Is "stance" important?

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Yes, a wide stance with knees bent - very good for even weight distribution and good bat speed. I have special software on my phone so I can video him and then slow it down and analyze - his hips turn before the bat moves [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Some kids do throw very hard, so he's back in the box. He doesn't crowd the plate, but has the longest bat possible at 32&quot; so he can reach across.... It's a blast, but we hope to get some time on his '69 Nova soon....

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">At twelve most pitchers have control issues. In a couple of years, he'll be up against pitchers who can move the ball around, and set up the hitter. </div></div>

Ken you'd be surprised at the scary good off-speed stuff that 11/12/13 year olds have in their arsenals nowadays.

Travel ball starts around here now at 8U and by the time they are 10 they pretty much play year round so they are developing skills at 10-12 that nobody even thought of teaching until High School years ago. In the last 5 years the travel leagues have pretty much gutted the local park district/little league/youth recreational leagues of any reasonable talent around here. Not saying that is a bad thing but it is what is happening.

Now back to the original topic of the thread........

Jake

[budnate]

question for you guys as your in it now, there was much debate years ago that teaching them all these moves so young they were damaging their arms before they had a change to fully develop....any truth to that or what do you think?

curious as it was a hot topic in area when I was coaching.

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: budnate</div><div class="ubbcode-body">there was much debate years ago that teaching them all these moves so young they were damaging their arms before they had a change to fully develop....any truth to that or what do you think?

</div></div>

I think there is definite truth to that.

Jake

[68l30]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RPOLS3</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: budnate</div><div class="ubbcode-body">there was much debate years ago that teaching them all these moves so young they were damaging their arms before they had a change to fully develop....any truth to that or what do you think?

</div></div>

I think there is definite truth to that.

Jake </div></div>

Yep, I concur! I use to have one hell of a fastball before I learned to drive. Pops wouldn't let me throw any junk (cept for a wicked knuckleball). He could have pitched pro ball if it weren't for Uncle Sam.I could throw hard in the 80-90 MPH range, but that's about it. Now, I'd be lucky to hit 60.. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]


BIG

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: budnate</div><div class="ubbcode-body">question for you guys as your in it now, there was much debate years ago that teaching them all these moves so young they were damaging their arms before they had a change to fully develop....any truth to that or what do you think?

curious as it was a hot topic in area when I was coaching. </div></div>

Absolutely!! Some say the kids do that to get surgery to be able to throw even harder... My Benjamin is a good ball player, especially since he got in 'late' (having spent ages 5-8 in soccer), but his best asset is between his ears! I don't care how good he can play, I'm not steering him towards anything professional.

Plus, he needs to work on the stance of that '69 Nova SS languishing in the shop... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

[Schonyenko2]

Jake I know what you're saying. Parents, and school sports programs are pushing the travel teams to get in as many games as possible. Some play well over a hundred a year. I believe that is detrimental to young kids physically, and mentally. There is little doubt that throwing hard, and junk at a young age tears up arms. And it burns out a lot of kids. You loose the fun factor, and it becomes an issue of coach/parent politics as to who plays, and who sets.

High school programs almost demand that a kid play travel ball in order to get a look down the road. Now, if your from a family that can't afford the money to travel, or the parent/s have work commitments, you probably won't get much of a look at down the road. I cringe to think of the kids who may never get an honest chance to play at a higher level due to the economics of it.

I think too, that parents/coaches forget that these are pre pubescent boys. Some are very good at a young age while others get better later on as they get older. To cull the heard early leaves out a lot of dedicated players who would mature into better ball players given the chance. Besides, at about 14 boys really start to think about 3 other things. Cars, (Benjamin's got that covered) girls, and beer. Makes life interesting for a parent.

Sorry to rattle on. But I watch the kids play in the &quot;new&quot; system and many don't seem to have real fun. Maybe I'm just getting to old.
Keep Benjamin weldin on that car. I want to see&quot; the stance&quot; when he gets her done.

[cook_dw]

[black69]

besides my own car , I think this is hands down, the best looking camaro (w/stance!) on the planet. I never get tired of looking at it:

[427TJ]

^^^That is one of my favorite Camaros. Bill Thomas 427 conversion. Just perfect.