Attention All Ball Players: Fantastic Video On Creating A Consistent And Confident Routine In The Batter's Box

A great video that touches on many of the important aspects for a batter to be wary of, and do to be properly prepared. Ball is not a particularly fast paced sport, especially when you compare it to the likes of something like basketball, but requires significant mental readiness and toughness.

Although there may be nine players to a side, when you are up to bat it's just you and the pitcher. Yes, being mindful of where the fielders are playing, the catcher, the umpire's tendencies to call certain pitches, etc etc... are all important, but the very act of hitting come down to you against one other person - and they throw that ball fast!

You have the ability to make a choice - swing or don't swing. 

You have the ability to make a choice - portray confidence or timidness

To stay focused or not...

And finally, and perhaps most important of all - patience. To be patient for the right pitch, and to be patient to get a hit. Hitting three out of every ten at bats is considered a VERY good average. But, if you ever got 30% on a test, you probably weren't very happy (neither were your parents or teacher :P). It is this mental side of the game that is very important.

Beyond that, comes the specific aspects, as shown in the video.

ENJOY!

#unplugandplay - The Benefits Of Being More Physically Active

Connected Learning: Playing, Creating, Making from DML Research Hub on Vimeo.

A disclaimer: smart phones sometimes skew these entries into single letter lines. If so, try viewing through browser, rather than through the app. Thanks!

This is a great video to watch. I suggest you take a minute (or 7:10 :P) and look at it. Really listen to the message.

So, I covered various reasons for individuals having barriers to being healthier and more physically active. Click on the image below to check out that entry

As promised, a continuation to the #unplugandplay that has been mentioned several times over the last week or two. So, we all hear, "you need to get outside," or, "you need to watch less TV," or, "you need to play more!" However, the real questions is - why?

I don't like making off the cuff remarks or claims, so let's back these statements with some understanding and reasoning.

First, let's discuss what screen time does. Or, more specifically, too much screen time:

• And to be clear, when we say screen time we are referring to using any device that uses a "monitor." This includes tablets, TVs, computer monitors, even smart phones. Essentially a device that produces artificial light using some form of diodes or projection - I'm pretty sure we all get this now :P
• The American Psychiatric Association (APA) added "Internet Use Disorder" (IUD) to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM IV).
• It's important to note that the APA doesn't add something to the DSM IV unless it has the potential to disrupt daily life and has neurological evidence to back up such claims.
• In the case of screen time, it creates notable changes, or deficits, in brain chemistry. Dopamine addiction can be induced, and serious deficits later in life can be seen.

Now that we have gone over just some of the negative consequences, let's cover all (well a bunch, cause frankly they are infinite) the benefits of exercise. Please bear in mind, some of this can get very technical and "sciency" (yes, that's the technical term - sciency, or is it sciencey?). I will try to keep it very simple and straightforward, but please ask for clarification if there is anything you are uncertain of:

• During exercise, which is a form of physical stress, the body produces a variety of neurotransmitters, which include brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and endorphins.
• BDNF:
• There is a correlation between BDNF and long term potentiation as well as neurogenesis
• Long Term Potentiation:
• This increases the signal strength between neurons that enhances when two neurons are fired at the same time. This is the same principle that applies when talking about positive/negative reinforcement, or punishment. A stimulus elicits a conditioned response - some Pavlov for those of you familiar with psychology.
• This is one of the strongest factors in learning and the creation of memories.
• Neurogenesis:
• The evidence isn't quite as conclusive here, but it is strongly hypothesized that this has further role in memory development, as neurogenesis is the process by which brain cells or neurons are generated. Exercise increases the rate of this process.
• Endorphins
• These are our "feel good" opioides. They dull negative feelings, both physical and psychological.
• Finally, exercise also reduces cortisol, a catabolic stress hormone (although necessary at times, but not in excess), and increases serotonin, adrenaline, and dopamine (more feel good drugs :P).

That got a bit more technical than I had intended, but sometimes you got to bust out the science to truly make a point! BOOM - SCIENCED!

Keeping Kids Engaged And While Teaching/Coaching Age/Developmentally Appropriate Skills/Movements

Which of these group of kids do you believe will become better at sports and learn more?

OR, these kids...

Let's also ignore the age difference - the pictures simply depicted the dichotomy I wanted to discuss :P

So.. which kids will become better athletes?

Which of those two pictures will ultimately produce the next superstar?

Did you pick the second picture? The one where they are doing drills. If you did, I am sorry to say you are incorrect. Well, that isn't quite true. The more accurate answer is there is no way for us to know.

The key point, however, is that doing drills and constant skill work at a very young age is NOT, I repeat. Doing drills, skills and technique work at a young age IS NOT what will determine how successful of an athlete your young child will become. Although I will disclaimer that Canadian Sport for Life does acknowledge the early specialization allotment for gymnastics, diving, and figure skating.

Recently, I came across a young mother that was coaching for the first time her young four year old boy. He would get upset that mommy was paying attention to others (a feeling I know all to well with an only child), the lack of response and seeming involvement from parents, and teaching these children how to play ball. The following was my take on it, and my advice (mind you, it was unsolicited, but we all know that's the best kind :P).

Why Kids Quit Sports

Something I shared recently about the reasons for kids quitting sport permanently, and at a very young age (typically before 13), was featured on Little League Dad’s Twitter News this morning:

Click on the image for a link to the website it was shared. Click on this link for the actual article - http://activeforlife.com/why-kids-quit-sports/

Please take a minute to read the article, and then here is my response to it:

It’s very true. I have had the real pleasure of being able to discuss the aspects of internal vs. external motivation with Olympic rower and now elite trainer of rowers, and his talk on “Carrot or the Stick” reinforces that we need to create an environment and culture of internal motivation, rather than the dominant culture of external motivation, or outcome based. This isn’t to say that results aren’t important, but it’s how we frame the issue, treat our children (athletes), and place the focus.

Children are not miniature adults. They learn, move, and play in fundamentally (and wonderful) way. In fact, we could truly learn from them. We need to follow models like Canadian Sport for Life’s (CS4L) Long Term Athlete Development; whereby, 0-6 years old is the Active Start and focuses on the ABCs (Agility, Balance, Coordination) through unstructured play. Yes, PLAY! For the first six years kids should be playing. And heck, let them create their own play. We as parents/coaches often believe we need to give a structured environment. We really don’t. Kids are amazing, and will find incredible ways to move in all sorts of ways.

From here, the 6-8/9 (slightly different for boys/girls), we move to the FUNdamental Stage. This is when “skills” are first introduced, but once again, in an unstructured, informal setting. That is, create games or activities that produce a given movement, but do not run 7 year olds through circuit training as you may a young adult. As well, kids should be playing 2-3 sports/activities, and not specializing until potentially later in the Train to Compete/Win Stages. A disclaimer, even the CS4L acknowledges that a few sports do require early specialization, such as gymnastics, diving, and I believe the other is figure skating.

Finally, it is paramount children learn the 12 Fundamental Movement Skills, as put forth by Physical & Health Education Canada, and more so before puberty. It has been shown that children that does not learn these, object manipulation, stability, and mobility skills have significant barriers later in adulthood to entering or remaining physically active.

Great article. We need to promote age/developmentally appropriate learning and teaching for our children, and we have many great models to follow and help guide us. We need to create a FUN environment for our children. Let them play, and let them create their own play

Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League Needs A Few More Players

Click image for link to the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League

ATTENTION ALL MEN!

THE GLEN CAIRN LEAGUE NEEDS A FEW MORE MEMBERS - OUR VERY OWN MIDGET BOYS SELECTS TEAM ARE PLAYING IN THE LEAGUE

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR A LINK TO REGISTER

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO CHECK OUT THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY, HERE RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD!

Diving Into First Base... Or, Running Straight Through: Which Is Faster!?

Diving Head First or Running Straight Through The Bag!?

This question and debate has gone on for as long as players began to slide. 

BUT....

The question remains, which is faster?

Often players will say, "Diving is faster!" However, how do they know? Did it just "feel" faster. There is a reason we have scientists... to figure stuff out by using rigorous testing and removing anecdotal evidence from the equation.

Although sliding does stretch you out, and brings you immediately closer to the bag, you stop producing any force in the direction of the bag an invariably slow down considerably.

However, running requires a relatively upright posture, but you do have the advantage of still propelling yourself to the bag.

This video below goes through a number of the components.

Now, keep in mind. This was a test on first base, and the slide was started upwards of 10 feet away.

What does that mean? What's the implication?

Well, on other bases you can't run through at full speed. You have to stop your movement completely. Which means that sliding is most likely faster when heading to Second or Third (and home would vary on the situation, as catchers can currently block home plate).

Is there a distance you can begin sliding from that would actually get you to first quicker?

Another important factor that they bring up is injury. Even if the difference between diving head first and running through the bag are virtually identical. Diving poses the opportunity for injury.

Josh Hamilton is one of many ball players that has injured
themselves diving into first - http://bit.ly/1oZWHI1

Attention: All SMSA Coaches - Kemptville Wildcat Slugfest 2014

This is a fantastic opportunity for all SMSA coaches to get some extra games against high quality teams!

Click on the image above to be brought to the official page

Please, bear in mind. This may interfere with our regularly scheduled season, and the cost to enter would have to be split between the team, as the SMSA cannot afford to send numerous teams.

Thank you :)

Google Maps - http://bit.ly/1n32k6s