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