speed, power, hustle, the name of the game

4luv, First of all, and most importantly, keep up the hustle--you're already ahead of the game if you don't let your teammates bring you down. My son, now a senior, has always been a hustler and to this day is ragged on by other players who think its "hokie".

Secondly, your body is still developing and you eventually will get stronger and faster
naturally. But you CAN improve your speed to a certain degree. The first think to do(if it's
affordable)is to find a good sports specific trainer in your area, with good references and
successes, and work with him/her for 3 months. Let him know you specifically want to increase your foot speed. Once you've been through the training you should be able to do the
excercises on your own.

Third, run,run,run. When shagging balls in BP-make a game out of it. Try not to let anything
hit the ground or any balls get past you to the fence. When you run, act as if you are stealing a base-sprint on everything. You'll be surprised how much this will help you.

Just to give you some encouragement-as a freshman, my son was the slowest on the team, now, out of 20 players he is 3rd fastest. It can be done.

Good luck.

Here is something that helped my son. Running Speed = Rate X Stride.

When I take 10 steps a second, and each step is 2 feet. I run 20 feet a second, ( 90 feet in 4.5 Seconds) If I take 10 steps a second and each step is 2 feet 3 inches (2.25 feet) I now cover 20 feet 30 inches, (22.5 feet a second) I have increased my Running speed and the only thing done was add 3 little inches to my stride. I now cover the 90 feet in (90/22.5=4 seconds). I just cut off .5 seconds on my time to first. My 60 time keeping the same rate and stride becomes 8 seconds and I have shaved a full second off my time, for 3 inches. Work on high knee drills, but don't just see how high you can raise them see how fast you can bring them up and put them down. Run back wards so you can feel what it like to have your weight over the toes when you run and do the same when you run forward, weight forward on the toes (balls of your feet). Lastly like Moc1 said run, run, run... everywhere. from the moment practice starts to the time it ends sprint to every ball, drill, everywhere the coach says go SPRINT!

4luvof...
You say you are strong, hit with power, etc...
If you are not fast, even you may improve your speed, you always will be average runner at most. Play your game and don't worry about your speed, if like you say, you are a good hitter, and have good hands, you will be playing all your life. May be you will be 3rd baseman or who knows, but you will play.

thanks guys for your help. I'll work on those drills and hope to get faster. as for what Racab said, I relize I'm not going to play shortstop at the next level, so I've been taking balls at third on my own, and found that since I have soft hands from short, I am a good thirdbasemen since the ball gets up on you so quick, and you have to have good hands. I mentioned the personal trainer thing to my dad a while back, but my family isn't very well off as far as the money aspect goes, so he said no, but that means that I'll have to work harder on my own.

Thanks,

Craig Farmer
Durham, Nc

4luv..
Congratulations! you sound very mature for your age. With your actitud you will be OK. I guarranty you. Sky is the limit!

Craig,

It's great that you actually use your name when posting.

I think you are very sincere. I have a gift for you that will definitely help.

If you trust me, please send me an email with your home address. My email is pgjerry@qwest.net

Good luck Craig. Keep working and you will get there.

I have an 8th grade son who has been selected to "try out" for his high school's metro summer team. Your description of yourself sounds alot like my son.

A few months ago we began a drill that has worked wonders for his speed (he was 3 for 3 stealing bases last night).

I have a large yard and tilled up a dirt strip six feet wide and sixty feet long. (Your mother/wife has to be very understanding).

My son began running in this deep dirt (barefooted). He runs anywhere from 20 to 30 hard sprints and finishes by striding out another dozen or so. He's never liked to run but seems to enjoy his "dirt track".

His speed has noticably increased to the point where his teammates and coaches have commented on it.

I realize that most people don't have a dirt strip tilled up in their yard, but it worked for us. Good luck.

never thought of that garse but that sounds pretty cool, but my mom would kill me lol. But thanks for the advice. do you think doing it at a volleyball court would work?

My son is blessed with average speed but began taking running more seriously about a year ago. (He usually takes the dog with him and she enjoys the running even if doesn't!)

He tries to change up his running drills so it doesn't get boring.

He gets on a local park football field and runs 10 yards, walks back 10, runs 20 yards, walks back 20 and so on until running the full 100.

He does the ever popular poles on the baseball field or runs up and down the stair at our house.

Recently, he added 2.5 ankle weights on each leg and wears these when running a straight mile or more.

He has a noticeable increase in speed since he has stuck with this routine.

My son is blessed with a great arm, great bat skills and an incrdible knowledge of and dedication to the game - and an uncanny ability to steal a base. BUT he is slower than frozen malassas in January in the sixty - especially when it comes to showcases, etc. He looks like a five year old as far as his running mechanics. However, when he's running against other kids and not the clock he easily finishes in the middle of the pack or sometimes a little better and his mechanics are o.k. I've come to the conclusion he needs a sports psychologist instead of more running/speed drills.

its

If he can steal bases with average footspeed he is fine--- many speedsters on the 60 have no knowledge about stealing bases or simply running the bases


Sports psychologist !!!--- you have to be kidding--- running a good 60 in good form wont help help hi, to run the bases or steal bases--let the kid play the game with the fine sc=kills he appears to already have--not all players are speedsters

How old is your son ?

4luvofthegame,

You display the type of attitude people like to pull for. Best of luck to you!

TR,

I think he was kidding and was just complimenting his kid's ability to have game speed.

There are many speed programs on the market we got involved in a program called Frappier Acceleration. My son was involved with it the last two years of HS and I would say that it played a big part in his overall improvement. They are located all over the country.

TR: I was kidding about the sports psychologist - although I believe at the professional level there is a place for them - and not just to deal with problematic issues.

My son is 17 and he has been good enough thus far to play with and against the best players his age and older both nationally and internationally, on more than one team and more than one forum. Hopefully, and I believe thus far, coaches and scouts can look beyond that initial 60 yard dash that seems to be the first skill evaluated at every tryout and showcase he has attended. And as an aside, I don't think most of the coaches and scouts that have seen him in a showcase situation have done so when he was in top physical shape. (Not an excuse - just a fact.)

He is what you would call a 'gamer' in every sense of the word and that has been recognized, and his true ability is shown in a game situation. I think maybe sometimes he knows this a little too well and therefore does not put as much emphasis on the running skills he should be developing for the "evaluation" experience.

None of this changes the fact that it's painful to watch him run a sixty! I think the last showcase he ran something like a 7.88 . Of course, it's a real joy to watch him go 3/4 at the plate and throw out 95% of the runners trying to steal second. Most teams don't even try for very long. Or steal a base 80% of the time. He's always been a stats leader on most of the teams he's played for. He's had his share of really lousy games as well.

One of the reasons I rarely post anything specific to his playing ability is I just don't want to seem like the kind of parent that has only great things to say about him. Most of the time that is my attitude. He truly has worked harder, has been more dedicated to the sport and achieved much more meaningful play than any kid his age I have ever met. That's not to say he is not without his share of problems and he certainly does have lots of work ahead of him in order to continue playing at "the next level".

Most of all - in response to one of your statements - I have left him alone to enjoy the game. I gave up being a "helicopter" parent when he was 9. I rarely attend games anymore for a variety of reasons - work schedules, etc. but mostly because we can't all afford to travel to another state every weekend in the summer or to a foreign country once or twice a year. The only showcase I have attended was because I had to - he was really too sick to drive four hours there (and too stubborn not to attend). He has 100% of our moral and financial support and he knows it. He does not miss us being at games. After all, that is HIS game, HIS team, HIS competition and that is what matters to him. We have learned to delight in the very fact that he is so dedicated to something in his life and enjoy hearing the recount from him.

Whew....that's more than you wanted to hear, I'm sure.

POINT

60 yard dash speed are only part of the overall evaluation--- one reason we have three games at our showcases is to see what the "player" can do in a 7 inning game

Dont beat yourself up over a slow 60 time-- at the end of the day depending on his position and overall skills it may not be the "killer " you think it is

Its,

It sounds like you have a good reason to be proud of your son. Since your son is a catcher who can play, while it would be great if he had more speed, his current 60 time should be playable at any level especially if he hits with power.

Regarding the leaving him alone to enjoy the game issue, I don’t think any parent should have to apologize for being involved with their son or going to every game they can. I’m sure you would like to see as many as you can and I hope you do. It sounds like your son did a good job of picking out his parents. Congrats and best of luck to all.

SBK - Don't misunderstand - I enjoy going to games and highly encourage all parents to support their children in their endeavors in whatever manner is best for them. All I'm saying is I'm as secure as he is with his game and can simply enjoy him enjoying the game. More power to the lucky parents who can attend all their son's games.

"itsagreatgame" is not my screen name for nothin'....

Thanks to both you and TR for encouraging words.

I didn't misunderstand your situation and certainly meant nothing but positive things towards you.

I hope you get the chance to see as many games as possible. It sounds like you are there at least in spirit and more importantly, I'm sure your son knows it too. Best of luck to you both!