Success in anything just doesn’t happen. It requires a combination of talent, passion, and dedication. When it comes to baseball, here are some of the things you should focus on to when you are just starting out.

1. You can learn by watching as well as playing. If you love baseball, then spend some time watching what your friends do well. Watch the successful hit and look for the stance and swing. Watch how a pitcher prepares and warms up. Always ask questions if you are unsure. Tape games and watch them back, slowing down sections to isolate technique.

2. Everybody hits out. No baseballer hits a home run every time they go to bat. Keep in mind that while the hitter’s job is to hit the ball as best they can to make a run, at the same time the job of the other team is to get the hitter out. Striking out is part of the game.

3. Perfect practice makes perfect players. We all know we have to practice to get better at something but always make sure you are practicing a skill properly. It is often worthwhile to slow down your practice, so you are sure that you are using the correct techniques.

4. Learn control. Power is important to hitting and pitching but control is as important. If you learn to control a pitch it will be easier to add speed. Control over a hit – keeping the bat close to the body for as long as you can, for example – can produce faster bat speed and a harder hit.

5. Everybody makes mistakes. This is a simple thing to say but can be harder to take on board. As we said, everyone will strike out sometime, or drop a catch. Everyone will pitch a bad ball once or twice or be too slow running between bases. Improvement comes from acknowledging the mistake and learning from it. How can you be better next time? Is there a specific skill you need to practice more carefully?

6. Preparation is key. When you arrive at the game, always have a warmup which you go through as part of a regular pre-game routine. This might be a team activity but if not prepare some simple stretches you go do yourself. This not only lets the body know it’s about to use the muscles for the game but helps prepare your mind for what it needs for game play and focus.

Tips to be a better hitter

1. Make sure you have the right equipment. Let’s not kid ourselves, a new bat doesn’t turn anyone into the best hitter on the team, but a bat that is too heavy or a glove that is loose will not help anyone to perform at their best. Choose gloves that fit snugly but are still comfortable. When selecting a bat, don’t get the one everyone else is getting or the one with the player’s signature, choose the bat that is the perfect weight, feels comfortable when you hold it and is the length you need for you size.

2. Everybody hits out. No baseballer hits a home run every time they go to bat. Keep in mind that while the hitter’s job is to hit the ball as best they can to make a run, at the same time the job of the other team is to get the hitter out. Striking out is part of the game.

3. Practice. It doesn’t matter what it is you want to improve; you need to practice a skill to get better at it. Team practice is important, and you should do your best to attend every session, but outside of this you should also make time to practice yourself, either by yourself or with a mate. The next three areas will give you an idea of the skills you could practice on.

4. Work on timing. This is one of the key skills you need to be a successful batter. With the right timing, you will hit more than you miss. At the plate, focus on the pitcher and look for when they are about to deliver the pitch before you start a swing. Your timing needs to match the pitcher’s wind up – begin your swing as they are about to send down the pitch. When you start playing ball you tend to wait until the pitcher throws the ball but to develop your skills you need to prepare your swing as the pitcher delivers. This is a key skill to practice, and you can do this while giving your team pitcher practice too.

5. Work on your hand-eye coordination. Being skilled at most ball games requires great hand-eye coordination. When you’re practicing there are a couple of changes you can make to your drills to improve this. You can change the size of the bat or ball – this change forces you to watch more closely to judge your hit. While he never played baseball (as far as I know), Australian cricket legend Don Bradman attributed his skill with the cricket bat to the practice he did as a youth where he hit a golf ball at a corrugated iron tank with a cricket stump.

6. Watch your stance. Just as you want to have a consistent positive mindset every time you go to bat, your routine at the plate should always be the same too. If you adopt the same stance each time, it will be easier for you make simple adjustments if something feels off or if you need to adapt to a different pitching style. Key to this, however, is assuring you have a correct stance to begin with.

Tips to be a Better Pitcher

1. It’s not just about speed. When you start out you will probably focus on throwing as hard as you can. A fastball is an important part of a pitcher’s repertoire but there’s more to pitching than just that. To begin with you need to make sure you have the correct grip on the ball, ensuring you have control over the type of pitch you intend to use. You need to be aware of your stance and the angle of your arm, both of which will contribute to the point at which you release the ball. Your stride and footwork will contribute to the power of your pitch, so you need to have the correct balance as you approach. Being aware of this not only makes you a better pitcher but limits the risk of injuries through stress on the pitching arm.

2. Consistency. A key skill of a good pitcher is the ability have command over their pitches. This command allows the pitcher to place their pitches exactly where they aim them. They then use this command to pitch to a spot in the same place time and again. This relates to having a routine for setting up, winding up and pitching that puts you into the mindset you need to pitch repeatedly.

3. Practice. One of the keys to improving anything is practice. This will not only make you a better pitcher but improve your stamina which you will need for game play. Team up with a batter which will allow both of you to practice your skills but also practice by yourself. You can set up a simulation pretty much anywhere which can improve your aim, command, and consistency.

4. Vary your pitches. You have a fastball; you have the command to throw consistently to a particular spot. It’s your job to keep the batter guessing as to exactly what you’re going to throw down at him. There are a variety of pitches a pitcher should be able to throw, including fastballs, breakings balls and changeups, with a number of variations to these pitches. For more information on this, see my page of Types of balls. You need to judge each pitch, so you throw the one likely to throw the batter off and strike without making a good solid hit.

5. It’s in your head too. A positive mindset is key to you staying in the game when the pressure is on. Every pitcher faces a time when the batters seem in command. It is essential that you stay calm so you can focus on the pitch you are about to throw, not the last one that may not have gone so well. Before a pitch visualize your best technique and the spot you will pitch the ball to – your routine needs to both mental and physical.

6. Take care of your body. Pitching is a physical skill and if you are pitching regularly you will know that your arm can feel tired by the end of a game. Stretching – before and after – a game is essential and is something you should not miss from your routine. You can work on your strength and stamina as part of your training schedule. Building up core strength and back, leg and arm muscles should contribute to improving your pitching.

Types of ball

In my page on Tips to be a Better Pitcher, I talked about three types of pitches: fastballs, breakings balls and changeups. Here you’ll find more information about each of these and some of their best-known variations.

1. Fastballs. Fastballs are the most common type of pitch, especially when you are just starting out playing the game. As its name suggests, this pitch is all about the speed and it will probably be thrown on a mostly straight path. This pitch is often the one thrown first by the pitcher as it gives them a good idea of the batter’s reactions and strike zone. Types of fastballs:

• Four-seam: probably the most common pitch in baseball. It is the fastest ball in a pitcher’s arsenal and is a straight ball, with little or no movement. Hand placement – two fingers perpendicular to the seam
• Two-seam: a little slower than the four-seam, it will move downward and will sometimes run in on a righthanded batter, depending on the release. Hand placement – pointer and middle finger along the seams
• Cutter: a fastball that “cuts” in a direction opposite to the pitcher’s arm – the movement in this type of ball ideally occurs as it reaches the plate.

2. Breakings balls. A breaking ball is called this because it “breaks’ from the straight path of the fastball. It will ‘break’ in certain direction while it is traveling toward the batter. While generally slower than the fastball, the movement of the ball can arch, travel downwards or curve to the right or left. Because they are not as predictable as a fastball, they can trick the batter and be harder to hit. Types of breaking balls:

• Curveball: this type of pitch generally breaks downward, so while the pitch will look like it’s going straight it will suddenly head toward the ground.
• Slider: this type of pitch moves to the left or right whole also heading downward. It is generally faster than a curveball but has less movement. The slider can look like a fastball before zipping out of the zone. It can also be used to make the batter think the pitch will be called a ball before curving in to travel through the zone.

3. Changeups: this is a type of pitch that looks like a fastball but is a different speed. The aim of this is to confuse the batter so they mistime their swing. A changeup can also break providing last second movement to baffle the batter.

Tips to be the Best Outfielder

When you first start playing baseball you are often assigned to the outfield, and it can be seen as the spot for those who maybe aren’t as good. We’ve all seen the TV shows & movies where the kid is hanging around doing nothing in the outfield. As you progress up the ranks and the hits are getting harder, you pretty soon realise the outfield is as important to the team’s defence as the infield. As well, every batter & pitcher also has to spend time in the field so developing these skills is a great way to be a valuable part of your team. Here’s some ways you can improve your outfield skills.

1. Work at developing your throwing arm. Every batter soon works out which of the outfielders isn’t going to be a threat throwing back to base or home. Throwing with skill and accuracy is the number one skill for an outfielder. This requires you to develop not only the strength in your arm but flexibility as well. To keep a healthy throwing arm, you need to stretch out your shoulders and elbows every day with exercise. In the outfield you need to toss it long. To get accuracy, you need to practice. This can be done with your team, but you can also set up some targets and practice this yourself. Important to outfield work is warming up before every practice and every game.

2. Speed does matter. To be the best outfielder you can be, you need to be fast. If the ball has found a gap between the field, you need to be able to take off quickly and get to the ball as soon as possible. If the ball is in the air you want to be in the best position to catch it. Key to both these things is keeping your eyes on the ball. To help with this, always run on your toes, as it’s more difficult to keep a steady gaze when you are running on your heels. Like all baseball skills, you can practice this outside of the game.

3. Focus, focus, focus: It is easy to ‘zone out’ when you are in the outfield because sometimes the ball just doesn’t make it to your position. But when you are in the outfield you have the best view of every part of the field. This means, with practice, you can recognize the possible play before anyone else. If you watch a game, either professional or club level, keep an eye on how the decisions made impact the play. A good outfielder is going to let the basemen know if someone is trying to steal base or get home.