Other sports benefiting the developement of youth baseball skills?

He is 7.

He should be doing sports to have fun!!!!

My son played baseball, football, basketball and soccer.  The only thing I could not get him to try, and I tried hard, was ice hockey.  He played them all and figured out what he liked most.  On his own.

 

That's all I'd worry about for now.

 

Agreed, have basketball practice tonight ... I'm just asking for opinions about the crossover benefits or lack of benefits from other sports to baseball. I'm not worried about it - just curious about thoughts on it in general. Trust me, he chooses what he wants to play and it is all about him having fun.

Preteen sports are about fun, friendship, physical activity and participation not development. What's important is learning fundamentals and building a passion for the game. You won't know for sure about skills until post puberty. My son played soccer, basketball and baseball as a preteen. My daughter played soccer, basketball, softball and field hockey.

Fencing.

 

I kid you not. If I had it to to over again with my youngest I'd have given him lessons and seen if it took. The sport requires the same sort of competitiveness, quiet focus and intense but relaxed hand-eye coordination as hitting a baseball.  Plus it's a great "hook" for college if you're one of the best at it.

Competitive swimming did wonders for my son's arm and strength development.

ok thats good, but be careful not to over due it. 

 

The most important thing is that kids should be out and about and not sitting on the couch watching TV or playing video games.

 

There really won't be very much physical crossover benifits for a 7 year old. Their body's just don't work that way yet. There may be some psychological, like increased aggression from an agressive sport but that's about it. With that said the best crossover sport training any kid can get for any sport in my opinion would be swimming or wrestling.

Ping Pong, great hand and eye coordination.

I'm going with basketball.  It is one of the more athletic sports -- has it all.  Short, quick bursts of energy.  Speed/agility/quickness.  Eye/hand coordination.  It is fast -- you have to be mentally tough to stay in the game.  Full of success and failure.       

Ice Hockey.  

For a 7 year old it HAS to be chasing frogs.

 

Good hand eye coordination.

Quick hands.

Good footwork

Strategic thinking

Calm nerves.

Staying in the moment.

Ability to persevere in difficult situations. (cold water)

Teamwork

 

All perfect for baseball. 

 

And gets dirty!

or catching a firefly on a summer night and watching it glow in your hands

"carrying 25 lb blocks of ice up five stories of stairs"....Hank Aaron

"catching bricks for my father, he was a bricklayer"....Jerry Rice

"catching chickens in an alley in Philadelphia"...Rocky Balboa

His son is 7.

Catching grasshoppers, much like frog catching, then putting it on a hook and casting.  Shoulder strength and flexibility to throw gas.  Seriously, just do what is fun for him. 

Actually 6.

Every father needs to have at least 3 sons so the youngest one will benefit from all the lessons learned from the oldest.