Baseball Instruction Guide

Great Baseball Hitters Apply Rotational Mechanics

2010-01-29T23:49:00.000-08:00

What is the best way to learn how to hit? That is the $10 million question. Some of the best hitters in history say it has to do with mastering rotational mechanics. But what is rotational mechanics?

Rotational mechanics is the theory and application of using your hands, wrists, arms, torso, legs, eyes and mind together in one rhythmic motion to consistently hit a baseball. It sure sounds easy, but there is more to this hitting instruction philosophy.

This baseball hitting instruction method emphasizes that a great hitter requires fast hands, hands that can react to fastballs, change-ups and off-speed pitches.

How do you choose the best hitting mechanics methods? By choosing a baseball instruction system created by some of the most respected names in baseball. Authors who have years of professional experience who have worked at the major league level. Many of these hitting experts have published baseball ebooks and baseball instructional videos that explain their hitting instruction philosophies.

Bestbaseballebooks.com is an excellent source that contains some of the best baseball ebooks and baseball instruction videos available today. This site is highly recommended because they review each product fairly and allow you to choose which baseball ebook works best for you.

Minor League Baseball and The Baseball Scorecard

2010-01-09T06:28:00.000-08:00

Going to the minor league baseball game is great entertainment and can also be the best form of baseball instruction. Minor league baseball is geared toward the family experience and your kids will be mesmerized by the atmosphere. This is the perfect setting to share the baseball experience and to teach them some baseball fundamentals.

Many minor league baseball ballparks provide promotions and fun skits especially designed for kids. They also have team mascots that interact with kids by walking through the grandstand. The mascots act out choreographed skits between innings and invite some lucky youngsters down on the field to participate. Most minor league parks provide moonwalks and inflatables for the kids to jump around in if they are bored.

Another great reason to attend minor league baseball game is that tickets are inexpensive, they are close to home, you don't have the traffic like the major league teams and they are usually close to home. Minor league provide real family entertainment.

Taking kids to a minor league game can be the best form of baseball instruction because you can introduce them to the baseball scorecard and baseball scorekeeping. If you understand how to score baseball in a baseball scorecard, it means you know the game well.

The minor league ballpark is the perfect setting to teach kids how to use a baseball scorecard. Sure the kids will want peanuts and cracker jacks - that's just fine - it adds to the fun and mystique of being part of the game. Grab a program for the kids while your at it - the baseball scorecard will be inside.

Pass the kid(s) a baseball scorecard and a pencil. Ask them to fill in the lineup. Make it a fun challenge. If you have more than one child, have them do it as a team. Give them some direction on how to enter the lineup, the players numbers and their defensive positions. Entice them with a surprise or bonus if they complete it (maybe buy them a hat, t-sheet, a pretzel or even ice-cream).

Once the baseball scorecard is complete you can explain how each position has a number (1 = pitcher, 2 = catcher, etc). Then walk your kids through a few at-bats. Don't force it on them, when they have had enough don't press it. Let them have fun with the baseball experience. Keep it simple.

One recommendation I have about attending minor league baseball games is to attend a night game when it isn't hot and humid. The last thing you want to do is to have your kids associate a baseball game with being uncomfortable. Attending night games can be magical - with the smells, sights and sounds of a baseball game. It's the best baseball instruction tool around!

source: teachkidsbaseball.com

Seven Essential Mental Skills In Baseball

2010-01-09T05:36:00.000-08:00

There are many different methodologies for teaching baseball instruction. When most folks talk about baseball instruction they talking about three things: fielding, hitting and throwing. I often wondered why there isn't more importance put on teaching the mental aspects of baseball as well. What I've come to realize it that mental skills are learned, but it is an implied knowledge, meaning it's found it to be so important that I added my "7 Essential Mental Skills" to my baseball instruction program. Here they are:

1. How To Keep Your Cool
2. How To Use Visualization
3. Confidence and Positive Thinking
4. How to Eliminate Negative Thoughts
5. Stay Focused - No Distractions
6. How o Overcome Intimidation
7. How To Prepare in pressure situations (like a sacrifice bunt)

1. How To Keep Your Cool
One of the most important things you can teach your baseball players is how to act, both on and off the field. Another hot topic is arguing with an umpire, coach or another player. Arguing can result in immediate expulsion of the game and possibly the league.

To help players deal with frustration I teach the "10 second rule". This simply means they count to ten before talking. This is to let the rage pass. Believe it or not I have seen it work pretty well.

2. How To Use Visualization
Visualization is simply seeing things in your "mind's" eye before they happen. Let's say the hitter has a bunt sign. He can step out of the batter's box and visualize himself successfully executing the sacrifice bunt. Now, when he steps back in the box he has a mental picture, or a blueprint so to speak, to help him execute the strategy. This is a very effective tool.

3. Confidence and Positive Thinking
Positive Thinking and confidence are an essential part of baseball instruction. Think about the game in general, think about how many times you fail. I mean a .300 batting average is great but realistically it's being successful only 30% of the time. Think about how many outs we make, and the errors, and the mental lapses in judgements, etc. etc. There is negative and failure all around.

To promote positive thinking I use stories of incredible baseball comebacks of the past so the kids can see it's possible to comeback from a deficit and win. To boost morale and confidence players are encouraged to root and cheer for each other. It can makes all the difference hearing it from your peers.

4. How To Eliminate Negative Thoughts
Using the confidence building and positive thinking techniques also help to eliminate those negative thoughts. You can help visualize the release of negative thoughts by breathing in deep and exhaling. At the same time visualize that negatively exiting with your breath.

5. Stay Focused - No Distractions
This is so difficult to do, especially for kids. Here is a a great fielding drill that helps them focus and avoid distractions. It uses competition as it's catalyst.

With glove in hand, have four to eight players make a semi-circle around you. Yo will need a baseball glove and two balls. Now throw random ground balls and try to keep at least one of the balls active at all times. Any player who misses the ball or doesn't throw the ball directly back to you sits down and is waits for the next game. Last player left is champ.

6. How to Overcome Intimidation
Sometimes games are won before they even begin. This is because a team's appearance can intimidate a team so much that psyche themselves into thinking they have no chance. Before each game, pump your players up with accolades to boost their confidence. Another technique you can use is to huddle and give a real good pep talk.

7. How To Prepare In Pressure Situations (like a sacrifice bunt)
The use of the skills discussed above, combined, will help them prepare in pressure situations.

Robert Bulka is a former college baseball pitcher and current coach in the New York Metropolitan area. He has penned 2 books on Baseball Scorekeeping and he manages three baseball related sites. http://bestbaseballebooks.com

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