Softball Cleats: Converting Metal to Legal Options

Questioni play in quite a few softball leauges and of course all the cleats i want are metal and those are illegal. is there anyway to convet the meatl cle

Choosing the Right Baseball Glove Size for Little League Players

QuestionQUESTION: my son is just starting coach-pitch this spring (after tee-ball last year) and his glove now seems small.   What size glove sho

Baseball Rule Controversy: Two Outs & Force Out Play Explained

Question This just happened in my sons game last night.  His team was in the field.  Bases loaded, two outs, pop fly on the infield and it is not

Overcoming Game-Day Anxiety: Strategies for Peak Performance

QuestionWhen I play in rec leagues and am in the field I dont get nervous. When I played for my school team, I was nervous and made errors in the field. I

Junior League Baseball Rules: Understanding Playing Time & Fairness

QuestionHi! My son plays on a Junior League Baseball Team in Hesperia, California. He is a great ball player, however, he is on the bench for more innings

High School Baseball: Understanding Pitcher Losses - Earned vs. Unearned Runs

QuestionQUESTION: In Highschool baseball,the starting pitcher shall be charged with the loss when he replaced and his team is behind or falls behind becaus

Fixing Poor Throwing Mechanics: Drills & Exercises

QuestionI have a young player who has developed a bad throwing motion.  When he throws the ball, it looks like he is throwing a javelin or a shotput.

Baseball Error: Fly Ball Misread - Rule Explanation

QuestionA ball is hit to the left fielder and goes over her head. When the ball was hit the left fielder had taken a step or two in before going back on th

MLB Pitching Win Rules: Who Gets the Credit?

QuestionIf a coach knows that he is going to use all of his staff in a game before the game starts and the starting pticher goes three innings but leaves

Baseball Balk Rule: Understanding the Penalty & Situation

QuestionHeres the situation:  High School Baseball - Runners on 1st and 3rd.  Batters in batters box, catcher is set, umpire is set and gives the

Base Running Rules: Understanding Player Movement After a Throw

QuestionQuestion I thought I knew how to do it properly, but I got into a debate with another assistant coach on our team.  I have a nice instruction

Optimizing Lineups for Young Baseball Teams: Strategies for Weak Hitters

QuestionQUESTION: I have 12 players on an 8 year old team, so we have to bat the lineup.  There are 4 players that are very weak hitters and 95 percen

Base Running Rules: When Must a Runner Advance?

QuestionSituation: Runner on first and the batter hits a ground ball. The fielder throws to first base getting a force on the batter/runner. The ball is th

Balk Definition: First Baseman in Foul Territory During Pick-Off

QuestionIs it a balk if the pitcher throws to first on a pick off when the first baseman has both feet in foul territory. AnswerMark, All fielders (other

Overcoming Mental Blocks in Baseball: Helping Your Teenager Perform Under Pressure

QuestionMy son is 15 and made the high school baseball team. He has played on rec leagues since t-ball. He has never really had a set position in the field

MLB Pitching Rules: Mound Visits & Managerial Decisions

QuestionWhen was the American League rule changed that once the second visit to the mound in a GAME the pitcher had to be removed changed that following th

Switch Hitting in Baseball: A Guide for Managers & Players

QuestionWe have two boys who switch hit. The boys are 9 and 10. They have been playing ball since they were 5. They play on different teams this year. Both

Baseball Rule: Runner Interference and First Baseman Contact

QuestionWhen a runner is going to first and the firstbaseman has one foot on the bag and the other in the dirt and he is faceing sideways looking for the t

Calculating Softball Pitching ERA: A Guide for Youth Leagues

Questionhow do you calculate a pitchers era in softball since its not a nine inning game? AnswerHi Jim: Thanks for your question.  The standard form

Managing Overinvolved Parents in Youth Sports: A Coach's Guide

QuestionHow do I respectfully but effectively tell one of the parents that his help at practice is not needed. I am the head coach and I have 2 assistants