Physical Activity
Baseball is a very popular sport. Regular and good physical activity improves emotional and physical health. There are many ways in which health can be improved. Including contributing to the growth and maintenance of healthy bones, muscles, and joints; assisting in the regulation and reduction of fat; and avoiding or delaying the development of high blood pressure (GAO, 2012).
Exercise is one of the least costly ways to stay healthy, and one study found that it can avoid chronic diseases almost as well as medicine (British Journal of Medicine, 2013). A systematic analysis and review of existing literature discovered that leisure-time physical activity is linked to a lower risk of 13 different forms of cancer, including breast, colon, liver, and myeloid leukemia (National Institutes of Health, 2016).
Sports During Teenage Years
Sports engagement predicts young adults’ participation in sports and physical fitness programs significantly. Adolescents who participate in sports are eight times more likely to be involved at the age of 24 than adolescents who do not participate in sports.
Three-quarters (77%) of adults aged 30 and up who participate in sports today participated in sports as school-aged children. Just 3% of adults who participate in sports did not compete when they were younger (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard University/NPR, 2015).
Sports During Adulthood
Researchers examined obesity prevention methods and their potential to eliminate obesity by 2032 in a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. They discovered that afterschool physical activity activities reduced obesity the most, by 1.8 percent, in children aged 6 to 12. This is expected to have double the effect of any ban on child-directed fast-food ads. A previous study of college students discovered that “motivations for sports participation are more attractive than those for exercise and can encourage increased adherence to physical activity guidelines” (Kilpatrick, Journal of American College Health, 2005).
Baseball Game
Baseball is one of the ball games parents encourage their kids to sign up for at school. Being part of a baseball team helps young people exercise, have fun, make new friends, and acquire valuable disciplines. If you have volunteered to coach a baseball team, there are a lot of things you need to know about coaching. So whether you are a seasoned coach or are entirely new at it, here are a few little-known tricks to do it better.
Have A Practice Plan
It is easy to assume that if you show up and the players do the same, everything will flow. However, a wiser move is to come up with practice plans. First, schedule practice at reasonable times. Avoid hot hours and try to work with mornings and evenings when the sun is not as scorching. Additionally, plan to ensure that practice does not last more than 90 minutes for younger players and 180 minutes for adolescents.
Ideally, you can do two hours to keep your players from excessive fatigue and a higher risk for injury. Once you have figured out the time, structure it to polish the fundamentals like fielding, base running, and proper hitting. Most importantly, keep the practice upbeat and exciting, and include downtime.
Know Your Players
Make a conscious effort to know all your players at a personal level. Understand their strengths and weaknesses, then find ways to use this to the team’s advantage. Coach all the players- even the bad ones. Doing this will help them get better gradually. On top of that, do not play favorites- make sure everyone feels worthwhile to the team. Doing this will help you foster good relationships as opposed to constantly dealing with rivalries. Consequently, you will have a strong team.
Always Have The Necessary Supplies
As the coach, you need to be completely hands-on. This includes ensuring you bring all the supplies you may need for practice or a game. Ensure that you always have a fully stocked first aid kit for emergencies and lots of water. For practice time, come with a detailed plan of all the drills you intend to run and their time frame. Additionally, have sufficient equipment for practice. If your team cannot afford the tools, find affordable ways to improvise what you need. For a game, include a substitution roster so that all the kids get adequate playing time. There’s also no harm in bringing a scorebook and pencil.
Teach Them How To Win And Lose
Competition is healthy, and Winning feels great. The issue comes with losing. As a coach, it is your job to teach your team to take wins with grace. Additionally, teach them to accept defeat without feeling the need to despise their opponent or deem themselves worthless. Getting back up after a fall is a skill they will need for many aspects of life.
Meet The Parents
As pointless as it may seem, this is a trick that will do wonders for you. Schedule a meeting with the parents of your team members, preferably after the first week of practice. This will be an avenue for them to get to know you, what you stand for, and your team’s goals. Conversely, you will get to know who they are and maybe even understand your players better as a result.
During this meeting, you can also let them know how to support their kids. You can also iron out the most appropriate model of communication for each parent. Some people are more accessible to reach via text and email, while others have to be called. You will have an easier time running the team once you create a rapport with the parents.
More Ideas
A strong dress code, outside of uniforms is a great idea. Your players will have a better attitude if they have a particular way to dress when they show up, even for practice. You can have a custom baseball jersey made for each of them. Additionally, remember not to criticize or embarrass anyone. Come up with constructive ways to correct mistakes without tearing people down.
Above all else, be a fun coach! Don’t focus too much on winning. Ensure your team members are having fun and deriving some satisfaction from playing baseball. This is a sport for all ages. For all families.
