Archive for the ‘Youth Baseball’ Category

Help the Cal Ripken Sr Foundation Refresh 5 Neighborhoods

Posted by ripkenbaseball on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

YouTube Preview Image

Our friends at The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation are partnering with communities across America to design and facilitate the creation of Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Youth Development Parks.

We have enjoyed sharing our successful groundbreaking events in Baltimore and Fredericksburg with you so far, and are hoping you can help us continue to make this happen in five neighborhoods!

Many urban ball fields have experienced decades of abuse and neglect. Fields have become overrun with trash and are frequently used as a market place for various forms of criminal and delinquent activity. 

With your help, we can continue to build new ballparks to be shared with youth serving organizations and leagues providing a safe place for kids to play and learn.  Upon completion of each project, the parks are gifted to the youth serving partner so the children have access, ownership, and pride for their park.  The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation will continue to have a presence at these fields and implement character education programming and clinics for youth. 

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has been given a very exciting opportunity from Pepsi and their Pepsi Refresh Campaign to be awarded the money to “refresh” the following five neighborhoods and supporting partners.

  • Baltimore, MD – minimum of 3 fields in partnership with the Y of Central MD, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Baltimore, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Living Classrooms Foundation
  • Collier County, FL –in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Collier County
  • Fredericksburg, VA – in partnership with the City of Fredericksburg
  • Houston, TX – in partnership with SpringSpirit Baseball
  • Richmond, VA – in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond

You can vote once a day and it’s a quick and easy way to have a postive impact for youth in need. We thank you all for your help and support! 

http://www.refresheverything.com/safeplacestoplay

Posted in Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Youth Baseball | No Comments »

Keep it Fun!

Posted by Bill Ripken on Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Hosting tournaments is a big part of what we do at Ripken Baseball, so I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the topic. There are a lot of travel teams out there – travel, metro, tournament and all kinds of hybrids. But true travel teams should be made up of players who are committed to travelling and playing a more intense schedule.

Even with the popularity of travel teams, there’s still a presence for in-house or recreational leagues. My oldest boy is 10, and he decided to try baseball for the first time. Rec. ball was the right choice.

In playing the rec. season, he got some hits, threw some strikes, made a few plays and had an overall good time on the field. The team played just the right amount of games and practice time was kept to a minimum. For him and the other kids on the team, it was a good experience. Everyone had fun playing ball in a relaxed setting.

Then we went into the postseason and his rec. team suddenly picked up a travel team mentality. Umpire disputes. Tougher rules. Brackets. Anxieties. Two games in a day. None of those things should happen in a rec. season. That type of intense competition is reserved for the better teams or the ones a little more interested in the game.

A lot of kids join rec. programs because they simply don’t want the pressure that comes with a tournament or travel mentality. I’ve seen first-hand how a growing interest for the game can turn into no interest at all when the intensity-level gets ratcheted up too high.

There’s a big difference between wanting to do something and having to do something.

Rec. programs fall into the “wanting to do something” category, and that’s where they should stay. There will come a time when a kid decides he wants to get more serious about the game or realizes that his abilities need to be challenged at a higher level. And when that time comes, it should be the kid’s choice and no one else’s.

Simply tacking tournaments on to a rec. program does not work, and it threatens the interest of the young ballplayers that have chosen to play recreationally. When my son participated in that postseason rec. tournament, I sat in the stands and watched as interest waned.

During a pitching change on the field next to ours, I saw seven fielders sprawled out on the grass, and three baserunners sitting down on their bases. We’re not talking about taking a knee while the guy warms up, these kids literally laid flat on their backs. If that doesn’t scream, “We really don’t want to be here,” then I don’t know what does.

I’ve heard a lot of stories about the decline of rec. baseball because of tournament teams taking all the best players. Maybe some of that is true, and if so, so be it. But rec. programs are only going to hurt themselves if they try to duplicate tournament elements in their own seasons. To maintain and grow a rec. program, or what’s left of it, requires a little hard work and imagination to keep the kids we have interested in the game.

Let’s not bring the tournament atmosphere, and all the pressures that come with it, into the recreational setting. We need to bring rec. ball back to what it is supposed to be, FUN.

Posted in Ripken Baseball, Tournaments, Youth Baseball | 3 Comments »

Badges for Baseball June Program

Posted by ripkenbaseball on Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Law enforcement officers traded their police uniforms for baseball uniforms, becoming coaches for the day in one of our favorite programs, Badges for Baseball.

These special mentors helped young players ages 5 to 15 perfect their throws, refine their technique behind the plate and improve their game on the field. But at the end of the day, the 2,642 young players learned more than fundamentals of the game – they learned fundamentals for life. The coaches emphasize values such as leadership, teamwork and healthy living.

In sharing their love of the game, children had the opportunity to interact with law enforcement in a positive way. By the end of the clinic, 91% of law enforcement officials said they saw participants become more comfortable interacting with law enforcement.

Growing up following athletes, we were fortunate to learn valuable life lessons on the field, and we’re glad we can give the same opportunity to young players.

Posted in Badges for Baseball, Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Youth Baseball | No Comments »

Have Your Baseball Innovation Become A Reality

Posted by ripkenbaseball on Thursday, May 20th, 2010

We are always encouraging our youth baseball players to practice their craft. Whether it be during the season or the off-season, keeping up with their skills is imperative. Oftentimes it’s not easy finding creative and fun ways to do so. That’s where you could come in.

Rawlings is seeking innovative baseball and fast-pitch softball training products and your idea could be the next great addition to the Ripken Five-Tool Training line of equipment.

Submit your idea and help players maximize their potential on-field performance!

Rawlings, a tremendous partner in Ripken Baseball’s effort to grow the game of baseball worldwide, recently partnered with Edison Nation to consider innovative ideas for baseball and fast-pitch softball training products. There is no better time than now to pitch your very own idea and let Rawlings turn it into a reality.

If your idea is selected for commercialization, you’ll receive a $2,500 advance payment from Edison Nation and a share of sales for up to 20 years! The submission deadline is June 7, so get your idea in now!

Submit idea here: http://xrl.us/bhmgmc

Posted in Baltimore, Instruction, Ripken Baseball, Tips, Youth Baseball | No Comments »

Ripken Baseball Hosts Coaches and Youth From Iraq

Posted by ripkenbaseball on Friday, May 14th, 2010

As summer is quickly approaching, Ripken Baseball is gearing up for some great events. One of our favorite things to do during the summer is work with coaches and youth players from around the world to improve their baseball game.

This week, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to share the game we love with a group of coaches and youth players from Iraq. On Wednesday, Ripken Baseball met with fifteen Iraqis out at Ripken Stadium and mentored them through the game of baseball. We taught them the correct way to catch a ball, throw a ball and hit a ball. At the end of the day, we even played a small baseball game where youth baseball players took on Ripken Baseball!

While all of our camps and clinics are incredible experiences, I must say this was one of our favorites. Playing the game with a group of people who love it so much is exactly what Ripken Baseball stands for. We were honored to host a group of eager learners at Ripken Baseball, and look forward to doing it again soon.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Camps, Coaching Clinics, Instruction, Youth Baseball | No Comments »

2010 Cal Ripken World Series

Posted by Bill Ripken on Friday, April 16th, 2010

The Cal Ripken World Series is approaching faster than ever, and we couldn’t be more excited about how much the event has grown and improved since it began nearly ten years ago. One of the most unique  parts of the Series is creating relationships that last a lifetime, whether that be a relationship between coaches and players, teams who haven’t met before or the special relationship between a host family and each player

The 2010 Cal Ripken World Series begins August 11th, with the teams arriving in Aberdeen to meet their host families and the tournament concludes on  August 22nd with the Championship game. Throughout the tournament, there are several games, events and opportunities for the players while in Aberdeen, so they’re always staying busy.

With the large number of kids descending on our hometown  each year, it becomes more and more important that we have enough host families to house the players during their stay at Ripken Stadium. We know that this is a big ask of our community and Harford County and Northern Baltimore County have been incredibly generous each year.

What we ask from the host family is that they’re able to provide housing for 2 players in separate beds, three meals a day, transportation to and from the games, and making sure the uniforms are washed before the games. Ripken Baseball will provide air mattresses, food certificates, donations and coupons, and arrange carpooling for  anyone who has that need.

Some of my best memories come from players sharing their stories about how much fun they’ve had with their new “Aberdeen family”. These relationships truly last a life time and impact both the kids and their host family is such a wonderful way.

If you’re interested in opening up your home to a  youth baseball player for the 2010 Cal Ripken World Series, please contact:

Kristy Seling, World Series Coordinator
Kseling@ripkenbaseball.com
410-823-7591

Or check out: worldseries.ripkenbaseball.com

Thanks so much for considering this and I hope that Cal and I see you out at the ballpark.

Posted in Baltimore, Cal Ripken World Series, Ripken Baseball, Tournaments, Youth Baseball | 1 Comment »

Gala Still On

Posted by Bill Ripken on Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Cal Ripken Sr FoundationDespite the huge amount of snow dumped across Baltimore, we’re still on schedule for the Aspire Gala, our biggest annual fundraiser for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

A while back, Junior and I started the Sr. Foundation to honor Dad, and over the years its become a great way to continue having a positive impact on kids through the game of baseball. We’ve built new parks in distressed areas and brought our baseball camps to inner city environments where kids may not always have the chance to enjoy a simple game of baseball.

Our annual gala helps raise the money that makes it all possible, so no epic snow storm is going to stop us, and hopefully it won’t stop anybody else from coming down to make a donation or just learn more about what the great people at our Foundation accomplish every year.

You can go straight to the Foundation’s website to learn more, www.ripkenfoundation.org, but here are the basics about tomorrow night’s event:

Aspire: A Tribute to Life’s Coaches

On February 12th at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation will pay tribute to those who truly make a difference in the lives of others. The event begins at 5:30pm and guests include many celebrities and outstanding individuals in their respective fields.

Three honorees will be recognized:

Joe Ehrmann – former Baltimore Colt and founder of Building Men & Women for Others, will receive the 2010 Cal Sr. Award.

Arthur B. Modell – philanthropist and legendary Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns owner, he’ll be honored with the Charles M. Cawley Legacy Award.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee – Olympic gold medalist whom Sports Illustrated named the greatest female athlete of the 20th Century, she will be honored with the Aspire Award.

Posted in Baltimore, Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Youth Baseball | 2 Comments »

Master Baseball’s Basics Now

Posted by Bill Ripken on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Bill at CampNow is the time for mastering the basics. I’ve been doing some traveling lately with Cal and John Habyan for our Coaching Clinics.

Last weekend we were in Chicago. The weekend before that, Richmond. Coming up later this month, we’ll be in Boston. Out of that tour, there’s no doubt that Mother Nature has been putting a hurtin’ on the Northeast this winter.

Richmond was mild… somewhere in the teens or twenties. Chicago was downright cold, never getting out of the single digits. And I don’t really expect Boston to be any better than it is here in Baltimore, as we stare down a Nor’easter this weekend.

That’s why this is the best time of year to master the basics of baseball, a point Cal and I try to get across to the coaches attending our clinics. Teams are stuck indoors this time of year and they’re not going outside any time soon. In that atmosphere, there’s no need to overload kids with more advanced aspects of the game.

Trying to cover bunt defenses and pickoff plays just doesn’t make sense in the confinements of a gym.

Break baseball down and you’re dealing with a simple catch and throw game. That’s all it is and that’s what you need to focus on as a coach in these winter months. Enforce proper fielding positions, make sure your players are throwing and catching correctly. Let these basics slide now and you’re looking at a tough season when spring and summer finally roll around. No team is beyond refining the simple fundamentals of catching and throwing.

Improve catching and throwing now and you’ll find the more advanced pieces come easier when you do get outside.

At our Coaching Clinics, we cover some of the more advanced aspects of baseball: the daylight play, situational defense, rundowns, disguising signs. It’s all great stuff, but it’s meant to give these coaches ammunition for the entire season. Don’t go covering all those things when you only have a gym floor to work with.

Take the time indoors to master the basics and save the advanced instruction for when you hit the field.

Interested in attending the upcoming Ripken Baseball Coaching Clinic in Boston? Head to www.ripkenbaseball.com for more.

Posted in Coaching Clinics, Instruction, Ripken Baseball, Tips, Youth Baseball | 4 Comments »