Making the Varsity Baseball Team

Mike asks:
I've played travel baseball on a nationally ranked team every year for the last 6 years. I'm in 10th grade and hoping to make Varsity this year for my school. The only problem is the coach. I know I'm good enough to make Varsity and even start. But the coach doesn't really know me that well. I talk to him, but he doesn't say much. I think the other 10th graders who aren't as good will make the team because of their reputation. What should I do to better my chances of making Varsity?

Coach Swift answers:
I'm going to tell you right off the bat that you've already started to set yourself up with an excuse for not making the team by using the words "the only problem is the coach."

Your coach is charged with winning at the Varsity level and, while it may seem like he plays favorites, he doesn't care if you're purple so long as you can do the job.

As a former high school coach, I can tell you that a 10th-grader coming into a Varsity program needs to perform their best in practice so that they will get an opportunity to play in games. If you think that because you'll do fine in the game you don't have to hustle or do things right in practice, you're mistaken and will never get on the field as a Varsity player.

There are also a lot of other factors that will affect your ability to play at the Varsity level, even if you make the team. Such factors include:

• How big is the program?
• How many returning players?
• What position do you play and who is in front of you at that position?
• Are you only a one or two tool player?

What you need to do is show up to practice on time, do your best and do things right and you will get noticed. Then you will get playing time.

Finally, I'd ask you to take a look at the situation from the coach's perspective. Realistically, where would you rank yourself with all the other players that you know are going to be on the field with you?

The bottom line is don't worry about the coach. Just worry about doing things right on your end. That's all you can control.

Rollie Pike in Kentucky asks:
Which is the best way to begin developing a young pitcher, pitching from the stretch or the wind-up? Or does it matter, as long as you teach proper mechanics?

Coach Swift answers:
There is little question about how most coaches teach it and that's from the full wind up position.

First and foremost, a kid must learn how to throw. In fact, to teach a kid how to pitch have him play catch with you and make him throw the ball directly at your body. When he can get it to you every time within the framework of your body then you can start teaching him to pitch.

Pitching at its base element is nothing more than playing catch with someone. It's after they have shown control that we start teaching the finer elements of pitching. Throwing from the full wind up is the natural thing to do, so that is where coaches start.

I would note that pitching is as much about thinking as throwing but do not overcomplicate things for the young pitcher. Just ask him to throw the ball down the middle and low and he will be successful.

Lastly, I don't personally believe kids should pitch before 11-12 years old. It's not because they will hurt themselves, but because it kills the game. At earlier ages, a pitcher is normally bad and no one gets to hit or field....or they are good and no one can hit or needs to field. What then happens is that the rest of the game is not learned or enjoyed.

But the reality of youth baseball is that younger kids will be pitching in games, and before they are truly ready. With that said, we (coaches) do the best we can by finding the kid who can throw strikes and make him the pitcher. But when he gets to be 12-years old we need to start teaching him about pitching. Prior to that, just throwing strikes is enough.

Greg Hedgebeth asks:
My 12-year old son is a left-handed first baseman. I have taught him to always use his left foot on the bag when stretching for infield throws no matter which side of the bag they are on.
Now he is being taught to switch feet and put his right foot on the bag for throws to the home plate side of first base. This seems like he cannot stretch as far and is awkward, maybe because it is new. Which is the correct way and does it make a difference?

Coach Swift answers:
I agree almost 100% with what you're telling your son, that left-handed first baseman should put their left foot on the bag and stretch with their right leg so that they can rotate toward the ball to the fullest extent.

What your coaches are now telling him is not totally wrong though. As he gets better at receiving the ball he will start to move his feet along the bag, corner to corner, and there will be a time if he plays first base long enough that he will learn to receive the ball that is thrown wide of the bag with either foot touching. But he has to have played there for quite awhile before he starts worrying about that kind of footwork.

I would add to make sure his toe/heel is on the edge of the bag; not on the top. I've seen way too many first baseman (especially younger ones) that want to put their foot on top of the bag. Besides the fact that they get stepped on, it takes away from their stretch and ability to move.

One last thought...
Make sure your boy is not stepping/stretching until he sees the ball thrown.

Too many first baseman just automatically start to step toward the infielder as they see him field the ball. When a first baseman covers the bag in anticipation of the throw he should be standing with one foot on the bag and not make any movement toward the throw until he actually sees it made. He will have time to react to the left or right while the ball is traveling to him. He should not get stretched out before the throw because then he cannot adjust his feet to catch the ball.

Have a Baseball Question Coach Arnald Swift is the Director of Customer Relations at Baseball Tips. He joined the staff in 2003 after retiring from the high school coaching ranks in Colorado. If you have a question you'd like Coach Swift to answer, send an e-mail to baseballtips@gmail.com.