Beginners Baseball Clinic Makes The Game Fun
Jul 16, 2020Posted by james
It appears that this year’s professional baseball season soon will begin, but yet to be determined is when and how it will end. Cancellation of sports on all levels has devastated our amateur programs, too. Even the clinics that teach the game to the youngest of fans have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
In Westchester County, the Baseball United Foundation engages young boys and girls in the game. Director John Fitzgerald believes that capturing the interest of children when they are five or six years old is more critical today than for previous generations as baseball now competes with so many other action-filled options.
John leads the Small Ball Indoor Baseball Clinic for Beginners. Each group consists of about a dozen children that meet at an elementary school gymnasium. They learn the basic skills of throwing, fielding, hitting and baserunning, and John knows how to ensure that learning is fun.
The kids at the clinic do not stand around until it is their turn to step into the batter’s box – they hit with whiffle balls and plastic bats. Instead, John’s emphasis is to keep them engaged in the action. Small groups work on skillsets while plenty of running during the hourlong sessions keeps each child interested, excited and laughing. The children hit off a tee, swing at soft toss pitching and learn proper throwing and fielding techniques. John usually ends each session with a quick game of kickball.
Among John’s coaches are several young players from the Briarcliff High School team, allowing these budding players to obtain coaching skills as they teach the game to children.
Let’s hope John soon will be able to resume these clinics. If you know anyone with young children in Westchester, tell them about the foundation –https://baseballunitedfoundation.org/small-ball/ Don’t forget to ask how to organize similar clinics in the city and on Long Island.
by james on Jul 16, 2020 |
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