Quiz the coach helps teen and tweens with sports and fitness related issues and problems like obesity, healthy eating questions, skateboard tricks and P.E. dilemmas. - Page 5
So ya dig sports but need some help with your game? Don't understand some of the rules of football, basketball or hockey? Got a gripe about P.E. class, skateboarders, cheerleading, coaches, or anything? Why not ?
Hey Coach,
Every time I get up to bat in my Little League Baseball team, I freak out that I am going to get nailed by the pitcher! I got hit in the elbow and nearly broke it last season. This fear makes me strike out too - and that's not good for my team. I would like to know what tips you can give me to stay out of the way and keep a clear head when I go up to the plate.
Heavyhitter8
Hey Heavyhitter8
Getting hit by a baseball is one of the most painful things in sports - but it's also part of the game. That's why hitters wear batting helmets. Pitchers will often intentionally try to hit a batter to throw them off their game and make them a bit hesitant at the plate. When you see a hitter in the big leagues charge the pitcher after getting hit by a pitch, it's usually because the hitter thinks the pitcher nailed him on purpose.Learn how to "take a pitch" without really hurting yourself. It's more painful getting hit in the groin, the stomach or the face than it is in the butt where there's a bit more padding. If a pitch is about to hit you, turn to avoid getting hit in the face or the front of the body. A right-handed batter should turn around leading by their left shoulder, so if they get hit, it's in the back. A left-handed batter should turn around leading by their right shoulder. You can practice this technique by having your coach or teammates throw tennis balls at you (make sure they don't do it too hard,) so you learn how to avoid getting hit where it really hurts.
Once you've learned the proper way to "take a pitch", you'll be more comfortable at the plate because you'll know you're not going to get really hurt if the pitcher does hit you. A baseball to the backside will sting a bit but if you brace yourself for the hit, you shouldn't end up with much more than a nasty bruise.
The Coach's Piece of Useless Trivia
Ron Hunt holds the Major League Baseball record for most times being hit by a pitch in one season. He was nailed 50 times during the 1950 season when he was playing for the Montreal Expos.Do you need tips or advice on sports, fitness or health? to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.
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