Tip of the Week

As the baseball season winds down for many, it's time to clear the mind from the past season. First, though, players should plan for these three things in their off-season baseball plans.

1. Write down the three things they want to focus on when they resume baseball activities based on their just completed year. It is easy to forget where to focus on as time goes by.

The faster a pitchers fastball and the quicker a pitcher's delivery often leads to batters moving faster too to prepare. The pitch speed and faster delivery has many hitters get jumpy and it takes them out of their normal hitting rhythm. It should be the opposite, the faster the pitch or delivery the slower the body should be to prepare for the pitch. In that way, players stay back and can see the ball better, as well as maintaining the rhythm and balance to hit the baseball.

Positive coaches learn to say things with compassion, knowing sports success is difficult to come by and with empathy, so players understand they are not, "How they do" on a sports field. Players of positive coaches keep trying no matter what and keep playing because fun occurs no matter their statistics. Negative coaches never learn to say things in those ways, leading to athletes who quit playing at younger ages than necessary. Why some adults choose the negative is beyond comprehension.

Most baseball players begin practices with pretty good timing, even those with poor hitting mechanics. But, coaches flipping balls at them from straight and behind a screen, may screw up that hitting timing. Coaches must realize that for every foot closer to the batter they should slow the ball down, not increase the speed. I've witnessed so many hitters that begin with perfect timing and proceed to lose it because of fast paced short flips.

Coaches should give this bold coaching move a try, especially when playing a team known for their intensity. Before the game, coaches gather their players and parents together and inform them that they will applaud nice plays of the opposition. This applause should be sincere and not done with a hint of sarcasm. Players and parents should not go over the top but just a little golf clap and a few words of nice play to the opposing teams players.

Many youth play in fall baseball leagues these days. I am all for kids doing that as long as they have time away from the game in the winter. The problem is that baseball is not an easy game to succeed at. If players are only playing games without another day or two of practice, the results may harm players going into the following year more than help them. Not only can their confidence be affected negatively, injuries, especially to the throwing arm, are more possible without other days of throwing.