Tuesday, May 22, 2012

What You Need To Know About Baseball Safety

By Greg Tilley


Baseball is not the only sport where safety must be priority one but it is the one we'll discuss here. Most people will underestimate just how dangerous the sport of baseball can be. Safety is certainly something to keep in mind here as well since bats are heavy and balls fly fast.

The pitcher is said to have to most difficult job with injuries being quite common. Even major league pitchers are prone to injuries, but when it comes to younger players, whose bones and muscles aren't fully developed, the dangers can be even greater. That alone is a good reason for the pitcher not to overdo it and to know when to stop if they are feeling pain. Many pitchers won't admit when they're hurt especially in the heat of the game which is why managers and coaches need to be aware of the signs of pain or injury. There are often guidelines for how many innings a pitcher should play and how many pitches they should throw and avoiding injury means following these guidelines.

One thing not too many people know about that can be dangerous are the type of bases used during play. If a player slides into a stationary base too hard it's pretty easy to injure a leg or foot. Your headfirst sliders can even injure their head, hand or arm with these bases. A breakaway base is a good solution to this danger because of its ability to come apart when necessary. The base, however, will remain stable under normal conditions. This helps reduce injuries so be sure to suggest them if your league isn't already using them. Besides that, players need to practice proper sliding techniques and watch for dangerous bases.

Your batters need special gear to protect themselves too in addition to helmets. A good batting glove can help lower the impact of the ball as it's hit. This not only helps the hitter get a better grip on the bat, but it protects the hand and wrist. Another good protection piece to have is wrist guards. Consider the use of a mouth guard if your helmet isn't equipped with a facemask. Protecting your mouth and teeth from speeding balls is important. Because batting can be a dangerous position it's important to wear as much protective gear as possible.

Baseball safety, as we've seen in this article, is a matter of paying attention to a variety of details. Coaches and managers should remind players of the need to wear protective gear as well as knowing what is happening at each moment. Bats, balls and collisions can be dangerous, but they're not so hard to avoid if players and coaches are alert.




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