Coaching Baseball Batters - 3 Common Baseball Swing Mistakes and Corrections

Common Baseball Swing Flaws and Corrections

By Nick Dixon

Coaching youth and high school baseball batters requires a watchful eye and close attention to detail. Baseball coaches must identify and correct any flaw in batting hitting mechanics. Players should not be allowed to practice their swing over and over without correcting their mistakes. Good baseball coaches are always on the constant lookout for any bad habits that a young player may develop. Here I discuss three of the most common hitting mechanical flaws and my approach to correcting each. Here are three common mistakes I often see at my baseball camps and when I observe youth games and youth practices.

1) BARRING THE FRONT ARM - The batter locks or stiffens the front arm as the swing begins. Many young batters will have assumed the correct stance and launch positions but have a tendency to tighten up as the swing begins. The barring of the front arm causes the swing to loop and to be too long. The batter has great difficulty taking the bat to the ball and making contact unless the ball is thrown exactly on the swing plane. The proper swing has a "short stroke" or path to the ball. The best way to correct barring of the front arm is to make sure that the batter keeps the front arm elbow bent or at an "L" position prior and during the swing.

2) STEPPING OUT OR PULLING OFF PITCHES - I often see this with young kids in our summer camp program. They always step out or their front side often flies open before the ball arrives. This batter has great difficulty making contact. Until this flaw is corrected, the batter will only become frustrated and embarrassed. To keep the front shoulder in the proper "closed" position, teach the batter to keep the front shoulder closed and directed at the second baseman for right-handed batters and toward the shortstop for left-handed batters. The stepping out is a more difficult flaw to fix. Having the batter pick the front heel off the ground and stepping just slightly toward the plate may help. I frown on putting obstructions behind the front foot to keep it from moving backward, although many coaches do this to stop this bad habit. I often use the "step in and hit: drill with a hit trainer, Bat Action Machine or batting tee. The batter assumes a position back away from the ball target that requires the batter to step toward the ball in order to make contact. If the batter does not step toward or into the ball, the batter will not be able to hit the ball.

3) UPPER CUT SWING - The upper cut swing may be caused by two things that are quickly identified Dropping the hands and back leg collapse can both cause the batter to swing upward. Make sure that the batter keeps the hands at the top of the strike zone and does not drop the hands or dip the back side shoulder during the swing. The back leg should be keep "tall or straight" to prevent back side dipping which can also cause an upper-cut swing. Two great drills that we use to stop this is the "Zone Circle" tee or soft-toss drill. We make a circle the side of our batting cage by inter-weaving a white or yellow rope in the net. The batter must hit or drive the ball off the tee or from a soft-toss into the circle. The batter must have a level swing and keep the front side in to be able to hit the zone.

COACHING POINT: Make sure that the batter is not over striding. This too can cause a batter to pop up. The batter must concentrate visually on the top half or middle of the ball to make good contact.

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Baseball Coaching Digest: Situations for Bunting: Baseball's Most Underused Strategy

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Baseball Bunting: Baseball's Most Underused Offensive Strategy

By Guest Author: Dustin Peek

Bunting is the most underused strategy in the game of baseball. This especially applies to younger leagues where hitters haven't yet developed the skills or knowledge necessary to properly bunt a baseball. There are a number of situations where knowing when and how to bunt a baseball can be very beneficial to a baseball team. Read on to learn the most important situations for bunting a baseball.

Sacrifice Bunt

When attempting a sacrifice bunt, the hitter bunts the ball with the intention of being thrown out in order to move runners into scoring position. Statistics show that runners on second base and third base are much more likely to score a run than a runner on first base. Because of this, the sacrifice bunt can be one of the most important strategies used by teams to score runs.

A hitter should focus on a few key items when laying down a sacrifice bunt:

1. The hitter does not need to hide the fact that he is sacrifice bunting. The goal is moving runners, not getting on base.
2. The hitter should wait for a good strike to bunt.
3. The hitter should bunt down the first baseline to move a runner from first to second and down the third baseline to move a runner from second to third.

Bunting for a Hit

When a hitter tries to bunt for a hit, he is trying to get on base with the bunt. This can be especially difficult and is typically performed by the team's fastest runners.
A hitter should focus on these items when bunting for a hit:

1. The hitter should not let the defense know that he is bunting. The element of surprise is particularly important when bunting for a hit.
2. If the third baseman is playing back, the hitter should place the bunt down the third baseline.
3. A left-handed hitter can perform a drag bunt down the first baseline by starting to run to first base before contact is actually made with the baseball.
4. A push bunt can be used to push a hard bunt between the pitcher and first baseman.
5. A bunter should note whether the pitcher is right-handed or left-handed and bunt to the throwing arm side.
Squeeze Bunt

When a runner is on third base, a hitter can perform a suicide squeeze bunt to try to score the runner. To perform a squeeze play, the runner at third base actually begins running home before contact is made with the ball. The hitter bunts the ball and the runner scores.

These items should be considered when performing a squeeze bunt:

1. The hitter must make contact with the baseball regardless of where it is thrown to protect the runner.
2. The hitter should not let the defense know that he is bunting so that he catches them off guard.
3. The hitter should move out of the batter's box as soon as contact is made with the ball so that the runner has a clear path to score.
As described above, there are a number of different bunting situations and techniques in the game of baseball. These techniques can be learned by individuals and teams to improve performance and produce more runs.

Dustin Peek enjoys helping others learn the skills necessary to dominate on the baseball field. He is a former player and true fan of America's pastime. Click here to learn more about bunting baseballs or visit the Baseball Skills Center for even more baseball information.

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What Is A Fielding Slump?

What Is A Fielding Slump?

By Guest Author Jim Bain

Everyone has heard of, and all of us sometime or another experienced, a hitting slump, but very little is ever discussed about a fielding slump. What exactly is a fielding slump? Good question.

Simply defined as best I can, " a fielding slump is the result of a simple physical error which creates a mental and emotional fear of the hit baseball." Say what? It's a phenomenal event which some players are more prone to experience than others depending on their attitude and mental make-up.

Sometimes when a player, especially a player who demands perfection from themselves, makes a simple fielding error such as the ball going between his legs or a wild throw, a mental roadblock is immediately thrown up creating a fear of repeating the error.

This of course is silly, but if you've ever experienced this you know what I'm talking about. This fear may begin slowly but quickly escalates to the point the player almost prays that the ball is not hit to him. Guess what, the ball seems to always find you.

A quick sideline example. As a youth I had a very strong throwing arm and was always positioned at third base. In a particularly important game, I remember it as if it were yesterday, I overthrew the first baseman and allowed the winning run to score. From that point forward I could never make a strong throw to first, but aimed the ball instead.

The mental or emotional block was so immediate and strong that I had to be switched to second base. Notice my fielding wasn't affected, it was as good as ever, but I couldn't stop aiming, or short arming the ball. I know the pain of a fielding slump.

I couldn't correct my problem, but through the years of minor league baseball and coaching I've learned a few tricks which can help you or your player to overcome the slump.

Mental Fix:



The first thing which must be addressed is the mental aspect, as the physical aspect is normally not the issue, although it can be. 1. Stopping and reflecting on your past accomplishments. There was a time when you wanted every ball hit to you as you were confident you could handle any situation. Try and recall some of the great plays you made. This is not being arrogant, you're thinking to yourself, plus it's a fact you made these plays.

2. If you stop and think about it, the brain must tell the body what to do in order to field the ball. Go back to basics and mentally review every aspect of catching the ball, from staying down to watching the ball into the glove.

3. After reestablishing the basics, use visualization to actually see every step of you performing the basics. Visualization is a powerful tool and seeing yourself properly fielding one ground ball after another has an immense impact on your physic and muscle memory.

Physical Fix:

Sometimes it doesn't matter the culprit resulting in a fielding slump is mental, the mind will still blame it on the body and this is not abnormal.

1. After performing the mental fixes from above, it's time to institute the physical fixes. Again, go back to the basics! Field slowly hit ground balls, hundreds of them if that's what it takes. Your intent is to re-grain the mental and muscle memory, and it helps you read the ball, something you never know enough about.

2. Begin fielding harder hit balls. It is imperative you don't only field the grounders, but aggressively attack them. Don't let the ball play you, which is a major by-product of a fielding slump.

3. Finish the fix by fielding harder hit balls away from you which forces you to get your feet and body into the correct fielding position. This will conclude your re-training and restore your confidence.

Remember this... for any lingering doubts, the total end to your fielding slump is identical to the one hard hit ball which ends a hitting slump, one great play away.

Jim Bain, former Minor league baseball player and member of "Baseball Coaches of America" shares his advice on baseball coaching baseball drills on his exciting info packed website: http://www.learn-youth-baseball-coaching.com

Be sure to check out his 2 books on Amazon, "The Pitch" and "Season of Pain". Great reading about baseball.

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Youth Baseball Mental Training

By Miles A Noland

The game of baseball cannot begin without the action of one position. In basketball there is a lot of focus on the point guard. In football there is a lot of focus on the quarterback. These are important positions, but there is no position that is more important than a pitcher in baseball.

There is so much responsibility that involves a pitcher. From throwing different pitches, knowing the various hitters, fielding their position, pickoff moves, to controlling the running game, to dealing with adversity, mental focus, and dealing with fatigue, a pitcher has a lot to deal with.

If one of these important parts of pitching is missing, you do not have a complete pitcher. Missing one of these components negatively affects all of the other components. Most pitchers are not advanced to be good in all of these areas, however, when you realize what areas a pitcher is weak in you can begin to attack it and improve. The mental game in pitching is so important, oftentimes more important than the physical part.

Andy Pettitte, great guy who I hung out with in the Dominican

You must teach your pitchers to think one pitch at a time. It is very easy to think about the past or future, and this inhibits your ability to be best the possible in the present.

Cues such as get to the top of the baseball, or take a deep breath and focus on executing the pitch, create movement at release are great for creating the right type of focus.

Attempting to throw harder in times of struggle or getting mad at infielders or the umpire are typical things that make a pitchers struggle even worse. Teach your pitchers how to coach themselves and watch them develop right under your eyes.

P.S. One pitch at a time, one pitch at a time. Oftentimes a mound visit is very effective in calming a pitcher down. Tell him to step off the mound and focus on dominating the things he can control. What can he control?

1. His focus
2. Executing each pitch
3. Attacking the strike zone
4. Taking deep breaths
5. His body language
Things he can't control?

1. Where the ball is hit
2. What the umpire calls
3. If his fielders catch the ball
4. The mound conditions
5. Bad luck
Get your pitchers to focus on the controllables and they will deal with failure and adverse conditions much better.

Coach it up,

Miles

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Baseball Coaching Digest - The Three Best Slides in Baseball and 3 Coaching Tips For Teaching Each

Baseball Coaching Digest - The Three Best Slides in Baseball and 3 Coaching Tips For Teaching Each
By guest author: Nick Dixon

Baseball sliding is an important skill for baseball players to master. It is every baseball coaches responsibility to teach every player how to slide safely. Every player should know the different kinds of slides and when each type slide is used. This article explains the three safest types of baseball slides and gives coaching points for each.

Sliding is difficult to practice. I can be relatively to easy teach if the coach knows how to properly execute each slide. Until players have a chance execute slides repetitively, they do not gain the confidence they should have to use the slides in a game. The best ways to practice baseball sliding if you do not have a slide practicing mat, is to wet the grass, use nylon cloth or card board on gym floors, or practice sliding in soft loose dirt.

There are a couple of basic safety points that should be remembered when executing all baseball slides. You must start the slide at least four steps from the bag. Sliding late is a commonly cause of ankle and leg injury. Keeping the hands high also prevent injury to hands, fingers and wrist.

Pop-Up or Stand-Up Slide - This slide is the safest and most popular sliding technique. It offers one definite advantage over other slides. The pop-up slide allows runners to advance more easily should an errant throw be made by the defense.

Three coaching points for the stand-up slide:

1. The left leg is bent and is under the right leg. The right leg is extended and it should be slightly bent.
2. The runner slides evenly on both lower cheeks of his rear end or on both back pockets.
3. The runner should adjust the slide path according to the position the fielder has assumed and where the tag glove is likely to be placed. The runner can touch the bag with his foot going directly into the bag or with a hand if the runner slides away from the bag.

Hook Slide - The hook slide is so named because of the "bent or hooked" positions of the legs during the slide and the fact that the bag is "hooked" or tagged with the back foot. The slide can to the right or left of the bag as the play requires.

Three coaching points for the "Hook" slide are:

1. The runner slides on one hip pocket or the other. The body is tilted during the slide. The body should be titled toward the side of the bag on which the slide is being made.
2. The bag is tagged with the back foot.
3. The hook slide is often used by runners attempting to break up a double play. It is also a good slide to use when trying to avoid an awaiting tag by the defender.

Reach-Around or Decoy Slide - The decoy slide is the most difficult to tech, learn, master and practice. It is a slide used when the ball beat the runner to the bag by 5 steps. The decoy slide is used to fool or trick the player making the tag. The sliding runner will fake tagging the bag with one hand and use the other hand to reach around the tag. The decoy is used only as a "last resort" to try avoiding a tag when the runner find himself "dead-to-rights" and sees the ball and tag waiting on him.

Three coaching points for the "Decoy" slide are:

1. The decoy slide must be started earlier than other slides.
2. The decoy slide should be made some distance away from the bag. The distance should allow the runner to reach the bag with both hands. The distance should require the fielder to reach way from the bag to make the tag. This reaching motion gives the runner a spot to avoid and reach around. The secret is to "sucker" the defender with one hand, then withdraw that hand, and reach around the tag with the other hand avoiding a tag and reaching the bag safely.
3. The sliding technique used at the beginning of the slide is the "stand-up" slide.

Note: I intentionally did not list the "head first" slide in this article. It is illegal in most leagues. It is a slide that is considered the most dangerous and risky. It has been the cause of many serious injuries. Coaches should consider the liability risk before teaching it as a method of sliding. I personally recommend to my players that they do not slide head first.

I hope that you found this article useful and informative. Thanks for taking the time to read this article. Have a great day, Nick.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Baseball Coaching Digest - Why Baseball Players Are the Most Accountable Athletes in Sports

Baseball Coaching Digest - Why Baseball Players Are the Most Accountable Athletes in Sports
By guest author: Nick Dixon

Baseball players are held to a higher level of accountability than any other athletes in the world. If you compare baseball, football and basketball to see which sport holds the player athlete more responsible for mistakes and errors, you will find that baseball holds players to a higher level of accountability. This article explains my perspective on why baseball players are the most accountable athletes in sports.

I am absolutely sure that baseball players are held at a higher level of accountability than other sports athletes. Why do I feel this way? Have you ever been to a football game and seen a player miss a tackle or block that cost his team dearly? Did the official score "flash" error on the football scoreboard? The answer is no. Have you ever watched a basketball player miss a wild open layup that hurt his team? Did the score keeper or score operator flash "error" on the scoreboard? The answer is no.

On the other hand, as baseball player can bobble a hard hit ground ball and the whole world will soon be notified and an official documentation of the mistake will be made in the scorebook. The scorekeeper will write a big "E" in the scorebook that makes the error officially known. Then the scoreboard operator will also turn on the "error" light on the scoreboard to let every player and spectator in the park know that an error was made.
That is the reason I feel that baseball players are the most accountable athletes in sports.

Maybe other sports consider adding an "Error" light on their scoreboard or writing a big "E" in their scorebook when a player makes a mistake. Then maybe the next time a player fails to execute on a football field or basketball court, they will know what it's like to be held publicly accountable and responsible like a baseball player.

I hope that you enjoyed this article. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Visit the Baseball coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, Little League Digest and Baseball Parent Guide for more baseball articles. Good luck to you and your team, Nick.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Baseball Hitting Tips - 100 Swings a Day

Baseball Hitting Tips - 100 Swings a Day
By guest author: Tom Read

An old baseball coach use to say after every practice, "go home and swing the bat 100 times each and every day. If you want to hit against the high level of competition we are going to be playing, swing that bat 100 times everyday". What he did not explain to the players was that doing something over and over makes it easier each time. It eventually becomes natural, second nature. So when that fastball comes flying in, and there is a half second to react, and you know where the swing needs to go, the muscle memory takes over and the swing comes naturally.

Hitting off the tee is a great baseball hitting drill. Take a 100 cuts a day off the tee and you will see your batting average start to climb. Another good baseball drill is soft toss. Here the tosser can change the location and the speed of the ball. Again, a 100 cuts a day of soft toss will bring improvement to your swing. The old coach used to tell the players that even if they did not have a tee to use, or no one was around to do soft toss with them, just go out in the yard and swing the bat thru the air. A 100 times a day. Doing this will get you comfortable with your swing. At game time, you want to be confident at the plate, and comfort brings confidence. You have swung that bat so many times, you know it is not going to let you down. You are concentrating on the pitch, not your swing. At just the right moment, you let loose with that same swing you have taken a 100 times a day.

The last thing I want to say is very important. You play like you practice. Before you start swinging a 100 time a day, you need to have found a good batting stance and good mechanics. It will not help you if each one of the 100 swings is different. Each swing needs to be identical. Find that perfect swing for you and practice it a 100 times a day.

Over the last twenty plus years, Tom Read has been a coach, parent, and a fan of organized baseball. He has shared this experience with his sons and many other players on his teams. Many have gone on to play at the college level.

Tom has recently joined with others to start a baseball website offering free baseball drills. To check out these great drills, and other great baseball information and stories, please visit Helpful Baseball Drills. It will be worth your time.

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How To Improve Your Baseball Vision And Hand-Eye Coordination (Part 1)

How To Improve Your Baseball Vision And Hand-Eye Coordination (Part 1)
Uploaded by BaseballVision http://www.baseballvisionprogram.com/ -- Chris McKnight and Harvey Ratner teamed up to produce a DVD which helps baseball hitters improve their hand eye coordination through unique sports vision training drills. Chris and Harvey's techniques will help you improve your baseball vision and hand eye coordination using simple drills which have increased the batting averages of players from high school all the way to the pros.

Chris is the manager of the 2009 independent professional baseball Texarkana Gunslingers team, and he has also authored numerous articles that have appeared in "Scholastic Coach" "Coach and Athletic Director" and the American Baseball Coaches Association "Coaching Digest".

Go to the website to find out more about how Chris' information can help you improve your vision for sports.

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Baseball Hitting Drill Twist

Baseball Hitting Drill Twist
By guest author: Jeffery A Wise

Baseball hitting drills are necessary for players to develop and tweak their skills. Without drills, you cannot be a great player. Recently I discovered a great drill that was demonstrated by a coach on YouTube that I had to share with others. It is easy, fun and will benefit any player who wants to be a better hitter.

This specific drill is a new twist on the soft toss hitting drill. It can improve your hitting in several areas, including bat speed. This element of hitting is very important because it generates how hard you hit the ball and how far the balls fly. What player doesn't want to hit more home runs?

What you need for this drill is someone who is willing to toss you some baseballs, whether it is a coach, a teammate or a parent. For this drill, this person should kneel on the ground several feet in front of the batter. They can also sit on a chair to do this if kneeling is uncomfortable. They should toss the balls with an underhand pitch to the batter.

What makes this drill different from the typical soft toss drill is that the person tosses three balls in a row without taking a break. Of course, the batter should have enough time to reset, but the next ball should come immediately after that. After three balls, allow the batter to rest for a minute before throwing three more. Continue to do this pattern multiple times until the batter is tired.

This baseball hitting drill is very fast, but it will help players in several ways. Since the batter must reposition so quickly, it helps them practice balancing their body. The quickness also forces the batter to generate quick bat speed, making balls fly farther. The batter has to react swiftly, which makes him more focused as if he's in the middle of a game. Finally, it helps the batter have a good whip action with the bat in the fingers instead of the palms of the hands.

This baseball hitting drill is sure to help any player become a better hitter. The more you practice it, the better results you will see, on and off the field. Of course, there are many great drills for hitting, but give this one a try to see what you think. You may even find that it creates more results than other hitting drills.

Remember that the reason to practice your baseball hitting is so that you can get better and doing a baseball hitting drill will give you skills and talent to become the baseball player you want to be. Find out why you should look into quality Cheap Baseball Bats that are comfortable in your hands which could help you out in a big way.

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Youth Baseball-Coach Pitch Fundamentals

Youth Baseball-Coach Pitch Fundamentals
Uploaded by ClubHouseGas On http://ClubHouseGas.com Casey learns the art of coach pitch for baseball and softball. Also check-out http://YouthSportTravel.com

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Baseball Tips: A Base Stealing Secret

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http://abdacademylive.com Former N.Y. Met, Randy Curtis, Voted Years "Outstanding Baserunner" Gives Away One Of His Base Stealing Secrets.

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Baseball Coaching Digest: Putting the Squeeze on Your Competition

Baseball Coaching Digest: Putting the Squeeze on Your Competition
By guest author: Nick Dixon

The squeeze play should be a part of the playbook of every baseball team. It is important to properly teach the techniques, fundamentals, and proper timing to execute a successful squeeze play. This article covers the three common plays associated with the squeeze, the purpose of each and how each is run.

The Squeeze Play

The Squeeze Play is a play ran by offensive baseball teams consisting of a sacrifice bunt with a runner on third base. The batter bunts the ball. It is expected that the batter be thrown out at first base. The offensive team is trading an out for a run by providing the runner on third base an opportunity to score.

The Squeeze Play is rarely attempted with two strikes because a bunt attempt that is fouled off is an automatic third strike. The squeeze play is also rarely executed with two outs because there is a good possibility that the batter would make the third out of the inning by being thrown out at first base.

Safety Squeeze

This is a type of squeeze play in which the runner at third reads the contact before breaking for home. The runner makes sure that the bunt is down and in a location that makes it possible for him to safely score. These elements of caution is why this bunt is called the Safety Squeeze.

Coaching Points

The runner at third must see the ball down. He should extend his secondary lead. He should not get caught sitting still and looking. He must read the contact and immediately break for home or back to third base. The runner that hesitates or makes a slow read, may get picked off at third.

Suicide Squeeze

The Suicide Squeeze is a play in which the runner at third base break for home as soon as the pitcher begins his motion to the plate. This play, when executed properly, is impossible to stop from scoring. However, failure to get the bunt down is almost certainly going to result in an out at the plate. This is why this played is called Suicide Squeeze.

Coaching Points

The batter must bunt any pitch location no matter where it is. The batter must get the bat on the ball. The runner at third and the batter can not show the squeeze to soon. The batter will not square until the pitcher's stride foot lands. The runner at third must not break too early. When the batter or runner show the play too early the pitcher may pitch out or throw at the batter, in either case, the offensive team will find itself in a serious dilemma.

Fake Squeeze

The Fake Squeeze is play in which the offensive team puts pressure on the defensive team by faking a squeeze play. This play is used for two purposes; to draw a balk by the opposing pitcher and to safely steal second base uncontested. If the offensive team is seeking to cause a balk, the play is executed with a 3-ball count. Many coaches will opt to use this play when they have little confidence of the batter hitting the ball. The runner at third will cut his primary lead down. When the pitcher commits to the plate, the third base runner will yell "squeeze". The defensive team will think that a squeeze play is being ran, and forget about the backside runner advancing to second base.

Coaching Points

The runner at third must not get caught "looking or sitting" still after his secondary lead. The runner must break back to the bag inside the foul line to block a throw from the catcher to third base should it happen. Most defensive teams will not contest the runner moving to second base. This makes the Fake Squeeze almost a risk-free way to steal second base.

I hope that you found this article to be informative. If you would like to read more like it, please visit the Baseball Coaching Digest or the Baseball Coaching Digest Blog. Good luck to you and your team. Have a great day, Nick

The Baseball2u.com Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. Available now for just $119.95 + S&H.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Dixon coaches at Boaz High in Boaz Alabama. Dixon is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and Alabama Baseball Coaches Association.

Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is considered an expert in baseball training and skills development. Dixon also serves as an active consultant to baseball equipment companies and other sports product inventors.

Dixon is also a contributing writer for the Baseball Coaching Digest, the baseball Coaching Digest Blog, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Youth Baseball Digest Blog, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Dixon

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Baseball Coaching Digest: The Perils of Defensive Assumption in Baseball Action

Baseball Coaching Digest: The Perils of Defensive Assumption in Baseball Action
By guest author: Nick Dixon

Assuming or taking for granted certain things when your team is playing defense can lead to costly mistakes and could lead to a loss. This article outlines three things that coaches and players should never assume when you are playing defense.

Assuming Every Player Knows the Number of Outs

This is the most common mental mistake a team or coach makes. They have a player that does not know how many out there are. I have witnessed in many different forms. Several times I have seen catchers think that there were three outs and the inning was over, so they rolled the ball toward the pitcher and allowed an alert runner on third score on a mental error.

I have seen an outfielder think that there were two outs when he caught a fly ball hit shallow into center field. He assumed that there were two out when he caught what he thought was the third out. He relaxes after the catch only to realize that the runner at third base has just tagged up and scored.

Making such mental mistakes can be prevented if the middle infielders relay and communicate the number of outs to the outfielders and other players after each out is made. It should be a standard procedure that every player on the team show at least one teammate the sign for the current number of outs after each out is made.

Assuming Everybody Knows the Bunt Coverage

Assuming everyone in the infield knows what the bunt situation is and the coverage that is on at the time can lead to a costly mistake. We have all seen it happen. The first baseman charges the bunt. The pitcher bounces off to the third base side and the catcher bounces out perfectly. The catcher calls the first base man off the ball, fields it, and comes up throwing to first. However, the second baseman was napping and did not get there to field the throw. The second baseman had what we call a "brain fart". He was not mentally alert and in the game. Therefore, it is important that the catcher call time, step out in front of the plate, and signal the bunt coverage that has been called for the situation.

Coaches must not assume that every player is alert. The key is communication between coaches and players. The coach must talk to his catcher and middle infielders constantly to make sure that they are in the game. Players should be taught to talk the game between pitches and communicate the situation, likely plays by the offense, and whose "got the bag" between pitches.

Assuming a play will or will not be made
Wrong assumptions can lead to devastating results when a team is on defense. A player should always hustle to a ball or to the correct position when the ball is hit or put into play. It can be costly for an outfielder to relax on a ball in the gap because he thinks the other outfielder is going to make the play. Not getting over to back up a fellow outfielder can cost a team valuable bases and even a run, if the ball is miss-played, missed or is a base it that gets by an outfielder.

Outfielders should always hustle, talk, and communicate when the ball is hit. Even if the other outfielder calls the ball, the outfielder should hustle over the back up on the play.

Outfielders should always back up throws as if the throw is going to be missed. Defensive players should never assume a catch. Catchers should sprint to back up throws at first base when there are not runners on. Just when the catcher assumes a ball will be caught, rather than missed, the first baseman will let the tying run get to second base with a miss-played short hop. If the catcher hustles to back-up on the play as he should, the runner does not advance to second base.

I hope that you found this article to be informative. I appreciate you taking the time to read it. For more articles like it, visit the Baseball Coaching Digest, Youth Baseball Digest, and the Baseball Parent Guide websites and blogs. Good luck to you and your team.
Have a great day, Nick.

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Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Dixon coaches at Boaz High in Boaz Alabama. Dixon is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and Alabama Baseball Coaches Association.

Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is considered an expert in baseball training and skills development. Dixon also serves as an active consultant to baseball equipment companies and other sports product inventors.

Dixon is also a contributing writer for the Baseball Coaching Digest, the baseball Coaching Digest Blog, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Youth Baseball Digest Blog, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Dixon

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Baseball Coaching Digest - The Catcher, Your PR Player

Baseball Coaching Digest - The Catcher, Your PR Player
By guest author: Nick Dixon


This is a short article explaining one of the most important roles that your catcher will play in every game. The role is that of being the team public relations representative with the umpire staff. The attitude and behavior of a catcher can have a huge effect on the attitude of the umpires. Many times what a catcher does or does not do, has an affect on how an umpire perceives the whole team and catching staff. The best way for me to help you see what I mean is to give you several examples of how bad catcher behavior can possibly adversely affect an umpires attitude during the game. I am not saying that all umpires will react negatively to what a catcher says and does. However, more times than not, bad catcher behavior will make the umpire angry and cause a negative atmosphere.

Here are a few examples of how a behavior of the catcher can affect the attitude of the umpire.:

Example #1 - It is the first inning of the game. The pitcher throws a pitch that is "border-line" that could have been called a strike or ball. The plate umpire calls the pitch a ball. The catcher gets angry. He turns and stares at the umpire and shakes his head in "disbelief" before throwing the ball back to the pitcher. The next 6 pitches are border-line also. Every one of them is called a ball also. The atmosphere is tense. The brief stare may cost his team big time.

Example # 2 - It is the 3rd inning. The catcher has had a rough time handling the wild pitcher his team has on the mound. A lot of balls have gone to the back stop. The plate umpire has gotten hit in the shins by several pitches. The umpire tells the catcher that he has got to do a better job of blocking the ball. The catcher resents the umpires comment. He makes no attempt at all to block or stop the pitches in the dirt for the rest of the inning. When a ball bounces away or goes to the back stop, the catcher makes not effort to retrieve it. The umpire has to go and get everything. As one would expect, the atmosphere is tense. The team begins to feel that the umpire is making calls against them. The truth is that they may be correct.

Example # 3 - The catcher is a great player in his own mind. He feels that he is the worlds #1 gift to baseball. He thinks that umpires are an unnecessary evil of the game. He has little or no respect for them and that fact shows in what he says and how he acts. When the umpire tries to establish a sense of rapport, the catcher is short, impolite, and disrespectful. He often does not respond to the umpires questions. When he does respond, he answers with a "huh", "yea" or "no". The umpire senses an attitude and resentment may build. The atmosphere is tense and the team may suffer later in the game should a close call have to be made. The calls that can go against them may.

Example #4 - The pitch was called a ball. Every player, coach, and fan of the team feels that the pitch should have been called a strike. The coach yells to the catcher, "Where was that pitch? Was that a strike?" The catcher yells back to the coach, "Yes it was!". Then the catcher yells at the pitcher, loud enough for everyone present to hear, "Throw that one again, he can not miss that call two times in a row!'. What do you think the umpire's reaction is going to one? Do you think these loud verbal exchanges are helping the defensive team?

I am not saying that umpires are evil people that hold a grudge or have big chips on their shoulders. What I am saying is that umpires are human. They come and umpire sometimes after a hard 8-hour shift. They just expect to be treated with respect.

6 Things Catchers Should Do to Establish a Good Rapport with the Plate Umpire:


Always answer the umpire with a "yes sir" or "no sir" when he asks a question.
Never turn toward the umpire after a call. A hard stare or glare is not going to help your team. Do not have an "attitude"!
Make sure all comments made to the pitcher and to the coach are positive in nature and do not "show up" the plate umpire.
Be a hustler. Quickly retrieve all "passed balls". Work hard and show a willingness to go above and beyond when it comes to helping keep the game running smoothly with no delays.
Never shake your head or show negative emotion to a ball or strike call or an out or safe call.
Stay down on all pitches. Make an effort to field or block every pitch. Consider it your job to protect the umpire.

I hope this article give you some insight into how a catcher behavior and attitude can help create a positive game atmosphere and develop good rapport between your team and the umpire staff.

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Little League Digest - 10 Base Running Tips For Little League Baseball Players

Little League Digest - 10 Base Running Tips For Little League Baseball Players
By guest author: Nick Dixon


There are several important coaching points that need to be remembered when teaching Little League players to run the bases correctly. This article presents 10 coaching points for little league baseball runners related to first baseball.

Coaching Points related to base running at 1st base:

1. The batter must sprint out of the batter's box and take a straight line path toward first base. The batter base runner must "honor" the base running box. The base running box allows the umpire to determine if a base runner is inside the base line. If a runner gets inside the foul line and a throw ball makes contact with the runner, the batter base runner is out. If a ball is a slow roller in the direction of first base, the batter base runner must avoid contact with the ball. Stepping on, contacting or touching the ball in fair territory will result in an out.
2. When a batter hits the ball his approach to first base is determined by the location of the hit ball as it travels into the field. If the ball is a fielded grounder, the base runner will run through the bag at 1st.
3. If the hit ball gets by the infielder, either as a hit or error, the batter base runner should do a "hook" path as he approaches first base to give him a straighter angle to advance to second base if the first base coach sends him.
4. The batter base runner should run hard through the bag when he is attempting to beat a throw to first. The runner should concentrate on running to a spot about 15 feet past the bag. When the runner touches the bag, the runner's foot should land on the front 1/3 of the bag.
5. The batter base runner should always look to the right when he crosses the bag on a close play. This look allows the batter base runner to see if the throw was missed by the first baseman.
6. If the base runner is sent to second, the runner should only contact the inner corner of the base as he makes the turn toward second base.
7. The runner should always run everything out as if the ball is fair. The runner should hustle and assume that all fly balls will be missed.
8. The runner must run out all foul balls because of the "roll back" rule. If a foul ball hits and kicks back into fair territory between home and 1st base or between home and 3rd base, the ball is fair. The ball will be fair as long as the ball does not contact a bat, fence, dugout, or fielder.
9. The batter base runner that sees an errant throw should not immediately advance to second. The runner must listen to his coach. The coach will make sure that the catcher is not trailing the play.
10. Older or advanced runners may be taught to read the firstbaseman's footwork to detect a possible catch ad tag play. If the throw from the fielder pulls the first baseman off the bag, the only possibility for getting the runner out is a tag. If the runner sees the first baseman coming off the bag toward him, he should slide to avoid the tag.

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Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time at Boaz High School in Alabama. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Executing A Delay Steal Properly

Executing A Delay Steal Properly
By Jim Bain

The Delay Steal is not usually a type of steal you can utilize successfully against a well coached team. However, even the best teams are subject to mental lapses and that's when you capitalize on it.

What is a delayed steal? Perhaps a better name for this type of steal would have been surprise steal.
It's a steal which occurs in an unusual fashion and time. Great! What does that mean?

Let's assume the opposing team's 300 lb. catcher has just drawn a walk. Would you seriously consider him a base stealing threat? Of course not. But, what if that 300 lb runner, who absolutely nobody paid any attention, suddenly took off for second base. There would be a moment of hesitation, disbelief, of what was happening. This moment may be all he needs to steal the base.

That's why a delay steal can, at times, be very effective.

A delay steal is usually attempted with only a runner on first, but does not exclude other runner being on base, especially third base.

The base runner Must be very observant of the other team's actions in between pitches. This means watching them the entire game, not just when you're on base.

Remember I said delay stealing is hard to do against a well coached team? It's because the players are always aware of what's happening on the field of play. The shortstop will take a couple of steps toward the pitcher to protect from an over throw from the catcher.
The second baseman will glance at the base runner, while the catcher and first baseman watch the runner out of the corner of their eye. All eyes are upon the base runner, there's no chance for a successful delay steal.

However, let's take a look at another scenario.

The pitcher is struggling to find the strike zone. The catcher, as they will do a lot, will fire the ball back to the pitcher, as if wanting to wake him up and correct his wildness.

The second baseman and shortstop turn their backs to the pitcher and return to their normal fielding position after moving forward with the pitch.

Everyone is either pre-occupied, frustrated or otherwise not paying attention. This is when you strike.

Confident the infielders will not change their in between pitch routine, you decide to steal. Take your normal lead off, then secondary lead off. This time instead of scurrying back to first base after the pitch, you stay at your secondary lead position.

***You must be an actor at this point. Do nothing, jerk or move towards second base, which would draw the catcher's attention.***

As the catcher releases the ball, make sure he's throwing back to the pitcher, you take off for second base. You already have a good secondary lead, your cross step has you directly in line with second base and at full speed.

The entire infield must immediately wake up and move when they realize you're stealing. 99% of the time, if you've analyzed the situation correctly, there won't even be a throw to second.

The pitcher will not be in a good throwing position when he receives the ball. The shortstop and second baseman will be out of position and unable to cover the base for a throw ahead of you. Unless you trip and fall, you have just stolen second base.

Sounds easy...it's not, but there's definitely a time and a situation which will call for using a delay steal.

Jim Bain - Former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth. Visit his exciting info packed website: http://www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com

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Youth Baseball Digest - 5 Safety Rules That Must Be Followed by Every Little League Team

Youth Baseball Digest - 5 Safety Rules That Must Be Followed by Every Little League Team
By guest author: Nick Dixon

Player and coach safety must be the concern of every Little League Baseball Coach. All youth baseball coaches must establish certain team rules to insure the safety of both the players and the coaches. There are 5 basic safety rules that help protect players are coaches. This article outlines each of those 5 safety rules.

1. Players must have permission to swing a bat. The most dangerous action that takes place on a baseball field is the swing of a bat. Many injuries occur every year when a player walks into a swing zone when another player is swinging the bat. Players must understand the dangers involved if every player can swing a bat any time they want. They must understand that the only time they are allowed to swing a bat is when they are on deck, in the batter's box, or participating in a drill. At all other times their bat is to be left alone or in their bat bag.

2. Have players have eye contact with the coach before throwing a ball to the coach. Many coaches have been hit unexpectedly by a ball thrown by a player throwing a ball back in during batting practice. Players must have permission to throw a ball to a coach and call the number of throws. The coach should ask the player how many balls he has. The player should say if he gas 3 balls, 2 balls, or 1 ball before he throws the ball or balls to the coach.

3. Maintain a cleared safety zone around the batter. - No one stands behind or near the batter during batting practice. The area behind the batter should be kept clear of coaches and players. There is a constant danger of being hit by a ball or a swung bat if players and coaches do not maintain a clear safety zone around the batter.

4. Batting helmets must be worn at all times when batting or running the bases during practice. - If a coach allows a single player to bat or run the bases when live hitting is be done, that coach is asking for a liability issue or lawsuit. Player should always wear their batting helmets to prevent head or face injury from a wild throw or hit ball.

5. The floor must be kept clear of balls and bats. - The floor is the floor of the dugout and the floor of the batting box. A coach must take on the responsibility of watching for stray balls under the feet of the batter during batting practice. The walk way to and inside the dugout should be kept neat and clear of bats and balls. This rule is enforced to prevent a leg or ankle injury from occurring should a player step onto a ball or bat.

If these safety rules are made and followed by your team, they could prevent an injury or accident. I hope that you found this article informative and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Good luck to you and your team.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty. Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Baseball - First & Third Double Steal Defensive Strategy

BattingCageDoor.com
Baseball - First & Third Double Steal Defensive Strategy
By Nick Dixon

The "First and Third Double Steal" situation is when the batting team has a base runner at first base and a base runner at third base. Often times the offensive teams will put on a base running play to attempt and confuse, fool, or trick the defensive team into making a mistake that will cost them a run.

Before a team can defend this situation, you must know all variations of plays that an offensive team can employ. The two most common plays used by the offensive team in this situation are, 1) Early break by the first base runner off first to attempt to get in a run down to distract the defense long enough for the 3rd base runner to score. 2) Straight steal of 2nd by the first base runner. If the catcher throws down, the 3rd base runner will go home.

Every team must have a "First & Third Double Steal" defensive plan. Most teams have at least 3 or more defensive plays that they can call and execute to counter the offensive team's actions.

The 4 most common defensive plays for defending the "Double Steal" situation are:


Throw to 2nd base by the catcher with a read and cut action by a middle infielder. The catcher will throw down as usual. The 2nd baseman or shortstop, depending on whether a right-handed or left-handed batter is batting, will come early and get into a position to execute a cut of the throw and a quick throw to home plate if the 3rd base runner attempts to steal home. Most times the cut man will sneak a peek to read the 3rd base runners action or the 3rd baseman will make a loud "CUT!" call to let the middle infielder know to cut the ball because the 3rd base runner to going home. If no cut call is made, the middle infielder will let the ball go through to get the out at 2nd.
A middle infielder comes early and fakes a cut to hold the runner at 3rd base while the runner is tagged out at 2nd base.
The catcher will make a quick throw to the pitcher that will immediately checks the runner at 3rd to try and pick the runner off or get him out while attempting to steal home.
The catcher will make a full-arm fake to 2nd base and then makes a snap throw to 3rd in an attempt to catch the 3rd base off the bag far enough to get an out.

Coaching Points:


If a tag is made at 2nd base, the middle infielder must make a swipe tag and come up checking the runner at third. Sometimes the runner at third will make a late decision to break for home when he sees a play being made on the runner at 2nd base.
When the catcher executes the full arm fake and throw to 3rd, he must come out in front of the plate a step or two to make sure that the throw will clear the runner.
If a throw is going to be made to 2nd, sometimes you can hold a runner at third by having the pitcher fake a cut.
When the middle infielder is faking a cut at 2nd, make sure that he comes early enough to clear the throwing lane. This allows the other infielder a clear view of the bad and will not block his vision during the throw.
Remember, when a fake cut call is made at 2nd, you must have the center fielder backing up the throw at 2nd because both infielders are in the box without a back up at 2nd.

I hope that you find this article useful. Have great day, Nick.

There are other calls and variations that I will cover in later articles.

Visit the Baseball Coaching Digest Blog for daily post and articles on every aspect of coaching baseball. The Baseball Coaching Digest Blog. Check out the Bat Action Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

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Coaching Youth Baseball - Team Building Ideas

Coaching Youth Baseball - Team Building Ideas
By guest author: Jake Wyatt

When coaching youth baseball, you often end up with a bunch of boys who may not know each other. Team building is very important to ensure a cohesive team, one where the players support each other rather than compete with each other.

At the first practice, you need to break the ice with the players. Some will be very outgoing, some will be shy. Try to gently get all the boys to introduce themselves and share something simple about why they like to play baseball, or perhaps what position they like to play. This will help you get a feel for the boys as well.

Here are some great ideas to help the boys become a team that plays well together:

1. Have activities outside of practice. One or two pizza parties or hot dog picnics gets the families together and lets the boys get to know each other outside of baseball. Have a few gifts (packs of baseball cards) to hand out for drills that center on knowledge of the sport. During the event, ask questions to generate conversation.

2. Pay particular attention to boys who are not fitting into the team during practice. Figure out ways to gently include them into the practice routines. For instance, if you are doing hitting drills, make this boy catcher for the day. Or put him in charge of counting or measuring. This can be difficult to do without being obvious, but with some thought a good coach can make it happen.

3. Have a rule that during games, the players in the dugout pay attention to the game. They should be making a lot of noise in support of team members who are on the field.

4. Make it clear, in your initial meeting with the boys, that you will not tolerate whining, bullying, or meanness. Point out that in order to win, all the players must support each other. Establish the consequences for unacceptable behavior right away, and stick to it.

5. Have some team-building activities during practices. For instance, have the players stand in a circle and pass the ball around the circle. Time how long it takes. Then ask them to try again and beat their time. Watch them work together to figure out how to go faster.

In coaching youth baseball, if you successfully build a strong team spirit, your team will play better and have more fun during games!

In order to be the best possible baseball player, training should happen year-round and be a joint effort between the coach, the player and the parents. Get more free tips to improve baseball performance, reviews of e-products related to baseball, and links to training resources at http://youth-baseball-training.com.

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Baseball Coaching Digest - What Are the 3 R's of Baseball Success?

Baseball Coaching Digest - What Are the 3 R's of Baseball Success?
By Nick Dixon
There are three R's by which every baseball coach should be judged. The main three indicators of baseball success are RESULTS, REPUTATION and RESPECT. This article discusses each and how important each is.

The three R's by which every baseball coach should be judged are:

RESULTS - The number one criteria by which a coach's performance should be judged is results. Has the coach produced tangible results? Has the baseball team or program improved since the coach came on board? Positive results are an indication of a coach's effectiveness. Positive results includes increasing number of wins, winning at a level never before achieved, signs of improving player and team performance, and an overall increase in player and team pride.

Athletic directors and league officials look for coaches that they feel can take their baseball teams to a higher level of performance and competition. They want to see improvement. They want to see results.

REPUTATION - Every coach always earns a reputation. Reputation is one's overall personal and professional character and quality as judged by the people of the community. The only way to earn a good reputation is to work hard enough to earn it. The only way to maintain a good reputation is to continue working hard. A coach's behavior on and off the field plays a huge role in building a good reputation.

RESPECT - Respect is not given, it is earned. In coaching, you earn respect one day, one game, and one player at a time. To be successful in coaching, you must have respect. You must first earn the respect of your players. They must see you as a good leader and teacher with knowledge, drive, and skill. You must earn the respect of your parents. They must feel that you are qualified, dedicated and committed to your job. You must earn the respect of your administration. Your superiors must see enough positive results from your efforts to respect you as a coach and teacher. You must earn the respect of the community. Your fans will begin to respect you when they see a good product put on the field year after year. They want a team that will make them proud. They want a team that always competes. You must earn the respect of your peers. What other coaches think about you is a true indicator of what you have achieved and accomplished. There is no better measure of a coach's performance than having the total respect of opposing coaches.

I hope that you found this article to be informative and useful. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Have a great day, Nick.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Dixon

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