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Six Pitching Rules To Live By

2009-06-24T03:11:00Z

Here are my own six points to follow when working with pitchers.

1. Practice outside of practice - This is essential with any position in any sport. The winners put in the time, losers just show up for practice

2. Repetition - A pitchers mechanics should be the same every pitch. Consistency is the key to success. Consistency comes from repetition which comes from point number one.

3. Mechanics - If points one and two are being done, a pitchers mechanics will continue to refine.  When you as a coach have to call time to talk to your pitcher who can't seem to find the strike zone, the first step is not to stress throwing strikes. The first step is to have him focus on his mechanics during each pitch and not worry about balls and strikes. If he focuses on his mechanics and finds a rhythm, the strikes will come.

4. Have a Short Memory- there is not much more to say about this point.  You can't change the past, so why worry about it.

5. Focus- A pitcher should always be focused on the next pitch, not the ball that should have been a strike, or the home run he just gave up (see point four).  The pitch you aren't focused on will usually have a negative result.

6. Never Show Emotion - Whether the pitcher is happy or mad, never show it on the mound, especially when he is upset. Once the batter and the opposing team realize that the pitcher is upset or frustrated, they own him. They will be more selective in their pitches and force the pitcher to throw good hittable strikes.

Love Your Sport

2009-05-28T23:50:00Z

My last entry about being a great competitor really got me thinking on how true it is that you have to love what you do to be a competitor. I have read so many great articles on great athletes & coaches and when I think back, all of them loved what they did. None of them considered all of their hours of training, watching film or preparing a game plan work at all. I would say that this goes way beyond sports. I challenge you to find a business professional at the top of his or her field that doesn't enjoy what they do.

Unless you coach at the college or professional level, you probably have another career. Take sales for example. Whether you sell insurance, real estate, or televisions, to be the best starts with enjoying what you do and being enthusiastic. You have to be prepared, starting with how you present yourself to practicing your message. Most importantly, you have to enjoy the practicing part.

Here are some comments of some very successful coaches, athletes and other successful people on their love of what they do.

Enjoy.

Babe Ruth
Former Major League Outfielder
The most important thing a young athelete must do is pick the right sport. Not one that they just like a little bit but one they love. Because, if they don't really love their sport, they won't work as hard as they should. Me? I loved to hit.

Walter Cottinham
Canadian Businessman/Manufacturer
Merit begets confidence; confidence begets enthusiasm; enthusiasm conquers the world.

Pancho Gonzalez
Former Professional Tennis Player
To me, there is a cycle in sports; "The more they enjoy it, the more they practice; the more they practice, the more they improve; therefore, they enjoy it more."

Papyrus
Old Egyptian Historical Papers
If you can't get enthusiastic about your work, it's time to get alarmed-something is wrong. Compete with yourself. Set your teeth and dive into the job of breaking your own record. No one keeps his enthusiasm automatically. enthusiasm must be nourished with new actions, new aspirations, new efforts, new vision. It is one's own fault if his enthusiasm is gone; he has failed to feed it. If you want to turn those hours into minutes, renew your enthusiasm.

Be A Great Competitor

2009-05-28T23:39:00Z

The following is a good article by Coach John Peter for people coaching any age group, but I really like it for coaching the young ones. I've seen too many parents burn their young "phenoms" out before they get to the level where the game really matters.

Please read and enjoy!

Learning to compete is yet another of the vital pieces to becoming a next-level player. Athletic ability alone gets very few to the top of the pyramid, with the exception of names like Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, Andrew Jones, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez-- guys just born with such amazing skill and size. Yet even these high caliber athletes needed to learn to become great competitors... focused and prepared to do battle.

Even Derek Jeter, once viewed as the third best shortstop in the American League (and owner of 4 World Series rings as of this writing), talks about the countless hours of his teen years spent hacking with his SoloHitter Hitting Trainer. You watch how he approaches every at-bat and how hard he competes and you just know that this is how he is wired. It may have started from the head of his dinner table, or a coach, but those who know him say that this guy was always a tough out!

Watching Jeter play, you just have to appreciate how many of the best become their best!

So who & what is a great competitor?
In Practice - He's the guy who knows what he is supposed to do and does it correctly... and not just when coaches are watching. He understands the value of practicing hard & correctly and knows its importance to himself and his team. He practices how he plays!
He challenges himself and is interested in becoming his best... not just better!

In Games - He is mentally prepared and has a plan for every at-bat and every situation. Because of his great practice habits, he can kick his game plan into gear with little concern for not being prepared. Coaches know they can count on him!

The Ultimate Competitor is the Ultimate Team Player!

He doesn't care who the hero is!
He's going to compete to help his team win!
He wants his teammates to do well!

Players come in all shapes, sizes & personalities...
but successful players all learn the importance of being a great competitor!

The Young Player
Teach & Learn The Love of The Game!
A competitive nature can start at a young age but first a player must learn to love the game. Without that love, he may never get to that point where the rest even matters. This is overwhelmingly most important.

The recent escalation of travel ball, elite teams and tough competition can come with a price of which the currency is these young minds and bodies. There is no more valuable cargo in this or any game. Please know your child(ren) and what makes it fun for them. For coaches, know all your kids (players) and keep it fun!

My own observation is that few 10-year olds are equipped to understand this, maybe half of 11-year olds seem to and most 12-year olds who get the concept are emotionally equipped to do battle and understand the euphoria of winning (as well as the the agony of losing) and what it takes to get there.

This knowledge can come from the head of the dinner table, an older sibling, a teacher or coach, older or other teammates, opposing players... anywhere really. What's more important is that it becomes how a player goes about his business on the field.

It's Just Baseball
One 10-year old may love to play every day and will play 60+ games a year while another may be burned out by age 12 with that sort of schedule. Love the game first and the competitive juices will just kick in when they are supposed to; there is no schedule. Know your player(s) and you will know when to prod and when to back off and let them find it themselves. THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT!

Accept Responsibility- Don't Make Excuses

2009-05-02T03:14:53Z

Don't you hate excuses? I can't stand them, and the older I get, the less tolerant I am. I can't stand it when someone strikes out or loses a game and blames it on the umpire because of a bad call. Or when they miss a fly ball and blame it on the wind or sun. Things like that.

The same thing goes in business. Our price is too high, she won't buy from a man, they have a better product than we do, I didn't have enough time. Excuses drive me nuts.

Here are some quotes I hope you enjoy from former players and coaches that share the same tolerance with excuses as me. I hope you enjoy.

We tell our players that if they are going to point a finger, to point it at the mirror. The attitude has to be, "If we are not winning, it is my fault"

Chuck Knoll - Former NFL Coach

We don't go for the injury bit or the sick bit. We win or we lose, that's all.

Al McGuire - Former College Basketball Coach, Sports Broadcaster

When a pitcher's throwing a spitball, don't worry, don't complain - just hit the dry side like I do.

Stan Musial - Former Major League Outfielder

This is my favorite. This should the thought of every coach in every sport, and every manager in any business.

Don't get me wrong. I don't like to lose. I think I take a loss as hard as any other coach and a lot harder than I hope my players take it. If we lose, it's my fault. That's my responsibility as the head coach. I don't brood over a game, but I do second-guess myself, analyzing where I made my mistakes. After all, I have more control of the game than the players. I have to prepare them. I have to design the game plan. I run the game from the sidelines. Sure, the players on the field do or don't make the big play, but it's my job to give them the tools to win.

Joe Paterno - Penn State Head Football Coach

Pre-game rituals, superstitions not unique to baseball players

2009-05-02T02:21:00Z

Are you or any of your players superstitious? I found this piece written by Kurtis Larson I thought you might enjoy

A shot of rum, a boa constrictor and an African voodoo doll named Joe-boo may be a bit of an exaggeration, but to Pedro Cerrano, superstitions were a religion in the 1989 film "Major League."

Athletic superstitions and pre-game protocol rule the sporting world. From rally caps to unwashed jock straps, athletes go to outrageous lengths to ensure good luck and victory. At any level, pre- and post-game rituals can be as important as one's performance in the game itself. It is the unfounded fear of forgetting these tasks that causes both professionals and amateurs alike to rely on superstitions throughout their playing careers and beyond, some making it a downright obsession.

Some are disturbing, disgusting and startling, but to Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, routine was an obsession. Call it OCD or whatever you will; Boggs had what some would call a pre-game ceremonial odyssey. Consisting of the same pre-game meal that earned him the nickname "Chicken Man," Boggs took the same amount of balls for warmups and began warming up at the exact same minute past the hour for the 2,240 Major League games in which he appeared. Nevermind the fact he carved the Hebrew word "chai" into the batters' box before each plate appearance.

Sure, there are universally fabled superstitions. Some, like never messing up baselines, draining your last shot in warmups and, of course, never speaking of that no-hitter while a pitcher still has the mound are common. But some athletes are absolutely captivated by the possibility of bad luck.

For instance, other notables include Michael Jordan and Mark McGwire. During his time in Chicago, Jordan always wore his blue Tarheel shorts under his Bulls uniform.

Looking at a grimier superstition, Mark McGwire consistently wore the same cup from his high school playing days. Subsequently, the same cup was later stolen, forcing him to find other means of protection. What's more disgusting, the cup itself, or the fact that someone once coveted it?

How about examining this on more of a micro level? Surely student athletes at Drake can't compete with the outrageous activities the professionals above pulled off? Wrong! Is there a reason why so many superstitions deal with athletes' drawers? (For those not up with the times, that equates to underwear.)

Look no farther than the women's soccer team to find an example of this. Sinead Brown (J3) offered up a little pre-game ritual that's not exactly repulsive, but kind of shocking in that I'm not really sure how an individual could come up with it.

"I like to wear underwear that I would normally wear during a certain day of the week," she said. "If there's a game on Sunday, usually Monday's underwear selection is a good fit for the day's game."

Maybe I don't understand this because I'm a guy, but do all women have underwear selected for certain days of the week? I'm lucky if I have clean underwear for all the days of the week.

Moving away from the briefs, other Drake athletes use ritualistic body art to inspire them in intercollegiate competition. Men's soccer player Keith Gorczyca (B3) tattoos himself before every game with inspiring mnemonic devices he focuses on during matches.

"Examples I've used in the past include P.S. for 'play simple,' G.B.G.H. for 'go big or go home' and F.C. for 'f--- Creighton,'" he said. "It's not really superstitious, but it's a pre-game ritual."

While I find Brown's to be disturbing and Gorzcyca's to be somewhat hateful, others display some instances of normalcy. Relays participant Ashley Anklam (AS4) has an array of different superstitions and steps she goes through before running seemingly endless distances.

"Right before the race, I make a cross over over my chest," she said. "I have to tie my shoes exactly the same way, too. First, I make a double knot then tie the ends over that double knot. Then, I make a second double knot on top of the first knots. I also wear exactly the same warm-up suit before every event."

It must be hell to untie those things at the conclusion of a race. But when you're the 2006 Missouri Valley Conference Female Athlete of the Year in cross country, you can pretty much do whatever you want, say whatever you want and tie your boots however you want.

How about some of my own personal superstitions? I can honestly say I set my phone alarm every night at least five times. In my mind, the first four times don't get the job done. This stems from second semester freshman year when I was late to multiple finals because of an alarm malfunction.

Be it here, there or anywhere, superstitions are sometimes bigger than the game itself. What would have happened if Boggs missed a pre-game meal? What if he took 149 ground balls instead of the 150 he took before every game? What if Brown selected Tuesday's undergarments instead of Monday's? These decisions can affect entire seasons, if not entire lives.

Fly balls/Tagging Up

2009-04-30T02:19:00Z

How much time do you practice tagging up on fly balls? Probably not much. Here are a few tips to go over with your players on tagging up.

Runners on first; On fly balls to right, you want to go about 1/4 of the way to 2B, on fly balls to center, about 1/3 of the way, on fly balls to left, go about 1/2 of the way. You should be under control and watching the ball so that you can quickly turn and get back in the event the catch is made so that you are not doubled up.

Runners on second; On fly balls that would appear to be catchable, go back to the bag so that you can tag-up. Watch the ball all the way and don't leave too early, or the other team may appeal. On ground balls to the right side, go to third, on ground balls to left side, advance to third on the throw, but make sure he makes the throw first.

Runners on third; On fly balls, go back to the bag so that you can tag-up. Watch the ball all the way and don't leave early. You generally do not want a large primary lead, but you do want a good secondary lead. Your primary and secondary lead should be taken in foul territory, so that if batted ball should hit you, you would not be out and it would merely be a foul ball. Your secondary lead should be a controlled but fast walking lead and should not stop until you see that the catcher has control of the ball. Do not start heading back to the bag until you see that the catcher has control. If the catcher does have control then quickly turn and head back to the bag in FAIR territory. This will prevent the catcher from getting a direct straight throw to the bag, and may result in the ball deflecting off of the runner, allowing him to advance home. If the ball gets by the catcher, your fast walking lead should allow the runner to advance home most of the time.

Does He Have What It Takes?

2009-04-29T01:36:00Z

Do you think there is a player you coach that has what it takes to play college or professional baseball? Well, once you see the probabilities of making it big on this link here, you will quickly understand that raw talent probably won't get a player very far. This is one of the reasons I started this blog.

This blog isn't just about coaching drills. Young players, even ones with that rare raw talent, won't go anywhere without a coach to teach and guide them. Whether it's baseball, football, basketball, or any sport, it's more than just the right drills you run in practice. It's teaching bigger things like attitude, passion, desire and hard work, as well as the fundamentals. That's why you see quotes on this blog. Quotes from people who have been there, proven themselves.

Any person, that doesn't have a passion for what they do, even outside of sports, will never be the best at what they do.

Quotes For Tonight

2009-04-28T02:31:00Z

Baseball is the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated. ~Author Unknown

No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference.

~Tommy Lasorda

During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball. ~

Mickey Mantle, 1970

Effective Base Coaching

2009-04-28T02:10:00Z

Brian Priebe was the Head Freshman Baseball Coach at Monte Vista High School in San Diego. He has written several articles on coaching baseball. I really liked this segment he wrote on effective base coaches. Enjoy!

Here are four characteristics of effective base coaches:

Communicate Clearly. Good base coaches are effective communicators. This must be true in spite of the fact that base coaches speak in "code" to maintain the element of surprise. Establish a language known only to your team. Use it consistently. Review your language and base running policies regularly with players during practice.

Have a corresponding set of hand signals. Verbal commands can be drowned out by noise from the stands or the defense. Hand signals are often more effective and discrete.

Ingrain the meaning of each verbal cue and hand signal during "chalk talk" sessions, scrimmages, and base running drills in practice.

Be Animated & Loud. Good base coaches are easily seen and heard by runners and batters. Base runners must be able to see the third base coach clearly in between glances at the fielders and the ball. Use exaggerated arm and hand gestures. For example, the third base coach can kneel or crouch down when instructing the runner to slide on a close play.

Make Snap Decisions. Be ready to react to the unexpected-- passed balls, wild pitches, catcher's rifling the ball to a base after the pitch, a bobbled ground ball in the outfield. Your brain must process information with computer-like quickness.

For example, when the batter launches a double into the gap with a runner on first base, the third base coach must consider all the following factors as part of his decision whether to send the runner home:

Base runner's foot speed,
Outfielder's arm strength,
Relay man's arm strength,
Score,
Inning,
Number of outs,
Which batter is on deck.

Here are two tips to improve your decision-making:
a) Pre-pitch planning. Rehearse the possibilities in your mind before they happen. Anticipate the other team's moves. Warn the runner if you suspect a particular defensive play.
b) When unexpected plays do occur, go with your gut. Have the courage to make the wrong call. You will find you are usually right when you follow your first instinct.

Encourage Aggressive Play. A good base coach realizes his capacity to set the tone for the offense. Players feed off the base coach's aggressive calls. When the coach shows confidence in the player's ability to execute, it boosts their confidence. Calling an aggressive base running game from the coach's box can spark a rally.

Take high percentage risks. When the game situation permits, force the defense to make a perfect play in order to tag the runner out. Pressure the defense into committing errors.

Some X's and O's:
The first base coach is responsible for all base runners from the time they exit the batter's box until they commit themselves to second base. Once a runner leaves first base, the third base coach assumes responsibility for the runner until he leaves third to score.

The third base coach must maneuver himself directly into the runner's line of sight. Remember to remain well into foul territory at all times and avoid making contact with any runner while the ball is in play.

On a base hit with runners at first and second, the third base coach must give verbal commands and hand signals to both runners. If the coach sends the first runner home, he then must pick up the trail runner and tell him whether to stay at second base or advance to third.

Who is responsible to coach runners once they leave third base and try to score? The on-deck batter. Base coaches should teach all offensive players the basic principles described above so that, as on-deck batters, they can stand behind the plate and help their teammates score safely.

Effective base coaches can influence the outcome of many plays throughout a game. Though their contributions are not always apparent, base coaches are critical to a team's ability to generate runs.

Luck

2009-04-27T03:26:00Z

Different times, different cultures, two entirely different people, but the same message.

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
-Coach Darrel Royal

I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
-Thomas Jefferson

Help For Selecting The Right Baseball Bat

2009-04-27T02:53:00Z

Every year on every team, there will always be a few players on your team that you find has the wrong size bat.  It's either too heavy, too short, or too long. Sometimes it's the teenage player thinking they're stronger than they actually are. Sometimes it's the parent that really has no clue on what size bat to buy.

The most important factor when choosing a bat is comfort. I've seen players hit better with a $40 bat they borrowed from a teammate than they did with the $200 bat their parents bought them. Just like baseball gloves or basketball shoes, if the player isn't comfortable with what they are using, the results won't be very good.

Hopefully the following guidelines can help you choose the proper size bat for your players.

Size of the Bat (Length and Weight)
Another important factor in choosing the right sized baseball bat is the height of the batter. In general, tall batters should use longer bats. Below are two tables with general guidelines for choosing baseball bat length.

Bat Length Guidelines:

Age	Bat Length	or	Player Height	Bat Length
5-7	24" - 26"		5' - 5' 6"	32"
8-9	2"-28"		5'6" - 6'	33"
10-11	28"-30"		6' +	34"
11-12	30"-32"
13-14	31"-32"
15-16	32"-33"
17+	34"

Worth Sports conducted a study with the University of Arizona, in which they determined the best bat weights for hitters, based on their height. The table below summarizes their findings. Note: Add one ounce for fastpitch softball bats.

Bat Weight Guidelines:

A. High School & College Baseball		B. Youth League Baseball (11-12 yrs)		C. Youth League Baseball (8-10 yr. olds)
Player Height (in.)	Best Bat Wt (oz.)	Player Weight (lbs.)	Best Bat Wt (oz.)	Player Height (in.)	Best Bat Wt (oz.)
>66	>27	>70	>18	>48	>16
>68	>27.5	>80	>19	>50	>16.5
>70	>28	>90	>19.5	>52	>17
>72	>29	>100	>20	>54	>17.5
>74	>30	>110	>20.5	>56	>18
>76	>30.5	>120	>21	>58	>18.5
>Formula: Height/3 + 5		>130	>21.5	>60	>19
		>140	>22	>Formula:Height/4 + 4
		>150	>23
		Formula: Weight/18 + 14

D. FastPitch Softball (Women)
Player Weight (lbs.)	Best Bat Weight (oz.)
100	23
110	24
120	25
130	26
140	26.5
150	27
160	28
170	28.5
180	29
Formula:Weight/15+17

(Men and Women)
Player Weight (lbs.)	Best Bat Weight (oz.)
100	22
120	23
140	24
160	25
180	26
200	27
220	28
230	29
240	30
260	31
280	32
Formula: Weight19 +17

Level of Play & Regulations

Baseball bats are measured using their length to weight ratio, a negative number that represents how many ounces a bat weighs compared to it's length in inches. For example, a 32 inch bat that weighs 28 ounces is a - 4. The largest ratio is in the range of -12 (for little league bats), while college and high school bats are restricted to a - 3. These restrictions are for safety reasons - a college or high school player swinging a very light bat (- 4 +) would simply have too much power and could pose a danger to other players on the field. Make sure to check the regulations of your league before buying a baseball bat!

A Great Opening Day

2009-04-25T21:11:00Z

Today was the perfect opening day. Perfect for the game of baseball, perfect for a dad and perfect for a coach. For the game, 84 degrees and sunny with hundreds of boys, some playing the first game of their life, some starting their last year of little league. As a dad, my 8yr old going 2 for 3 with a triple and a home run and two defensive put outs. My 12 yr old throwing six innings of shutout baseball , scattering only four hits with 9 strikeouts. As a coach, being able to help coach one of the best 11 and 12 yr old games I've seen in years.

This game went into extra innings and was 0-0 going into the bottom of the 9th. We had no outs with runners on first and second. Our #9 batter who I've never seen bunt the ball in a game in four years, lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Then our lead off batter hits a ground ball to second where the other team could not get the throw to home in time, and we win the game.

Even better, there were only a combined two errors in the entire game. Pretty darn good at that age. Even better, we have been practicing bunting with all of our players every practice. We teach them the importance of taking advantage of every situation, and how important the bunt is in the game of baseball.

Most kids look down and don't like it when they are asked to bunt. I promise you this, our #9 batter won't anymore. Our entire team now has witnessed the meaning and the impact a sacrifice bunt can have in a game.

What an opening day!

Helpful Base Running Tips

2009-04-25T04:19:00Z

People say pitching wins ball games, while others say hitting or defense. What you rarely hear, except from coaches who really understand winning is that base running wins and loses games. Base running should be a BIG part of every practice. The teams that run the bases the best usually end up the victors. Don't get me wrong, pitching and hitting and defense are HUGE keys to victory, but if both teams have great hitters, great pitching and great defense, the team that has the best base running will win the game. Please read and enjoy these fine tips here.

Isn't This The Truth

2009-04-24T03:01:00Z

Here is a great one. Enjoy.

Vince Lombardi, Former NFL Coach-

Unless a man believes in himself and makes a total commitment to his career and puts everything he has int it - his mind, his body and his heart - what is life worth to him? If I were a salesman, I would make this commitment to my company, to the product and most of all to myself. A man who is trained to his peak capacity will gain confidence. Confidence is contagious and so is lack of confidence and a customer will recognize both.

Tennis Ball Drill

2009-04-24T02:20:00Z

This article explains a great drill for teaching kids how to get under and catch fly balls. Enjoy.

Tennis ball drill – teaching young players to use their feet properly to catch fly balls. Here’s a drill to help younger players learn to get in the right position to catch fly balls.

The problem
Quite often young players have difficulty getting into good position to catch fly balls. It’s usually caused by a combination of two or three things. Fear of the baseball, and lack of experience in reading the flight of the ball, and a tendency to wait till the last moment to lean or stab at the ball, off to one side or the other. What we want is to teach them the importance of using their feet to get them into good receiving position.

The drill
Using tennis balls the baseball coach hits or throws the tennis balls, first medium height, then higher and higher (a tennis racket really works well when you want to hit them high). At first, instead of having the kids catch the ball, we have them position themselves so the ball lands at their feet, ideally about a foot in front of the lead foot. If they want to make it a little harder, they can even try to have the ball land on their foot. This forces them to get around behind the ball, then come in on it, like an outfielder has to when he needs to come up with a hard throw to the infield. It forces them to get centered to the ball. After they get good at getting centered, they start to catch the ball instead of letting it fall at their feet.

The result
Using tennis balls accomplishes a number of things. It takes away the fear factor since they are soft. And since they are somewhat harder to catch and tend to pop out of a baseball glove, it forces kids to use soft hands and really focus on the catch. Also, the wind tends to affect the flight of a tennis ball even more than a baseball, so it teaches the kids to catch a curving, slicing ball. After doing this with tennis balls, a baseball actually seems much easier to catch.

Most importantly, the drill forces the kids to use their feet to get into correct position to catch the ball. With most fly balls, they tend to focus on just getting their glove to the ball. They really need to get in the habit of getting their feet in the right position to catch a ball. Although this just comes naturally to some kids, for most kids it does not. So after they first learn how to get a ball to land at their feet (while they face the plate) it then becomes much easier to teach them the importance of good positioning, getting around behind the ball, and then using a little forward momentum to come in to the ball, catch it and make a good solid throw.

This drill actually works very well with older players also, because many of them are in the bad habit of being satisfied with just getting to the ball, and not getting there early. When they are in the habit of just barely getting to the ball, their momentum is often carrying them the wrong way and they can’t come up quickly with a good hard throw to the infield.

Finding The Right Bat

2009-04-24T02:05:00Z

Every year, parents and little league coaches seem to struggle finding the right size bat for their kids. I found this great article explaining how to chose the proper size bat here.

Enjoy.

Hard Work and Sacrifice

2009-04-23T03:52:00Z

Whatever you are, a coach, athlete, salesman, teacher or even a politician, you can't be a winner and stay on top without hard work and sacrifice. Hear it from these former athletes and coaches back when they were at the top of their game. Enjoy.

Johnny Unitas, Former NFL Quarterback-
Specialists can never practice their specialties too much. The danger is not practicing enough. Make that mistake, and soon you may not be in the specialist business anymore.

Roger Maris, Former Major League Outfielder-
You hit home runs not by chance, but by preparation.

Merlin Olsen, Former NFL Tackle, Sports Broadcaster and Actor-
Long hours of practice and repetition may be required to hone skills and develop knowledge and technique that will allow for successful performance. One of life's most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn't do our homework, that we are not prepared.

Muhammad Ali, Former Heavyweight Champion-
Before I get into the ring, I'd have already won or lost it out on the road. The real part is won or lost somewhere far away from witnesses-behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road long before I dance under those lights.

My personal favorite-

Jim Craig, Former NHL Goaltender and Olympic Gold Medalist-
Yeah, I worked hard for it. You get what you deserve.

Winners vs Losers

2009-04-23T03:04:00Z

I want to share this great piece from Pat Williams, former NBA General Manager and Vice President. This goes way beyond sports.

Winners vs Losers

When a winner makes a mistake, he says "I was wrong;"
When a loser makes a mistake, he says "It wasn't my fault."

A winner works harder than a loser and has more time;
A loser is always"too busy" to do what is necessary.

A winner goes through a problem;
A loser goes around it, and never gets past it.

A winner makes commitments;
A loser makes promises.

A winner says "I'm good, but not as good as I ought to be;"
A loser says, "I'm not as bad as a lot of other people."

A winner listens;
A loser just waits until it's his turn to talk.

A winner respects those who are superior to him and tries to learn
something from them;
A loser resents those who are superior to him and tries to find
chinks in the armor.

A winner feels responsible for more than his job;
A loser says "I only work here."

A winner says, "There ought to be a better way to do it;"
A loser says, "That's the way it's always been done here."

Great Baseball Coaching Shoes

2009-04-22T02:59:00Z

A good, comfortable and durable shoe is hard to find. I have gone through many different kinds of shoes that have not withstood the beating of pitching batting practice for one season, until I found the Nike Diamond Trainer. What a shoe! Besides being very comfortable, the pair that I bought, I've worn for the last three baseball seasons. Even though they could go at least one more year, I have decided that I want a new pair, mainly because I want a different color. In case you have not seen what they look like, here is a picture of one.

I highly recommend this shoe.

Explosive Pitching Mechanics - How To Build An Explosive Pitching Delivery - By Coach Jerry Kreber

2009-04-22T01:34:00Z


This is the best description on pitching mechanics I have read. 













Enjoy!

Explosive mechanics are all about training the pitcher's body to transfer weight and momentum from the back leg to the front leg quickly and efficiently. This involves focusing on "explosive weight shift" while the pitcher is coming off his posting leg. It also involves the use of the tension created in the posting leg to drive explosive hip and pelvis rotation.

The following 8 stages are how I teach explosive baseball pitching mechanics.

1. Leg Lift

2. Pelvic Loading

3. Leg Bend

4. Front-Side Shoulder Tilt

5. Upper Arm Circle

6. Elbow Flexion

7. Wall of Resistance

8. Elbow Extension

Stage 1

The first stage of the pitching motion is the leg lift. The leg lift occurs when the pitcher pivots the throwing foot on the pitching rubber to perpendicular to home plate and raises the glove foot. The leg lift is important for two different reasons. First, it starts the pitcher’s momentum toward the plate. Momentum is important for the pitcher because it helps generate force behind the ball. Secondly, the leg lift allows the pitcher to load the back leg and hips. The pitching leg is loaded when the glove foot leaves the ground. When the pitching leg is loaded, there should be a slight bend at the knee. The pitcher’s eyes and head should be focused directly on the target. On the lift, the pitcher’s glove should line up with the knee and serve as a good indicator for the height of the lift. Many times, our pitcher’s gloves will be at letter height on their uniform. Also, the pitcher’s chin should line up with the knee and glove. Lining up the chin, knee, and glove indicates good posture that promotes a controlled balance.

There are many different styles of leg lifts practiced by major league pitchers. Nolan Ryan practiced a very high leg lift. He attributes some of his throwing velocity to the high lift. When analyzing a high leg lift compared to a conservative one, it seems that pitcher’s that get their legs higher have extremely good flexibility. Also, it seems that their weight thrust back to some extent toward second base. Thrusting back toward second, at least in Ryan’s case, seems to create extreme momentum toward the plate. To further illustrate my point, let me provide an example. Visualize a four-legged table. Now, imagine two legs on the same side being cut. The table would fall until the new leg height contacted with the floor. The higher the table legs are cut, the further the table will fall to the floor. By adding extra distance, the table will come down with more force due to increased momentum from gravity having more time to pull on the table’s falling mass.

But, pitchers should be aware that practicing a leg kick that is too high or out of control can severely hamper their pitch command and keeping all applied force in a straight line. The kick should allow be at a level that the pitcher can continue to maintain their balance throughout the delivery.

Stage 2

Once the leg lift occurs, the pitcher not only loads their rear leg, but hips as well. Loading the hips is a difficult movement because it involves controlling the pelvis to move, but in a way that does not throw the pitcher off line toward the target. As the pitcher reaches the top of the leg lift, to load their hips they must turn the pelvis away from the hitter. When a pitcher turns the pelvis away from the hitter, they show the batter their glove side back pocket. From a side view, the pitcher looks as if they place their glove foot parallel to their pitching foot.

There are two reasons why pelvic loading can help generate force off the mound. First by turning the pelvis away, the pitcher, can apply more force over time with the lower body going into foot plant. By increasing momentum with the lower body, pitchers will take stress off the arm by allowing it to “go along for the ride” so to speak. Secondly, muscles can only work when they are properly loaded. If no load occurs, the muscle cannot properly help perform an action. For instant, a person cannot jump on legs already extended. To achieve maximum muscle use while jumping, a person must have flexion in the legs and explode to extension. If a pitcher wants to use their hips during the pitching motion, they must be loaded back and then extended forward.

One extremely important point to remember is that although the hips have slightly turned, the glove shoulder stays in a straight line with the target.

Stage 3

After the pelvic loading stage has been completed, the pitcher should maintain flexion in their rear leg. Flexion in the rear leg is vital for two reasons. First, the flexion of the rear leg allows pitchers to activate their quadriceps, glutes, and the hamstring of the pitching leg. This flexion allows pitchers to apply directional force toward the plate. Just as a swimmer pushes off the wall to start their competition, rear leg drive allows pitchers the same opportunity to start their delivery toward the plate. Secondly, rear leg bend helps pitchers create front side leverage. Pitchers achieve a leverage position by tilting their shoulders. The next pitching phase deals strictly with front-side shoulder tilt.

Rear leg bend is a topic of much discussion. Some coaches have disputed the fact that to achieve maximum straight-line momentum, pitchers do not push off the pitching rubber. Rather they pull their front hip toward the catcher. Examining the pictures above, it seems relatively clear that the pitcher’s rear leg indicates, due to flexion, that force will be applied toward second base trying to accelerate the body forward. If a pitcher moves toward the plate with an extended rear leg, it would seem they are not using all their available muscles to create force toward the plate.

Analyzing pictures are not the only evidence that indicates pitchers use rear leg bend to push toward home. In 1998, Bruce MacWillams conducted a study that examined ground reaction forces during the pitching motion. The study’s results indicated that leg drive is a significant factor in pitcher’s throwing velocity. With the study’s data and evidence with pictures, substantial facts back up the claim that leg bend is needed for a effective delivery.(MacWilliams, B, Choi, T., Perezous, M, Chao, E, McFarland, E. Characteristic Ground Reaction Forces in Baseball Pitching. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 26(1): 66-71, 1998.)

Stage 4 and 5

The next two stages happen almost in unison. But, if you break the delivery down it can be deduced that one is the direct effect of the other. During the leg bend, pitchers must break their hands correctly to efficiently deliver their pitch to the target. Many experts have weighed in on when the pitcher should break their hands. Some say the earlier the better, while other contest pitchers should wait until later as they head toward.

Not only when the pitcher breaks their hands is a point of contention, but how they do it is also questionable. Some say that a pitcher should lift their arm up, while others say the pitcher should swing their pitching arm back. While looking at video, pictures, and research I have concluded that the arm swing is the best approach for pitchers wanting to reach maximum velocity, stay healthy, and maintain durability.

The arm swing of the pitcher begins after the ball is taken out of the glove. The ball should be taken out of the glove low, giving the arm an adequate distance to gain momentum. After hand break, the pitcher must point their glove hand at the target. Thus, ensuring the glove shoulder points directly at the target at all times. The elbow should initially travel back towards 1st base. When the ball, held in the pitcher’s hand, achieves a straight-line starting with home plate, pitcher’s throwing hip, and second base the pitcher will forcefully turn their hips and shoulders toward the target.

Almost in unison with the Stage Four, effective pitchers will have front side shoulder tilt. The tilt, in the front side, is a direct result of a full upper arm circle by the pitcher. As the pitcher extends their arm out of the glove, their glove side will naturally rise. Their glove side will provide leverage toward the plate. Increased leverage will not only provide directional support, but higher pitch velocities

As the pitcher circles their upper pitching arm, the pitchers glove side elevates higher than the pitching arm. The pitcher’s glove arm should be extended, pointing directly at the target. The pitcher’s glove arm should stay in a straight line with the target. Keeping the line straight, allows the pitcher to apply all available force forward. Furthermore, keeping in a straight line with the target, forces the pitcher not to bring the ball behind their body. Once the ball is behind the pitcher’s body, they must pull their glove side to side to release the pitch for a strike. Using lateral directional force puts a tremendous amount of strain on the elbow.

Stage 6

Higher velocity is another benefit of the front side shoulder tilt. First, pitchers get to couple the force to the plate by using the glove arm. If the glove arm is extended and raised, pitchers are allowed to pull them forcefully toward second base. This action should increase the momentum and speed of the throwing arm. Secondly, when a pitcher’s forearm is not turned over, force is not being applied to the back of the ball. The humerus bone, when external rotated, turns the forearm over. The earlier the humerus bone is externally rotated the more time the pitcher can apply force to the ball.

As pressure is applied toward the hip by the glove arm, after maximum front side tilt, the humerous bone turns over and the forearm begins moving toward the plate. As the ball enters the straight-line path to the plate, the pitcher’s elbow needs to have less than 90-degree flexion. If a pitcher has more than 90 degree flexion, chances are, they are going to experience extreme soreness in their pitching elbow. The elbow, isolated due to decreased flexion, causes this soreness. If prematurely extended, the elbow receives no support from the biceps and forearm. With the violent forward force and weight from the ball, pitchers force their elbow to carry most of workload. Dr. Mike Marshall calls this practice “Reserve Forearm Bounce”. There are many pictures that illustrate this mechanical flaw. A pitcher, who has premature extension or “Reserve Forearm Bounce”, often at foot plant display a large lag in the forearm. The pitcher’s lagging forearm bounces, once the body continues forward to deliver the pitch. Since the elbow is such a small joint, it cannot tolerate the stress of being isolated and starts to distribute force to the delicate surrounding ligaments and tissue. At this step, pitchers are likely to be seriously injured.

By having proper flexion, like the illustration above, pitchers are able to rely on the biceps and forearm to apply force to the ball. Also, the elbow is supported, as the pitcher delivers to the plate. Furthermore, by practicing good elbow flexion, pitchers can release the ball closer to home plate. Releasing closer to home plate creates a competitive advantage for the pitcher, increasing velocity and cutting the hitters reaction time to the pitch. Finally, practicing adequate elbow flexion will help pitchers throw a legitimate vertical breaking ball, instead of a horizontal spinning slider or slurve.

Stage 7

Actually, Dr. Tom House is credited for illustrating this stage with his National Pitching Association (NPA) research. The Wall of Resistance is an imaginary line drawn through the pitcher’s foot upon touch, after the leg kick. This straight line passes through the plant foot and extends to the sky. At foot plant, the pitcher’s head should be behind the line. During release, the pitcher’s head must pass through the line and ahead of the plant foot. If the pitcher is able to execute this action, proper directional force has been applied. Also, forced apply toward second base allows the pitcher to release his pitch closer to home plate. Furthermore, maintaining forward momentum with the lower body greatly reduces upper arm stress and chance of injury. If the pitcher is not able to generate an opposite lower body push, their arm will have to generate much of the force behind the ball. Pitchers that isolate their arm to produce force may experience problems with extreme arm soreness, injury, and fatigue. Above, Jake Westbrook has just reached foot plant. His head is clearly behind his glove leg on foot strike. Like all Major League pitchers, Westbrook will explode through the “Wall of Resistance” during release.

One oral cue that our team uses for pitchers to create lead leg push is “Get some air under your heel.” This has helped our pitcher visualize transferring their weight forward and freeing their rear leg. Also, the oral cue “Finishing on your toe” has helped our pitchers visualize proper weight transfer during their delivery. As a coach, the best way to measure if players are breaking through the Wall of Resistance is that watch the pitcher’s back leg. If their leg achieves full extension through release, the pitcher has activated and used the appropriate force production mechanics. If not, coaches need to incorporate drills that promote lead leg push and opposite directional pushes.

Stage 8

As the pitcher breaks through “The Wall of Resistance”, release is about to occur. In order to throw a strike, the pitcher must extend their elbow and place their forearm in a straight line toward home plate. Often, pitchers may have to slightly tilt their head to the glove side. This small tilt creates space for the pitcher’s arm to stay in a straight line with the target. By allowing the elbow to extend in a straight line, the pitcher applies force to the back of the baseball toward home plate. In fact, if the pitcher has proper elbow flexion in their mechanics, they will be able to apply force longer toward the target. The extended force application time increases a pitcher’s throwing velocity.

In the picture above, the pitcher has just released his pitch toward home plate. His elbow has become completely extended during release and his head is slightly tilted toward the glove side. In the picture, the ball has just been released from the pitcher’s fingers. Notice how far out in front the pitcher is able to release the ball. Just by practicing proper elbow flexion, pitchers can slash the distance to the plate by 10% or greater. This distance reduction not only produces faster pitches, but helps pitchers maintain he althy arms.