It's Spring which means it's BASEBALL TIME!

My favorite time of year, always will be...I have included some great things you can do as a player to improve yourself...easy stuff with big results.

Improve your hitting - disciplined Baseball Hitting. Focus on improving your stance thru better body balance - is a great way to start! Baseball Hitting Practice shows that access to a batting cage is not necessary. By simply practicing your swing, you will build strength and create muscle memory in your swing. Good hitting begins at practice. This translates to baseball hitting at the batting cage and batting practice. Don't try to pull everything with power make contact spray the ball around go with the pitch - you have heard that from your coaches for year...listen to what they are saying, you will find some power you never knew you had if you swat the ball down the right field line instead of trying to pull it.

Try these techniques for becoming a better player at the bat and on the field...One thing that can help this become a reality, is having a proper stance at the plate. Proper weight distribution is so important in Baseball Hitting because it allows the hitter to have more control at the plate. With good balance, a hitter can consistently use all his power to hit the baseball. Also, good balance allows the hitter to recover from being fooled by an off-speed pitch and either foul off the pitch or hit it to the opposite field.

One little known technique to help Baseball Hitting is to develop your body balance by using Tai Chi principles. Many major league baseball players use Tai Chi drills to improve their baseball hitting stance.

Try this:

1. Stand upright and lift your right leg off the ground where it is perpendicular to the body. (It is okay if the leg is bent).
2. Place you hands together in a prayer position roughly three inches from your chest.
3. Hold this position for 1 minute and 30 seconds by trying to stay completely upright.
4. Then repeat steps 1-3 with your other leg.

(do it without laughing, if you truely want to become a better player).

2. Fielding/Reaction drills...

Goalies use this and I used this and teach this to my players - repeat, repeat, repeat. Go get a tennis ball and go outside to a wall and bounce the ball off the wall and catch with your catching hand - over and over and over.

Speed it up, slow it down (for 10 min.)...it works.

also, lay down on your back on the floor and throw the ball up in the air and catch it, you can do this while watching BASEBALL....on tv, not cartoons.

3. Play pickle...if you dont know what that is google it (playing pickle in baseball)

Both the runners and the fielders will understand what they need to do when they are in this situation – both on offense and defense. Rundowns occur often in Little League ball, and even in high school league with regularity. It is good for young players to know how to get the out or beat the fielder to the base.

4. One thing I say, people and some coaches will sayI am crazy....but, it taught me and many of my friends who played baseball in college, outside of college and most assured in high school. Sorry coaches, but wiffle ball will teach patience...how to hit a curve ball. Stay in there and watch that ball.

Finally, instead of playing video games which is fun...but should only be done when its raining outside or at night, winter....PLAY MORE BASEBALL, PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE...Go to games at a higher level to watch, have mom or dad take you to a local college game, High school if in Middle school, middle school if in grade school and watch and learn. Study the game, play more catch, practice pitching if you are a pitcher no curve balls no junk just fast ball and learn how to hit the corners to gain control of your motion, speed and accuracy.

I will be posting lots of stuff on baseball in the coming weeks...COACHPOST1 - KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE!