WHERE HAVE THE BASICS GONE?

Only thing comes to mind is anger management.......Or, perhaps valium if you're not operating machinery.......

BlueDog

What do you know about basics?

thats how i got started. Me and my friends would play baseball at our nieghborhood tennis courts with wood bats and tennis balls. Only the outfielders used gloves, everyone else used their bare hands. We would play all day during the summer.

I think the basics have gone the way of the dodo for many reasons.....

Why is it that you go by a ball field and almost never see kids playing a pickup game of ball?

2 Income families comes to mind. When we were kids, Mom was home all day (though my mom worked at night to pay the bills) and you went to the park to play ball with your friends knowing you could head home whenever you wanted to or needed to. Now young kids have nannies, play dates, after school care and daycare. There is no free time and very little social interaction without grown up control. Why are there 2 income households? To pay for a bigger house so the kids have room to play at home

Video Games!!! My worst enemy. I hate these darn things!! Kids are getting slow (running and thinking) fat and lazy because of these things. I resisted letting my son have one for the longest time, but his mother bought him one.... He will come up to me and ask me if I want to watch him play a game..... I tell him yes, if it's outside and there is real activity.

Safety Issues? Today's parents (me included) are scared to death that someone is going to run off with our kids or molest them. The idea of just letting them run around the neighborhood, though normal in our youth, is unthinkable today. How can the kids have a pickup game if they don't get to socialize freely?

More games than practices. With the proliferation of travel ball, players are playing more games and having less time for practice. You build skills at practice!! They need to practice... They need to play.... they need to be kids!!!

Just as a side note, my 12 yo son and I were biking around the neighborhood yesterday and we came across a pickup game of baseball at a local park (not even a ball field). He looked and me and I looked at him and he rode over and joined the game. I told him to come home when he was done and went on riding..... I rode around for a short while and went home. 3 minutes later he came in the door. The other kids were tired and went home

Basics? whats that. after 6 years out of high school ball I was asked to help out with an adult team. league composed of college players former college players some ex minor league etc.

I can not begin to tell you some of the things that went on. Pitchers not covering first backing up third. Baserunning butchery. some have no clue of game situations. How to approach an at bat. yes they have physical tools but some from the neck up make you wonder. I asked a player why he did not back up a play the answer was "I forgot" i can just imagine some 30 yars ago telling my college coach I forgot. I would have gotten chewed out(do they do that any more or is there a rule against it) and my *** probably would be on the bench for the rest of the game and a few more.

TR, you are sooooooooo right! As I have posted before we have two camps. One is "Advanced Hitting" where we do a 14 station rotation of different drills etc. However, the week before, we do our "Fundamental Camp." We had 72 kids in the fundamental camp. What is shocking is that most of the kids in the "Advanced Hitting" didn't attend the "Fundamental Camp." The #1 reason given, because I generally ask, was "Coach, I don't need the fundamentals. I'm advanced." Ironically, most of the kids that make our team are the ones that go to the "Fundamental Camp." ISN'T THAT STRANGE?

I also agree with the lack of pickup games. WHY CAN'T WE LET OUR KIDS JUST PICK UP A BALL AND PLAY? Sometimes adults ruin it for kids. (A classic line from this weekend when some of the kids that played in a tournament wanted to play a card game that didn't make sense to the parents.)

Coach B25

It seems todday if it is not organized by an adult with rules and by laws written down it is not the real thing. You dont see kids playing on their own as much because somewhere along the line they just stopped doing it. A long time ago in a galaxy far away kids played baseball on their own made the rules etc.etc.etc

We take our kids to the organized tournaments and they invariably find an open field to play a pickup game or homerun derby on between games. They've been doing this since they were 9yo.

TRjit can you explain punchball..never heard of htat 1..as for the basics thing I think your right. Might not sound like much comin from a 14 year old but too many kids on my team are tryin to get better with these new devices and lessons..but none play the fun games I love to play. Oh well.

Stick ball, half ball, hose ball, box ball, wall ball, step ball,wire ball batter works up.

Talk about some fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Stick ball, half ball, hose ball, box ball, wall ball, step ball,wire ball batter works up.

Talk about some fun.

Will, sounds like we had the same childhood. YOu left out hitting bottle caps. LOL!

Coach B25

yea i did forget that one. Now parents buy their kids 200 dollar bats private instruction etc etc etc. Hitting a bottle cap with a broom stick. Talk about improving your hitting skills. Did not cost a cent. Mom got mad when there was no broom handle and the bottle caps we found in the street.

Two hundred dollars? Heck I just dropped three hundred bucks on the new Nanotube Stiff Flex Stealth for my oldest. He launched a 420ft. bomb in Sunday's double-header and went 4-6. He pointed to me as he rounded first. It was worth every penny.

I chuckle when I read the responses from everyone when they say the game is no longer about the basics. Makes for an interesting read but I disagree. You’re not talking about basics you're talking about improvising. No telling where I could have gone if I had a good bat, a good ball, a good coach, and some good instructions...and a chance. The only time my son and his friends had an opportunity to play the “homemade” games you speak of was in the parking lots and lobbys of motels when he was off playing very competitive tournaments that would frequently add up to over 100 games during his summers for the past 10 years. Practice was never ending.
Fungo
Senior member of the “The older I get the better I was” club.

Fungo

Basics? How to execute a run down. double cut off. Cut off man. Pitcher covering first. Laying down a bunt. I have been out of it a while and I watch a game and I am amazed. As I stated in a post earlier A Babe ruth tournament game with 12 errors.

Will,
You and I are probably talking about two different levels of baseball. I was reading today's paper, which by the way has very little information about the more polished and dedicated players on the select and travel teams (of which I’m referring to), and I read this article that indicates how “sloppy” (lack of basics?) the recreational level of youth baseball has gotten. From todays paper:

quote:

During a dramatic rally in the seventh inning of game two, Mt. Pleasant had two errors on the same play that allowed Madison South's Chris Jeffries and Mason McBride to score the winning runs. McBride's ground ball to third was overthrown at first, then the first baseman overthrew the third baseman trying to get McBride. There were a total of 16 errors committed in the game.

Different levels?

These were tournaments composed of the "best players"

TRHIT

I ain't happening in basketball or football either. Kids don't play sports for fun anymore.

One of my quest is physical activity that we ennjoyed.

We have met with our school principal about this as I see it as a big problem.

Great article in SPortingKIds mag about this quoting Hershel Walker. He said if kids get fit they get happy. If kids get happy there is nothing they cannot do.

They play with what parents by them...what is it going to be ...Game Boy , Playstation? Wiffle balls, batting tees, Swiftstiks, Corkball. You must start them at 4-6 not baseball camp at 14 when your behind your peers.

We will release a Youth Model Hands Back Hitter for the younger kids in 2006 in hopes of selling into this market need.

Not sure we can turn the tide. 1/4 kids in AL clinically obese

Swingbuster hit it on the head: PLAYSTATION, XBOX, ETC. Kids don't live their dreams on the field anymore...they "create" themself on a video game and do it in pretend fashion! All of us grew up playing whiffle ball and copying the batting styles of George Brett, Joe Morgan, Rod Carew (yeah, I'll bet most of you know those 3, don't you?). Video games are fun...and you don't have to WORK at it.

"If kids get fit, they get happy!" That is a proven fact. I would like to add that if kids are allowed to be creative, they will be able to think better. My child is going through tryouts this week. Today was the 3rd day. One parent just can't sit there and let the child think. He yells every kind of instruction he can. I noticed that the coaching staff today took exception. TOO BAD HE DIDN'T NOTICE.

We are all to blame for a lack of basics. HECK, HOW OFTEN DO WE FIND OTHER THINGS WE HAVE TO DO INSTEAD OF SITTING DOWN WITH OUR KIDS AND WATCHING A GAME TOGETHER? I know I'm working on it!

Please notice our International Goodwill Series event to Australia December 2005

This is the 11th year for our Goodwill Series in Australia. American players will play the strong State Teams from South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.

Goodwill Series Coaches and Instructors

Stewart Smothers - former Braves pro OF, now Phillies Scout
Rob Williams - former UH infielder, Mariners Int’l scout.
Jason Baker - Cincinnati Reds Professional Scout
Gary Wheelock - Pitching coach Seattle Mariners
Thomari Story - Hardin - professional player
Kyle Dunning - former professional pitcher
Fred Mack - Astros Scout and Pro Catching Instructor
Derek Bell - “hitting instructor”
Charles Aliano - Brewers Scout

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“Our goals and objectives are to develop and challenge the American athlete to improve his skills as a player and to enjoy the game of baseball”. The International teams are very strong and will provide a competitive opportunity for our players to achieve their goals and gain a valuable experience.
All the coaches and the State Teams of Australia are "teachers" of the game of baseball.

Our rosters for the two '18 and under' teams are 80% completed.

Since 1983, over 40% of our American Team players have played in the Major Leagues.

Bob Williams

Consultant-
What is that? Just wondering...I read it twice and I didn't see where that post fit the question. Looks cool but I was hoping I wasn't going crazy....

Coach Knight:

The point to this message is that in Korea, Japan, China and Australia the players are learning the "basics" and our competing on a level playing field with our American players.

After 19 years as "Founder" of the Area Code games, I continue receiving phone calls from parents to provide "exposure" for son.

The primary basic is to teach your son "how to adjust" and "how to self teach".

"Can you teach a player to read the bat"?

Bob Williams

Consultant- OK, that makes a lot of sense. I understand. Thanks.

In my opinion it shakes out like this. You have the majority of kids that play baseball that are lacking in the basics of the game. They are usually three month players and invest only what is necessary to play during the season. Then you have the other kids like most of the kids of the parents on this site. They love the game and it is a big part of their life. They invest a tremendous amount of time and effort in the game to be the best they can be. There is a vast gap between these two groups and it gets bigger every day. The difference in now and when I played is the gap. Kids did not work at a sport year round like they do today. They played the sport that was in season at the time. Yes you had kids that were more talented than others. But they did not continue to widen the gap over the other kids like today because they didnt work at it year round. JMHO

Coach May- I agree with you...the time commitment expected of today's athletes is getter larger and larger every year. The three-sport athlete is becoming more and more rare as a result...and it's OUR fault as coaches. We all want to win, and we see other coaches spending the extra time and realize that we must do it to "keep up with the Joneses".
I expect a lot of my athletes...which is why I work extremely hard to give them more than my coaches ever gave to me (spring trips, college contacts regularly, beautiful stadium to play in, fundraising, etc.). I do believe, however, that those kids that have worked at the game continuously also don't QUIT as easily....they've invested too much to back down.

Coach May

I agree that as far as the physical preparation they have more opportunities. Indoor hitting pitching etcetc. I had the opportunity to help coach an Adult team 19- I had not coached since I left the high school ranks in 1999. We had quite a few college players. I dont know how many times I had to remind pitchers to cover on the right side. Or for the outfielders to back up throws. I had to tell our catcher to back up first base. there was an overthrow and the runner went to second. His reply was I forgot. The next game he forgot again.

CoachB - a PM atcha.

Will - broom handles and bottle caps: that's how my guy, Roberto Clemente, learned to hit (or so the story goes). Poker chips are another possibility - as you can have the hitter take, for example, blue to left, white up the middle, and red to the right side.

I learned to be a good hitter tossing up stones and hitting them into the pasture with whatever kind of stick I had. It was very important to hit it hard and hit it long as any rocks that ended up short and in the yard would be 'found' by my dad and his mower blade and there'd be heck to pay!

When I coached I could deal with a kid striking out or making an error but not backing up or covering a base or throwing to the wrong base etc etc you had better be ready for a lecture(sometimes a loud one)

The 9YO..now 10YO kids on our team are waaaaay, waaay better at all aspects of the game than anything I remember back in my youth.

Swingbuster, I thought you already made a youth model HBH??

My coach doesnt even belive in batting practice at any point during the season only wiffle balls how ridiculus is that.

High School coach I presume?

quote:

High School coach I presume?

Why presume this?

Look no further than me. Everyweek (maybe 2-4 times) my brother and I and sometmes a friend will just go to an ordinary elementary blacktop school yard,play catch, hit handball players while batting and just have fun. I would play on a grass field if their was any in NYC (that dont belong to Little league organizations or anything like that).

even though my kid has practice or games every day, and sometimes practice at 5:30am, you can still find him outside playing 'curbball' with his non-baseball friends all the time.

quote:

The kids playing stickball with a broom handle and a spaldeen?

The kids playing punchball with a spaldeen? You sure learned how to soften your hands in this game

I don't mean to sound like an idiot, but I guess I will......what on earth is a spaldeen? I've never heard of this word in my life!!

I had never heard of it either! Must be one of those "regional" things like cow tipping or dating your cousin.


Made from the rejected inner core of a tennis ball in 1949, the original Spalding High-Bounce ball sparked the imaginations of dozens of playful inner city kids. For urban kids, the ball gave them a way to play outdoors without a grassy field. These kids would hit the streets for inventive games like hit-the-penny, box ball, and most famously, stickball. Designed after baseball, stickball was a neighborhood delight, with players substituting Spalding High-Bounce balls for baseballs, broomsticks for bats and manholes and fire hydrants for bases. The ball was originally called "spaldeen" by New Yorkers with thick accents who pronounced Spalding as (spal-deen).

With any luck, the Spalding High-Bounce ball will bring today's video and computer game-loving kids back to a time of such innovative outdoor fun.

quote:

With any luck, the Spalding High-Bounce ball will bring today's video and computer game-loving kids back to a time of such innovative outdoor fun.

Not likely!

My game of choice was half ball although wire ball was a good one. speaking of basics I watched a high school jv game yesterday and watched as several players on one team walked on and off the fiels. that is as basic as you get and some dont do that.