All you ever need to know about GLOVES:
Gloves, like the hands they fit, come in a variety of sizes. Baseball and softball gloves also are geared to fit both the position you play and the level of your game. Keep these factors in mind when you decide which style, size, features and materials best suit your game.
Gloves by Fielding Position
Gloves are made to better help you field your position. A key element in determining the size mitt you buy is the position you play.
Catcher
A fingerless mitt (it does not have individual fingers)
Has heavy padding to reduce the sting from the pitcher's throw
Reinforced to withstand the heavy use throughout a game
First base
Also resembles a mitten, but has less padding than the catcher's mitt
It is longer to help the first baseman field throws from infielders
A shallow pocket allows the first baseman to quickly retrieve the ball from the mitt
Infield
A five-fingered glove with a shallow pocket
A youth size is between 9 - 11 inches
Adults 10 1/2 to 11 1/2 inch is the typical baseball size
Softball infielder gloves have a deeper pocket to accept the bigger ball
Second basemen need a smaller glove to help make those quick throws while still having control
Shortstops use something in the middle for grounders and quick throws
Third basemen need a larger glove
Outfield
Usually sized at 12 to12 1/2-inches for adults, about 11 inches for children
A deeper pocket to handle balls hit high in the air
Longer length to give as much reach as possible
If you plan to play several positions, find a glove that provides the most control for a variety of outfield positions
Softball gloves
Generally larger both in the pocket and length to help players handle the larger ball
If you play both baseball and softball, and you only want to buy one glove, select a softball glove
General Purpose - Just for Fun
Just need a glove to play around with or have a catch with your youngster? A 12" glove is a great all-around size for most any age for baseball and a 13" for softball. Here's another tip for dad's of fatspitch softball players - fastpitch mitts have smaller finger stalls and don't normally fit a man's hand. Get a baseball firstbase mitt to catch your daughter's pitches.
Find the Features that Fit Your Game
Today's gloves have different features built-in to help your game and to suit your ability. Here are the key features constructed into gloves and what to consider in finding the glove that suits you.
Construction
Pocket
The size of the pocket depends on your position
Shallow pockets really help middle infielders quickly grab the ball and throw
Deeper pockets help outfielders shag down fly balls
Softball players also need a bigger pocket to catch the bigger ball
Webbing
Different styles of webbing are available to either help you better field your position or to fit your preference
A closed web is preferred for pitchers who want to hide the ball from the batter
Outfielders and third basemen like the extra support from a closed web
An open web helps middle infielders get the ball out of their gloves quicker to make throws
Backs
There are two choices of backs, open (conventional) or closed (fastback)
The type of back is matter of personal preference, but some styles fit some positions better
The open back leaves a space open across the glove's back
Middle infielders prefer this for the flexibility
Outfielders prefer a closed back with a "finger hole" for extra support
Wrist adjustment
Gloves come with an adjustment to keep it snug. Not all gloves have these "fit systems."
A D-ring fastener allows you to pull on the lacing and make the glove tighter or looser
A Velcro fastener although it may wear quicker, offers convenience of pulling and adjusting to fit your comfort level
A Lacing adjustment allows you to loosen or tighten the wrist fastener with leather laces.
A Buckle system adjusts the glove with a buckle similar to an adjustable hat
Padding
The amount of padding in the pocket depends on the position played
The catcher's mitt has more padding to handle hard throws from a pitcher
Glove makers have been adding more padding for other positions as well to help players handle the sting of hard-hit balls
There also may be padding in the wrist area to make the glove more comfortable
Materials
Gloves come in a variety of materials, with the difference being in the feel and durability.
Leather
Materials of choice for gloves
Leather offers the best comfort, control and feel
The better the leather, the better the glove
Top quality leather gloves feel tighter on your hand when new. This is by design. The finger stalls will expand as you break in your glove to better conform to your hand
Treated leather
Leather is treated and softened with chemicals for faster break-in and increased durability
Treated leather also reduces the care needed for the glove and helps the glove keep its shape
Synthetic materials
A lighter, less-durable material
Less expensive, good for youngsters
Won't withstand the wear and tear of playing ball nearly as well as leather
Fit the Glove to Your Hand
Although age is also a factor, the position you play is the most important consideration in choosing a baseball or softball glove.
Youngsters/Beginners
Youth models are smaller to help kids maintain control
Avoid the urge to buy a bigger glove that you'll grow into. It will only hinder your playing ability today
Kids under the age of 8 should stick with a glove from 9 to 11 inches
Kids from 8 to early teens, consider an 11-inch glove
Beginners also benefit from the added control that they get from smaller gloves
High School/ Adult
Outfielders need 12 to 12 3/4 inch gloves with deeper pockets
Infielders need smaller gloves (10 1/2 to 11 3/4 inch) with shallower pockets for better control and quicker ball transfer
Pitchers can go with a slightly larger glove than infielders but still need a small enough glove for fielding and throwing quickly
Softball players require gloves that are slightly longer in length and deeper in the pocket to help field the bigger ball
Avoid soft leather gloves that feel "already broken in". Take the time to break in a good quality pro leather glove
Suggested Glove Sizing Guide by Age or Position
Age Position Glove size
Under 8 - Infield 9 inches
Under 8 - Outfield 11 inches
9-13 - Infield 9-10 inches
9-13 - Outfield 11-12 inches
14+ - Baseball Infield 10 1/2-11 1/2 inches
14+ - Baseball Pitcher 11 1/2-12 1/2 inches
14+ - Baseball Outfield 12-12 3/4 inches
Softball Infield 11 1/2-12 1/2 inches
Softball Outfield 12 1/2-14 inches
Your Budget: Baseball gloves range in price from under $15 for base models, to over $200 for high end gloves. Quality baseball gloves generally cost a bit more, but will likely last longer. If you expect to get heavy use out of your baseball glove, it may be less expensive in the long run to spend a few dollars more on a glove that will last.
And again, the better the glove, the longer it will take to break in. Gloves that are "Game Ready" or have an already broken in feel will not last as long. Most top level players will take a whole season breaking in a spare glove while they're using their game glove.
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Players Health
It s almost Baseball season again, and if you're a coach, there are 10 tips you should know to help keep your players healthy.
"The number one tip coaches should remember is that children are not miniature adults and shouldn't be treated as such," says Jim Rogers, a certified athletic trainer in Temple University Hospital's sports Medicine Center.
"This may seem obvious, but many adults don't realize children's bodies can't take the same amount of physical stress adult bodies can take. That's because children are still growing and therefore are more susceptible to injury."
Rogers offers coaches these other tips to prevent injury:
-Stretching the muscles related to the activity is very important. For example, if a child is pitching, he should concentrate on stretching his arm and back muscles. If a child is catching, the focus should be on the legs and back.
-A good warm-tip is just as important as stretching. A warm-up can involve light calisthenics or a short jog. This helps raise the core body temperature and prepares all the body's muscles for physical activity.
-Children should not be encouraged to "play through pain." Pain is a warning sign of injury. Ignoring it can lead to greater injury.
-Swelling with pain and limitation of motion are two signs that are especially significant in children -- don't ignore them. They may mean the child has a more serious injury than initially suspected.
-Rest is by far the most powerful therapy in youth sports injuries. Nothing helps an injury heal faster than rest.
-Children who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries. Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive stress put on the same part of the body over and over again.
-Injuries that look like sprains in adults can be fractures in children. Children are more susceptible to fractures, because their bones are still growing.
-Children's growth spurts can make for increased risk of injury. A particularly sensitive area in a child's body during a growth spurt is the growth plate -- the area of growth in the bone. Growth plates are weak spots in a child's body and can be the source of injury if the child is pushed beyond his limit athletically.
-Ice is a universal first-aid treatment for minor sports injuries. Regular ice packs -- not chemical packs -- should be available at all games and practices. Ice controls the pain and swelling caused by common injuries such as sprains, strains and contusions.
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Teaching Players to Hit Using 5 Words
Teach players how to hit by using 5 key words: (1) Stance; (2) Load; (3) Hip; (4) Swing; and (5) Follow-through. The following is a summary of the key steps associated with each word:
(1) Stance
* Wide stance (about the length of the bat)
* Square stance (toes are even)
* Flexed knees, bend at waist, & chest over knees (good athletic position)
* Hands relaxed and placed near the back shoulder with relaxed arms as elbows
* Balanced weight
* Slight ‘bounce’ (natural side-to-side or up and down rhythm).
(2) Load
* Front foot strides (usually between 1 and 6 inches) and simultaneously the hands ‘trigger’ to the back shoulder.
* Weight remains balanced
* Feet remain square
* Stay in a good athletic position
(3) Hip
* The swing starts by rotating the back hip forward
* Back knee turns in and down and the back heel will face up
* Front leg will anchor and stiffen
* Hands stay close to the body
* Head remains still
(4) Swing
* Hands stay close to the body and the arms remain relaxed. This is commonly known as 'keeping the hands inside the ball'
* The hitter ‘punches’ or ‘pushes’ their hands to the ball meaning the elbows and wrists extend and straighten out towards the ball just before contact
* Head remains still and the player tracks the ball and hits the back-middle-half of the ball
* As contact is made the lead hand palm (left hand for a RH hitter) is down and the rear hand palm is up
(5) Follow-through
* Hands end up slightly above the front shoulder.
* Head remains behind the ball and the chin ends up near the back shoulder.
* Rear knee, belt buckle, belly button and back foot shoe laces end up facing the pitcher.
- Tips from the Pros -
Cal Ripken, Sr: The Ideal Hitter
The ideal hitter would probably have a combination of these qualities: strength, determination, coordination, confidence, vision, rhythm, style, body control, quick hands, and the will to learn and to take advice. The following is a list of batting tips that can help anyone become a better hitter.
Select a bat you can handle.
Learn the strike zone - don't swing at bad pitches.
Keep your front shoulder and chin tucked in, and your hands back. Turn your head so that both eyes are on the pitcher - don't look around your nose. Stay on the balls of your feet - keep off your heels. Keep your head still.
In order to get the bat started, move your hands back slightly as the pitcher is getting ready to release the ball. If you like the pitch, go ahead and hit it. If you don't like the pitch, then hold up your swing.
Take a short step and stride - a long stride will only throw you off balance.
Stay on top of the ball. A slight downward swing allows this and is a good way to keep from upper-cutting. Keeping the front shoulder in and down also allows a hitter to get the bat head out in front and prevents dropping the back shoulder.
Learn to hit your strength. Every hitter has a strength just as every hitter has a weakness. Hit your pitch. When you get it, don't let it get away. Concentrate on solid, hard contact.
Mike Piazza: Fundamentals of Batting
In 1997, Mike hit .362, the highest batting average for a catcher in more than 50 years, and racked up a slugging percentage of .638. With 40 homers, 124 RBIs, 104 runs, and 201 hits, Piazza had the greatest offensive season of any catcher in the more than 100 years. Here are some of Mike's baseball batting tips:
Look for a good pitch to hit.
Have a quick bat.
Stay inside of the ball so you can hit the ball to all fields.
Try to spread your feet a little wider than shoulder width for balance.
Hold your bat at a 45-degree angle to alleviate unnecessary movement in your swing.
Keep your back elbow close to your body to help your hands and the barrel of the bat swing through the ball.
Have someone watch you while you swing and check your mechanics.
Tony Gwynn: Tee for One
For me the most effective way to practice hitting is to use a batting tee and a bag of wiffle balls. Tee it up and start hacking. The sooner you can hit a wiffle ball cleanly off a tee, the sooner you will become a better hitter. When you hit a wiffle ball off a tee correctly, it acts like a knuckleball. You can hear the air going through the ball. When you don't hit it correctly, you create spin on the ball and it goes all over the place. When the ball spins alot, I make adjustments to correct my swing. Even after 18 years in the big leagues, every winter I go home and break out the tee and wiffle balls. It's not the most exciting thing, so you have to be creative. I put my headphones on and listen to my favorite music while I concentrate on my hitting technique.
Andre Dawson: Hitting Philosophy
"I never considered myself a home run hitter," says Andre Dawson. "I had quick hands, a quick bat, and the ball would jump off my bat. But I always liked to focus on hitting for average."
Be patient and selective.
Try to avoid the temptation to be overly aggressive and simply focus on putting the ball in play.
Try to use the entire playing field.
Do not be afraid to wait on the ball.
Approach the plate with a plan in mind. Think thoroughly about what you are trying to do, but try not to force anything.
Manny Mota: Approaching the Plate
Concentration, rhythm, and purpose are some of the most important aspects to hitting, according to legendary Dodgers outfielder Manny Mota. "Hitters should take short strides and use quick hands," he said. "Taking a short stride actually helps your hands be quicker. It keeps your swing compact and under control."
The most valuable advice that I can give a young hitter is to think about hitting the ball up the middle. If you think about hitting up the middle, you can adjust to hit the ball wherever it is pitched. If you go to the plate hoping to pull the ball and hit a home run, you will have trouble hitting an outside pitch. Your front side will have already opened up and you will not be able to drive an outside pitch.
Concentration at the plate is critical, and positive thinking helps. You have to walk up to the plate saying to yourself, "I'm going to hit the ball".
You have to have balance in everything that you do in baseball, especially in hitting. Your body is going to move, but you must keep your head still. The only way to do that is to have good balance.
A hitter needs rhythm. Try to watch the pitcher's hand and keep your eye on the ball.
Be aggressive at the plate, but also remain loose and relaxed. If you let your arms get too tight, you will lose the advantage of having good wrist action, as well as your power.
If you find yourself in a slump, try to concentrate on defense and possibly save the game with a good play. Slumping hitters should remember that it does not always take a home run to help the team.
You should have a purpose to each swing in batting practice. In your first round of batting practice you might concentrate on hitting every pitch to the opposite field. In the next round, try to make sure that you are swinging down on the ball. Prepare yourself for game situations, or the practice will not be as helpful as it could be.
- Batting Drills -
The Power Bat Drill
The purpose of the Power Bat Drill for a baseball player is much the same as a boxer using a heavy bag to train with. Boxers learn how to develop power in their punch by trying to power through the heavy bag. Baseball players learn to develop power in their swing by hitting through a heavier object than a normal baseball. The result is the same for both athletes… increased power through the point of contact!
What you will need:
A batting tee
A plunger
A flat soccer ball or basketball
A hitting net (or wall)
A bat
How the drill works:
Slide the plunger handle into the batting tee.
Place the flat soccer ball or basketball onto the plunger cup top.
Execute your normal swing repeatedly.
The goal is for the hitter to strike the much heavier ball without having the bat decelerate at the impact point. This takes proper technique and explosion at the point of impact to achieve. What you will see is that with the first few swings, the barrel of the bat will "stutter" through the impact zone, meaning that it will decelerate at the point of impact for a fraction of a second before resuming its speed to the finishing position. Concentrate on the proper mechanics, not with launching the ball. Proper mechanics will accelerate the bat head sufficiently to power through the heavier ball. The flight path of the ball should be level (around chest high) into the hitting net (or wall). Power is all about bat speed at impact, not the size of the player. This drill will increase the power at impact if it is used on a regular basis. Remember to always use a flat ball for this drill.
The Strike Zone Drill
The purpose of this drill is to teach the hitter "strike zone recognition".
Teams get 3 outs per at bat.A coach pitches the ball from about 40 feet in front of the plate. The hitter sets up at the plate with a bat, strides at the proper time, follows the ball with his head into the catcher's glove, and calls "ball" or "strike" as the ball hits the glove.
(www.howtoplay.com)
The Colored Ball Drill
The purpose of this drill is to improve reaction time and thinking at the plate.
Paint several baseballs with different bright colors, and place them in a bucket behind the mound. Have someone place one of the balls in the pitcher's glove without letting the batter see the color. The pitcher then calls out a color before pitching the ball. The batter can only swing if the ball matches the color the pitcher called out (and if the pitch is in the strike zone).
(coach Mike Cole)
The Pitch Behind Drill
The purpose of this drill is to prevent timid hitters from backing out at the plate.
The timid little league batter always seems to assume that backing out will automatically prevent him from being hit by the pitch. He usually starts his getaway before he has any notion of where the pitch is really headed. I have had some success against this tendency by throwing behind the timid batter's back. After all, he will get plenty of these pitches at the little league level, and you don't want him backing into them and getting hurt.
Start out using spalding or tennis balls. At first, throw a lot of pitches behind him, then gradually decrease the frequency of these pitches as he starts to break the habit. Soon he will realize that he had better not back up until he sees where the ball is really going.
This will make him safer and more confident at the plate. And while he's watching the ball more closely, he's going to realize that he doesn't have to hide from the good pitches, but can stay put and hit them.
(coach Randy Wert)
Wall Ball Hitting Drill
This drill is actually a hitting game that allows players to build skills, learn to perform under pressure, identify strikes, and develop a line drive swing.
Teams of 2 or 3 players compete against other teams. The first team to score 11 runs wins. The drill can be used indoors or outdoors. The games requires a wall, curtain, or sections of fence. The rules are outlined before competition begins. The wall or fence should have a "top line" that represents the top of the scoring zone. Any ball that hits the wall, curtain, or fence above that line is an "out". To score, the batter must hit a line drive that hits the scoring zone without touching the ground. The batter that hits a ground ball keeps the inning alive. He does not score, but he also does not make an out. Each player gets only one swing per bat. He is either going to hit a score, hit a ground ball or make an out. Any ball that is caught by the defense before it touches the wall or ground is an out. All pop ups, foul balls, and missed swings are counted as outs. Bats are not allowed to touch the ground. Batters must stay alert and jump in to bat as soon as the other batter swings. Each team gets 3 outs per at bat. Defensive players are allowed to "knock down" balls to prevent scoring. Any ball that hits the "scoring zone" without touching the ground is a score. The defense must learn to react quickly and catch the ball or knock it down.
This drill is best done in a tournament format. Reward the winning team in some way. This is a great drill for indoor hitting. Players get to take a lot of swings. The competition becomes fierce. It will build a competitive fire in your timid players, and teach players to be aggressive. Make sure to use foam or wiffle baseballs.
