Working out is a major part of baseball but only if it is done correctly. Correctly means not laying down and max benching putting unneeded stress on your shoulders. That being said I am a firm believer in the fact that you must work out every muscle in your body because muscle imbalance can cause injuries and other problems as well. What that means is you must find a way to work the muscles correctly and in a manner you can actually use. Your body loves muscle memory, so you must train correctly. Twisting motion for abs, either seated Russian twists with your feet up for more advanced and down for less. You can also use the cable in a cable cross over to do these twisting motions. You can use these on an angle and across, this helps build strength you can use in a game. Also, things like squats are helpful but after your set, stretch for about 20-30 seconds then do explosive jumps to put the muscles in motion. Working out is about being smart, not just putting the time in. Do your research and for more workout tips check back here because I will list exercises that are great for the game of baseball.
First tip: instead of doing pull downs incorporate pull ups as a replacement. Pull ups are first and foremost more functional and second of all pull ups work your back, biceps, chests, abs, and shoulders all together. The first thing to avoid when working out is isolation, unless you want to be a body builder.
Little League is a time for kids to play the game for the pure enjoyment and love of baseball. It is a time to for them to learn the game, have fun, and build friendships. Kids should be kids and have a blast playing the game. The emphasis should be on learning and getting better, not winning championships. If you do happen to win a championship as a coach at this level, ask yourself one question. Did I teach kids the basic fundamentals and did everyone get a chance to learn and progress. Now before you think I am some sissy who believes everyone should get a participation ribbon, let me assure you I am not, in fact I hate participation ribbons. That being said baseball at this age should be about learning and growing, as kids get older and decide to continue to play or not the competition and emphasis on winning will come. I always tell coaches, don’t be the reason a kid quits. With that being said I would like to share a story with you that would be funny, if were not true.
At a tournament a few years ago in Louisville, Kentucky we ran into a group of really good 14 year olds who absolutely kicked our butts. That night we were at the hotel and we ran into the team’s parents. I always like to talk to the other parents and see what things are like where they are from and how their team is ran. I quickly realized this was a conversation I should have avoided, but by this time I was sucked in and amazed at the crap being spewed that I just couldn’t leave. This guy told me about all the money he spends on camps and clinics and lessons, blah, blah, blah. He was pretty much bragging about how much he spends and how much money he has. As I grew tired of this and thought how much worse can this get, he made a statement that I will remember for the rest of my life. This guy told me his son gets lessons from a guy in Ohio, this guy happens to know some scouts and after a few lessons and a small talent showcase ran by the the scouts, one of them tells this guy that as a 12 year old his kid projects out as a 5th round draft pick when he is a senior in High School. At this point in time I had to hold back my laugh. So you are telling me MLB scouts can miss on guys who are 18 years of age through 22 by a huge margin but can tell you that your son is projectable at age 12. Sounds to me like someone found themselves a cash cow and knew the right words it would keep producing money. So the point is Sir, your 12 year old is not projectable, he is a 12 year old who wants to hang out and eat ice cream after games. He may not even play next year, he may not get as big and as fast as these scouts projected, (I’m holding back laughs and tears right now while I say this). In any case your kid is a kid and you should let him be one and allow him to enjoy the most fun years of his life before he has to start writing expense and TPS reports.
I hear people say baseball is like watching paint dry. People say this because they don’t understand the game or how to watch it. If you are going to the park to look for HR’s and diving plays you would surely be bored, because that is not the game. When those happen it is icing on the cake, but the game is far more complex than that. Kids quit and say it is just boring, and I wonder how can they say that? I realize it was the kid the coach stuck in right field or only gave the minimum number of at bats each game so he was not able to grow a love for the game. To love baseball and fully understand the complexity you must have a passion for the game and that passion starts young.
Watching a baseball game is different for everyone but for the true fan it is exciting, and almost too much to take in at one time. The game involves strategy that the passive fan who just wants to drink beer and eat hot dogs while hanging with some friends could never understand. This fan is more interested in seeing a guy charge the mound, then a 1-2 fastball at the on the outside black at the knees. Every play has numerous outcomes depending on what the coach decides to do. For example if a runner is on first base a coach can decide to bunt, hit and run, steal, or let the hitter hit a way. Each choice provides many different outcomes and the real fans understand and know when to choose each one, they know if you are down six it is not a good time to steal. This situation is also affected by who is hitting, does he swing left handed or right, is he a good contact hitter, or does he have the capability to drive the ball to the gap consistently. After all that info I am out of breath after all the info and we only covered one situation, so you can imagine how many things run through a coaches head at any given point. Think about all the decisions a pitchers and catcher have to make on every pitch. Does the hitter jump on first pitch fastballs, is he a low ball hitter, will he chase, what have I used against him in the past. Now add a runner on second with no outs and the pitcher has more to worry about. Is he going to bunt, can he handle the bat and get guys over without bunting, should I go hard in and beat him or go soft away and make him roller over with a grounder to short. As a fan and active coach I try to guess every situation and every pitch before it happens. You should try this at home, try to guess what pitch the pitcher is going to throw and then also choose location.
If you know and understand the game and have a passion for it, the game is way to complex to be boring. Teach the game to your kids, your friends, your spouse, and spread the passion because this game is far more intricate then the passive fan will ever be able to comprehend. So be proactive and teach people and spread your knowledge, because baseball is a lot more then just HR’s and diving plays.
