Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Suggestions for Playing Baseball without Getting Hurt

By Athena Hunter


In any sport, safety should be a priority, and this holds true for baseball as much as any other sport. Many players, coaches and parents will underestimate the degree of danger posed with playing baseball. If you've seen other contact sports like hockey and football you have seen how well they are protected compared with baseball. Yet in the game of baseball, a hard ball is thrown at blaring speeds and heavy bats are often thrown which is cause for safety concerns.

Communication is an important part of safety in any sport. A fly ball, for example, can present a danger when outfielders aren't clear about who's going to get it. It's standard practice for fielder to call out, "I've got it!" or something similar, and this is essential to avoid collisions. At times, two players may both call for a ball, but usually one will call it out first, and when they call it out this at least gives other players an idea of where they are.

One danger in baseball that not everyone is aware of are the bases. If a player slides into a stationary base too hard it's pretty easy to injure a leg or foot. In the case of headfirst slides, a player can even injure their hand, arm or head. A solution to this problem is using a breakaway base which comes apart when the player slides into it. The base, however, will remain stable under normal conditions. If they are not already on board with these breakaway bases you need to be suggesting that they board the train. Besides that, players need to practice proper sliding techniques and watch for dangerous bases.

The sun can be an extremely hazardous element when it comes to the game of baseball. This is because it can be too hot for play, cause sunburns and blind players who are running and trying to catch the balls. Players should consistently put on sun block in order to get away from being burned by the sun. Caps with visors are also essential. These can aid players in handling the sun that gets in their eyes. The sunlight is one element that ball players should be knowledgeable about. It will not have the same position in the sky for the entire game. When the sunlight blinds them, all players should be extremely cautious when running the bases for when attempting to catch the ball. This is one of those unpredictable things about baseball that players must learn how to deal with.

As you can see safety in baseball is nothing more than a matter of paying attention to details. Players should be reminded that they must always wear the proper protective gear and be aware of what's going on at all times, whether playing a game or practicing. The best thing you can do for your own safety (aside from wearing protective gear is to have a keen awareness of your surroundings.




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