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Member
In my younger days starting at age 4 as a batboy and as I played baseball before I was old enough to be on a team. We did not have tee ball or coach pitch and we wore running helmets with ear protection only, I loved the game and did what ever I could to be the best and played as much as I could. I came from a family of ball players.
I like to toot my own horn to say I had two tryouts with the Yanks and they liked me up to a point!
Now to that point that I want to tell you coaches & parents about:
I could hit a line drive, I could hit for a 400 avg. or 400 ft. I could pull the ball or take it down the 1B line!
I had a strong throwing arm and could make quick plays from thirdbase. I knew the game and what I had to do to be a good defensive player and a hitter. These were the skills I grew up with and practiced everyday all my life growing up in the school ballfield behind our house.
That day in July after all the years of playing hard ball and hustle busting hot days in the dirt did not prepare me for what the Yankees scouts told me that day. We started off with 300 plus and were down to us remaining 30 after 2 days of 8 hour tryout drills and a 4 hour ball game.
The Club can teach you how to Hit, Field a ball and Throw but we can not teach you how to run faster and correctly at this stage in your careers. Every one of us were above average ball players and knew each other from many years of leagues and school ball coming up. We all knew chances of making into a farm league would be hard but none of us even had the idea that the stopwatch is the factor that means the most in the final days.
I know running is over worked in some areas of teams conditioning..... My point is if you plan to work kids in running and conditioning do it right!! Do not run to make them run.... teach or have someone that knows how to teach the correct motions a runner needs to have. Teach the proper body movements in all the stages not just from point A to B.
I wish I had someone work with me back in the old days. With all due respect to fellow coaches, hitting instructors and trainers. If you have a rising star in the younger years this is the area that you should remember, find a running trainer as well it is by far a game of running. I hope this reaches someone, my lack of proper machanics cost me a dream of playing thirdbase in the pro levels.
Proper running skills!!!! Wins games too and can take you places you only dream of!
I like to toot my own horn to say I had two tryouts with the Yanks and they liked me up to a point!
Now to that point that I want to tell you coaches & parents about:
I could hit a line drive, I could hit for a 400 avg. or 400 ft. I could pull the ball or take it down the 1B line!
I had a strong throwing arm and could make quick plays from thirdbase. I knew the game and what I had to do to be a good defensive player and a hitter. These were the skills I grew up with and practiced everyday all my life growing up in the school ballfield behind our house.
That day in July after all the years of playing hard ball and hustle busting hot days in the dirt did not prepare me for what the Yankees scouts told me that day. We started off with 300 plus and were down to us remaining 30 after 2 days of 8 hour tryout drills and a 4 hour ball game.
The Club can teach you how to Hit, Field a ball and Throw but we can not teach you how to run faster and correctly at this stage in your careers. Every one of us were above average ball players and knew each other from many years of leagues and school ball coming up. We all knew chances of making into a farm league would be hard but none of us even had the idea that the stopwatch is the factor that means the most in the final days.
I know running is over worked in some areas of teams conditioning..... My point is if you plan to work kids in running and conditioning do it right!! Do not run to make them run.... teach or have someone that knows how to teach the correct motions a runner needs to have. Teach the proper body movements in all the stages not just from point A to B.
I wish I had someone work with me back in the old days. With all due respect to fellow coaches, hitting instructors and trainers. If you have a rising star in the younger years this is the area that you should remember, find a running trainer as well it is by far a game of running. I hope this reaches someone, my lack of proper machanics cost me a dream of playing thirdbase in the pro levels.
Proper running skills!!!! Wins games too and can take you places you only dream of!