| Young baseball players should be encouraged to | | | | to read different pitches as well as helping them |
| get outside whenever possible to practice their | | | | to focus on different pitch speeds. I encourage |
| baseball skills. Playing outside is great exercise and | | | | younger players to play with the real wiffle ball |
| it builds hand-eye coordination which is crucial to | | | | bat that is skinny and yellow and not the giant, |
| playing baseball. Playing video games will not build | | | | orange-barrel bats. If a player can master hitting |
| the fundamentals young players need! Kids need | | | | with the yellow bat, a real bat will seem easy! You |
| to know that there are many baseball games | | | | can play this game in teams and include base |
| they can compete in aside from an official game | | | | running if desired. |
| that requires 18 players and an umpire. This article | | | | Home Run Derby |
| explains some of the most classic baseball games | | | | Believe it or not, this game has a purpose. Young |
| kids can participate in with very few participants | | | | players are often trained to make contact with |
| and in just about any environment. | | | | the ball when they should be trained to drive the |
| Over the Line | | | | ball. Too many times as a youth I was content |
| In over the line, an imaginary line is determined on | | | | hitting the ball instead of hitting the ball hard. My |
| the field. One player is the pitcher and one player | | | | father was an excellent coach and was constantly |
| is the hitter. Each hitter gets three outs and nine | | | | encouraging me to drive the ball consistently. It |
| innings are played. On most fields the infield dirt is | | | | takes a lot of time and encouragement to instill |
| decided to be the imaginary line. If a hit ball does | | | | hitting tenacity in young players. Playing home run |
| not make it past the line, the batter is out. If the | | | | derby can teach a player to recognize a good |
| ball makes it past the line but doesn't roll to the | | | | pitch, as well as the proper mechanics behind |
| fence, it is a single. If it rolls to the fence, it is a | | | | hitting the ball hard. Typical home run derby should |
| double and if it hits the fence on the fly, it is a | | | | be played on a field where everyone involved can |
| triple. "Ghost runners" are used after each hit. The | | | | hit homers. You don't want it to be easy but you |
| purpose of this game is to allow the hitter to hit, | | | | also don't want it to be impossible. The purpose |
| not strike him out. To make the game more | | | | after all is to hit the long ball. We typically play nine |
| interesting, add fielders to the mix and make the | | | | innings with three outs an inning to keep the |
| field smaller. | | | | game moving. |
| For example, if the hitter hits the ball to the right | | | | HotBox |
| of center field it is an out. This forces the hitter | | | | Before you play hotbox, make sure that you |
| to pull the ball and hit it over the line to be safe. | | | | have clearance from your parents. This game will |
| By adding the fielder, any ball that is caught is an | | | | wear out the grass quickly. We had to constantly |
| out. In one last twist, the fielder can field the ball | | | | play our hotbox game in different areas of our |
| cleanly and throw to the pitcher on the fly. If he | | | | yard to avoid turning our parents' yard into a |
| throws the ball directly to the pitcher, the batter | | | | series of trails. If you live near a hill, find a flat |
| is out; however, if the ball bounces to the pitcher | | | | place to play so you don't have to chase the ball |
| or the pitcher drops the ball, the batter is safe. No | | | | relentlessly. To play hotbox, you need at least |
| hitter can be called out on an error by the fielder. | | | | three players and two bases. Don't place the |
| In the case of the sacrifice fly, the hitter must | | | | bases too far apart for this game. One player is |
| yell if the runner is going to tag up while the ball is | | | | on each base with the 3rd player being the base |
| in flight to the outfielder. If the fielder catches the | | | | runner. The runner keeps track of each base he |
| ball and makes a clean throw to the pitcher on | | | | safely gets to before he is thrown out. The game |
| the fly, a double play occurs. If the throw doesn't | | | | is simple. The runner must attempt to run the |
| make it to the pitcher, or isn't caught by the | | | | bases before being tagged out by another player. |
| pitcher, the runner scores. Some of my favorite | | | | If the players on base throw the ball away, the |
| memories of playing this game are as an adult. It | | | | runner keeps running until the ball is back in play |
| is often difficult to pull together enough people for | | | | and the runner is out. This will encourage hustle |
| a game so this is a great way to get your | | | | from all players. When the runner gets out, |
| baseball fix with only a few people. Try it and | | | | another player takes a turn running the bases. |
| you'll love it. | | | | You can create your own winning score. Make |
| Wiffle Ball | | | | sure there are no sprinklers or other objects in |
| As kids we would take our mom's mini trampoline | | | | the area when playing hotbox. I slid into a sprinkler |
| and stand it on end to use as a target. The | | | | while playing the game once and it cost me about |
| trampoline became our strike zone. If the pitch | | | | 15 stitches. |
| missed the tramp, we actually had a sheet set up | | | | These games encourage healthy competition and |
| to stop the balls. It worked wonders. Wiffle balls | | | | love of baseball. I hope your young players build |
| are light and using them teaches a player to learn | | | | fond memories playing these games. |