Vol.1 No.2 | 2nd Quarter 2005

Opening day is upon us for professional baseball and several youth leagues (I realize in some states, high school baseball has been in full swing since February). Opening day signifies a fresh start, a new beginning. Everyone is batting 1.000, has a 0.00 ERA, and everyone has the same opportunity to win that elusive championship. Realistically, many of these things will not last past the first game. So what it comes down to is, can you put the new skills you have developed during the off-season into play? Don't get frustrated if you do not have immediate success. Baseball is a game of adjustments. Being able to make an adjustment in the middle of the game or the middle of the season is key to success. Stay focused and grounded in the fundamentals.

I want to hear from you. If you have any feedback, new ideas, things we are doing well (or not so well), please feel free to shoot me an email at jblackwell@baseball101.com. I hope you will tell your friends about us, as well. We offer a very lucrative affiliate program which pays $10 per new subscription for registered partners. For more information about the affiliate program, click on affiliates in the top menu bar or click here.

I hope you have a productive and enjoyable season.

Sincerely,

Jeff Blackwell
President
Baseball101.com

Practice is the coaches time. Games are for the players. So how do you maximize the time spent in practice to generate the best results on game day. This article is primarily focused for teams that can only practice once or twice a week:

• Get help. Recruit parents to help you out. Having enough adults around gives you the flexibility to have multiple stations and more focused drills and activities
• Break your practice up into sections: Stretch-run-throw, position drills, team defense, and batting
• Vary the topics covered in practice. Focus on those things from the last game that need work
• Use stations. For position drills, work with outfielders, infielders, pitchers and catchers; each focusing on drills specific to those positions. This is where getting help comes in.
• Visit the drills section of baseball101 to find drills to reinforce the topics that need work.
• Save batting practice for last. Most kids want to hit. By saving it for last, you are able to keep their attention through the first part of practice
• Use multi-station batting practice. Having one kid hit while others stand around and shag is not only boring, but a waste of time. The idea is to get the most amount of cuts in the least amount of time. Have a tee station, soft toss, live BP, shagging, etc. Divide the teams into groups and rotate through the stations.
• Take a water break half way through practice, or more frequently depending on the conditions.
• Try to limit practice to no more than 1.5 to 2 hours. A well designed and planned practice allows you to get maximum work done in minimal time

The Move

Master the nuances of the left handed pick off move from Coach Maack. Coach Maack is regarded as the leading specialist in the left-handed pickoff move in the country. He has published a book and has been a featured presenter at the AABC conference on numerous occasions. A lefty with a good move is a powerful weapon.

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