How Efficient Pitching Mechanics Can Produce More Velocity With Less Stress To the Arm by Dick Mills - Great analysis about keeping your mechanics simple and eliminating unnecessary movements.
10 Reasons Dad May Not Want to Coach a Youth Baseball Team - Not just the obvious reasons.
How To Deal With the Sports Parents Social Pecking Order by Bob Cook, Forbes - You don't have to be friends with the other parents on the sidelines.
Local Man Brings 'Hoosiers' Back to Life by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star - Because this is the best sports movie ever and there can't be a real sequel.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Advice From the All-Time Hit King
ESPN has announced another 30 for 30 volume of films set to begin this fall. Beginning this week, Bill Simmons and Grantland.com will stream "30 for 30 Shorts" on a monthly basis. The first short film is called Here Now, an eight minute look into the current life of Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader banned from baseball for gambling.
The story of Pete Rose is a sad one, but you have to respect the way he played the game: "all out," as we are currently seeing from Bryce Harper. And in the middle of this short film, Rose offers some great advice for young players:
1. Be aggressive.
2. Be more aggressive.
3. Never be satisfied.
I love that approach to baseball and would love to see my team playing like that right now. We've been saying it all season: "Go for it." You have to plan on ripping the ball, or the ball being ripped to you in the field. And when it happens you have to go for it, not even considering the possibility of failure. If you play the game trying to avoid mistakes, you'll never accomplish anything. Play aggressively and there should be no regrets after the game, no matter how many times you fail.
The story of Pete Rose is a sad one, but you have to respect the way he played the game: "all out," as we are currently seeing from Bryce Harper. And in the middle of this short film, Rose offers some great advice for young players:
1. Be aggressive.
2. Be more aggressive.
3. Never be satisfied.
I love that approach to baseball and would love to see my team playing like that right now. We've been saying it all season: "Go for it." You have to plan on ripping the ball, or the ball being ripped to you in the field. And when it happens you have to go for it, not even considering the possibility of failure. If you play the game trying to avoid mistakes, you'll never accomplish anything. Play aggressively and there should be no regrets after the game, no matter how many times you fail.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Selected Reading Material 5-14-12
How Much Training Is Too Much for Young Athletes? by Jill Barker, Montreal Gazette - More on specialization, overuse and mental burnout.
Game's Top Two Pitching Prospects May Be Igniting a Revolution by Albert Chen, Sports Illustrated - Dylan Bundy and Trevor Bauer will be prominent test cases for or against extreme long-toss, depending on whether or not they have healthy careers.
Rocket Science Alert: Strength Training for Pitchers STILL Improves Throwing Velocity by Eric Cressey, Cressey Performance - A new study shows that any type of strength training is beneficial to pitchers.
Game's Top Two Pitching Prospects May Be Igniting a Revolution by Albert Chen, Sports Illustrated - Dylan Bundy and Trevor Bauer will be prominent test cases for or against extreme long-toss, depending on whether or not they have healthy careers.
Rocket Science Alert: Strength Training for Pitchers STILL Improves Throwing Velocity by Eric Cressey, Cressey Performance - A new study shows that any type of strength training is beneficial to pitchers.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Little League Approves 50/70 Division for 2013
Little League International has announced voting results from its Regional Round Table agenda items. As was expected months ago, a permanent 50/70 baseball division was approved for play in 2013.
Since two thirds of voting District Administrators supported the measure, it was automatically approved by Little League's Board of Directors. Complete voting results on all agenda items are posted here. Among the items that failed was a proposal to ban the slash play (fake bunt / swing away) in Majors and Minors. This and any other items can be revisited in the future.
While the specific rules of the new 50/70 division are yet to be determined, the approved agenda item dictates that it will be for ages 11-13. Should leagues choose to do so, it appears that it can co-exist with the Major League division. It will include a postseason international tournament and World Series.
We'll have to wait and see about some important details.... Will big barrel bats be allowed? I hope not. An additional four feet of pitching distance is not enough to safely allow big barrels. Will the fences have to be backed up to beyond 200 ft? Perhaps, with 13-year-olds playing, but many leagues will be unable to do so. Will there be any restrictions on stealing bases? I hope so. If the base runner can take a lead of any distance and steal before the pitcher releases the ball, and the catcher has a longer throw, then an additional 10 feet of base path is not enough. It will be a flawed game with way too many easily stolen bases.
It will be interesting to see what the rules end up being. That will help determine how many leagues choose to participate. But judging from the voting results, I have to think that this is the direction that most leagues will go. I wouldn't be surprised if within 3-5 years, the Williamsport/ESPN show is a 50/70 game. It's just a matter of hammering out some details that work.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Bryce Harper Swing Mechanics
The "Chosen One" has arrived and is here to stay. Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 MLB Draft, is the most exciting player in the game. Watch the guy play, kids. He makes great catches. He throws laser beams. He turns singles into doubles. He steals home. He even wears his socks well.
Bryce Harper plays the game the right way. All out, 100% all the time. He is electric on the field and it's going to be contagious in the Nats dugout.
His swing generates an amazing amount of power. He loads his hands to the max. His braced front leg sends every bit of energy into his hip rotation. And he hits to all fields, pulling his hands and staying inside the ball. Check it out:
Bryce Harper plays the game the right way. All out, 100% all the time. He is electric on the field and it's going to be contagious in the Nats dugout.
His swing generates an amazing amount of power. He loads his hands to the max. His braced front leg sends every bit of energy into his hip rotation. And he hits to all fields, pulling his hands and staying inside the ball. Check it out:
Friday, May 4, 2012
Selected Reading Material 5-3-12
The 8 Most Annoying Sports Parents by Kevin at Sports Dad Hub - Some familiar characters to watch out for here.
Roundtable: Is 155 Pitches Too Many? at ESPN Boston - A lengthy discussion about when to say when, in response to a recent high school game with very high pitch counts. I attended a game this season where a high schooler threw 120 pitches in a meaningless game, and it was uncomfortable to watch.
Youth Sports Are Expensive? by Rick Wolff - Yes, we all know youth sports cost money.
Roundtable: Is 155 Pitches Too Many? at ESPN Boston - A lengthy discussion about when to say when, in response to a recent high school game with very high pitch counts. I attended a game this season where a high schooler threw 120 pitches in a meaningless game, and it was uncomfortable to watch.
Youth Sports Are Expensive? by Rick Wolff - Yes, we all know youth sports cost money.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Top 10 Youth Pitching Flaws
My last top ten list dealt with youth swing flaws. Today I will tackle a more important topic - pitching flaws. A mechanical problem on the mound can lead to a lot of walks or hits, or even worse, an arm injury. Here are the most common flaws that I have seen in working with youth pitchers over the last several years. The older the player, the harder these are to fix.
1. Striding Too Short. A short stride can mess up a lot of things: front side stability, velocity, release point, follow through... Stride length should be 85-100% of a pitcher's height. That can be a tall order for a young pitcher that may not have the strength and athleticism yet to support such a stride. But if his stride is too short, he won't be able to support himself anyway. This very important mechanical aspect can be obtained through practice.
2. Incorrect Hand Separation. Many young players begin their throwing motion incorrectly by taking the ball up and out of the glove with their fingers behind the ball and their thumb up. This leads to pushing the baseball with less energy and more stress on the arm. Pitchers should separate with fingers on top of the ball and thumbs down, raising the ball up facing away from the target before pulling the ball forward.
3. Not Getting the Arm Up. When the front foot lands, it's time to throw. At that most important moment a pitcher's elbows should be shoulder high. The throwing arm should be bent (not past 90 degrees) with the ball up behind the head. If his ball positioning is too low, the pitcher will likely lead with the elbow forward and upward, causing high pitches. This problem is often a result of getting the front foot down too early - either because of rushing the motion or striding too short.
1. Striding Too Short. A short stride can mess up a lot of things: front side stability, velocity, release point, follow through... Stride length should be 85-100% of a pitcher's height. That can be a tall order for a young pitcher that may not have the strength and athleticism yet to support such a stride. But if his stride is too short, he won't be able to support himself anyway. This very important mechanical aspect can be obtained through practice.
2. Incorrect Hand Separation. Many young players begin their throwing motion incorrectly by taking the ball up and out of the glove with their fingers behind the ball and their thumb up. This leads to pushing the baseball with less energy and more stress on the arm. Pitchers should separate with fingers on top of the ball and thumbs down, raising the ball up facing away from the target before pulling the ball forward.
3. Not Getting the Arm Up. When the front foot lands, it's time to throw. At that most important moment a pitcher's elbows should be shoulder high. The throwing arm should be bent (not past 90 degrees) with the ball up behind the head. If his ball positioning is too low, the pitcher will likely lead with the elbow forward and upward, causing high pitches. This problem is often a result of getting the front foot down too early - either because of rushing the motion or striding too short.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Selected Reading Material 4-18-12
Why President Obama Throws Like a Girl by Eric Cressey - An oldie but goodie. Breaking down the medical science behind presidential pitching mechanics, shoe throwing, etc.
Mike Matheny Letter to Parents posted by Kevin Seitzer - Before he was manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Mike Matheny coached a youth team. He lays it all out there for the parents here.
Wanted: Creative Athletes... Needed: To Save the World by Meagan Frank - On the importance of building creative play into organized youth sports practices.
Mike Matheny Letter to Parents posted by Kevin Seitzer - Before he was manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Mike Matheny coached a youth team. He lays it all out there for the parents here.
Wanted: Creative Athletes... Needed: To Save the World by Meagan Frank - On the importance of building creative play into organized youth sports practices.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Resist the Urge to Be Elite
Heed this man's advice. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. And I would say it usually isn't.
Here is a good article at Sports Dad Hub by Kevin about his son's experience on a "bad team" (a bad fit for him). Sometimes you have no control over what team you get or who the coach is. Sometimes it's just a not-so-great experience that you must endure. You make the most of it and look forward to better seasons. But sometimes you are faced with a choice, like in this article. Sometimes your kid is coveted by an "elite" team. You are honored, and tempted to leave behind the comfort and fun.
Bad choice. Not worth it. These teams are often "a dime a dozen." They can be a haven for daddyball. Go down that road at a young age and you could be jumping from team to team every six months. Eventually your kid may be so burned out, he quits altogether.
Resist the urge. Baseball is not a job when you're a little kid. Let them have fun. Make some good memories. Teach them the fundamentals. Keep them wanting more. There will be time to be elite later.
Here is a good article at Sports Dad Hub by Kevin about his son's experience on a "bad team" (a bad fit for him). Sometimes you have no control over what team you get or who the coach is. Sometimes it's just a not-so-great experience that you must endure. You make the most of it and look forward to better seasons. But sometimes you are faced with a choice, like in this article. Sometimes your kid is coveted by an "elite" team. You are honored, and tempted to leave behind the comfort and fun.
Bad choice. Not worth it. These teams are often "a dime a dozen." They can be a haven for daddyball. Go down that road at a young age and you could be jumping from team to team every six months. Eventually your kid may be so burned out, he quits altogether.
Resist the urge. Baseball is not a job when you're a little kid. Let them have fun. Make some good memories. Teach them the fundamentals. Keep them wanting more. There will be time to be elite later.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Selected Reading Material 4-9-12
Nine Sports Parent Actions That Will Sabotage Your Child's Performance by Janis Meredith - Great advice on what not to do. Remember, your kid is watching you.
Nine Important Don'ts.... by Kirk Mango - Response to the above article. More good advice, including five "do's."
The High Cost of Youth Sports by Doug Glanville, TIME Magazine - "Nothing opens a parent's checkbook like guilt and fear...." Review of Mark Hyman's new book, The Most Expensive Game in Town. And here's some info on his first book, Until It Hurts.
Sports Letter Interview: Author Mark Hyman on the Commercialization of Youth Sports by David Davis - Good interview. Most important quote: "Parenting has become a very competitive activity."
Nine Important Don'ts.... by Kirk Mango - Response to the above article. More good advice, including five "do's."
The High Cost of Youth Sports by Doug Glanville, TIME Magazine - "Nothing opens a parent's checkbook like guilt and fear...." Review of Mark Hyman's new book, The Most Expensive Game in Town. And here's some info on his first book, Until It Hurts.
Sports Letter Interview: Author Mark Hyman on the Commercialization of Youth Sports by David Davis - Good interview. Most important quote: "Parenting has become a very competitive activity."
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