Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos
Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net
New Images Available under Image area
2008 Game Schedule Now Available
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Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net New Images Available under Image area 2008 Game Schedule Now Available
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Practice ScheduleAttending practice is not optional on the Westside Cubs. We use this time to teach, develop good fundamentals, and to learn each players potential and capabilities. If a player fails to attend practice (unexcused) they will be held out of the next game they attend. A player may miss practice if the player or parent contacts a coach prior to the practice to let the coach know they will be unable to attend. This rule was initiated because players were missing practice and missing valuable teaching time. In many cases, a player who had missed practice made the same mistakes during the next game that we had taught during the previous practice. A spectator, who does not fully understand the game of baseball, might not realize that every player on the field has a specific responsibility with every pitched ball. Baseball is a team game, and all nine players have a specific duty to perform. Each player must be in a specific position before each pitch and they must move together as a unit following each pitch or when the ball is hit. The specific duty that each player is responsible for performing may vary depending on the situation, where the base runners are, how many outs there are, and even the score of the game. There is so much to teach, that each player must attend each practice in order to fully understand the various situations and their specific duties. Also, unless a player wants to be stuck in the same position all year, each player must learn the responsibilities of all the positions on the field. It is important for each player to pay attention to the duties taught for each position. Practice should not be limited to our scheduled practice times, our most improved players have mothers and fathers who work with their child between practices and games. Our most improved player from 2005 to 2006 could not throw, catch, or hit a pitched ball in 2005. His mother worked diligently with him and in 2006 he moved from right field to center field to second base. He moved from last in the batting order to 5th or 6th and became one of our better players. Recognizing his improvement encouraged him to work even harder and he continues to improve with each practice. In 2006, he couldn't wait to get to the ballpark and his enthusiasm was contagious for the rest of the team. In 2007, We expect numerous other players to surprise us with their skill improvement. Right-fielders of 2006 could be our third basemen of 2007, 2008, or 2009. Players who could barely throw last year could become the Nolan Ryan's of this year. At a recent September birthday party, the kids picked up the bats and balls and started playing homerun derby. One of those kids who could not throw last year was pitching and he was unhittable. Some kids have natural ability, some achieve skill through hard work. 2007 Teaching PrioritiesOur first few practices have been designed more to evaluate where our boys are now (skill-wise) and work on basic skills. It is very important that boys use the corrections we make to their technique and practice at home. We have several boys who are performing techniques incorrectly. Players must practice these corrections at home in order to overcome bad habits and develop good habits. Priority 1Several boys are not spreading their feet to field ground balls. It is simply a muscle memory habit, but in order to eliminate this poor habit, they must practice fielding ground balls with their feet spread part. See teaching baseball for proper technique. Players should balance on the balls of their feet. This helps them remember to spread their feet. It is much more difficult to balance on the balls of your feet with your feet close together. As they lower their butt to field the ball, this will force their hands outward, and transfer their weight evenly on their heels and balls of their feet. They are now in proper field position. Priority 2A second bad habit is fielding ground balls with only one hand. Boys should catch a baseball with the same technique they would use to catch a basketball or football. While many 10-year-olds may be able to field the ball with one hand (when they're 10), it will limit their skills growth in the future. Whenever possible, even when catching thrown balls, the player should USE TWO HANDS, even catchers. The easiest method to break this habit is to force them to catch balls without a glove. This forces them to use both hands. The more the drill is practiced, the quicker the technique becomes habit. Priority 3The third good habit we want to teach is to charge each ball. Each player should move to meet the ball, rather than waiting for the ball to arrive at their fielding position. Charging the ball provides quicker arrival to the ball, which allows for bobbles; provides a shorter throw; which cuts down on the runners steps to the base; and the players forward momentum allows the player to make a stronger throw to the base. Priority 4Every player should be moving to their position within a split second after the crack of the bat. Infielders should either be moving toward the ball to field it, moving to back-up position to back-up the fielding player, or covering their base. Outfielders should be moving toward the ball, moving to back-up the fielding outfielder, or positioning themselves to where the throw will be made. All nine players have a specific responsibility with each hit ball. While many people think right field is a "sleeping" position, the right fielder is responsible for backing up first base and can be the most important position on the field. The right fielder will typically "run" all during the game to back up each throw to first base. If he is in position, very few runners will advance on errant throws to first. The boys that earn infield positions this year will learn these first three skills. These are our four fielding priorities for 2007.
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Westside Youth Athletic Association Website Helton Genealogical DNA Project - Hilton Family Tree - http://hiltonfamilytree.com
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