| If you are a youth baseball parent and want to | | | | grass behind third base and throw to first base. |
| add new baseball drills in order to give your child | | | | - All outfielders go to right field and are hit fly |
| more variety then consider taking your child to a | | | | balls. They then catch the ball and throw to third |
| professional baseball tryout. Professional tryouts, | | | | base. Scouts look at arm strength, how straight |
| especially open tryouts hosted by Major League | | | | the ball is being thrown, and accuracy. If you |
| and independent minor league teams, offer the | | | | decide to introduce this skill to your child's practice |
| average youth baseball parent a new perspective | | | | then make sure that he is warmed up and limit |
| on how professional baseball really works. Your | | | | the number of throws in order to save his arm. |
| child will be exposed to the actual process of how | | | | - Catchers are tested on pop-ups behind home |
| scouts and general managers evaluate talent, and | | | | plate and their throwing times from home plate to |
| you may even get the opportunity to have your | | | | second base. This tests the catcher's "pop-time" in |
| child meet actual professional baseball decision | | | | throwing out runners stealing second base. If your |
| makers. | | | | child is playing in a league where stealing bases is |
| Many open professional tryouts attempt to | | | | not allowed then introduce this technique gradually, |
| determine the physical talents of the aspiring | | | | and only when nearing the levels where stealing |
| players. Scouts look for speed, arm strength, | | | | bases is permitted. |
| glove skills, and then they will look for hitting skills | | | | - Pitchers are asked to throw an assortment of |
| and mechanics. These tryouts are not like reality | | | | pitches in the bullpen. Of course, your child must |
| TV shows where the judges are nice and give | | | | be medically approved to pitch, especially if you |
| positive feedback all the time. Instead the scouts | | | | think your child is ready for curveballs and other |
| simply call out those that they like and the rest of | | | | off-speed pitches. If your child is not old enough |
| the players go home, many to officially end their | | | | or not medically approved to throw off-speed |
| dreams of playing professional baseball. While this | | | | pitches, then work on location. Velocity will come |
| may not be the dream you have for your child, | | | | with age, so get proper pitching instruction for |
| consider taking your child to the tryout because it | | | | your child in order to protect his arm. |
| can offer your child a very real lesson: that | | | | When asked to hit, scouts do not look at the end |
| baseball is meant to be enjoyed all the time | | | | result of whether the ball was a hit, home run, |
| because at some point one may have to stop | | | | foul ball, etc. Instead, they look at mechanics in |
| playing entirely. | | | | order to determine if there is a "loop" in a batter's |
| Here are some drills you will see used in a | | | | swing, weight transfer, and the batter's overall |
| professional tryout, and you may wish to | | | | approach to the plate appearance. If you are able |
| incorporate some of them into your own child's | | | | to introduce your child to one of the scouts during |
| skill development: | | | | a break at the tryout, ask the scout to give you |
| - The 60-yard dash is used to determine sheer | | | | a minute to understand what he likes to see in his |
| sprint speed, and it is chosen to determine the | | | | ideal batter. You and your child may learn quite a |
| athlete's ability to run from the length of two | | | | bit. |
| bases. If you decide to incorporate this for your | | | | Contact your local minor league teams or even |
| child, do so sparingly and make sure that your | | | | the Major League teams and ask when there will |
| child is warmed up. Also reduce the length from | | | | be open tryouts in your area. Then ask the team |
| 60 yards to only twice the distance from home | | | | if spectators are allowed. Assuming they allow |
| to first. Of course, make sure that your child is | | | | you to attend the open tryout, bring your child |
| medically approved to do sprinting. Keep the | | | | and any of his teammates as well as their |
| number of such dashes very low and | | | | parents. This experience will open your eyes to |
| GRADUALLY build up over time. | | | | how the players are evaluated and may deepen |
| - Infielders have to go to the corners and throw | | | | your child's desire to eat healthy and exercise |
| across the field from the edge of the outfield | | | | because your child will know what is needed to be |
| grass. For example, first baseman go to the edge | | | | considered by professional baseball scouts. This |
| of the outfield behind first base, and then they | | | | knowledge then can help your child stay disciplined |
| have to throw across the field to third base. All | | | | when exercising and practicing baseball drills. |
| other infielders go to the edge of the outfield | | | | |