New to Baseball

[minh]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[WonderMonkey]

Your best bet is to find someone near you to help you out. With only one off-season to prepare it will be hard to just read on the internet and get ready.

[Jake Patterson]

I just started liking baseball this year, and I want to start playing. I'm 14 and going into High School, so I might try out for the team. Problem is I haven't ever played. Can anybody provide me with the basic needs of every position [like powerful, fast, slow, weak, good catcher]
And could somebody provide me on how to hit/catch better?

If you are truly serious about trying out you may need to work with someone local. I would start with your HS coach and ask what (or who) he recommends.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I just started liking baseball this year, and I want to start playing. I'm 14 and going into High School, so I might try out for the team. Problem is I haven't ever played. Can anybody provide me with the basic needs of every position [like powerful, fast, slow, weak, good catcher]
And could somebody provide me on how to hit/catch better?

You probably don't just wanna show up, not knowing what position to try out for, right. Might be embarrassing. It would be easier if you said what you feel your strengths are, and then we could go from there.

[minh]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[YankeeFan01]

I'm thinking maybe second base?


Are you tall, short, etc?

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Isn't that a ton of responsibility for someone just getting into it though?

Depends on how comfortable you are fielding a grounder vs. fielding a fly ball, but my guess would be left field. Just like the other posters said, too hard to say without seeing you live, ya know.

[bbjunkie]

Your best bet is to find someone near you to help you out. With only one off-season to prepare it will be hard to just read on the internet and get ready.
Agreed. You need to find someone to show you the fundamentals and then give you lots of reps before the next season. My 15yo daughter just finished her first season of rec softball. She's athletically talented, but it has still taken me this long to teach her some of the fundamentals. I know that if I don't keep working with her she has little chance to make her HS team next year. Unless you have a really small HS, you are going to have to put in a lot of time and effort to make the team next spring. I wouldn't set my sights on a starting infield position just yet.

For OF positions work on your speed, catching and long throwing. Then there's the book learning. Baseball strategy isn't always intuitive. You need to learn what your position's responsibilities are in many different situations. About the best source I'm aware for learning baseball from the ground up is the Little League endorsed program created by a couple Canadian guys named Al&Al. Go to littleleague.org for links to their program.

Good luck, you've got a lot of work to do.

[DunninLA]

In our part of west Los Angeles we have a summer park baseball league which is "developmental", meaning you don't have to be experienced. All are accepted to play. It is age brackets 8-10 and 11-12. A first timer I'm sure would be allowed to play on the 11-12 year old league even if 13 or 14. Does a league like that exist where you are?

Our spring Pony league doensn't work for first timers. Some players are not accepted into the league based on a tryout. Only about one quarter of the Pony league players play in the summer rec league. The best ones are in All Stars and Travel.

[Wickensie]

I just started liking baseball this year, and I want to start playing. I'm 14 and going into High School, so I might try out for the team. Problem is I haven't ever played. Can anybody provide me with the basic needs of every position [like powerful, fast, slow, weak, good catcher]
And could somebody provide me on how to hit/catch better?



i think you should try out for left field or right feild or third base

[Wickensie]

I just started liking baseball this year, and I want to start playing. I'm 14 and going into High School, so I might try out for the team. Problem is I haven't ever played. Can anybody provide me with the basic needs of every position [like powerful, fast, slow, weak, good catcher]
And could somebody provide me on how to hit/catch better?


to hit keep your eye on the ball and make a step toward the ball and always keep eye contact and have a level swing if your not a power hitter

[Jesse]

Can anybody provide me with the basic needs of every position [like powerful, fast, slow, weak, good catcher]
And could somebody provide me on how to hit/catch better?
I would highly recommend two books:
The Father & Son Baseball Book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006BZ1RA/qid=1153248713/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/002-4296967-9012840?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) by Howard Liss and Play Baseball the Ripken Way (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812970500/qid=1153248823/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-4296967-9012840?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) by Cal Ripken. Read both of these cover to cover and you'll have a very good basic understanding of what baseball's all about, as well as where you might best fit in terms of positions. Liss in particular does an excellent job of breaking down each position, its responsibilities, physical and mental characteristics required, etc. Ripken has some very good advice, especially on fielding and playing infield in general.

This site is the best resource on hitting that I've found and I'll let others answer that question. Compare anything you read in those two books (if you decide to read them) to what's posted here. I wasn't too impressed with Ripken's hitting instruction. He once went 95 games without a single error, however (at shortstop!) so I would listen to whatever he says about playing infield.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Minh,

If you have Comcast digital cable, go to your OnDemand menu, and go down to "sports & fitness." Then go into "Sportskool" and then to "Baseball." Gwynn is on there and will run through some stuff. Good to see the visual like that.

[PullFactor]

I just started liking baseball this year, and I want to start playing. I'm 14 and going into High School, so I might try out for the team. Problem is I haven't ever played. Can anybody provide me with the basic needs of every position [like powerful, fast, slow, weak, good catcher]
And could somebody provide me on how to hit/catch better?
Is there any part of any sport in which being slow is a basic necessity, or even provides any sort of benefit?
If I were you, I would forget about the High School team - you will embarrass yourself among travel league players, and word will get out around your school. I know people are going to flame me for this, and say it doesn't matter what people think, you might as well try, but, to the average aspiring High School athlete, image does count. Look and ask around at your community centres for brochures or information regarding a baseball league. Join a houseleague team, and learn the game. Houseleague teams will rotate players in all positions, so you will be able to get a feel for what position you like next. If you're feeling up to it, try out next year. I've been playing for years now, and even I was a bit on edge in front of some of the older students trying out for the team (although I did make it). It'll be a lot easier on you to learn the game first.

[PullFactor]

to hit keep your eye on the ball and make a step toward the ball and always keep eye contact and have a level swing if your not a power hitter
Stepping isn't a necessity. I say, if he can find another way to time himself, cut out the stride in the meantime. Chances are, the stride will hamper his progress due to misunderstandings, uninformed coaches who don't understand it, and imperfections in it.

[chan7718]

If I were you, I would forget about the High School team - you will embarrass yourself among travel league players, and word will get out around your school. I know people are going to flame me for this, and say it doesn't matter what people think, you might as well try, but, to the average aspiring High School athlete, image does count. I've been playing for years now, and even I was a bit on edge in front of some of the older students trying out for the team (although I did make it). It'll be a lot easier on you to learn the game first.

While I tend to agree with what you say here it also depends on the HS. Some schools around here, even relatively large ones, have trouble fielding JV teams and forget about freshman teams. There are so many sports in HS now, combined with other distractions available, many schools are having problems attracting athletes to some sports. At some schools coaches would welcome any kid that wants to learn and play their sport. Check your High School and see what the program is like.