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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Baseball Parent Guide - What is the Key to a Youth Baseball Player Becoming a High School Prospect?

As a high school baseball coach, I see players of all sizes, shapes, and ability levels try out for our JV and varsity teams. Baseball is the one sport that will never be ruled totally by size, speed, and power. I am not saying that power, speed and size do not help a player. What I am saying is that having certain physical attributes is not the key to baseball success. There is a place for all body builds to succeed. In this article, I discuss what I feel is the #1 key to a player becoming a prospect to make the high school team.

I think the #1 key to making the high school junior varsity and varsity teams is how much skill building homework a player has done during his youth baseball playing years. The key to becoming a stand-out player is how much practice a player gets year round and between regular team practices during the season.

Time after time, I see proof that the players that excel in baseball are the players that put forth that extra effort in making sure that their bat, glove, and arm are worked enough to help them reach their fullest potential as a player. It is hard for a player to reach their potential if they do not get proper instruction, receive adequate practice time, and workout enough to make their baseball skills stronger and their baseball play instinctive.

Players can not expect to excel if the only times that they ever pick up a, a ball or bat are at team practices during baseball season. Achievements in baseball are just like achievements in life. You get what you deserve. You deserve what you earn. The more time and effort that a player and his parents put into baseball in the early years is crucial to success in high school. In most cases, the outstanding high school prospects are the players that have baseball training equipment in their backyard or that have received baseball batting or pitching instruction from qualified baseball instructors.

To be a big time prospect, you need to throw, hit, and field in workouts on your own as well as with the team. Going above and beyond is the key to becoming a top rated baseball prospect. If you are unwilling to commit the time, put forth the energy, or stay on a regular practice routine, your chances of becoming an accomplished high school player can be reduced.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article. You can find more like it at the Baseball Parent Guide, Baseball Coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, and the Little League Digest. Have a great day, Nick.

The CoachesBest and Baseball 2u Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Teaching Youth Baseball

Teaching youth baseball is a rewarding experience for both parents and coaches alike. While parents have an obvious investment in the teaching of the fundamentals of the sport of baseball to their children, coaches, make a significant investment of their own in time, effort and emotion. From a personal perspective, one of the greatest rewards is in developing relationships with and positively affecting the lives of individual youth baseball players. The lessons of sports such as in baseball are positive and well documented. For coaches, there are also the internal rewards they get from seeing each player develop and from watching a youth baseball team improve as a group and learn to play together under their coaching tutelage.

Astute coaches improve the performance of the team as a whole by employing youth baseball drills to improve the individual performances of team players and there interactions together. There are three main categories in which youth baseball drills will have an immense effect on the performance levels of players.



Youth Batting Drills - one of the most important of the youth baseball drills. The vast majority of youth baseball players have the most fun when they hit. The better they are able to hit, the more fun that they will have, and the greater their interest in the sport of baseball. Coaches and parents who teach baseball drills in batting must stress the importance of a well-balanced stance that is comfortable for the individual player, picking the ball up as it leaves the pitcher's hand, and keeping the body weight back until the pitch is delivered.


Youth Fielding Drills - an integral part of teaching the defensive position. Of course, there are sets of baseball fielding drills that are unique to each of the nine fielding positions in the game of baseball. However, there are baseball drills common to all fielding positions. One of the key youth baseball drills in catching ground balls is to keep the fingers of the fielding glove on the ground for ground balls, and raising the glove to catch the ball on the bounce, instead of lowering the glove. Another one of the instructional keys to fielding is to catch the thrown or batted ball with the wrist in an upward position for balls at or above the waist, and to turn the wrist upside down to catch balls below the waist. There are many ways to take a single drill and apply it so the whole team can practice at once.


Youth Throwing Drills - the most basic of all youth baseball drills, and many instructors feel that it is the most important fundamental of all. It is vital for parents to make sure that their children develop proper throwing techniques from the time they can throw a baseball, around the age of eight or so. The importance of throwing a baseball with proper grip can not be overestimated. Youth throwing drills must emphasize four important elements: Throw the ball by gripping it with the index finger and middle finger on the ball; point your shoulder opposite from your throwing hand in the direction of your target; step in the direction of your target when you release the ball; and follow through after you release the ball with your back leg so that both legs are parallel upon the completion of the throw.
You can find many youth baseball drills on the Internet covering hitting, fielding and throwing. Some drills are free and some require subscription or for you to order a DVD. Free baseball drills allow you greater flexibility in trying a variety and see what works best for you as the coach and your youth baseball team. Always remember that drills should be age appropriate. The right fielding drill for a 14 year-old boy will not suit and 8-year old and vice versa.

There are many baseball coaching resources and communities like Weplay, available to help with any questions you might have. Don't underestimate the passion of the community around you. We are all here to help the kids.

By Trevor Sumner who works for?Weplay.com, a?youth baseball?community dedicated to providing parents, coaches and athletes the tools and information they need to celebrate the love of the game. Weplay has one of the most comprehensive baseball drill libraries?in its active?baseball community.

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Youth Baseball Digest - Arrogant Coach, You're So Vain, You Probably Think This Article is About You

One of my biggest "pet peeves" in baseball and life is when I have to associate with coaches that think too highly of themselves. They have overbearing and arrogant attitudes. They are "know-it-alls" that put themselves on a pedestal above the game, above their peer, and above their players. I would have to say that 99.9% of all baseball coaches that I have ever met are sociable, likable, and humble people that know their true worth and importance to the game of baseball. That other 1/10 of 1 percent of all baseball coaches too arrogant for my liking.

Arrogance is defined by Webster as an offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride. You have seen coaches like I am describing. They are completely "full of themselves". They feel that they are the object around which the world of baseball revolves.

These baseball coaches are easy to spot. They are overly loud. They are overbearing. They are too flashy for their own good. They want to be seen and to put on a "show".

Many of these coaches feel that baseball is privileged to have them. They consider themselves as "God's Gift to Baseball". They highly overestimate their self worth and importance to baseball. Many of these coaches are young and too inexperienced to know better. As they mature they begin to realize that baseball coaching success can be achieved without making enemies and alienating people by being too arrogant.

I am a firm believer that two qualities that every person in life must learn are humility and modesty. Players must understand that baseball is bigger than one team, one player, one league, one season, or one career. Baseball is "God's Gift" to us as players and coaches. It is a privilege to coach and play it. Every player and coach has a duty and responsibility to protect the values and virtues of the game.

There is no need or place for arrogance in baseball. You can have pride and confidence as a player and coach without being a "jerk".

I hope this article was informative to you. Good luck to you and your team in the coming season. Have a great day, Nick.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the Mauer Quick Swing batting practice machine.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Youth Baseball Digest: The 3 Absolutes of Coaching Youth Baseball

Baseball is one of the most demanding sports to coach. The purpose and function of youth baseball is to provide a quality sports team experience that builds baseball skills, teaches team-first attitudes, builds a respect for authority and regulations, and develops an appreciation for the value and consequences of hard work.

To be a successful baseball coach, you must have an understanding how the game is taught, played and practiced. There are three absolutes that every youth baseball coach should remember when they plan, organize, and prepare their "game plan" for the coming season! This article outlines those three absolutes.

The three absolutes of baseball are:

Youth baseball is a game for youngsters, not adults.
Baseball must be taught and practiced for success to be achieved.
Discipline must be a part of every team's preparation and execution.

Now I will briefly explain what I mean by each of these absolutes.

Youth baseball is a game for youngsters, not adults.

When I say "Youth Baseball is for Youths" what I mean is that we have youth baseball for the youngsters that are playing it, not for the coaches that are coaching.You will find that kids can accept responsibility, become accountable, work hard, and learn from their team successes and failures, but at the same time they have to see purpose, see progress, and enjoy their participation. They must have fun.

For kids to love and appreciate the game they must be motivated, challenged, and enjoy the majority of their team time whether it be a practice, a workout, or a game. There is no law that says coaches should not laugh, smile, joke and have "Light" moments with the team. I consider myself a pretty good baseball coach. My team discipline is strict. But, my players know exactly when they can goof off, joke around, crack on each other, or generally be "loose" as a team. They also know exactly when they have to be focused, attentive, and acting "by the book". The point I am trying to make here is that coaches have to understand that players need to learn to relax and as much as they need to learn to work and focus. It is a coach's job to teach them to enjoy themselves without guilt so long as their enjoyment comes from wholesome and proper behavior that is acceptable.

Baseball must be taught and practiced for success to be achieved.

Baseball is a sport that required a high level of commitment and dedication. It is important that players develop good work habits as early in their careers as possible.It is impossible to fake work or fake good practice when it comes to baseball. Those coaches, teams and programs that work extremely smart, work exceptionally hard, and that always work with a higher level of purpose and commitment are the baseball programs at the top of the "food chain". So, if you plan to coach, get prepared to practice. In fact, if you need to make sure that you have

Discipline must be a part of every team's preparation and execution.

I am a firm believer that teaching team and self-discipline are two of the most important roles of every coach in all sports. To be successful a player must learn to discipline himself to stay out of trouble. To be build a championship atmosphere and environment, a coach must establish control of his players and staff. With discipline also comes respect. Without discipline, there can never be respect. Without respect your team will never achieve to its highest attention.

Players not only expect and appreciate a coach's discipline, but they also have a strong desire for it. Kids want to be controlled, instructed, and taught. It makes them feel like they are respected, appreciated, and a part of something worth spending their effort and time in. When a coach displays no backbone, no will to control, and no will to handle adversity with a firm and strong demeanor, the players will not put their full and complete trust in him. Coaches should set team rules. The coach should display a willingness to plan, prepare, organize and execute both practice and game plans. This shows a high level of self-discipline on the coach's part. Teams emulate a coach's attitude, actions, and habits.

Instilling and maintaining a firm discipline builds a strong foundation upon which to build a championship season. I hope that you found this article to be informative. Please visit the Baseball Coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, Baseball Digest Blog, and the Baseball Parent Guide for free baseball coaching articles, drills, and tips. Good Luck to you and your team in the coming season. Have a great day, Nick.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Youth Baseball Digest - Attention Baseball Coaches - Do Your Homework

This article outlines several ways baseball coaches can improve their coaching abilities during the off-season.?It points out several recommended off-season activities and resources that all youth baseball coaches should consider. Many of these activities are free and are available online.

I have a simple philosophy when it comes to coaching baseball and baseball coaches. Show me a coach that thinks he knows it all and I will should you a coach with a weakness. I have been coaching for over 25 years. I truly believe that good coaches never stop searching for better ways and methods. They never stop studying the methods and procedures of successful programs, teams and coaches. They never lose their eagerness to listen to anyone that will talk baseball.

Great coaches are "students of the game". They do their homework. I have said many times that I learn something about the game every day and that is what I set out to do every day. I will always seek new and better methods for teaching and instruction right up to the day I retire. I owe that to my players and my supporters.

Here are four recommended sources for improving your coaching skills and knowledge:

1. Baseball Clinics - Most states have state baseball?coaches associations. These associations have annual clinics. These clinics features successful college and high school coaches that speak on every aspect of coaching baseball from coaching hitters, coaching pitchers, baseball strategy, to organizing baseball practice. A few states clinics that I have attended are Alabama, Texas, and Ohio and they are all good.

There are two national associations named the American Baseball Coaches Association and the Baseball Coaches Association. These groups have huge clinics that are a super experience to attend. They have a membership fee special for youth baseball coaches. These organizations move their annual 3-day clinics around to different parts of the country each year.

Another notable national clinic are the "Be the Best You Are" Clinic in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It is a great clinic that always has a great lineup of speakers.

2. Watch Practice - You most likely have one of the absolute best sources for learning the game and how to prepare to play it, right in your own home town. Ask you local high school coach if you can watch and observe practices. Most coaches will have no objection. I have open practices at Boaz High in Boaz Alabama. If you come and watch one of our practices, most likely you will learn or observe something that will help you or see something that reinforces something that you already teach to your players.

3. Read, View & Take Notes - There is a tremendous amount of free information available to baseball coaches online. You should fine a couple of these sites and bookmark them. Visit them regularly and print what you can for reference. Visit and bookmark such sites as the Baseball 2Day Coaching Journal, Baseball Coaching Digest or Blog, and the Youth Baseball Digest.

4. Beg, Borrow or Steal Coaching Ideas, Drills, Plays and Strategy - Two things are universally accepted in the baseball coaching brotherhood. Coaches share information and knowledge. And if a coach does not show a willingness to share, then it ok to steal or copy his methods and techniques. If your see another team or coach doing something that is leads to success, you would be foolish and unwise if you did not at least take note of it and write it down for future reference. If you see a drill, strategy or technique that appeals to you always take notes for future reference. Never be too proud to copy or use the good methods and procedures of other coaches that you observe or see.

Watch college and major league baseball games on television. Watch free videos on Youtube. Watch video clips of instruction, drills, coaching clinics, and games footage. The best way to learn how something is done is to watch it done correctly over and over.

If you do your homework, you will improve your abilities as a coach. Work hard to improve your knowledge, your presentation skills, and your situational awareness.

I hope that you found this article to be informative. Thanks for reading my article. Have a great day, Nick.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for Baseball Coaching Digest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Choosing Youth Baseball Or Softball Equipment to Purchase

We are deep into spring already, and baseball and softball seasons are in full swing. Children are practicing and playing on fields all across America. And parents are faced with decision making. It's off to the sporting goods stores to purchase softball baseball equipment. But which softball baseball equipment do you buy for your little slugger? It's best to have an idea before you start shopping. Don't let overzealous sales clerks talk you into baseball softball equipment you don't need.

Usually it is as easy as what type of child you have. Boys play baseball and girls play softball when they are children. So then it is down to what position they play. Once you figure all this out, you can begin to purchase your child's softball baseball equipment.

First, let's examine softball equipment. Softballs are larger versions of baseballs. Softballs range from 11 to 12 inches and contrary to their name are hard like baseballs. They should be provided by the team, but your child will need some of their own to practice. Since softballs are large, it only makes sense that softball gloves and mitts are also larger. Each child will need one of their own. Softball bats are a different story. Softball bats are actually shorter than baseball bats. Softball bats are no longer than 34 inches long. These should be provided by the team also, but once again it's good to have one for practice.

Baseball & softball bats can be made out of a number of materials. In the beginning, players used baseball & softball bats made from wood. As the sports and technology progressed, baseball & softball bats were made from metal. These are the ones you see being used most. Finally, there are carbon fiber baseball softball bats, but they are a little high tech for youth teams.

So what other softball gear might your child need? Protective helmets for all players are an important safety item of softball equipment. Every batter needs one. Every player needs cleats as well. Here, youth baseball cleats would probably be fine. If your child opts to be a catcher, then they'll need shin guards and a chest protector and mask as part of their personal softball gear. Perhaps the catcher is the most expensive position to consider.

The final piece of softball equipment needed is softball uniforms. There is a standard to softball uniforms, but they do differ in colors, names and sponsorships. This is where a team can get creative with their softball gear and really make them their own.

So what about the baseball side of softball & baseball equipment? Well, it really isn't that different from softball equipment. Baseballs are 9 inches and baseball bats are no longer than 42 inches. As discussed previously, there are three materials to choose from in baseball softball bats. Baseball players use gloves and wear helmets. Each child should have one of each, as well as a pair of youth baseball cleats. As with all youth shoes, make sure your child's youth baseball cleats fit them properly. Catchers in this sport wear shin guards, a chest protector and a mask as well. Baseball uniforms are hard to distinguish from softball uniforms. Again this is an area where teams can show their creativity.

There really isn't too much mystery when it comes to softball & baseball equipment. The differences between the two sports are few, which makes sense since softball came out of baseball. Baseball equipment can be substituted for softball equipment in a few areas if you have hand me downs. Helmets and youth baseball cleats come to mind. So do baseball softball bats. Both sports can become expensive, but the benefits of youth sports far outweigh the costs. Don't let finances stand in your way. Look into used softball & baseball equipment, but get those boys and girls out on the field.

softball and baseball equipment coaching advice

http://softballbaseballequipment.com

http://baseballsoftballbats.org

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Youth Baseball Life Skills and the Iron Man Award

Do you want to teach your kids about life? Do you want to teach them how to interact socially? How about learning sportsmanship, leadership skills, respect, discipline and other skills essential in life? Youth baseball leagues are the perfect venue. Youth baseball has everyone you need to teach your kids important lessons about life in general. And at the end of the baseball season, it makes sense to reinforce the lessons by acknowledging the achievements each player has made in this respect.

Leadership

Good leaders are made, not born. Young baseball players can learn the qualities that make someone a leader, including: education, training, and experience. Inspiring youth baseball players requires them to be able to get the whole team working together.

A good youth baseball coach should be able to provide every player the ability to act in a leadership by using some very simple techniques. They can empower each of them in a team captain role during practices, or they can assign tasks that require them to delegate responsibilities to their teammates.

Sportsmanship

Youth baseball leagues are a great vehicle for teaching our youth about sportsmanship. When we talk about sportsmanship, we are talking about playing fair, following the rules of the game, respecting the judgement of the umpires and treating players, parents and coaches with respect. Sportsmanship also includes courtesy and grace in losing. Youth baseball is a great proving ground for applying real life experiences to teaching this skill. As a youth baseball coach or parent, if you find yourself in the position where a sportsmanship issue needs to be addressed; do it alone and away from the rest of the players. There is no need to embarrass anyone.

Teamwork

Teamwork is an life skill to teach our kids. It is particularly important for a baseball team to function like a well-oiled machine. If just one member of the infield is unwilling to act as a member of the team, an entire game could be lost. Therefore, all members of a baseball team need to work together in order to encourage, applaud and truly give each play their all. As a parent, it is important to be part of the team by attending practices and games, cheering for every child on the field and celebrating the successes of each and every child involved in the games.

Competition

Youth baseball is a way to teach our kids about competition. Children who get involved with sports at an early age are more likely to maintain a good level of fitness and activity throughout their life. Youth baseball league competition helps kids boost self-confidence, improve coordination, and build discipline, focus and respect. Team sports teach social skills and cooperation, and give kids a solid foundation and sense of belonging and partnership.

Developing a child's competitiveness while teaching them to both win and lose gracefully can help them tackle the obstacles and accept the setbacks that life will naturally encompass. Many adults who are leaders and volunteers in the community are giving their time and experience to help make the sport(s) they enjoyed as youngsters enjoyable for another generation of children.

Overcoming Adversity

How critical is it to be able to overcome adversity. The game of baseball is full of adversity. Consider that a good batting average is considered anything over .300. A pitcher is considered good if his winning percentage is over .500. players make errors and strikeout. Youth baseball teaches kids how to come back after adversity. Each time a youth baseball player comes up to bat or goes into the field, they have a chance to redeem themselves from a previous failure. Overcoming adversity gives the kids confidence in themselves and gives them the feeling they can accomplish anything. Overcoming adversity is all about gaining confidence.

Hustle

Why is hustle a life skill? Hustle is an important indicator of work ethic. What employer wants a worker how is doesn't give their all? The same is true in youth baseball - lack of hustle is viewed negatively and is frowned upon. It is important for youth baseball coaches to emphasize hustle. This means running on and off the field, running out hits, fly outs and ground ball outs. Hustle is a true quality of a champion and shows passion.

Discipline

Discipline can be defined as a system of rules of conduct or method of practice, being well behaved, self control and training to improve strength. When we talk about discipline in youth baseball, we are talking about players being able to take constructive criticism, and then applying the advice given by the coach. It also is about having good behavior and controlling emotions, both on and off the field. In this day and age discipline seems to be the one life skill that many of our children need most.

Today's family structure is much different than the past. Kids parents are divorced or they come from a single parent home, which means the parents may not be able to put in the time. The may cut them slack because they feel guilty about not being there for them. Discipline is a life skill that our children will need to be successfully in life.

Acknowledge Success and Accomplishments

It's important to acknowledge the accomplishments of each and every player on your youth baseball team. You obviously need to reward those who have excelled in the physical accomplishments, such as the progress make in hitting, catching and pitching. But also reward them for the accomplishments made in the skills described.

But there is one more life skill that is very important for the development of our children. It is perfect attendance and being punctual to all youth baseball practices and games. This is so important, that our youth baseball league has created an Iron Man award.

IronMan - Perfect Attendance

The Iron Man award was conceived by a few coaches who wanted to reward the kids who were committed to their team. It was based on Cal Ripken's record of playing in a record 2,632 straight games spanning sixteen seasons, from May 30, 1982 to September 20, 1998. The award is given to every player who has attended every day of school and every baseball game in the season. Each recipient is awarded a cash prize (usually a U.S Savings Bond between $100 and $250 provided by local businesses) and featured in the local paper.

What an outstanding way to influence our kids futures. Not only does it make the kids and their parents proud, but it makes the whole community proud and gives kid good publicity instead of the never ending pounding of isolated negative incidents of America's youth. What a great way to support and encourage the future of our communities.

Robert is a youth baseball coach who is concerned with teaching our children life skills through the experiences in baseball.

Teach Kids Baseball is devoted to providing tips and techniques for coaches, parents and players involved in youth baseball.

He also recommends instructional baseball ebooks

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