High School Baseball
Author: wbdoyle
Both high school baseball players as well as their parents share the same mentality, thinking that reaching to play division 1 baseball (NCAA) is the main goal for any student. However the paradox is that the same players that think this end up being extremely unhappy about the choice they have made, Division 1 not being the best choice.
When Junior College might be the better choice:
1. You are not one of the top brains in high school. Most of 2.5-3.0 GPA high school students believe that to be the easiest way is to attend a junior college.
2. You might be a draft pick, not picked out of high school, wanting to get the benefits of two-year draft eligibility.
3. You’re one of the chosen players but you’re not good enough to sign a contract and still you would love to play professional baseball. Junior college way gives you the opportunity to either sign or be re-drafted when both seasons-freshman and senior seasons end.
4. You dream of conquering Arizona or Clemson State while you’re being offered from only lesser division 1 schools. If you go to a junior college and show them what your abilities are, you will get the opportunity at the college you really wanted to play at.
There is only one thing both players as well as their parents have to keep in mind: finishing 2 years in a junior college and then being transferred to a division 1 college will lead in one direction: receiving a degree that says “Clemson” or “Arizona State”, but says absolutely nothing about the junior college.
Let’s talk about money now. Almost every division 1 schools (who have 11.7 scholarships for baseball) have to share this money equally with 30-35 players, the player having left a large sum of money to pay. With lower tuition costs and more scholarships (24) many times a junior college can offer 2 free years.
You can save money this simple way: you attend a division 1 school 2 years for free and the next 2 at 50 %, which equals to four years at 75 % savings. All these lead you to a $20,000 save from that 25 % left of every year.
You can also choose a JUCO because of the additional playing opportunities, being able to play against those who are your own age.
Although Junior College sounds good for some of the young players it isn’t the right option for all of them. It’s almost impossible for a 3.5- 4.0 student, who could attend some of the best colleges as Notre Dame or Duke to even take a junior college in consideration since all these top academic schools don’t even consider JUCO transfers.
No matter what the choice is, it’s yours and has got to be the right one. Good luck!
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1113128_32.html
About the Author: Retired US Navy. Married 20+ years. Home Inchon, Korea. Work Seoul, Korea.
http://www.wbdoyle.com/blog/
Baseball and Softball Web Search
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Be A Smarter Pitcher: Out Think the Batter
A pitcher may have a strong arm and great mechanics, but if he doesn't think about the batter's strengths and weaknesses he will be less effective. A good pitcher will know which of his pitches the batter can or can’t hit. This is just as true in select ball as it is in the majors. The younger the batters are, the more weaknesses they have. Young pitchers have a great advantage if they think about the batters. Below are some tips you might find helpful.
Get to know your friendly umpire.
In my opinion the toughest job in baseball has to be umpiring. No matter what the call, they are in the wrong. Learn his strike zone, these vary from ump to ump but they are usually consistent through out the game. If you are the visiting team you have an advantage, watch every pitch the home team pitcher throws and learn that strike zone. One last thing, umps do miss calls, don’t react negatively or have bad body language. Sometimes you will get a bad call that goes your way. Always remember you never know who is watching in the stands.
Get ahead in the count.
Try to get "ahead" of the batter with the first pitch. This doesn't mean to throw a fastball waist-high and over the middle of the plate. Try to get the ball in the strike zone where you think the batter is weakest. If the batter is off the plate there is only one pitch to throw, fast ball over the outside corner. If the batter is crowding the plate try throwing inside, get the ball inside the batter hands. If he looks strong at the plate and you are unfamiliar with him, your best pitch is always low and outside or high and inside.
Study the batters.
Once through the line-up most pitchers should know a little something about the batters. It’s not necessary to learn everything about every hitter. You will be very successful if you find three or four batters with weaknesses that you can strike out consistently.
Know the situation.
The situation usually dictates what pitch to throw. With a runner on 2nd or 3rd with one out they should be trying to get a sac fly you may want to pitch high, which will increase the chances of a pop-up. If the runner on 3rd streaks for home on a suicide play, you will have to make adjustments on the fly, you need to keep the ball away from the batter and spot it where the catcher can make the tag. Try throwing at the feet of a right hand batter, a pitch-out is recommended if a left hand batter is at the plate. If the pitcher suspects a steal, he shouldn't throw a slow curve but stick to the fast ball. When when you have a full count on a batter, you should go to your best pitch. If you curve or slider is working that day then use one of those pitches. If it's the fast ball, use the fast ball. Remember, that the best pitch may vary from day to day. Try not to throw the same pitch twice in a row. Change speeds and move the ball around the strike zone. Remember the corners of a plate can be a pitcher’s best friend, use them often. What you are trying to do is to upset the batter's timing. This is especially important when the pitcher is facing the top of the line-up best.. A hard hit foul is just another strike. If you get to a 0-2 count on the batter you should waste the next pitch, throw a dirty curveball or a slider out of the zone. Spot the ball where batter can't possibly hit it.
Don’t ease up on the weak.
Don't throw curve ball a weaker batter. Do not let up on a weaker batter! If the batter is really weak, try overpowering him with a fast ball. Throwing a curve or change up to a weaker batter is a mistake. Throwing a slow speed pitch may be the only one a weaker hitter can get his bat on.
Don’t reinvent the wheel.
If you're getting a batter out regularly with one pitch, don't start experimenting with other pitches, stay with what is working that day.
Finally.
If you're striking a lot of batters out and the game is going stay in that groove and pace and keep the game moving along. If the game is not going as expected or you hit a rough spot in a game slow down take a deep breath and don’t let the other team stay in their groove.
Baseball is a very mental game. Make sure to stay focused and think about every pitch. Remember what coaches tell batters. “it only takes one” Don’t throw him that “one”.
Get to know your friendly umpire.
In my opinion the toughest job in baseball has to be umpiring. No matter what the call, they are in the wrong. Learn his strike zone, these vary from ump to ump but they are usually consistent through out the game. If you are the visiting team you have an advantage, watch every pitch the home team pitcher throws and learn that strike zone. One last thing, umps do miss calls, don’t react negatively or have bad body language. Sometimes you will get a bad call that goes your way. Always remember you never know who is watching in the stands.
Get ahead in the count.
Try to get "ahead" of the batter with the first pitch. This doesn't mean to throw a fastball waist-high and over the middle of the plate. Try to get the ball in the strike zone where you think the batter is weakest. If the batter is off the plate there is only one pitch to throw, fast ball over the outside corner. If the batter is crowding the plate try throwing inside, get the ball inside the batter hands. If he looks strong at the plate and you are unfamiliar with him, your best pitch is always low and outside or high and inside.
Study the batters.
Once through the line-up most pitchers should know a little something about the batters. It’s not necessary to learn everything about every hitter. You will be very successful if you find three or four batters with weaknesses that you can strike out consistently.
Know the situation.
The situation usually dictates what pitch to throw. With a runner on 2nd or 3rd with one out they should be trying to get a sac fly you may want to pitch high, which will increase the chances of a pop-up. If the runner on 3rd streaks for home on a suicide play, you will have to make adjustments on the fly, you need to keep the ball away from the batter and spot it where the catcher can make the tag. Try throwing at the feet of a right hand batter, a pitch-out is recommended if a left hand batter is at the plate. If the pitcher suspects a steal, he shouldn't throw a slow curve but stick to the fast ball. When when you have a full count on a batter, you should go to your best pitch. If you curve or slider is working that day then use one of those pitches. If it's the fast ball, use the fast ball. Remember, that the best pitch may vary from day to day. Try not to throw the same pitch twice in a row. Change speeds and move the ball around the strike zone. Remember the corners of a plate can be a pitcher’s best friend, use them often. What you are trying to do is to upset the batter's timing. This is especially important when the pitcher is facing the top of the line-up best.. A hard hit foul is just another strike. If you get to a 0-2 count on the batter you should waste the next pitch, throw a dirty curveball or a slider out of the zone. Spot the ball where batter can't possibly hit it.
Don’t ease up on the weak.
Don't throw curve ball a weaker batter. Do not let up on a weaker batter! If the batter is really weak, try overpowering him with a fast ball. Throwing a curve or change up to a weaker batter is a mistake. Throwing a slow speed pitch may be the only one a weaker hitter can get his bat on.
Don’t reinvent the wheel.
If you're getting a batter out regularly with one pitch, don't start experimenting with other pitches, stay with what is working that day.
Finally.
If you're striking a lot of batters out and the game is going stay in that groove and pace and keep the game moving along. If the game is not going as expected or you hit a rough spot in a game slow down take a deep breath and don’t let the other team stay in their groove.
Baseball is a very mental game. Make sure to stay focused and think about every pitch. Remember what coaches tell batters. “it only takes one” Don’t throw him that “one”.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
25 College Recruiting Facts
By Stacie Mahoe
www.AllAboutFastpitch.com
The college recruiting process, while an exciting time, can be quite
overwhelming, frustrating, and complicated. It can also end in
serious disappointment and regret if you’re not well informed. Many
people, even those who’ve already been through the process, don’t
have the information needed to make the most of the experience.
Here are 25 college recruiting facts you may not be aware of.
1. Not all student-athletes eligible for graduation from their high school are eligible by NCAA standards.
2. Not all in coming freshman student-athletes are required to be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
3. Registration with the Eligibility Center may have an impact on Official Visit
opportunities.
4. Scoring, and therefore, test taking strategies for the SAT and ACT are not the
same.
5. Most student-athletes will need to take the SAT/ACT more than once.
6. Taking the SAT/ACT (or both) before your senior year is a good idea.
7. Majority of College Scholarship opportunities come from DIII, NAIA, or junior
colleges.
8. The few elite players on a team are not the only ones with a chance of playing in
college.
9. Going to showcases or recruiting camps does not equal making the most of your
opportunity to get your name out there. It’s just a piece of the puzzle.
10.Many college coaches never attend big recruiting events such as showcases or
camps.
11.You ARE allowed to make the first contact with programs you are interested in.
12.Sometimes, contacting assistant coaches is better than trying to get in touch
with the head coach.
13.Not all high school counselors are able to track each student-athlete in their
school to make sure they have everything in order to play athletics at the
collegiate level.
14.Telling or showing a coach that you’re not interested from the get go can be a
mistake that comes back to bite you in the butt.
15.Student-athletes that publically announce their intent to attend a certain school
have a bigger, more important reason than tooting their own horn or bragging.
16.You do not need to be invited to a school to go on an Unofficial Visit there.
17.While getting help with marketing can cost money, doing it yourself doesn’t
exactly come cheap either.
18.Not all coaches want to see game footage on a recruiting tape/DVD.
19.Your options and number of choices are not necessarily better the longer you
wait.
20.Grades can be a major factor in the decision making process for a college coach.
21.There is no such thing as a 4-year scholarship.
22.You can go on Unofficial Visits before you are even eligible to go on Official
Visits.
23.DIII doesn’t have athletic scholarships.
24.The NCAA limits schools to a max number of athletic scholarships per year for particular sport.
25.Next to not taking care of grades, sitting back and waiting for offers is probably the BIGGEST (and probably the most common) mistake you can make in the college recruiting process.
For more information and help please visit
www.AllAboutFastpitch.com/college.html
www.AllAboutFastpitch.com
The college recruiting process, while an exciting time, can be quite
overwhelming, frustrating, and complicated. It can also end in
serious disappointment and regret if you’re not well informed. Many
people, even those who’ve already been through the process, don’t
have the information needed to make the most of the experience.
Here are 25 college recruiting facts you may not be aware of.
1. Not all student-athletes eligible for graduation from their high school are eligible by NCAA standards.
2. Not all in coming freshman student-athletes are required to be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
3. Registration with the Eligibility Center may have an impact on Official Visit
opportunities.
4. Scoring, and therefore, test taking strategies for the SAT and ACT are not the
same.
5. Most student-athletes will need to take the SAT/ACT more than once.
6. Taking the SAT/ACT (or both) before your senior year is a good idea.
7. Majority of College Scholarship opportunities come from DIII, NAIA, or junior
colleges.
8. The few elite players on a team are not the only ones with a chance of playing in
college.
9. Going to showcases or recruiting camps does not equal making the most of your
opportunity to get your name out there. It’s just a piece of the puzzle.
10.Many college coaches never attend big recruiting events such as showcases or
camps.
11.You ARE allowed to make the first contact with programs you are interested in.
12.Sometimes, contacting assistant coaches is better than trying to get in touch
with the head coach.
13.Not all high school counselors are able to track each student-athlete in their
school to make sure they have everything in order to play athletics at the
collegiate level.
14.Telling or showing a coach that you’re not interested from the get go can be a
mistake that comes back to bite you in the butt.
15.Student-athletes that publically announce their intent to attend a certain school
have a bigger, more important reason than tooting their own horn or bragging.
16.You do not need to be invited to a school to go on an Unofficial Visit there.
17.While getting help with marketing can cost money, doing it yourself doesn’t
exactly come cheap either.
18.Not all coaches want to see game footage on a recruiting tape/DVD.
19.Your options and number of choices are not necessarily better the longer you
wait.
20.Grades can be a major factor in the decision making process for a college coach.
21.There is no such thing as a 4-year scholarship.
22.You can go on Unofficial Visits before you are even eligible to go on Official
Visits.
23.DIII doesn’t have athletic scholarships.
24.The NCAA limits schools to a max number of athletic scholarships per year for particular sport.
25.Next to not taking care of grades, sitting back and waiting for offers is probably the BIGGEST (and probably the most common) mistake you can make in the college recruiting process.
For more information and help please visit
www.AllAboutFastpitch.com/college.html
Sunday, August 22, 2010
7 steps for baseball strength training by Nick Penn
Baseball strength training is the most important part of the game if you are looking to pursue a collegiate or professional career in baseball. Baseball takes endurance, speed, stamina, and most importantly strength. I have compiled 7 steps you need to think about if you are ready to take your game to the next level.
1. DESIRE- This is the most important factor if you want to succeed in this very competitive game. You will not be successful in baseball or anything in life if you do not have the desire to pursue your goals with 100% enthusiasm and effort.
2. DRIVE- Not only do you need desire but you need to have the drive to follow through with your ambitions. You may be thinking to yourself; drive, what exactly is drive? Drive is when you are out on the baseball field or in the weight room when all your friends are out having a good time. Your good time needs to be productive time. The time to sharpen your baseball skills and improve your strength and flexibility. I can't stress this enough, if you don't think your cut out for the grind, to put in all the hard work needed to succeed then you do not need to read anymore of this article. However, if you're like me this has got you pumped up and you can't wait to read on and learn more.
3. PROGRAM- Now we get to the program, the meat and potatoes and what you have been waiting to hear about. Baseball is a very specific sport and it requires a very specific strength and conditioning program. Not only do you need a strong athletic body and core, you need to maintain your flexibility. This is very important in baseball! This is not the same as a football workout; in fact it is very different. Football does not require the same emphasis on flexibility. This is why when searching for a baseball program you must be careful. You need a specific baseball strength training program geared towards you. Now you may ask yourself who would know the best baseball workout program for me? How about Jeff Cavaliere; Jeff served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the New York Mets for the past three years. Now he has gone out on his own to share his professionally developed baseball strength training program with you! Major League Insider Training is a superior program for anyone who is serious about bringing their game to the next level. How can you deny professional testimony from David Wright, John Maine, Tom Glavine, and more. Don't believe me? Click the link above and find out for yourself what the pros at saying about Jeff's ultimate program.
4. NUTRITION- Nutrition is often overlooked, but is in fact the core of your successful strength training program. Without the proper nutrition and hydration you will go nowhere. Do you think it will be productive to put in a hard, intense workout only to eat fast food after your done? The two hours following your workout are the most important time to supplement your body with good nutrition! One of the best ways to do this is with a protein shake directly following your workout. A fast acting protein such as whey will quickly be digested by your body and feed your muscles at the time they need nutrition the most. Secondly you want to get in a good healthy meal within 60 minutes of finishing your workout. This should include lean protein packed meats, carbohydrates, and fresh vegetables. No frozen foods! It is also a good idea to digest a sports drink to help replenish your glycogen which is used as fuel during your workout.
5. PARTNER- It is a great practice to work out with a partner. Grab one of your baseball buddies and hit the gym hard! Having a buddy at your side will keep you motivated and coming back time and time again. It can also be a competitive drive to lift more each and every time you go to the gym. As you already may know, to put on big muscle you need to lift big weight. When you are struggling with that last squat and trying to do that last weighted pull up, it is a huge benefit to have a spotter assist you and help you to explode through your potential plateaus!
6. BASEBALL ABILITY- The next two steps are something every baseball player needs to think about. Especially when you're looking to take your game to the next level; you need to practice and refine your baseball ability. There are many great programs out there to help you with baseball specific skills, such as, Super 8 Hitting System and 60 Yard Dash Secrets just to name a few. If you want to exceed at the next level you need to excel in every aspect of your game. To get to this level you will need more than the instruction your high school coach!
7. EXPOSURE- This is very important!! If your dreams are a baseball scholarship, or you are looking to take the steps to the professional ranks out of college you need to be seen by the right people. Often baseball players (I myself am guilty of this one) think you will be seen by the right scouts just by playing the game. This is often not the case. If you play in a small market, i.e. northern states, smaller high schools, or a lower ranking DI, DII, or DIII college program you need to get yourself seen. The easiest way to do this is to go to college showcases, play in travel leagues during the summers, and go to any open professional tryouts available in your area. This gives you a chance to shine in front of the scouts and college coaches who can make your dreams come true.
If you follow these steps, put in the hard work, and follow Jeff Cavaliere's Major League Insider Training you will greatly increase your chances of becoming a top notch baseball player. As an added bonus if you sign up today you can receive three ALL STAR BONUSES! These free gifts include a free 30 day membership to baseballstrength.com where you will find reviews of the top training tools, advice from professional strength trainers, and many tips and drills to help improve your baseball ability. Your second free gift will be Kettlebell training for baseball giving your additional knowledge on baseball specific workouts. Lastly, The Major League Insider Group Training Blueprint; this workout is designed for small or large groups of athletes, a great addition to any high school or college program. Be the one to step up your level and your team's level of play. All these gifts are valued at over $130 and today they are free just for signing up! So what are you waiting for? CLICK HERE to step up your game!
And don't forget, baseball strength training is often overlooked but is a very important part of your success. By training like professional athletes you give yourself the competitive advantage and the best possible shot at one day feeling the reward for all your hard work paying off. Remember even if you do not make it to the big leagues, a free education is nothing to take for granted!
About the Author
My name is Nick and I am a former Junior College All-American and Division I All-Conference baseball player. I love the game of baseball and really enjoy writing about it!
1. DESIRE- This is the most important factor if you want to succeed in this very competitive game. You will not be successful in baseball or anything in life if you do not have the desire to pursue your goals with 100% enthusiasm and effort.
2. DRIVE- Not only do you need desire but you need to have the drive to follow through with your ambitions. You may be thinking to yourself; drive, what exactly is drive? Drive is when you are out on the baseball field or in the weight room when all your friends are out having a good time. Your good time needs to be productive time. The time to sharpen your baseball skills and improve your strength and flexibility. I can't stress this enough, if you don't think your cut out for the grind, to put in all the hard work needed to succeed then you do not need to read anymore of this article. However, if you're like me this has got you pumped up and you can't wait to read on and learn more.
3. PROGRAM- Now we get to the program, the meat and potatoes and what you have been waiting to hear about. Baseball is a very specific sport and it requires a very specific strength and conditioning program. Not only do you need a strong athletic body and core, you need to maintain your flexibility. This is very important in baseball! This is not the same as a football workout; in fact it is very different. Football does not require the same emphasis on flexibility. This is why when searching for a baseball program you must be careful. You need a specific baseball strength training program geared towards you. Now you may ask yourself who would know the best baseball workout program for me? How about Jeff Cavaliere; Jeff served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the New York Mets for the past three years. Now he has gone out on his own to share his professionally developed baseball strength training program with you! Major League Insider Training is a superior program for anyone who is serious about bringing their game to the next level. How can you deny professional testimony from David Wright, John Maine, Tom Glavine, and more. Don't believe me? Click the link above and find out for yourself what the pros at saying about Jeff's ultimate program.
4. NUTRITION- Nutrition is often overlooked, but is in fact the core of your successful strength training program. Without the proper nutrition and hydration you will go nowhere. Do you think it will be productive to put in a hard, intense workout only to eat fast food after your done? The two hours following your workout are the most important time to supplement your body with good nutrition! One of the best ways to do this is with a protein shake directly following your workout. A fast acting protein such as whey will quickly be digested by your body and feed your muscles at the time they need nutrition the most. Secondly you want to get in a good healthy meal within 60 minutes of finishing your workout. This should include lean protein packed meats, carbohydrates, and fresh vegetables. No frozen foods! It is also a good idea to digest a sports drink to help replenish your glycogen which is used as fuel during your workout.
5. PARTNER- It is a great practice to work out with a partner. Grab one of your baseball buddies and hit the gym hard! Having a buddy at your side will keep you motivated and coming back time and time again. It can also be a competitive drive to lift more each and every time you go to the gym. As you already may know, to put on big muscle you need to lift big weight. When you are struggling with that last squat and trying to do that last weighted pull up, it is a huge benefit to have a spotter assist you and help you to explode through your potential plateaus!
6. BASEBALL ABILITY- The next two steps are something every baseball player needs to think about. Especially when you're looking to take your game to the next level; you need to practice and refine your baseball ability. There are many great programs out there to help you with baseball specific skills, such as, Super 8 Hitting System and 60 Yard Dash Secrets just to name a few. If you want to exceed at the next level you need to excel in every aspect of your game. To get to this level you will need more than the instruction your high school coach!
7. EXPOSURE- This is very important!! If your dreams are a baseball scholarship, or you are looking to take the steps to the professional ranks out of college you need to be seen by the right people. Often baseball players (I myself am guilty of this one) think you will be seen by the right scouts just by playing the game. This is often not the case. If you play in a small market, i.e. northern states, smaller high schools, or a lower ranking DI, DII, or DIII college program you need to get yourself seen. The easiest way to do this is to go to college showcases, play in travel leagues during the summers, and go to any open professional tryouts available in your area. This gives you a chance to shine in front of the scouts and college coaches who can make your dreams come true.
If you follow these steps, put in the hard work, and follow Jeff Cavaliere's Major League Insider Training you will greatly increase your chances of becoming a top notch baseball player. As an added bonus if you sign up today you can receive three ALL STAR BONUSES! These free gifts include a free 30 day membership to baseballstrength.com where you will find reviews of the top training tools, advice from professional strength trainers, and many tips and drills to help improve your baseball ability. Your second free gift will be Kettlebell training for baseball giving your additional knowledge on baseball specific workouts. Lastly, The Major League Insider Group Training Blueprint; this workout is designed for small or large groups of athletes, a great addition to any high school or college program. Be the one to step up your level and your team's level of play. All these gifts are valued at over $130 and today they are free just for signing up! So what are you waiting for? CLICK HERE to step up your game!
And don't forget, baseball strength training is often overlooked but is a very important part of your success. By training like professional athletes you give yourself the competitive advantage and the best possible shot at one day feeling the reward for all your hard work paying off. Remember even if you do not make it to the big leagues, a free education is nothing to take for granted!
About the Author
My name is Nick and I am a former Junior College All-American and Division I All-Conference baseball player. I love the game of baseball and really enjoy writing about it!
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