Kids on the playground might spontaneously say to a friend "Think fast catch it." Even such a simple act just might be the genesis of marking that youngster, quick as a wink catching the object, to develop skills as a slick fielding second sacker.
The love of baseball goes far and beyond the learning baseball fundamentals training of these three basic baseball playing skills.
A toddler will quickly grasp the art of throwing and he will early on try to catch and if you hand him a stick he will hit something. Do we equate these acts as being baseball skills?
These actions are however the rudimentary forerunner of the learning baseball fundamentals and the execution of playing skills. The only thing left for us as coaches and instructors is to capture this innate sense of doing the natural things and turn them into eye stopping all-star playing skills for our young charges.
The learning as a beginner in baseball should start with the very basic fundamentals of the game, believe it or not, beginner baseball starts taking shape while still in the crib however is not realized as Beginner Baseball.
The real deep down true genesis and development while learning baseball fundamentals and the developing of ones playing skills involves more complete learning and putting into habitual action than just basic and simple reaction skills.
Blow into his face and he will close his eyes for protection of the eyes. Hold an object in front of him and he reaches.
These you see are rudimentary fundamentals. When given more time other fundamentals become apparent. To say, "I'm going to get you," to a youngster, he will turn and run.
Quick as lightning, he learns the body language involved in someone going to give him chase.
Now we are getting into true learning baseball fundamentals. During the formative years of 2 to 6, young children at play begin to sense and learn body movement and body language, almost in a subconscious way.
Really, it is conscious observation which develops early and continues to fine tune itself to second nature responses through out our lives and in advanced baseball playing skills it manifests itself as All-Star players.
Many other fundamentals of natural reactions become manifest. If you give way with your arms and hands when catching something, it feels better and you can control the catch better. When you throw harder the thing you threw goes faster and farther.
If you really rare back and knock the stuffing out of what you are hitting with a stick, it really takes off, way off.
Have you in the learning baseball fundamentals at this point even come close to a baseball diamond or held a bat or put on a baseball glove? No, but you have been intoduced to some things you do which will enhance your capacity for learning baseball fundamentals well before ever playing the game.
All I am trying to enforce is that the basic things we learn to do naturally become the building blocks upon which learning baseball fundamental playing skills are developed. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Simply balance the wheel so it rolls smooth and easy.
Observe the natural baseball fundamental habit of any young baseball player and try to have him improve on his natural way of doing the action. Here are some of the things we may readily observe as natural.
There are so many more things to look for when observing boys or girls being introduced to Tee-ball or Little League in those beginning years. Before ever showing up at your ball field, they were introduced to baseball fundamentals without even knowing it.
You will need to simply reinforce their abilities by stressing the improvement of technique and encouraging them to practice till they are more proficient and comfortable doing the fundamentals using a baseball.
PRINCIPLES OF THROWING AND CATCHING
Here are some of the best baseball skill fundamentals to teach every youngster. Youngsters armed with these without question, time proven principles, will outperform all competitors all the years of their baseball playing days.
1)The baseball should be caught with both hands whenever possible
2)Thrown or batted balls that reach the fielder above the waist should be caught with the thumbs together.
3)Thrown or batted balls that reach the fielder below the waist should be caught with the small fingers together.
4)The fielder should "give" with the ball as he catches it.
5)The fielder should not remove his eye focus from the ball until the ball has been fielded cleanly.
6)Except in pitching, the ball should be thrown with a cross-seams grip at all times.
7)All throws should be aimed at at the chest of the intended receiver, and the ball should be delivered quickly.
8)A low throw is always better than a high throw.
9)The difference among the sidearm, three-quarter, and overhand throws is in the degree of body lean and not in arm position.
10)The primary goal of the thrower (the pitcher excepted) is to throw a straight rather than a curving ball.
11)In making a throw, the player should step directly toward his target whenever possible.
12)In throwing, force is generated by efficient summation of the momentum or by the vatious body segments during the throwing.
By the natural order of things and differences in baseball skill fundamentals aa the levels of the various beginners, we know the variance is huge. The Little League player heading into Pony League, lets us put more and more emphasis on baseball fundamentals which really count.
The love of baseball is a process of many little subtle changes in the lives and habits of the players. When the baseball skill fundamentals of body control, physical strength, dismissal of natural fears, improved skills, and natural instincts of competition kicks in, we will have found a winner.
Let's momentarily go back to where I mentioned a youngster will quickly observe and begin to read body language. Well ole shoe, what has that got to do with baseball? A hitter standing in the batters box swings that bat with authority and his body reacts like a fired howitzer. All outfielders know by instinct to back up two, three or more steps.
Way back at an early age good ball players learned the baseball skill fundamentals of a hefty swing of a hitter whose body ripples with power, is a force to deal with. Those steps backward are learned baseball fundamentals observed well before his time on the baseball diamond. Time on the diamond has simply reinforced those early on learned baseball skill fundamentals.
The infant turning his head toward hearing a sound is a natural response. A baseball player by the sound of the bat hitting the ball instinctively moves based on the learned sound of that crack of the bat.
The basis for baseball skill fundamentals are implanted into our learning curve well ahead of learning the sweet smell of a new glove, the feel of a bat or the umpires cry of "Play Ball."
PRINCIPLES OF HITTING
None of the Baseball Skill Fundamentals is more important to the baseball player than his ability as a player as hitting of the baseball.
In baseball the real name of the game is hitting.
1)The hitter should use a bat that fits his capabilities and style.
2)The hitter must be aware of his team's offensive signals before he steps into the batter's box.
3)While he is waiting to bat, the hitter should observe the pitcher.
4)The three basic batting stances are: a)open b)parallel c)closed.
5)The hitter should adopt a stance that is comfortable and that suits his style.
6)The stance used should be partially determined by the game situation and by the type of pitcher that the hitter is facing.
7)The grip used is a matter of personal preference and purpose.
8)In the hitting stance, the hands should be held high and away from the body.
9)The hitter's wrists should be cocked.
10)How the hitter distributes his wieght while in the batter's box is a matter of personal preference and purpose.
11)There are three basic types of strides: a)straight b)open c)closed.
12)The stride should be relative short and to a predetermined spot.
13)The position of the back foot is not a crucial factor if hitting.
14)The hitter should have his head so that he always has the best possible view of the pitch.
15)The eyes should not be focused on the ball, but rather directed toward the pitcher, thus allowing the ball to move through the full range of vision.
16)The "hitch " should not be eliminated from the swing unless it is obviously detrimental to hitting performance.
17)The most important factor in the force of the swing is the speed at which the bat is brought into contact with the ball.
18)The hitter must learn the strike zone.
19)The coach should be aware that there are diffrernt styles of hitting, and he should make a judgment as to which style is best for each player.
I hope I have stated my case clearly. The baseball skill fundamentals are more than throwing, catching and hitting.
Fundamentals of playing baseball is a compilation of learned processes and is a coat of many colors. The process of developing playing skills and winning games secures a reality for the love of baseball.
The names of William Hoy and Luther Taylor, two deaf ball players, observed and learned baseball skill fundamentals with a passion.
Their contribution to the game of baseball, for forging and forcing the use of hand signals used by the umpires, is vivid proof of learned baseball skill fundamentals preceding the actual playing of the game.
In remembering Mr William Hoy and Mr Luther Taylor we are also indebted to both of these, gentlemen of baseball, for teaching us that the baseball skill fundamentals of the game is far more than the throwing, catching and hitting.
The passion, the will and the grit for learning well the learning baseball skill fundamentals and symbolizing the love of baseball by Pete Gray and Jim Abbott are what makes the game of baseball great.
Learning baseball skill fundamentals, as epitomised in the the lives and playing acumen and demonstrated skills of Hoy, Gray, Taylor and Abbott, proves learning baseball fundamentals for the game is a total process learned on and off the playing diamond.
My brother reminds me that I had mentioned that Hoy and Taylor were deaf and their impact on the whole game of baseball was changed by their unbelievable will and desire to compete. Pete Gray and Jim Abbott's driving determination was also unmatched in human drive and "want to."
Jim Abbott had a dream during his boyhood of playing baseball despite having a right arm that ended just above the wrist. Jim allowed "no excuses" and stalked his dream with a passion second to none. Abbott taught himself to move the glove from his left hand to his (missing hand) right arm and became a superb left handed pitcher.
Jim says about his missing hand, "It really wasn't an issue when I was a kid." During college, he racked up 26 wins against 8 losses at the University of Michigan. He won the Sullivan Award as the nation's best amateur athlete in 1987. He won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics.
As a rookie in 1989 with the California Angels, he achieved a 12-12 record and is one of a scant few major league players to completely bypass the minor leagues. Jim's career pitching spanned 10 years in the major leagues and his crowning achivement was a no-hitter in 1993 with the New York Yankees but foremost was his recognition as simply being Jim Abbott---pitcher.
Pete Gray, a young teenager with a burning desire to play our game of baseball, met with an unfortunate accident and lost his right arm. His life achievement to overcome this adversity and play in the outfield of the Memphis "Chicks" and make it to the big leagues is extraordinary.
Pete was called up in 1945 to help fill St Louis's roster during World War II. His career lasted only 77 games, during which he batted .218. I have a E-Zine article on my home page giving more details on this remarkable individual. See the "Pete Gray Story on my home page.
The game of baseball and attainment of baseball skill fundamentals stands in the way of no man woman or youngster male nor female who is determined to make it and has the "want to."
Learning Baseball Skill Fundamentals are important and are the essential tools for play but the will and heart to achieve is something within us that far exceeds the elements of fundamental playing skills.
Beginner Baseball provides more wealth of knowledge and teaching of the baseball skill fundamentals for baseball play Beginner Baseball
You are also invited to go to your pages dealing with baseball hitting which explains the essential elements to become truely a baseball hitter. Click here Baseball Skill Fundamentals and Baseball Hitting
Batter Up----Let's Play Ball....
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