Coaches Corner

With the requirement that all baseball and softball coaches affiliated with Babe Ruth League, Inc. and Ripken Baseball, Inc. become certified by the beginning of the 2008 season, http://www.baberuthcoaching.org/ makes it easy for you to gain your certification quickly and effectively through the convenience of online learning.

All Babe Ruth coaches in RAYBA must complete the coaching certification offered through Babe Ruth.  Please complete the online training.  Coaches will be reimbursed for the cost of the course, $19.95.

For more information go to   http://www.baberuthcoaching.org/ and visit the Quick Click links.

Mike Epstein is one of America's top hitting analysts, instructors, speakers, and published writers. His uncanny ability to simplify the complexities of the baseball swing has thrust him to the forefront of America's hitting coaches. The Collegiate Baseball News calls Mike "baseball's hitting guru."

After mentoring for a ten year period under baseball’s greatest batsman, Ted Williams, Mike Epstein continued his career in baseball as a minor league manager and hitting coordinator, which has led to his current career as one of baseball’s leading independent hitting instructors and consultants for baseball and softball.

Williams issued the ultimate compliment by saying, “I believe Mike Epstein comprehends and teaches the science of proper hitting (“hips leading the hands”) as skillfully as anyone I have run across in all my years in baseball. He can help any hitter."

RAYBA has purchased 2 each, of the following DVDs to assist coaches in learning how to teach rotational hitting. 

1. "DO WE TEACH WHAT WE REALLY SEE" - 2 1/2 hr DVD
2. On-Target Series.  Baseball: DVD Series

Part 1. The Torque Drill.  A telescopic look into Mike’s famous Torque Drill.
The Torque Drill lays the foundation for the proper rotational swing.

Part 2. The Numbers Drill.  A telescopic look into The Numbers Drill.
The Numbers Drill puts the rotational swing into full motion,
with this easy to learn, step-by-step teaching/learning system.

Part 3. The Enforcer Drill AND Live Hitting.  A telescopic look into The Enforcer Drill.  The Enforcer Drill is the glue that holds the other 2 drills together.

Please contact VP-Traveling@raybaseball.com to check out a DVD.  ($70 deposit required.)

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COMMONLY TAUGHT HITTING PRINCIPLES

1. Watch the ball hit the bat
2. Don’t open your hips too early
3. Swing down
4. Swing level
5. Hit the top half of the ball
6. Squish the bug
7. Don’t drop your back shoulder
8. Keep your rear elbow up
9. Swing down for back swing
10. Separate the hands from the body
11. Keep the barrel of the bat above the hands
12. Don’t open your front foot

“We took a look at the video breakdown of some of the greatest hitters that ever played this game, and you won’t see any of these things, not one!”

• If you were going to start a company, pattern you practices after those who have been successful.
• Emulate the people who are doing things correctly.
• Differentiate between style and technique.  Style is personal and individual.  Technique is universal.
• To teach the right things we need to know what to look for.

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Learn how to avoid teaching the wrong mechanics.

1. Balance
2. Axis of Rotation
3. Torque
4. Shoulder Dip
5. Bat Lag

All the great hitters display these absolutes.  Are you teaching these??

Individuals interested in coaching at the 13 year level should contact VP-BabeRuth1@raybaseball.com for In House teams, or VP-Traveling@raybaseball.com for Travel team consideration.