Why Young Baseball Players Should Play Other Sports Too

Based in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, Darren Stumberger is a former Minor League baseball player who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1994 MLB Amateur Draft. Darren Stumberger now provides baseball instruction to approximately 1,500 youth between the ages of 7 and 15 in NJ and other Eastern states.

While it's important for young baseball players to hone their skills in the sport with regular practice, many prominent coaches and medical experts suggest it's more beneficial for youth to play multiple sports as opposed to specializing in a single sport. Playing different sports can help young athletes develop a greater range of motor skills and enhance their decision-making abilities on the field. This also places less stress on particular muscle groups, and can lessen the likelihood of significant injury and burnout.

Acclaimed coaches like Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks) and Dom Starsia (University of Virginia lacrosse) are proponents of young athletes playing multiple sports, with the latter suggesting 95 percent of his players are multi-sport athletes. Even Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin prefers recruiting multi-sport athletes over those who strictly specialize in baseball. Moreover, some of the best professional baseball players of all time, including Tom Glavine, Tony Gwynn, and Bo Jackson, were multi-sport athletes growing up.

What to Know When Training a Kids Baseball Team for the First Time

A former baseball player, Darren Stumberger is a volunteer coach with a strong finance background having worked for numerous organizations. A resident of Atlantic Highlands, NJ, Darren Stumberger works as a volunteer baseball coach in charge of 1,500 kids of varying ages in the tri-state area of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Coaching a youth baseball team is an exciting experience but requires a good training and bonding strategy. When you meet new kids, you need to quickly discover where they will best fit on the baseball field as your ultimate goal is to bring out their talents and make them better players. The first baseball practice session should cover the basics which include reviewing rules that apply to specific leagues or groups.

If you have kids who have never played baseball before, you need to cover the responsibilities associated with each position. To get the best results, consider beginning practice with light stretching sessions which teaches young players the importance of getting loose. Also, share the schedule of the day’s practice so that kids know what is planned for the day to avoid them getting confused and asking questions about what they should do next.

Finally, some warm-up drills such as running the bases are ideal as they can both be used when beginning and ending practice sessions. The Tire Drill is a good drill where you set up a tire somewhere in the field using bungee cords or hang it from the fence. Use cones to establish throwing stations to simulate infield positions and allow kids to attempt to throw the ball through the tire. You can use this drill to find out the abilities of each player and where you need to focus on going forward.

Miami Dolphins Draft Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

The recipient of an MBA in finance from Baruch College, Darren Stumberger resides in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, where he spends time instructing 1,500 youth baseball players in the tri-state area. In addition to his interest in baseball, Darren Stumberger enjoys following the National Football League's (NFL) Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins added 11 players to their roster in the 2020 NFL Draft, which concluded in April of 2020. The highlight of the team’s draft haul was University of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovaiola, who was selected with the fifth overall pick. The 217-pound quarterback led Alabama to its sixth national championship as a freshman in January 2018. He came into that game at halftime, replacing starter Jalen Hurts, and helped Alabama overcome a 13-0 deficit.

Tagovaiola recorded 3,966 passing yards and 43 touchdowns the following season. Although he was limited to nine games in 2019, he still managed to accumulate 2,840 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. He also registered a career-best 71.4 passing completion percentage.

Miami had two other first-round picks, which it used to select University of Southern California offensive tackle Austin Jackson and Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene. The team also drafted Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, Georgia guard Soloman Kindley, and North Carolina defensive end Jason Strowbridge, among other players.

Young Baseball Players Can Manage Their Fear of Being Hit by the Ball

A resident of New Jersey, Darren Stumberger volunteers as a baseball coach and instructor throughout the tristate area. NJ-based former professional baseball player Darren Stumberger spends most days of the year teaching baseball to thousands of kids between the ages of 7 and 15.

Most young baseball players have a fear of getting hit by the ball. This is particularly true of players who previously have been hit by the ball. While this fear will never completely go away, young players can learn to minimize the fear so it does not affect their game.

Players must learn to protect the sensitive areas of the body - the elbows, face, hands, and front of the body exposed to the pitcher - when they are at bat. These areas are more susceptible to pain and injury when hit.

Players also must learn to turn the body away from the ball or duck to the ground when they see the ball coming toward them. While being hit in other spots is still painful, it usually is less painful than being hit in the front areas of the body.