We were in the park, climbing and swinging a few weekneds ago and just past the playground, on the open
field/baseball course were kids from The Foret Hills Little League practising. They were probably only a few years past t-ball, but their fundamentals were horrible. They were swipping at balls hit in the air, lots of OLE, very little catching with your glove and your hand. The two older kids who were long tossing were even worse (and they should have known better).
But what really struck me is how the kids threw the ball back in from the outfield. Some threw back in these soft looping arches, some threw back with a weak line drive and then one or two threw the ball straight and when it hit the coach's glove it made a POP sound. I know little Niel is only seven months old but I want to teach him to throw like that. Strong and with authority. I just don't know how.
Having never played organized ball, until I played corporate softball as an adult. I don't know if I have the skills to pass on to my kids. I picked up how to swing a bat and throw the ball. But I'm pretty weak at footwork around the bases, tracking a fly ball off the bat and making a throw that pops. Are there any books out there ... Perhaps a
class.
1 comment:
I don't know if there really is a way to teach someone to throw a ball hard. I mean, there are fundamentals like how you plant your feet and things like that, but I just think some people have stronger arms than others.
Have you ever watched Johnny Damon throw a ball from the outfield? It's horrible. Rachel is a casual baseball watcher and it was even glaringly obvious to her that he's terrible at it. Then you have a guy like Alex Rodriguez who can throw the ball from his knees harder than I can throw standing up. I think it's something you either have or don't have.
If you find evidence to the contrary, let me know. I'd love to find out the secret.
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