Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association

Game 1
Friday, 5/17
arrive 5:15
game 6:00
vs. Brooklyn Park Bulldogs
Zane #4

Game 2
Saturday, 5/18
arrive 11:30am
game 12:15pm
vs. Forest Lake Rangers
Zane #4

After that, it depends on seed.
Seed #7, #8, #9, #10
We'll play Saturday, 5/18 at 4:30 pm on either Zane #4 or Zane #5
if we win that game, we'll play Sunday AM

Seed #1-#6
We'll play our 3rd game Sunday AM

in both scenarios, as long as we win, we keep playing through Sunday afternoon.

The Zane fields are at
8717 Zane Ave
Brooklyn, Park

South of Edinbrook Elementary School

I found this youtube video of Joe Mauer and wanted to share some of my thoughts on hitting...

http://youtu.be/jODmV7A40K0

This is an excellent explanation of a "textbook" swing. The guy that made it even flipped Joe right-handed (sorry Jacob and Jacob) :)

The video shows EXACTLY what I have been going over with the boys in practice. Please reinforce the mechanics emphasized in this video with your boys. It is crucial to develop muscle memory of a proper swing early on. Eventually, with enough repetition, this will become so natural, that they won't have to think about it... this will require work ABOVE AND BEYOND our team practice times. As the weather warms up, get outside and do some soft toss... or head into the garage and do "dry" swings without balls...

50 PROPER swings per day!!!

Things I would call out from the video:

1) The big toe lands first (not heel or whole foot)

2) Joe's stride is ONLY 6"... keep in mind Joe is 6'4"... so someone less than 5" tall, should have a much shorter stride

3) When his big toe lands it's pointed straight ahead (hips closed) and the hands have NOT yet moved forward. Many kids are opening up too soon, and their toe is pointed towards the pitcher when the foot lands (this takes away most of your power). Also I see kids moving their hands forward before the front foot lands.

4) After the big toe lands, the heel drops and rotation begins...

5) His head DOESN"T move. Some kids tend to drop their eye level 6 inches or more... this makes it very difficult to hit.

6) As his hips start to rotate, the hands stay back, and his right elbow is attached to his hip

7) His bat stays in the hitting zone for a LONG time... this makes a great hitter... if you have too much of a downward or uppercut swing, the bat isn't on the same plane as the ball as much... making contact with the ball less likely...

8) At the end, the hips have rotated a full 90 degrees and are now facing the pitcher. Back foot is perpendicular to the ground. Many of our boys are swinging too much with just their arms (no hip rotation = no power), so please, work with the boys outside of practice... take 50 swings in the garage each night... between each swing, pause and step up to the plate... develop a pre-swing routine... enforce/correct the mechanics...

Many of these things will feel awkward and uncomfortable for your son. I know. It won't be easy... nothing worth doing ever is. Encourage your son to give it a try... and stick with it... The extra time and effort now, will make a difference in the amount of success he has this season... and next season... and the one after that...

Last year at this time, we probably had a month of outdoor practices under our belts... this year will start FAST... we will be lucky to have 5 practices outdoors before our first game...

...off soap box now... have a great night!!!

Josh