Enter your email address here:
World
Member ID or Amateur Coaches Alliance League ID:
Ask Your
Question Here:
Question:
Our little
league has taken measures to protect the young pitching arms. Is
there research/studies to address the young catcher's arm as
well? Little league has a tendency to place the one boy who can
catch behind the plate for the entire season. I would think we
would want to protect this shoulder like we would a pitcher's.
Thank you for your comments or directions for a better
understanding.
Answer: Presently, there
are no studies that address the injury rate for young
catchers. I would suspect since most of their throwing is
not maximum exertion, the injury tendency/stress loads on
the arm would be significantly less than the pitchers.
Remind your young catchers to stand up when they can as they
throw the ball back to the pitcher. Many arm injuries start
with deceleration issues in the arm; watch to make sure the
throwing arm is released and positioned near the opposite
knee after throwing and not pinned up against the body.
Question:
I keep hitting ground balls, not line drives. Is there a practice to get
better here?
Answer:
Try
swinging slightly up to lift or elevate the ball the next time you
practice. You may be swinging down on the ball, a common symptom
with young hitters.
With
pitches thrown down in the strike zone, a slight upper cut will
allow for a better chance to center the ball. Both on the T and
during soft-toss, attempt to hit the lower half of the ball and see
if that levels the contact points out.
Question: What are some
specific guidelines for parents to follow? I coach an 11 year old travel team
and am having a hard time coming up with a list of do's and don'ts for parents.
I want to accomplish two things: team chemistry and success for all players
involved.
Answer: Please check
back in two weeks when the Coaches Certification is available.
Question: Should
players swim before games? I have heard two different opinions on the matter.
One is that their equilibrium will be affected as well as make them overly
tired. The other school of thought is that it relaxes players and makes them
more prone to success in games due to being relaxed. Which thought is correct?
Answer: The
duration of the swim and the type of water, (pool vs. ocean) will affect
fatigue. Also, a player's personality is a factor. The overaggressive,
"think too much" type may benefit from a relaxing dip while the laid
back, reserved player might be negatively affected. Watch the amount of sun and
the intensity of the exercise in the water. Lying on a raft or walking through
the waves should not affect a healthy young player. Continuous hydration is a
must, drink plenty of water if you are in or around the water!!
Question: My
son is 10 and has been playing for several years. Unfortunately, he seems to
have a very difficult time (with hitting especially). It breaks my heart to
watch him strike out time after time and feel so terrible at the end of each
game. I try to be as positive as I can and continue to encourage him as much as
possible but now he just keeps saying "I know I stink, I should just
quit". Do you think your program would help him? I don't want to put him in
a situation where he's playing w/ a whole bunch of ace baseball kids and make
him feel worse than he already does.
Answer: Confidence
along with some personal tips to identify why he is missing could be helpful, it
also sends a life message not to give up. You should consider visiting your
nearest Frozen Ropes.
