What I've Learned From Baseball

For Younger Hitters
Hit a lot!
It's fun and will assist you in getting better…sooner. Your swing needs to be solid and you first need to know what a good swing looks like. Once you learn the basics of a good swing (see some terrific DVDs for all ages and skill levels) a lot of your success will come from how much time you have spent swinging. So have fun and swing a lot in the backyard…or anywhere for that matter.

I really like our Personal Pitcher backyard whiffle ball machine. It's not as expensive as our baseball pitching machines, throws 50 golf ball size whiffle balls in a row before reloading…and does not require a batting cage!

For Older Hitters
Work on what you're weak at.
It seems I never have to ask a hitter to take more swings…it’s just something they always like to do.
The problem in helping hitters advance and improve is to convince them to work on their weaker points…whatever they are…and to do this on their own without being asked.
Simply put, the higher the level of pitching the more easily it is to exploit a hitter's weaknesses. It is up to you, the hitter, to counteract this by reducing your vulnerabilities.

The 2nd major point that gets missed more than most others is the mindset of hitters…the mental side of hitting.
To paraphrase my good friend, former player Steve Springer…“If baseball is 90% mental then why do we work on it less than 10% of the time!” Now that’s powerful stuff, don’t you think?

Be sure to check out Springer's Quality at Bats CD. It's on sale for $19.90. Just listen and learn! The Colorado Rockies did.

For Younger Pitchers
Your delivery must be mechanically sound.
You must find a simple delivery that will allow you to repeat it over and over… the same way. But this means you will have to get in front of someone who knows the basics of correct mechanics (the position your body needs to be in so that you can throw hard with accuracy…and not put you in a position to become injured).

1. Once you have a good pitching motion…throw fastballs to the strike zone.
2. Once you feel comfortable that you are throwing more fastball strikes than you did before you concentrated on this HUGE improvement…learn to throw a change up using the fastball pitching motion.

A pitching instructor or one of our instructional DVDs can absolutely help you!

For Older Pitchers
Make yourself better by taking advantage of the resources that are available.
You must continue to improve every season. What are you doing about it? If you are average size with an average fastball… you better be finding something that makes you better than your pitching competition… as well as the hitters you face. There’s a million guys that fit that description (lefties do catch a break in this department… but should be no less motivated to improve).

Not sure where to start or what your priorities should be?
A local pitching coach, your high school, or summer league coach are worth seeking out for a discussion. I’m talking about you…not Dad, not Mom. Make the calls and the appointment yourself.

If mechanics are your concern, check out the Common Mechanical Pitching Faults DVD from one of the premier pitching mechanics minds in college baseball, coach Bill Thurston of Amherst College. Common faults and their solutions are covered!

You will find that the pitcher's mind is a big deal in whether they continue to progress or not. I would like you to consider a simple CD. Yes, correct, an audio CD called Pitching - The Mental Game. It's by Brent Kemnitz, pitching coach of the mighty Wichita State Shocker baseball program. This guy has helped more unknown college players get to Pro Ball than most I can think of.

Here’s my favorite stat about this coach…
No pitcher drafted out of High School EVER WAS DRAFTED AT A LESSER ROUND if he chose instead to attend Wichita State and then was drafted again after college. Every pitcher! So check out the CD.

One more thing… if you do not have a tubing or “band” program check out the following. Yes, it is a big deal:
Here’s the best from the best. Developed by Alan Jaeger, used by Barry Zito, Trevor Hoffman and many other Major Leaguers and collegiate teams. It's the Armed & Ready Program for $79.95.

If you are limited on budget our Durabands will do a lot for you if you will follow the easy drills and make a point of doing them correctly & regularly.

For Coaches of Younger Players
Keep 'em having fun and wanting to come back for more.
This is not as easy as just showing up for practice. Plan tomorrow, today. Plan next week, this week...and so forth. The more you are organized, the more fun your kids will have…not to mention your level of enjoyment, fun and accomplishment.
Again, I will tout my article entitled Plan To Succeed. I hope you will read it or re-read it…great stuff that will help!

If you could use one resource of ideas, forms, practice plans, etc...do yourself a favor and check out our Youth Baseball Coaches Tool Kit. Contents include coaching principles & philosophy, running your practices and all forms of communication and development. It is inexpensive insurance that’s sure to save you many hours of learning the hard way!

For Coaches of Older Players
Help players get to the next level.
Don’t think that your players will be found by colleges or pro scouts simply because they are very good players.
Why? Because there are so many very good players out there and some high school and summer coaches just do not have the connections or maybe even the motivation.

Take care of your own players by continuing to obtain knowledge from parents of current college players, from instructors and coaches as well! The High School Player's Guide to College Baseball saved my own butt in assisting my son to get into the school of his dreams.

Remember, you may be doing this for your kids…but you are still going to need to spearhead this effort as most kids are just too busy being kids to handle this very adult process on their own.

What’s New

New & free stuff added weekly!
Throughout the season, we will continue to add features and products…every week! What’s new in 2008 training and coaching drills, techniques, mechanics, training tools, gloves, bats, coaching tips and baseball instructional products.

Worth bookmarking – Worth inviting your baseball friends!
Interventions are painful but thanks to some great planning and hard work…we think you will find your experience worth coming back to… right from our home page!

And don't forget our Newsletter!
Invite all your baseball friends, coaches, parents & teammates to have their own subscription to the Baseball Tips Newsletter… including tips, articles, discounts, special offers and being the 1st to see what’s new in baseball training…for players and their coaches!

Southeastern Baseball Team Camp

Spring Training for Travel Ball teams!
What a concept…4 days of baseball where seasoned pro baseball men instruct BOTH PLAYERS & COACHES in the ways of the Pro Game!

It’s not just more games and more travel…you can get that anywhere.
The coaching is the key! It’s top flight instruction plus 6 games in between from early morning and into the night… every day!

Learn from the same guys that Big Leaguers have called “Coach.”
50 year baseball men do not fall off trees.
Learning from scouts, pro coaches and college head coaches who play the pro style game….it is an experience you won’t get elsewhere!

And for the coaches…skull sessions
It’s not just the players who get the privilege of the knowledge of these great and talented men. There will be plenty of time to sit and talk the game, hear the stories…and you never know “who else” will show up… but it's always someone memorable.

The Details:
Age group:
14 and 15 year old teams & their coaches (14-18 players)
Limited for max personal instruction:
Only 4 teams per session
Dates available as of this writing:
Thursday, May 29 to Sunday, June 1, 2008
Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8, 2008
What’s Included:
Check the Web site…but just about everything, including dorm room (choose your roommate) and all meals.

To Reserve or Discuss:
Coach Julian Mock – former Director of Scouting, Cincinnati Reds
770-487-5085 – cell 770-630-0809
Teams are filled in order of deposit date

Website:
www.sebaseballcamp.com/teams.html

Can’t make it or frozen out for those dates?
Check out our individual camp…in its 34th season!
www.sebaseballcamp.com

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