Betting Baseball

Baseball is one of most misunderstood sports when it comes to betting. This misunderstanding is the reason why many find betting on baseball extremely difficult.

The main reason that makes baseball difficult to bet on is the length of the season and the number of games that are played. Each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams plays 162 games in a season. That equals 4,860 games to bet during the regular season. Then there is the playoffs and World Series.

With the number of games in a season, you must have good money management. However, money management alone will not enable you to win while betting on baseball. You need sound baseball handicapping strategies and tactics as well as proper money management to profit by betting on baseball.

Even without advanced baseball betting strategies, a bettor can be placed on the track to profitable baseball betting by following a few simple baseball betting tips.

Limit the Number of Games

With 4,860 games in a season, there are over 29,000 different bets that can be made in a season when you take in consideration of all the different bet types such as runline, moneyline, over/unders and first five innings.

Simple math tells you that you must limit your baseball bets to only your strongest plays and opinions. After all, the more baseball games you bet on means the more games that you must win to maintain a profitable winning percentage.

Many baseball bettors fall victim to betting too many games because they listen to so many opinions and place extra bets like parlays or want action on a game because it is on television. Regardless of the reason, betting too many games is an equation for losing.

To increase your odds on betting baseball and maintain a healthy betting bankroll during the baseball season, try to limit the games that you bet to only the ones that you thoroughly handicap and have a strong opinion about.

Putting Too Much Weight on the Impact of a Injured Player

In a sport like football, star players can be the difference between a win or loss. When a star quarterback, running back or cornerback goes down, the opposing team might find an advantage.

The outcome of a baseball game, however, isn't affected as much by the loss of one star player. This is because baseball is the ultimate team sport.

Public baseball bettors believe that the loss of a star player will lead to a completely different line-up and defensive games.

However, in a baseball game a player typically has only 3-6 at bats in a game. If you take that into consideration, that stud power-hitter might not decrease the run production as much as you think.

When it comes to defense, many teams have defensive specialist. Major League Baseball teams are comprised of the most talent baseball players in the world, when one player goes down, they typically have enough talent to compensate for that absence.

Though it is true that multiple injuries can affect how a team plays, the loss of one star does often doesn't affect a team as much as the public believes.

Betting on Highly Public Team

Teams like the Red Sox and Yankees are always on television. Because they are highly public teams and there is plenty of information to be found about them, many baseball bettors love to bet on these teams.

The problem with betting these highly public teams is that you are losing value in your baseball bet. Not only do these teams garner attention from the public bettors, but the oddsmakers pay closer attention to them as well. Because of this, the odds on these teams will be tighter and typically higher.

If you bet on highly public teams night in and night out, you will not be receiving the best value on your baseball bets. To find spots of real value while betting on baseball, you must diversify your teams and examine situations and pitching match-ups.

About The Author

Frank Benjamin is the co-founder of the Sports Betting Academy that includes free tips for betting baseball.

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A History of Baseball Caps

Baseball caps serve many functions. They aren't just seen on the field but on the streets, in the stands and almost anyone you look. Baseball caps have an interesting history, the first ones were worn by the New York Knickerbockers and they were made of straw.

There have been many styles of baseball caps throughout the years, ten different styles were advertised in 1888 in Spaulding's Base Ball Guide. You could buy a baseball cap for 12 cents to $2.

Now baseball caps are available in numerous styles and colors. You can get a baseball cap that represents your favorite team. Baseball caps are sold at all the professional games and in sporting good and specialty stores around the world.

Baseball caps are worn by people of all walks of life and income levels. You see baseball caps not only at the games but at restaurants, parties, on the beach and in airports.

People sometimes wear baseball caps to make a statement about which team they support. The lucky ones have had their baseball caps signed by a favorite player. These baseball caps are treasured by their owners.

Baseball caps are comfortable to wear and adjustable. They are often made of fabric that "breathes" making them a cool choice even on a hot day. Baseball caps keep the sun out of your face and even deflect raindrops.

There is no age limit to the wearing of a baseball cap. From the smallest of children to the oldest fan, there is a baseball cap made to suit nearly everyone.

Whether you are a faithful attendee of the pro baseball games or just someone who likes to wear baseball caps, check out all the baseball caps and find one or two or three.... that is calling your name.

Ken Austin

Baseball Gear and Equipment

Sports Resource Guide [http://www.a1sportsresource.com/]

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The History of Baseball in Japan

Horace Wilson, a professor at Kaisei School in Tokyo, introduced baseball to Japan in between 1867 & 1872, historians disagree on the exact year. The Japanese called the game Yakkyu, which translates into "Field Ball."

The era known as the Meiji restoration period, a period when the Japanese began to modernize their society and was greatly influenced by Western culture, was fertile ground for the new sport.

Baseball immediately gained popularity because the Japanese people viewed the one-on-one competition of pitcher vs. batter psychologically similar to the native Sumo wrestling. The timing and special harmony required between body and mind for such a match up was a natural fit for their culture and it surpassed all other sports being introduced at that time.

Not all of Japanese society agreed with allowing Western culture to infiltrate Japanese society and adamantly spoke against it. The newspaper, Asahi Shinbun, ran continuous editorials proclaiming the "Evils of Baseball" and what it was doing to the Japanese people.

One prominent doctor wrote an editorial maintaining the continuous throwing of a baseball would cause the body to develop lopsided and had negative effects on the brain.

Although there were hundreds of baseball teams popping up in Japan, it wasn't until Tokyo University added it to their sports program that the game was legitimized. In 1896 the University team defeated an American team, the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club, 29 to 4 becoming the first recorded International Baseball game in Asia.

In 1913 Matsutara Shoriki, a baseball enthusiast and wealthy newspaper owner, sponsored an All American baseball team tour, which traveled throughout Japan playing College All - Star teams.

With the quality of American players which included, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmy Fox, it was not surprising the Americans won all 17 games they played.

Modern Japanese Baseball is called the Nippon Professional Baseball League. Not surprisingly, since America introduced the game, the rules and technical aspects are nearly identical to American baseball.

The Nippon League is divided into two Divisions, the Central and Pacific leagues, which is identical to the National and American Leagues of MLB. The 6 teams of the Central Division utilizes the designated hitter, as our American league, but the Pacific League, as our National League does not use the designated hitter.

The season begins in April and ends in a Championship series in October, however their schedule is 144 games long while MLB is 162 games.

There are a few distinct and large differences between the two countries. The Japanese allow games to end in a "Tie" after 12 innings. This is a cultural necessity as trains are the main source of transportation and fans could not be allowed to miss the last train of the night.

The Japanese baseball is smaller and is wound tighter than the American baseball, which makes it travel farther. The baseball coupled with Japanese baseball stadiums being smaller than American Parks, 5 teams play in extremely undersized parks, any comparison of Japanese and American Baseball Players' accomplishments are extremely skewed.

Jim ( Coach ) Bain is a former Minor League Player and Coach of Youth Baseball for over 10 years. 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

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Professional Baseball Gloves

Professional baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, watched live and on screens by millions of fans. Professional baseball players are subjected to repetitive stress and strain injuries from batting and pitching. Different designs of professional baseball gloves are available to suit individual needs.

If the glove is uncomfortable, it may affect performance in the field. For the best performance on the field, select the right sized baseball glove. Usually, professional baseball gloves measure not more than 12 inches. Buying an oversized baseball glove can lead to inconsistent play. So be cautious enough to purchase appropriate sized gloves.

Another factor to be considered is the quality of the gloves. Consider the material when selecting professional baseball gloves. The gloves come in a variety of materials, and the player can choose from synthetic, leather, and treated leather. In addition, the player should determine the size of the pocket and the back and wrist adjustments that suit their needs.

In order to maximize performance and durability, special care must be given to professional baseball gloves. Apply glove oil to the pocket, break, and web areas of the glove with a dry cloth. Too much oil can cause the leather to become too soft, flexible, and heavy, so the gloves should be oiled lightly. Professional baseball gloves are best stored in dry places.

To meet the demands of professional players, customized professional baseball gloves are also available. For custom professional baseball gloves, the player has to specify the size, material, type of back, color, webbing, and lacing he wants. Today, there are several manufacturers that produce professional baseball gloves. Online stores are also available to purchase professional baseball gloves

Baseball Gloves provides detailed information on Baseball Gloves, Baseball Glove Reviews, Custom Baseball Gloves, Baseball Batting Gloves and more. Baseball Gloves is affiliated with Wood Baseball Bats.

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Baseball Glove Care

The latest quick-turn baseball glove repair I did recently was just another case of glove neglect...probably from the start. Just a little baseball glove care right after the glove was bought and a little more during the playing season would have prevented the breaks that I was now repairing.

Of course, the breaks happened during the new high school season so glove downtime was a bad thing. And as I sat there repairing this glove it was clear that it never really had any glove care at all, probably ever. When I got the glove, the leather was stiff, the laces were hard and brittle in places and the glove was not far away from just coming apart. Sad thing is, it wasn't that old of a baseball glove and it was a fairly expensive brand name glove.

So here are some Baseball Glove Care Tips to consider for your new glove and your older glove so that you can keep your glove looking great and feeling great. But most importantly, you will avoid those nuisance breaks and tears that cause you to lose your favorite glove for a number of games while repairs are being done.

Brand New Glove

Brand new gloves are usually very dry and stiff. Left untreated after being at the mercy of water, dirt, mud, sun and heat during the season, the leather will start to break down. This will show up as early wear and tear on the glove...broken laces and ripped leather way before this normally might happen.

One of the most important things to do for your baseball glove is to condition it when it's brand new. This softens everything up...leather and laces. It also protects the leather against water, sun, heat and any other nasty environmental elements. It's convenient if the new glove is bought in the off-season so that the glove can sit after the conditioner is applied so that it can soak in better.
Probably the most important thing is to not use oils on your baseball glove. Use conditioners that are pastes and/or lanolin based. Oils, like neatsfoot oil, make your glove heavy and wet but even worse, oils can clog the pores in the leather and this will eventually weaken the leather and cause it to basically just disintegrate. You can see this in older gloves that were treated with oils and are falling apart.

Before The Season

Inspect the glove lacing and tighten any really loose runs and repair or replace any broken laces. This probably should have been done after the last season ended.
If nothing was done to the baseball glove after the last season, clean it and rub in some conditioner.
If the glove was cleaned and conditioned after the last season, maybe a light coat of conditioner could be applied if the glove seems a little dry.

During The Season

When the glove gets wet and muddy, get the mud off and let the glove dry out by itself...no ovens and don't leave it out in the sun to dry. Let it dry inside by itself. If you notice the leather feeling a little dried out because of a number of wet/dry cycles, just apply a light coat of conditioner at some point when you see this happening to your baseball glove.
Long dry spells where the glove experiences real hot, dry weather may require a light coat of conditioner at times. Clean off dirt and dust and apply conditioner.
Keep laces snug, like when you originally bought the glove.
Fix broken laces. This shouldn't really happen that often if you have kept the glove clean and conditioned. However, you should fix broken laces as soon as you can. It's a good idea to learn, or try to do this yourself both from a cost standpoint and not having to lose your glove for a few days or a week.

After The Season


Clean off as much dirt, dust and dry mud from the baseball glove as you can.
Tighten any loose laces.
Repair any broken laces or replace laces that you know may break the next season.
Store the baseball glove in a place that's not directly in the sunlight and not exposed to heat sources. You don't want to dry the glove out during the offseason.

Results

If you apply the baseball glove care tips above you can keep your glove looking and feeling great. The leather will maintain its color and softness. If you keep the laces snug and strong, the baseball glove will maintain the shape that it took as you broke it in to fit your hand when the glove was new. and you can avoid unforeseen breaks in lacing leading to downtime and the temporary loss of your favorite glove.

Mainly, the baseball glove lasts....and prevents you from going through the hassle of buying a new (and expensive!) glove and then going through the break-in process once again. And it's just one of those things...the longer you play with and have your favorite glove, the better you become with it.

Baseball Glove Care. Just Do It!

Do your own Baseball Glove Repairs. Learn how to repair, relace and restore your own baseball glove with "Fix That Glove". Save yourself time and money and avoid the hassle of losing your favorite glove for a few days or weeks.

Baseball Glove Repair

http://www.BaseballGloveRestore.com/

Chico Reese has been closely involved in youth baseball, softball and High School Baseball over the last twelve years. He also is known as "The Doctor" for his quick baseball glove repairs and restorations for many kids and adults throughout the summer.

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How Can You Tell If The Sunglasses Are Baseball Sunglasses?

Baseball sunglasses are the ones that major league baseball players wear to help reduce the glare of the sun when they have to look up to see the ball. Baseball sunglasses need to have certain properties to make them suitable sunglasses for baseball players. They need to significantly reduce the glare, protect the eyes from UV rays and be shatterproof.

Oakley is one of the designers that makes baseball sunglasses. Oakley sun glasses have polarized lenses, but according to baseball players the Nike amber glasses for baseball are the best for clear vision on sunny days. The Nike sunglasses are not just for baseball and are suited for anyone. The word amber in the name does not mean that the lenses are amber colored. In fact the lenses in these sunglasses are either gray or brown.

Some people might liken the brown colored lenses to amber glasses for baseball. The main thing to look for in baseball sunglasses is the amount of UV protection they afford. Since baseball is a sport played during the hot summer season, this is one quality that has to be included in the design of these sun glasses. Other qualities that baseball players look for is lightweight and this is what you get whether you buy the Nike amber sunglasses or the Oakley design.

With the development of baseball sunglasses, you hardly ever see the professional players with black streaks under their eyes to reduce the glare. The polarized lenses help neutralize the glare of the light. With amber sunglasses for baseball and the different colors of the lenses, the tint helps to enhance the color of the ball as it flies through the air. This lets the baseball players look directly into the sun and still see where the ball is.

Although these sunglasses are called baseball sunglasses, they are also popular with those who like outdoor activities in the snow. The amber sunglasses for baseball are really good at reducing the reflection off the snow and help to prevent snow blindness. Look for sunglasses with polarized lenses, amber or gray tints and those with 95% UV protection. Protecting your eyes is the most important factor in choosing sunglasses, although when it comes to fashion, these glasses do pass the test.

Baseball sunglasses, because you need maximum protection when you're playing baseball.

For a website totally devoted to Sunglasses visit Peter's Website Sunglasses Explained and find out about Sunglasses as well as Discount Sunglasses and more, including Gucci Sunglasses, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Rayban Sunglasses, Chanel Sunglasses, Oakley Sunglasses and more.

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Baseball Hitting Drills That Really Work

I've been using baseball hitting drills to make myself a better hitter ever since I was a kid. Which is a long time ago. One thing I had that maybe not everyone has, was the benefit of great coaching. From my Dad in little league up through high school and American Legion Baseball and then in the Minor Leagues.

Often times little league coaches are well intentioned parents who have kids on the team. But they might not know what makes a good hitter. You have to know the proper mechanics of a good baseball swing before you can practice them. Otherwise, you will be practicing improper mechanics.

Rocky Balboa vs The Russian

Remember in the movie Rocky 4 when Rocky was training for the fight with the Russian? There was the Russian training on all that high tech equipment and what was Rocky doing? He was out in the snow pulling a sled full of rocks and splitting firewood! The point is that you don't have to invest a lot of money in all kinds of expensive training aids.

Here are some easy to learn baseball hitting drills that will not only improve your swing, but cost little if any money. And most of them you can do by yourself.

Muscle Memory

I was taught early about muscle memory. One quick example of muscle memory is tying your shoes. Try it right now. See how fast you can tie your shoes. You do it without really thinking about it. That's because you have done it so many times that your brain and muscles almost do it for you. That's muscle memory.

I still play baseball in what's called the Men's Senior Baseball League. It's a league for us old guys who still want to play but aren't up to competing with the young guys anymore.

I'm not bragging when I say that I'm one of the best hitters in the league.

But it's not because I have more skill or talent than anyone else. It's because I relentlessly practice the proper mechanics of a good baseball swing.

The goal is to train your body to swing properly without thinking about it so that in a game you only have to concentrate on hitting the baseball. You can't be thinking about staying balanced, staying back, short stride, etc.

Practice the proper mechanics over and over and Muscle Memory will take care of this for you.

Visualization

Visualization is becoming a popular training aid. We were doing it 35 years ago. With all of the baseball hitting drills I did, visualization was used all the time. Another word that describes visualization is pretending. See yourself in your mind hitting line drives. Make pretend scenarios and live them through your mind while practicing your baseball hitting drills.

Pretend that you have a 3 and 1 count and the pitcher hangs a curve ball. See yourself, as you swing, driving the ball off the 375 foot sign in right center field. This actually helps with muscle memory and makes these drills more fun.

Staying Back

If I had to teach a young hitter from scratch, and I have, about the proper swing, the first thing we would talk about would be staying back. I have seen so many young hitters lunge at the ball when they swing. It's like they can't wait for the ball to get to them so they go forward to hit the ball.

We used to do a simple drill in the minor leagues that helped me to learn to stay back. Our coach would have us set up in our batting stance. He told us to pretend that there was a steel rod that went through the top of our head, down through our body and came out our butt. This steel rod was then anchored into the ground so that we could not move forward.

Then he would have us step and swing. The goal here is to step with the front foot, but not allow your body to move forward. When doing this drill, think of your step as a reach towards the pitcher. Now, for this drill to be effective, you have to practice it many times every day. Especially if you were a lunger before. Don't go front to hit the ball. Be patient and let the baseball come to you.

You can add to this drill by practicing your head discipline. Your head should go down to the baseball when you swing. Your body will follow your head. So if you are pulling your head out when you swing, your front shoulder will follow and open to quickly which will totally screw up your swing.

Practice your balance with this drill. When you swing, you should be balanced. Don't swing so hard that you fall around in the batters box.

Practice all of these things with this drill but take them one at a time. Don't try to work on three things at the same time. Work on staying back for a few swings, then concentrate on balance and so on.

Dominant Eye

We all have a dominant eye even though we don't realize it. Try this.

Take the index finger and thumb of your left hand and make a V. Do the same thing with the index finger and thumb of your right hand. Now touch your two index fingers and two thumbs together to form a triangle. Pick out an object on the wall and look at it through the triangle. Then, close your right eye. Can you still see the object? If not, close your left eye. Can you see it now? The eye that you can see the object with is your dominant eye. So when you set up in the batter's box, make darn sure you are seeing the pitcher with your dominant eye.

If you are a right handed hitter and you are right eye dominant, you might have to turn your head a little more to make sure you can see the pitcher with your right eye.

Ball On A String

Here's another cool drill you can do by yourself. And you can do this drill all day. Take a baseball and an eye hook. An eye hook is small and looks like a screw on the bottom and has a loop on top. Look for them at any hardware store for a few cents.

Push the screw end against the baseball and turn it in as far as you can. If you have to, put a screw driver through the loop to help turn it in.

The take some string and hang the baseball from your garage ceiling.

I hang mine from the railing for my automatic door opener or put a small nail in a rafter in the basement and tie the string to it.

Use enough string so that the ball is about thigh high. Swing the baseball out away from you. When it comes back hit it with your bat. Now, don't smack the daylights out of it with a full swing. Just tap it with the bat. Make contact. Play pepper with it.

This is a hand-eye-coordination drill. You aren't all that concerned about mechanics here. At first it will seem hard to even make contact. But the longer you do this drill, the better you'll get. Concentrate on watching the bat hit the ball. Tap it right back at the imaginary pitcher.

You can add to this drill. I was visiting a local sporting good store and found some small, training baseballs. They look and feel exactly like a regulation sized baseball but are smaller. Using this smaller ball will hone your hand eye coordination even more.

You can also replace your bat with a piece of wooden dowling rod from your local hardware store. Or use an old broom handle. Make sure it's at least as long as your bat. Saw some off if you have too. Now with a smaller bat and smaller ball you can really work on your hand, eye coordination.

After you get good at this drill, change the height of the baseball. Hang it higher or lower and keep practicing.

Super Pepper

When I was a kid my brother and I played this game constantly. I think you all know what pepper is. One guy with a bat and several fielders. The fielders toss the ball to the batter and he taps the ball back to the fielders. Since it was just my brother and me we did it a little different. Stand about twenty feet apart. The object for the guy pitching is to get the ball in the strike zone. For the batter, the object is to hit a line drive right back to the pitcher. Again, you are not taking a full swing. Just tap the ball back at the pitcher.

The spin we put on this drill was that the batter gets to hit as long as he hits the ball so that the pitcher can catch it on a line. If the batter hits the ball on the ground, over the pitcher's head or far enough away from him that he can't catch it, the batter and pitcher switch places.

At first this will be difficult. But you'll improve. My brother and I did this drill for hours on end and had a blast doing it. It got to the point where we seldom missed.

This drill forces you to watch the ball and concentrate on making square contact. What happened to my swing was that in a game I would hit smoking line drives to center and right center field. It's a great drill.

Heavy Bat

Back when I played American Legion Baseball we used wooden bats. During a game, I broke my favorite, Roberto Clemente, Louisville Slugger. My Dad taped up the handle. Then he drilled big holes in the barrel and filled them with lead. The lead made the bat pretty heavy. I would stand in front of our basement wall and put a shop light behind me so I could see my shadow on the wall. Then I'd swing that heavy bat over and over again.

You can substitute lead with one of those weighted donuts. Practice your mechanics while swinging this heavy bat. Make sure you are staying back. See the pitcher in your mind and pretend to hit different pitches. Make a game out of it and see yourself driving the ball off the opposite field fence or pulling a curve ball out of the park.

One thing to concentrate on while doing this drill is balance. The heavy bat will tend to pull you off balance. Don't let it. Swing normal but don't swing real hard. Make sure you keep good balance right into your follow through. What you'll find after doing this drill for awhile is that your bat speed will increase dramatically. And that's what produces power. Swing faster, not harder

Reverse Swing Drill

I read somewhere a long time ago that practicing your swing backwards helps build Muscle Memory. The article I read said that Japanese players do this drill all the time. So, being consumed with the goal of becoming the best hitter that I could be, I practiced my swing in reverse so many times, that here it is almost 35 years later and I can still do it.

A good way to prepare for this drill is to have someone video tape your swing. Then watch your swing forward and backwards, over and over again until it's in your head so to speak.

If you don't have someone to video tape you, it's OK. You can still do this drill. I always did this drill in slow motion. Get into your stance. Slowly go through your swing. At the end of your follow through, just reverse the sequence until you are back in your stance. It's like pressing the rewind button on your swing.

This is actually a fun drill to do and as I said, it helps build Muscle Memory.

Tennis Racket Drill

Here's one I'll bet you can't do. But once you master it, you'll most likely be the only player on your team that can do it.

I'm sure you have seen tennis players bouncing the tennis ball up and down off of their racket. Do this with a bat and a baseball. This is a great hand, eye coordination drill. I guarantee you won't be able to do this at first. This drill will show you just how good, or bad, your hand, eye coordination is.

After doing this for a couple of minutes each day, you be surprised at your progress. Doing this with a tennis racket is easy. Doing it with a round bat and a round ball isn't.

These are a few of the drills I used to do and still do. When I was a kid and decided that baseball was what I wanted to do for a living, I practiced these drills almost until my arms fell off. These drills worked and worked dramatically. But a lot of time was spent perfecting my swing.

There will be times when you would rather watch TV or play video games. Go ahead, but then don't expect to be the best hitter around. Your physical talent does have something to do with it. But these drills will make anyone a better hitter.

Steve Ramer is an artist and former minor leaguer. His specialty is creating hand painted baseballs of your favorite players past and present.
He is also the owner of Famous Baseball Players.net
Please visit Steve's website to see his hand painted baseballs.
http://www.famousbaseballplayers.net

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Baseball - America's Game?

The game of Baseball is known as "America's Pastime," "America's Sport," "As American as Baseball, Apple Pie and Chevy." Have you ever asked yourself the question, why? Is baseball really America's game, or one of the most successful media and public relation coup to ever be pulled off?

There are people, very knowledgeable people, who can provide statistics which clearly demonstrate that Football has supplanted baseball as America's number one sport.

Others bear witness to facts of Golf, through the amount of amateur players, revenue and name recognition, has a valid claim on the number one spot. Let's not forget America's frenzy to enter and become a valid competitor in the World's sport of "Futbol," soccer as we call it.

The adage "Figures don't lie and Liars figure," which means anyone can twist numbers around to substantiate whatever claim they want, probably explains the debate as well as any other hypothesis. It's not the numbers, fan attendance, revenue, television exposure or any other subjective manner of evaluating.

As they say on late night television talk shows, here's my top ten reasons baseball is, has been and always will be America's Sport.

1. Baseball originated in America as an American game. I know there's some petty arguing about the game having roots to the Old World and some pretty far fetched stretching to compare the sport to some obscure game which included a club and an object which was struck, but America made Baseball, period.

2. Baseball is not actually the story. The story of baseball is a collection of thousands of individual stories of struggle, fear, sacrifice and hard work of the players of the game.

3. Baseball is most likely the most color blind institute, including the court systems, in America. A person's value is determined by his talent, not skin color or nationality.

4. Baseball embroils the very nature Americans have about "Hard Work" being rewarded. Practice hard enough, long enough and you'll succeed.

5. Baseball encompasses America's contradictions. Americans are fiercely independent, yet form extremely strong bonds with one another when placed into a team situation. An opponent may be despised today, but instantly become a valued teammate when acquired by trade the next day.

6. Baseball and Marines have a lot in common. More or less just as Marines adapt, improvise and succeed, baseball also adheres to this creed. If a team lacks home run hitters, they create runs with their speed.

7. Baseball ethically can not and will not tolerate cheaters, as the sense of fair play and honesty are ingrained in the sport, much as it is in Americans themselves.

8. Baseball can create fierce loyalty in people. A Chicago fan can blast the Cubs team all he wants, but a St. Louis Cardinals fan, although saying the same thing, would end up with a fat lip.

9. Baseball holds history in high regard. The vaulted New York Yankees are on a slightly higher pedestal than all other teams because of their history and famous historic players.

10. Baseball is the Champion of the Underdog. Teams, or players, which overcome the odds against them and prevail are readily accepted as Champions, not as something or someone lucky.

These are my 10 reasons Baseball is America's sport. You probably have 10 different ones.

Jim Bain - Former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth. Visit his exciting info packed website: http://www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com

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Who Invented Baseball?

The boys of summer are at again. Whom can we bless for the Great American Pastime?

One thing is for certain. It wasn't Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1839 -- as a self appointed commission of American patriots would have us believe. Let us dispose of the Doubleday myth before proceeding.

Doubleday was born in 1819 at Ballston Spa, N.Y., of a family outstanding in military and civil life. He attended school in 1835 at Cooperstown where he enrolled in engineering courses. He was appointed to West Point in 1838 and was graduated in 1842 with a commission in the artillery.

He served with distinction in the Mexican and Florida Seminole wars. He fired the first Union shot at Fort Sumter after the Confederate bombardment opening the War Between the States. He became a major-general and died in 1893.

It is noteworthy that in the 60 diaries Doubleday kept throughout his life, he does not mention baseball. In one letter to headquarters during the Civil War, Doubleday did request "recreational items for colored troops" that included a "magic lantern and baseball equipment."

Doubleday would have become a footnote to the Civil War had it not been for another Abner with the surname Graves.

In 1905, a famous sportswriter named Henry Chadwick wrote an article contending that baseball evolved from the old English game of Rounders.

This upset Albert Spalding, one of the game's pioneer players and a manufacturer of sports equipment. He was unable to accept a premise that the great American game did not originate in America.

Spalding organized a commission of seven prominent men, patriots all, to determine the "true origin" of baseball. The project was widely reported.

Heading the commission was Col. A.G. Mills of New York. He had played baseball before and during the Civil War and was the fourth president of the National League in 1884.

The commission was pretty much at a dead end until Abner Graves, a Denver mining engineer traveling in Akron, Ohio, saw a newspaper article about the commission. He sat down in his hotel room and on furnished stationery wrote the Mills Commission.

In the letter, Graves stated that he had observed Doubleday at Cooperstown in 1839 scratching a baseball diamond on the ground and instructing other young men how to play baseball with teams of 11 players and four bases.

Graves described how the ball used was homemade of stitched horse-hide stuffed with rags.

The Mills commissioners and Spalding were elated. They promptly proclaimed baseball was invented by an American, Civil War, Army officer. About as all-American as you can get.

Of no consequence was the lack of corroborating evidence. Graves shortly thereafter murdered his wife and was committed to an asylum for the insane.

Graves' story was patently false. He would have been just five years old in 1839 and therefore not a reliable observer. Doubleday had entered West Point in 1838 and therefore was not present that year in Cooperstown.

It is possible that Doubleday was remembered at Cooperstown school -- which Graves later attended - as having organized a baseball game among his fellow students. However, rudiments of the game - as we recognize it today -- were already well known throughout the country.

Twenty-seven years after the Mills Commission triumphant report, a relative of Graves, rummaging through his old trunk, found an old baseball with torn hide over a wad of rags. Graves' letter and torn baseball are displayed today as proof-positive at the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame.

How Baseball Began

Stick and ball games were recorded back in pyramidal times.

"Stool ball" was described in the 1085 Doomsday Book census of England. Variations were rounders, town ball, and one-o-cat.

On Christmas Day 1621, Governor Bradford at Plymouth Plantation noted that men of the colony "frolicking in ye street, at play openly; some at pitching ye ball, some at stoole ball and such-like sport."

In 1744, John Newbery of London, England, published A Pretty Little Pocket Book "intended for the amusement of Little Master Tommy and Pretty Miss Polly." A woodcut illustration depicted boys playing "Base-Ball" in which they progressed around posts.

George Ewing, a Revolutionary War doctor at Valley Forge in 1778, wrote: "Exercised in the afternoon intervals, played at base."

A New York University librarian, George A. Thompson, Jr., recently found two New York newspaper articles of April 12, 1823, clearly relating to modern baseball.

The longer story, in the National Advocate, was composed of just four sentences:

"I was last Saturday much pleased in witnessing a company of active young men playing the manly and athletic game of 'base ball' at the Retreat in Broadway.

"I am informed they are an organized association, and that a very interesting game will be played on Saturday next at the above place, to commence at half-past 3 o'clock p.m. Any person fond of witnessing this game may avail himself of seeing it played with consummate skill and wonderful dexterity. It is surprising, and to be regretted, that the young men of our city do not engage more in this manual sport. It is innocent amusement, and healthy exercise, attended with but little expense and has no demoralizing tendency."

Teams Organized

The first organized baseball team was formed at New York City in 1845 by two, young friends. They were Dr. Daniel L. Adams and Alexander Joy Cartwright, an accounting clerk. They and other young, professional men met after work at Madison Square.

Adams and Cartwright settled on a set of rules in 1845 so there would not be endless arguments. Cartwright wrote them down.

At that time, the playing field was usually square with five bases. Because of the confined area, the diamond and four bases were adopted. Distance between bases was set at "42 paces" (about 75 feet) and the concept of foul territory was introduced. The practice of "plunking" a runner - hitting him with a thrown ball to "out" him --was abolished as ungentlemanly.

The Madison Square players formed the Knickerbockers Base Ball Club in September 1845. With rules in hand, the Knickerbockers advertised for opponents.

They met the New York Nine at the neutral Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey, on June 19, 1846.

The Nines won 23-l. The score indicated the game followed the rules of rounders, ending after 21 runs were scored rather than a specific number of innings.

According to contemporary reports, Cartwright umpired the game and enforced a six-cent fine -- payable on the spot -- for swearing.

Cartwright joined the California gold rush on 1849, but arrived there too late. On the way back home via ship he became ill and was put ashore at Hawaii. He liked the tropical climate so well, he sent for his family. He started baseball clubs throughout the islands, and became a prosperous businessman. He died there in 1892.

The Knickerbockers Club continued active under the leadership of Dr. Adams. He introduced the position of roving shortstop -- for himself -- to relay outfield throws. He designed the tapered bat and invented the hard baseball of "rubber cuttings and yarn" to facilitate thrown balls and make the curve ball possible. He set the distances between bases at 90 feet in 1857.

Also that year, he presided over a convention of ballplayers who decided that the winner of a game was the team that was ahead after nine innings. The following year the group adopted the name National Association of Ball Players."

He pushed for a rule requiring a batter be called out if the ball was caught on the fly instead of the first bounce. This was hotly debated, but in 1860 it was decided fly balls were necessary if both teams agreed to it before hand.

Dr. Adams gave up his New York practice in 1865 and moved his family to Connecticut. He played his last, formal game of baseball in 1875 in an old-timers' contest. He died in 1899 at age 85 in New Haven - still playing backyard baseball with his sons.

It is ironic that Cartwright, Spalding, and Doubleday are memorialized at Cooperstown while Adams is not -- even though he devised all the modern rules of baseball.

Not to quibble. History is mostly agreed-upon legend, and baseball is as much icon as sport.

April 6, 2003

Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at:

LinWms@earthlink.net

LinWms@lindseywilliams.org

Website: http://www.lindseywilliams.org with several hundred of Lin's Editorial & At Large articles written over 40 years.

Also featured in its entirety is Lin's groundbreaking book "Boldly Onward," that critically analyzes and develops theories about the original Spanish explorers of America. (fully indexed/searchable)

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Baseball Glove Repair

Baseball glove repair would really not be a concern around this time of year if players and/or parents would just perform a little bit of "routine maintenance" on their baseball gloves right after the playing season is over and then maybe a little bit more right before the beginning of the next season. But this doesn't seem to happen that much from what I can tell.

So here we are...another High School Baseball and College Baseball season. I've already gotten a couple of baseball gloves in the last month or so that have broken. And it's the same thing...very, very dry leather and laces. The laces on one of these baseball gloves were so dry, hard and brittle that they didn't even feel like leather. The laces were so stiff that it was actually a little tough pulling these laces out of some parts of the glove.

The condition of your baseball glove during and after a season will somewhat depend on where you live in the country. In the southeast and southwest you probably aren't going to see a lot of snow, ice and mud. Your glove may face very strong sun and heat, though.

The baseball gloves that I have just repaired were used in the northeast part of the country which can be terrible for leather. The leather can see snow and freezing temperatures. The baseball gloves will definitely get wet and muddy. This mud and water gets ground in sometimes day after day. This water eventually strips the leather of its original oils, softness and color. Then, summer comes. The sun beats down on the glove and dries it up even more. The laces become stiff, weak and brittle. They eventually break. Sometimes parts of the glove, like the eyelets and leather holes, rip. This even happens on the good, expensive gloves that are not cared for.

All of these things can mostly be avoided. Simply try to implement some of the following tips:

Clean off your baseball glove during the season when it needs it. Just a warm, damp cloth will do. Don't soak the glove. You're just trying to get some of the dirt off.

During the season, if the glove has seen a lot of water and then a lot of sun, you should rub in a little bit of conditioner (not any kind of oil!) and let it soak in. This will restore some of the leather's oils, softness and color.

Most importantly, give your glove a good cleaning and conditioning after your season is over. Wipe off all of the dirt and then after the glove dries rub a good coat of conditioner into the glove. Sometimes you may have to do this two or three times if the glove soaks up all of the conditioner right away. Wipe off any excess conditioner. Your restored glove will look and feel new during the off-season.

Tighten up loose laces and definitely repair broken laces or laces that you have a good feeling will break the next season. Do it now while you have the time.

And then, right before the beginning of your next season, inspect your glove again, tighten things up if necessary, put a light coat of conditioner on. There you are! Almost a new glove again.

Believe me, these simple baseball glove repair and restore tips work. I have taken care of a catcher's mitt for three years now...and yes, it's up in the northeast where a catcher's mitt takes water and mud in great amounts in some games. But this glove, after three years, feels great and looks great. The laces and leather show no signs of weakness. This is all because I religiously follow the tips above.

The kid who's glove I fixed the other day...the real dry one, says his glove looks and feels new again. He actually likes the all-black laces better than the original gray ones too. I hope he takes care of it now. But I bet I see it again someday.

And I bet I'll repair a good number of gloves starting around now. These are all of the gloves from last season that were just thrown in garages or basements with no after-season conditioning or tightening or repairing of laces.

So that's where I'll come in...again. Baseball glove repair and restore. I do it all of the time and never once have I advertised this. It all started with one glove, as a favor, and word got out. That was about six years ago and I'm still repairing gloves today.

So try to keep in mind some of these baseball glove repair and restore tips. Your glove will always be in great shape and you'll prevent those unexpected breaks during a game...and there will be no "down time" of your favorite glove.

Do your own Baseball Glove Repairs. Learn how to repair, relace and restore your own baseball glove with "Fix That Glove". Save yourself time and money.

Baseball Glove Repair

http://www.BaseballGloveRestore.com/

Chico Reese has been closely involved in youth baseball, softball and High School Baseball over the last twelve years. He also is known as "The Doctor" for his quick baseball glove repairs and restorations for many kids and adults throughout the summer.

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Jackie Robinson - Baseball and Title IX

The baseball world recently celebrated "Jackie Robinson Day." On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play Major League Baseball when he stepped onto Ebbets Field as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Many commentators have lamented the fact that 60 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, today, only 8.4% of Major League Baseball (MLB) players are black. In fact, MLB has been going backwards. The current percentage of black players is the lowest in more than 20 years. Just over a decade ago, in 1995, 19% of MLB players were black.

No one disputes that the numbers of black professional baseball players is declining, the controversy is over why.

One article I read recently attributed the decline to baseball's legacy of segregation and racism. The writer argued that because of its history, baseball fails to "capture the imagination" of today's young black athletes.

Others have argued that inner-city black athletes face various economic challenges that limit their access to baseball fields, equipment, etc.

All of these arguments have some merit to them. But, ultimately, they fall short because other sports, like football and basketball, share baseball's legacy of segregation and racism. Yet, black participation in those other sports has continued to grow.

Last week, a co-worker sent me an article about Title IX by Hubert Mizell of Gainesville.com. It hit me like a thunderbolt that Title IX is the most obvious reason there are so few blacks in pro baseball.

The way Title IX has been interpreted and implemented, it effectively restricts the number of baseball scholarships colleges and universities offer. In fact, most schools, even major schools like the University of Florida, do not offer any "full-ride" college baseball scholarships at all.

I was shocked when I found that out.

Obviously, without a scholarship, many, many young black athletes cannot afford to go to college and play college baseball or, later, professional baseball. Naturally, young black athletes will gravitate towards football and basketball; sports that offer more scholarships. Over the past generation, this shift has become pronounced.

Title IX was enacted by the Congress in 1972. The law, itself, is not controversial at all. It simply states that "No person in the United States, shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

So, Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. It applies to discrimination in athletics. So far, so good. The problem comes in the interpretation of the law.

In 1979, The U.S. Department of Heath, Education, and Welfare (this was before we had a separate "Department of Education") issued a policy interpreting Title IX. The policy provided that, in order to comply with Title IX, a college or university must pass one of three tests. The college or university must show that it:

1. Provides athletic opportunities substantially proportionate to student enrollment; or,

2. Demonstrates a continual expansion of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented gender; or,

3. Provides full and effective accommodation of the interest and ability of the underrepresented gender.

Many schools try to comply with Title IX by passing the third test. The problem is that this test is very subjective. How do you prove you are providing "full and effective accommodation of interest and ability....?" You can take surveys to get some gauge of interest. But, in the end, if a school relies on the third test, it will be vulnerable to a law suit by someone who thinks it has not complied.

Some of the larger, financially strong, schools comply with Title IX by meeting the second test. They "demonstrate a continual expansion of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented gender" by adding a women's sports team. Every time a school does that, it is "good to go" for about five years. But, adding new sports is a money-losing proposition and smaller, less affluent, schools can't afford to do that. At least, not forever.

So, ultimately, all schools will want, or need, to comply with Title IX by meeting the first test. And, it is this first test that has really caused the problems.

If a school has a Division I football team, it can award up to 85 football scholarships (per NCAA rules). The school can also award up to 13 scholarships for it's men's basketball team. Of course, to compete in these sports, at the Division I level, the school will have to award these 98 men's athletics scholarships.

Women now make up a whopping 58% of college enrollment. So, to pass the first test, and award scholarships "substantially proportionate" to student enrollment, the school has to award about 110 scholarships to women just to equal the scholarships provided for men's football and basketball.

And, when you add in other men's sports - it becomes impossible to meet the "substantially proportionate" test without severely cutting scholarships in other men's sports or dropping some sports altogether.

So, that's exactly what schools do. When you look at sports like Tennis, Golf, Track and Field/Cross Country, Swimming/Diving - there are more scholarships awarded to women than men in each of these sports. Even in basketball - men's college basketball teams get 13 scholarships; women's teams get 15.

Wrestling is one of the biggest sports at most high schools. There is a large base of college wrestling fans. But, thanks to Title IX, there are few college wrestling scholarships.

James Madison University is the latest school to announce it will be dropping 10 sports; 7 men's teams; 3 women's teams in order to meet the "substantially proportionate" test of Title IX.

You might say: "well, they should just get rid of football." The problem with that idea is that football is the only college sport that makes money. Men's basketball about breaks even (if the school is lucky). No other college sport pays for itself.

This means the college will likely lose money on every other sports team it adds, including every women's sports team. Football is the bill-payer for many of these sports at many schools. So, getting rid of football is not the answer.

So, what does all this have to do with Jackie Robinson and the lack of black professional baseball players today?

Here's what.

Because of the way Title IX has been interpreted and implemented, college baseball programs are only allowed 11.7 scholarships. Since about 30 players are on a college baseball team, normally, no one gets a full scholarship.

So, baseball is becoming, increasingly, a sport for the relatively affluent. The reason is simple. You have to be able to afford to pay for college to play college baseball.

By contrast, in football and basketball, almost everyone on the team has a full scholarship.

For a young, black athlete, football and basketball offer a much more likely scholarship opportunity. It's not surprising, then, that black athletes have gravitated toward football and basketball and away from baseball. It's common sense.

It's ironic that, Title IX, a law intended to limit sex discrimination in athletics, has morphed into, perhaps, the most significant cause of sex, race and class discrimination in college athletics today.

It's time to significantly change Title IX.

Mo Johnson is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a long-time SEC sports fan. He is publisher of SEC Sports Fan. If interested in Southeastern Conference Baseball, check out SEC Baseball.

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Baseball Jackets - What a Cool Emblem!

All you need to do to make your hubby or son puff up with pride is to give either of them a baseball jacket. Or even both of them, why not? Make certain you pick a baseball jacket that carries the insignia of the baseball team he is cheering for.

Because to the owner of a baseball jacket, possessing a baseball jacket is much more meaningful than just making a macho fashion statement. Wearing that special baseball jackets says beyond a doubt that he loves this sport and supports all the good sports values it symbolizes.

For the owner of a baseball jacket, it's not so much about the protection it offers him.. It may just be coincidental that the baseball jacket is made of durable materials, be it leather or wool. It may just be coincidental that baseball jacket which has thick lining, will keep him warm as he sits watching the game. He believes in the sport and keeping it alive.

There are different baseball jackets for the avid baseball fan. But to be sure, to pick a baseball jacket that will stand the test of time and the elements, here are some tips in selecting.

Pick a leather baseball jacket. It is durable and lasts a long time.
Most baseball jackets are fashionable. Some are even works of arts, so pick one that is pleasant as well as durable.
Pick one that has Polyfil and has satin lining.
Ensure that his baseball jacket has inner pockets. Two is a good minimum for a baseball jacket.
Lastly - pick a baseball jacket that has his favorite teams' insignia on it!

You can be sure he will love the gesture you made in finding just the right baseball jacket for him to wear.

Ken Austin

Baseball Gear and Equipment

Sports Resource Guide [http://www.a1sportsresource.com/]

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Buying Discount Baseball Bats

Whether you want a traditional wood baseball bat or a new, high-tech metal bat, there is a wide selection of discount baseball bats available. A baseball bat is a vital piece of equipment and its quality can greatly impact a player's performance, so it is no surprise that many people are willing to pay a premium. Luckily, you can get a high-tech, top quality bat at discount prices. Discount baseball bats are available at most sporting equipment outlets, and especially at online stores.

Brand new aluminum baseball bats cost usually start at $200 and go up from there. Prices increase as technology introduces stronger and lighter materials. By crafting baseball bat barrels with cutting-edge metal alloys, manufacturers like Easton and Demarini arm batters with power while maintaining a quick, lightweight feel.

Discount baseball bats are abundantly available online. In many cases, online stores can offer discount baseball bats at great prices because there is less overhead than at a sporting goods store and, in many cases, there is no sales tax or shipping charged. When you shop for baseball bats online you have access to a vast and easily accessible selection user product reviews to help you get a feel for which bats are best for you, and also can save a great deal of time.

Don't forget to check out blemished baseball bats. This little secret can save you 30 to 70 percent. Many baseball bat dealers offer blemished baseball bats at severely slashed prices due to a cosmetic imperfection such as chipped paint. Lucky for you, the baseball bat's performance is untouched, but the price is hacked down significantly. Blemished baseball bats are available at many outlets and online. With a little looking, it is not that difficult to find a bat that offers premium performance at a reasonable price.

Baseball Bats Info provides detailed information on youth, wood, college, senior league, and discount baseball bats, baseball bat reviews and more. Baseball Bats Info is the sister site of Baseball Gloves Web.

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Baseball Tips for Rookie Coaches - So You're The New Baseball Coach?

So you're the new coach. Ok, now what?

Coaching a team sure seemed like a good idea, maybe even easy...until you started thinking and getting into it deeper. All those players, parents, the draft, practices...and those game decisions...ugh.

Maybe coaching 3rd base might not be so easy...

What were you thinking?

SOLUTIONS:

Rule #1 - Relax, It will work out!

You'll probably even turn out to be good at it.

How do I know? Why would I think this?

Well, first you are searching for information. Websites like ours with articles like this are sure signs you are at the very least trying, instead of sitting on your hands, ducking your head and relying on your Little League experiences from long ago. And because of...

Rule #2 - You will be organized...

And yes, you will have the time to do it. As a matter of fact, there is an article that I strongly urge you to read. It is about how to organize your team and yourself and is titled, "Plan To Succeed."

Please finish this article before you jump there (I'll include the link at the end of this article).

Rule #3 - You will have fun!

Look, the more fun you have, the more fun your kids will have...and yes, the opposite is true.

Personally, I think that some of the best things about youth baseball are the adults! I also think they are some of the worst things about youth baseball. I mean this because as we get older...we tend to forget how to have fun and play games. Life just does that to us. Here we are trying to solve problems on a baseball field like we do at work...UGH!

We get tight, our kids play tight. We say ugly things in the dugout...well, you get the picture...

Let's move on (This lesson either hits the mark or it doesn't).

One final thought (from someone who is privileged to be in baseball for 350 days each year)...

IT'S JUST BASEBALL! BASEBALL IS JUST A GAME!

(It just happens to be the best game ever!)

Rule #4 - You are here for every player!

If you are in this game for any reason other than those kids... every one of them...

GET OUT NOW! (This was paraphrased and stolen from a speech given by a friend, Gordie Gillespie, the winningest coach in college baseball history! He is absolutely correct!)

You will get more joy with that attitude than you can imagine!

Every player who doesn't share your last name is not here for the entertainment and support of you and your son! (You have probably seen it happen).

Coaching your own child is a trick indeed.

I hope you will truly enjoy it (though it can test your mettle). But, I can assure you that embracing an entire team of kids can really give you an idea of how good a coach and person you might be or can be!

Personally, I can tell you that the early influences of my youth coaches are indelibly stamped on me...That's how important you are.

Rule #5 - Winning is important...It is just not everything.

I determined something many years ago.

Take this for what it's worth...

Few 10 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning!

Half of the 11 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning!

Almost all 12 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning!

Every? All? No. I guess I wouldn't include all players on some hot team of 9 year olds who travel the country vying for the many "World Series" out there (how many worlds are there anyway).

Those teams and families have adopted a lifestyle. It's a language spoken at the dinner table. They are probably more the exception than the rule anyway.

You simply need to have a strong grasp of the competitive nature of your league and your team.

Rule #6 - You will be the boredom police.

Looking for a great way to turn a perfectly good baseball player into a soccer player? (God forbid)... BORE HIM!

A young boy begins his day by opening his eyes with a first thought of..."HEY, WHAT'S FUN TODAY!"

And we dare to bore them? Remember my comment on how we tend to want to solve problems in baseball as we do in the office?

They are kids. It's a game...and games are fun...

It's fun OR THEY FIND A GAME THAT IS MORE FUN!

Rule #7 - Ask for help from other parents.

Women are right...Men do not ask for directions. We need to be rock steady and have all the answers...yada, yada!

Personally, I have never had a coach come up to me after a game and ask me anything on how or why I played a situation the way I did! I MEAN NEVER!

WHY? Because this is baseball...and we are guys. We played Little League (20 TO 30 YEARS AGO). We watch Pro Baseball on TV...UGH. What a bad idea to try and teach a group of kids to play the same way the greatest players in the game do.

So, we don't ask...and that cheats our kids.

SOLUTIONS:

Aside from reaching for information such as reading articles such as this and finding videos, books, etc (did you check out our video and book library?)...

Why not incorporate and embrace some of the parents.

Have a parents-only meeting for 10 minutes after one of your very first practices.

Let them know who you are and how you envision the season (in general).

A team mom is worth her weight in the dozen roses you had better buy her at the end of the season.

Make note of the dad(s), hopefully plural, who hang around the fence during practices. Many really want you to ask for their help. They don't want to horn in so it's up to you to ask because they may not!

Some parents are better served as your scorebook keeper instead of your BP (batting practice) pitcher.

Another may be most comfortable helping you set up the dugout and raking and lining the field before games.

Yet others really want to be on the field hitting fungoes or infield.

The bottom line is that I believe that adults play better when they work together...and as a byproduct, you will all be richer for actually developing relationships with your new-found friends.

WARNING: There is one rule I highly recommend...

You are the coach, they are the team's parents.

One guy has the final say so. You, the coach!

This is a no lobbying area, disputes are handled away from the kids and the action and decisions of management (you) are final. There are no politics, just honest decisions made by you...the coach!

Note: Baseball is the greatest game in the world to second-guess!

One Last Important Suggestion Regarding Communication:

Get all of your parent's email addresses and use them for two things:

Communicate - Communicate - Communicate. Not necessarily lengthy, just frequent.

Subscribe all your player's parents (and maybe players, if they are a bit older) to our Baseball Tips Newsletter. It is a quick read 2 times each month. We do not rent or sell their names and just want to supply our 14,680 (at last count) baseball families with some added knowledge and fun.

Of course, they can delete us easily if they so choose. (You can add them individually. The sign-up box is just below our logo on the http://www.baseballtips.com home page).

Rule #8 -Good Teams Practice Well!

Every league is different. Some restrict practice times. Others have limited fields. Some coaches have limited time as well. HAVE A PLAN!

Plan tomorrow's practice today. Plan next week, this week.

Planning is the operative word. I don't think that any drill should take longer than 20 minutes! (OK, excluding BP - more on that later).

TIME ANYTHING & EVERYTHING!

If you will keep a watch, you can get their blood flowing even more. More as in, "OK guys, 10 more minutes, let's do it right. Pick up the pace...Ok, 5 more minutes...Keep it going"...you get the idea.

And it becomes more fun!

The blood is pumping, the kids are focusing. Just be sure to tailor it to your player's age and skill level.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW!

Teach something new each practice.

As importantly, review and drill a particular skill taught in a previous practice using one of your 20 minute segments.

Quality repetitions are vital and incredibly important!

Too many coaches teach a skill and then next season, they teach it again; once a year...need it or not! If you think about how counter-productive this is, you will never do it...or do it again.

ARMS - ARMS - ARMS!

There are more throwing errors than fielding errors!

It may not sound correct and it is not my opinion...It is a fact!

Teach proper throwing and work on arms every practice.

Have them constantly throwing to or at a target.

(The exception will be when teaching one of your pitchers a new pitch.) You begin by throwing to a tarp, net or fence. The reasoning is that accuracy will not be great until a skill like a new pitch is learned. Accuracy will follow proper mechanics and you can avoid unnecessary shakes in confidence.

THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF PRACTICE IS JUST FUN!

Preferably doing something that requires players to use oxygen. Leave them with their tongues hanging out. I learned this many years after I began coaching.

Many players think baseball is boring...and that is why they leave the sport too soon. They are kids...and kids want to run, play games, have contests, run races, hit balls, etc. You know...fun stuff.

Well, drills can get boring if that's all there is to a practice. But drills are really important, vital lifelines to improvement and success of both player and team...or not!

But let's not forget the fun aspect and the prime reason most kids play. (It is play ball, not work ball, right?)

Get creative!

Here are some of my ideas. (Do not limit yourself to these, got it?)

Relay Races - ½ of team at home plate and ½ at 2nd base with hats on backwards. 1 simple relay race. Then 1 race backwards, then 1 final race for all the marbles, running sideways (or heel to heel side-kicks like basketball teams do....you may have some better variations).

Ball In The Trash Can - Find a trash barrel from the dugout or near the practice field and place it on home plate on its side. Now take your team to a distance where most all players can throw to the target at least on a bounce or two.

Now toss them a short fly ball where they can make like they are the centerfielder throwing the runner out at home. They ooh, aah and cheer on close throws (there are always a bunch of these). I have no idea why but they really like to do this...Go Figure!

Home Run Derby - Find a spot where about ½ or more of the team can hit one over the fence and soft toss 3 per each player (soft toss, also known as flip drills, is the drill our automated Wheeler Dealer machine does automatically. It can be seen on our training aids page if you are still unsure how to do this.) Have a second round, then have a finals. Maybe the player who comes in 2nd gets to go after all the homers. Watch 'em cheer for each other.

Basketball Game - If there's a court or a hoop nearby, simply produce a hidden basketball AFTER dividing them up into teams. Announce a 10 minute game. Watch 'em go. Totally unexpected...and a lot of fun

Water Balloon Toss - Pick a hot day and have a supply of filled baseball-sized water balloons (make sure they are small balloons to begin with so they remain taut). Partner them off in lines (like you do when warming up their arms) with players about 6 to 8 feet apart and with a partner on one row having the balloon.

USE 2 HANDS!

Express to players that in baseball, every ball you can catch with 2 hands should be caught with 2 hands. Also, display how the pinkie fingers of both hands should be near and parallel to each other with hands being parallel and held below the waist.

SOFT HANDS

Explain that all infielders must have soft hands. This begins when both arms are outstretched (elbows are not locked) and then cradled toward the body as the underhand toss comes toward you. Water balloons will require special focus on soft hands to keep from breaking.

READY...GO!

On coaches command...

Player underhand tosses to his partner who catches and holds the balloon. His partner then tosses it back to his partner.

After 2-4 rounds, teams with a full balloon step 2 feet further apart.

Repeat.

Then 2 steps further apart!

Keep going until you have a winner.

Once you have a winner, coaches produce as many extra full balloons as there are coaches and the winning team gets to "blast the coaches." Yes, turn around coach...and do use typical precautions as boys will be boys. (Now you tell me that 10 or 20 years from now those players won't remind you of how much fun that was?!)

It's not all about baseball...but it is all about fun!

Thanks for reading.

Best of luck this season.

Now get out there and Have Some Fun!

----Coach JP

http://www.baseballtips.com/

Baseball tips & youth baseball equipment, training aids & instruction! It's all here for baseball coaching of pitchers & hitters, little league to high school.

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