| I know that the title got your attention. Everyone | | | | "Body Build" is not all about body size to me. |
| knows and respects the Major League Baseball | | | | When I talk about "Body build", I mean more than |
| players like Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Alex | | | | height and size. Body build to me includes all of the |
| Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez. Many parents | | | | results of a player's work and training to build |
| dream of having their little league player growing | | | | strength, stamina, endurance, power and speed. |
| up to play college baseball, becoming a college | | | | The players that dominate at each level are the |
| all-American, going to Omaha and play in the | | | | ones that have the dominate bat speed, dominate |
| College World Series, being drafted in the 1st | | | | pitch velocity, and the faster feet. |
| round of the MLB draft, signing for a 2.5 million | | | | THE IMPORTANCE OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN |
| dollar signing bonus, being voted to the MLB | | | | BASEBALL |
| All-star team, going 3 for 4 in the All-Star Game, | | | | The next important key to becoming a great high |
| having their team win the pennant, wining the | | | | school, college or major league baseball player is |
| league championship, playing in the MLB World | | | | playing skill development. If you are going to get |
| Series, leading MLB in RBI, Homeruns, Stolen | | | | to the next level, you have got to learn to play |
| Bases, Pitching Wins and also being selected as | | | | the game! Personal instruction by a baseball hitting |
| the Cy Young award winner, being named MVP of | | | | coach, baseball pitching coach, and great baseball |
| the MLB World Series, signing a deal with Nike | | | | instruction and teaching of baseball fundamentals, |
| Shoe for 2 million a year to endorse their new line | | | | early in youth baseball, are so important to |
| of baseball shoes, and finally getting voted into | | | | baseball skill building. Many advanced players today |
| Cooperstown Hall of Fame on his first vote. That | | | | rely on baseball indoor hitting facilities, year round |
| is the ultimate dream of a baseball parent. But, do | | | | baseball training and travel baseball that's played all |
| you know and realize how small the actual | | | | year. These things help, but the main thing is for a |
| percentage is of little league baseball parents that | | | | player and his parent to take an interest in the |
| ever see that dream come true? Now, I need to | | | | game and become students of the game. You |
| get to the point. Just helping your kid become a | | | | have got to do your baseball homework if you |
| solid little league player that loves and enjoys the | | | | are going to maximize baseball skill development. |
| game of baseball should be the goal of every | | | | Baseball homework is that extra work you do in |
| baseball parent. Here I discuss what I feel are the | | | | the off-season and at home year round. Your |
| major requirements for big time baseball success | | | | baseball homework many include a backyard |
| at every level. | | | | pitching mound, a backyard batting cage, baseball |
| Odds are stacked against the little league baseball | | | | training equipment, or one-on-one training with a |
| player and the youth baseball player when it | | | | baseball instructor. |
| comes to playing college and major league | | | | THE IMPORTANCE OF LUCK IN BASEBALL |
| baseball. Less than 1 out every 15 kids playing little | | | | Many people do not believe in luck. They say luck |
| league and youth baseball ever make their high | | | | has nothing to do with winning or success. They |
| school baseball's varsity team. It is a known fact | | | | say luck is made in practice time. Many others |
| that less than 10.1 percent of all high school | | | | have a different opinion, they say that it is better |
| varsity baseball players go on to play college | | | | to be lucky than to be good. I have a different |
| baseball. That figure includes both scholarship and | | | | attitude toward luck. I know that we are all lucky |
| walk-on players. Just 1 out of every 936 high | | | | to get a chance to grow up in such a great |
| school players is drafted to Pro Baseball each | | | | country and to play such a great game as |
| year. What all of this adds up to is this statement | | | | baseball, but I am talking about a different kind of |
| that says it all. Less than 1 out of every 15,000 | | | | luck a player must have to succeed in baseball. A |
| little league or youth baseball players ever make a | | | | player must be lucky and get top quality coaching |
| MLB baseball team. In, fact the percentage may | | | | early in life! Fate is a better word for what I am |
| be much lower when you consider the fact that | | | | talking about. It is good luck that a player gets |
| less than 20,000 players have played MLB baseball | | | | chosen on a little league team with a coach that |
| in its 130+ year history. Chances are good, if your | | | | takes special interest in a player and dedicates a |
| child is playing Little League, Dixie Youth, Babe | | | | great amount of time and energy in making that |
| Ruth or Cal Ripkin baseball, you are expecting | | | | player better. It is good luck for a youth player to |
| your child to try out for the high school baseball | | | | have a parent or coach that knows how to |
| team one day. What does it take to make the | | | | motivate and inspire that kid to keep working and |
| high school team? The main three things are body | | | | practicing to get better. Players are extremely |
| build, playing skill, and pure luck. | | | | lucky to have the right inspiration and instruction |
| THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY BUILD IN | | | | during their childhood playing days. The coach they |
| BASEBALL | | | | have may be a streak of good or bad luck |
| I know that many of you are saying "Body Build" | | | | depending on the attitude and competence level |
| is not very important in baseball. I know and | | | | of the coach. Getting the right coach is a great |
| realize that size and height are less important in | | | | stroke of luck! Yes, I believe body build, playing |
| baseball than basketball and football. You do not | | | | skill and luck are the 3 keys to high school baseball |
| have to block or tackle to play baseball. Baseball is | | | | success. Good luck to your child and his or her |
| not a game played in the rafters of a gym. But, | | | | team. Happy Hitting, Coach Nick. |