Baseball

Buying a baseball mitt (or glove) is not an easy thing to do. If you are above the age of 12, you probably have been playing for four or more years and you may have developed a position that you...

Is sports equipment overrated? It is true that the best equipment won't turn a bad player into a good one, but it is also true that a good player may be hampered by a golf club that softens impact...

Playing catcher in baseball is one of the toughest jobs in sports. Foul balls off the mask, chest protector and shin guards can be jarring and painful, even with protective equipment. However, the...

Over the course of a season, a catcher's equipment takes a lot of physical abuse. This is especially true of shin guards, which are used to block errant pitches, block plays at the plate and...

Wilson catcher's gloves are among the industry's easiest gloves to use for catchers. Wilson has been making baseball gloves of all types for decades and its reputation is quite solid. When it...

Catchers are the most protected players on the ball field. Considering their job requires them to squat directly behind the batter for half the game, this protection is vital for keeping the...

When you first pick up a brand new baseball catcher's mitt, you will notice how stiff and difficult it is to squeeze and catch a ball. However, with a bit of use and proper care, your new mitt...

Most baseball gloves are measured from the highest point of the glove (the point of the index finger, usually) down to the heel of the glove. Technically, a catcher's mitt has no separate...

Preparing a catcher's mitt for game action takes time. A catcher's mitt has to be strong enough and provide enough protection to catch 100-miles-per-hour fastballs. It also has to be flexible...

Knee savers are pads that catchers wear to avoid stress on their knees, calf muscles, shins and thighs. Knee savers first started to be used by catchers in the 1990s and now are used by catchers...

Baseball is one of the most popular sports played at the high school level. Unlike football, high school baseball players can go right into professional baseball shortly after finishing their high...

To become a better catcher, you must know your role on your team. You are not only there to catch for your pitcher but also to manage the defense. There are some basic steps you can take to ensure...

Athletes who consider playing baseball and have strong arms often become pitchers. Arm strength, which is difficult to teach, is typically a prerequisite for this position. But a player can...

Playing the position of catcher in baseball or softball is hard work, potentially dangerous and very tiring. The constant movement of crouching and getting up takes a lot out of a catcher, and his...

How to properly officiate a baseball game from behind the plate. You'll learn where exactly to stand and how to position yourself to avoid most serious injuries.

Making a pitching rotation for a little league team is more difficult than making a pitching rotation at higher levels--for several different reasons. Read on for some steps to avoid falling into...

Baseball is a game played with nine players on each side who each occupy a spot in the batting order, while the pitcher puts the ball into play by throwing to the catcher. Play baseball by...

In baseball pitching, a forkball is thrown at a slower speed and takes a tumble on the way to the catcher. Make batters flail at a forkball with tips from a former major league baseball pitcher in...

A properly thrown floating pitch will be difficult for a hitter to hit and catcher to catch. Discover how the rotation on a floating pitch should look like with tips from a professional baseball...

Learn how to give signs to a pitcher in baseball. Learn what is important, as well as some helpful tips. Good luck!

You're getting your son ready for that first game of Little League and want to be sure that you have your bases covered (no pun intended) in terms of equipment. Have you purchased all of the...

The most important piece of equipment in baseball isn't the bat; it's the glove. If a player's glove is poorly fitted, he or she will suffer a dramatic loss of control and dexterity, reducing his...

You are the proud owner of a new catcher's mitt or baseball glove. But it needs to be broken in. What do you do to break it in? Easy. Follow these simple steps.

What must be remembered is that a catcher's signals to his pitcher can't be seen by the batter nor his teammates. So even if 70,000 fans are in the stands and 40 million more are watching on TV,...

The importance of holding runners on base can't be overstated. About four in every five steal attempts are successful in major league baseball and the ratio increases at the lower levels. Keeping...

Nothing looks easier than watching a catcher throw off his mask and catch a foul pop up. Looks can be deceiving. It may look simple on television or from the stands, but it is actually one of the...

Both mind and body must be sharp for a catcher when fielding a bunt. The job is critical because the opposing team is all but giving your team an out if you perform your duty correctly. But if you...

There are myths in baseball that you don't have to be a good fielder to play first base and that a manager can hide a player who can only hit by sticking him at first base and it won't do any...

Playing catcher is one of the most important jobs on the baseball field. Not only are you involved in every play--calling for and catching every pitch that is not put into play--but you are the de...

Stealing an opposing baseball's teams signs can be useful because it tells your team what pitches are going to be thrown and what offensive plays, such as a hit and run, have been called. Unless...

In baseball, the catcher is allowed to use his body to block the plate. This, of course, makes it more difficult for men rounding third to score. The best way for a base runner to remove the...

Even at the Little League level, umpires are seldom liked. The best they can hope for is to be respected--and earning it takes a trained eye achieved only through practice. Calling balls and...

The catcher often sets the tone for a baseball team. Not only does he have to call pitches (sometimes with help from the manager), but he also has to show the kind of fire and determination that...

A pitcher is arguably the most important part of his team. One thing that many people are unaware of, though, is that a pitcher is often only as good as his catcher. A catcher must be able to know...

In the sport of baseball, a catcher that can block wild pitches in the dirt is very valuable. This skill allows a catcher to save runs, and keep runners from advancing. A good catcher in...

In baseball, the catcher calls for pitches, receives them, and acts as the field general. Learn how to play catcher, and the responsibilities of a catcher in this free baseball video.

A number of different types of gloves are used in baseball, whether they are catcher's mitts, first baseman's mitts, or a glove for an infielder. Learn about the basics of baseball in this video.

Become a better catcher instantly! Learn the best ways to practice catching with these baseball training instructions.

When a runner reaches third base with less than two outs in an inning, it is a big let down to the team if he doesn't score. A team should be able to bring that runner from third home with little...

Having an effective grip as a catcher will vastly improve your ability to make successful throwdowns. Most baseball players do not realize that having a good grip can make the difference in...

When a batter is crowding the plate he makes things difficult for the pitcher. The batter eliminates some of the strike zone as well as makes it easier for him to get a base hit. Sometimes a...

There are nine positions in baseball. The positions are first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, right fielder, left fielder, center fielder, pitcher and catcher. They all require...

Blow Batters away with heat.

Learn how baseball signs & signals are used between the catcher & pitcher, the coach & runners, in this free video on how to play the game of baseball.

Picking off a base runner is no easy task for either a pitcher or a catcher. One tool that pitchers and catchers use to fool a would-be base stealer is the pitch out. By catching a base runner off...

When it comes to baseball there are infinite factors that affect game play, from the weather to the players to the physics of how the pitcher throws a ball. One popular way to disrupt a batter's...

If you've ever watched a game of baseball you have probably seen the catcher or manager flash a series of signals that appear to be sign language only decipherable by a select few. These signals...

The pitchout is used in baseball when a base runner is expected to attempt to steal either second or third base. A pitchout greatly increases the catcher's chances of throwing a runner out. The...

Finding the right catcher's helmet and mask combination is key to enjoying the game without any worry of impact or injury to the baseball player's head area. The equipment today is outstanding,...

As a relief pitcher, it's important for you to be ready to pitch at the top of your game when you come into the ballgame. Since you've spent many innings sitting in the bullpen, however, you will...