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BVSA Teaches: Contact Point Recognition

BVSA Teaches: Contact Point Recognition

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about contact point recognition. Contact point is a crucial aspect of the teaching process in baseball. Although we create solid mechanics, kids often lose it when they try to take the swing out to the ball. Generally, there are many things that create bad contact points in a bad swing, but there are also some kids that have pretty good swings. To address this issue, we use a device with baseballs glued to a board numbered one through eight. We place this device on home plate in a similar angle to the contact points. The number one pitch is the inside pitch and the contact point is here. The outside pitch, the number eight, is out here, and the contact point is back there a little more. 

By going through some dry swings, we teach the kids to get through with their hands to get to that number one. Meanwhile for number eight, they have a little more time, and the contact point is back there a little more. This device helps students recognize that different points of contact exist. A good drill to do with it is to have them take a pitch from the coach and identify the contact point. We have two of these devices upstairs in my office.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Med Ball Throw

BVSA Teaches: Med Ball Throw

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the med ball throw drill. Another helpful drill to teach the importance of extension through the ball is to use a medicine ball. It’s important to choose a ball size and weight appropriate for your student’s age and size. Place the right hand under the ball and the left hand on top (for right-handed batters) and simulate the swing with a load transfer, then release the ball as if throwing it back to the pitcher. This can be repeated multiple times, but make sure to do it in a safe environment to avoid any injuries. 

The focus should be on getting the proper extension through the ball, regardless of the pitch location. This drill can be especially helpful for younger players who tend to roll over too early in their swing. Make sure that they are comfortable with the size of the ball after one swing. If it feels as if they are struggling to throw it then switch to a smaller size.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Wiffle Bat Throw

BVSA Teaches: Wiffle Bat Throw

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the wiffle bat throw drill. Okay, so we talked about the importance of extension through contact in a good baseball swing. A lot of younger kids struggle with this aspect of the swing. Specifically, they may have a tendency to roll over too early or come around their bodies too much.

To help them focus on extension, a good drill is to use a wiffle ball bat and let them throw the bat in a slow-motion 3/4 speed swing. They should focus on loading and transferring their weight correctly, then letting the bat extend through the ball. This drill can be done multiple times, and it’s a good idea to video it so they can see themselves doing it correctly. This drill can help players who are struggling with rolling over too early and getting tied up in their swing. Go through this drill somewhere safe, such as in a batting cage with a back wall, to avoid any injuries. Good luck and keep practicing!

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: L Screen Hold

BVSA Teaches: L Screen Hold

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the L Screen Hold drill. Alright, let’s talk about a drill for teaching the sequence and the kinetic link in a baseball swing. It’s important for young athletes to learn how to stay connected but avoid rotating the whole body at the same time. Instead, they should fire the lower half first and then the upper half. This is achieved through a good load and transfer.

One drill that can be effective is for the coach to stand behind the player. Then, have them go through their load and transfer. When they reach the proper transfer position, the coach can grab the bat or their hands. Then, have them fire their lower half, teaching them to get the lower half firing first. This can be repeated over and over.

Another way to do this is to use an L screen specifically.  Any other item that can be found to do something similar will works also. You are trying to get the kids to load the bat and go through the motion of firing the lower half while keeping their hands back. This can be done in a group setting.

Either way, it’s important to emphasize the separation between the lower and upper half and video recording the drill to show it back to the players can be a helpful teaching tool.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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Brian Balkun – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Athlete of the Month

 

Brian Balkun

Bobby Valentine’s First County Bank Athlete of the Month for November is seventeen year old Brian Balkun. A senior at New Canaan High School, Brian was just recently selected to be tri-captain for the upcoming varsity baseball season, which deserves a huge congratulations in itself!

Brian has been playing for New Canaan Baseball ever since he was five years old. He spent the last eight years playing both recreational and travel baseball, and has been pitching ever since the switch from coach pitch to kid pitch. When not pitching, he has played a ton of third base as well.

“Brian was one of our most reliable pitchers last year.  He is unflappable when things get tough, and his quiet confidence is contagious.  I look forward to him doing big things this coming year and being one of our leaders.” – Coach Anthony Bloss

You may very well know Brian around BVSA as Coach Brian, as he spends a ton of time here both with his New Canaan team but also coaching many of our clinics. He has been a tremendous part of our BAPs, TPTs, and pitching clinics, and we cannot thank him enough for the contributions and value he brings to our BVSA team.

“Brian is simply awesome. It’s so easy to be just an extra set of hands, but Brian goes above and beyond what is asked of him. He does an amazing job working with our kids, developing relationships with them, and having fun while doing it. It’s pretty cool to hear kids come back and ask for Coach Brian.” – Joe Wanderlingh, BVSA Instructor

Brian has been an honor roll student all throughout high school and just recently submitted his college applications. As far as baseball goes, he would love to play club baseball in college.

In his free time, Brian enjoys hanging out with his friends and family. He plays a lot of pickup basketball with his friends. Apparently, they invented a game called “tennis baseball”.  So next time you see Coach Brian at BVSA, make sure to ask him how to play!

BVSA wants to congratulate Brian once more for earning the First County Bank Athlete of the Month honor for November. The ability to lead so well while also being so humble and modest is not something you see every day.  We are so excited to continue to watch Brian grow both on and off the field!
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BVSA Teaches: Modified Skater Lunge Drill

BVSA Teaches: Modified Skater Lunge Drill

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the modified skater lunge drill. Here’s another interesting drill that could be used for several different things. For some kids, it may not even work, but it’s worked for others. You don’t need the bat for some kids. Some will have a tough time with their load and feeling where their weight needs to be. Also, their transfer and feeling where their weight needs to be is important. Understanding that fire and that use of the ground getting off that backside and rotating. I just have them drop the bat, get in a nice athletic stance while keeping their head right over their belly button. You don’t want them rocking back and forth. Just have them hop on the balls of their feet back and forth so all your weight stays in here.

Rocking Method for Feel

Now, obviously, this doesn’t happen in the swing, but when you are going back, that’s kind of how you should feel when you get down before your load. And when you get forward, that’s kind of where you’re getting to when you transfer. Also, if you do it a little bit more explosively, it’s kind of like the feel of getting off your back foot. So that’s not really what happens during the swing. For a kid who really can’t get the feeling of transferring that weight while staying balanced, I just have them hop back and forth to get that feel. You try everything you can to get the kid to feel what they need to feel.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Tee Base Drill

BVSA Teaches: Tee Base Drill

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the tee base drill. Okay, so here’s a drill or device mechanism to help you get that lower half and backside going. We did our load, we did our transfer and got our hands are in the right position. Now we get our body in the right position, and we really want to explode off that back foot and rotate the body, getting that energy going up and into the hips. It’s all one big thing, not just up; it’s an explosion. Pushing off the ground with that backside that goes that way and up and through, beginning the whole rotation.

Some of the kids have a tough time really getting off that backside and making that happen. One of the things that I like to use is the base of our tees. You want to get their heel on it, not too much, but their heel on it, and their toe has to be on the ground. It just kind of gives them a little bit more of a kickstart to get going, rather than being totally flat. You still have to push off of that tee and fire and get things rotating and going upward.

Using A Baseball

With just that little bit of an angle, you can also do it with a baseball. We’ve done it many times where you just put a baseball under your heel just to get that whole thing going. In conjunction with that, I’ve also done this many times. Try this, but be careful. Talk to the kid, tell them what you’re going to do. While he’s here and he’s trying to get the feel for that and he’s not really exploding and firing off that, you get down on the ground behind them and get your hand underneath his foot, and you actually push and fire and let him feel that explosive move, rather than that old school where kids just kind of spin and squish the bug and rotate around their body. So use the tee, the base of the tee, or if you’ve got to get down there, but maybe give the younger kids a wiffle ball bat when you do that.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Bosu Ball Drill (Stop Transfer)

BVSA Teaches: Bosu Ball Drill (Stop Transfer)

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the bosu ball drill (stop transfer). Another good drill for improving the transfer is using a Bosu ball. It can help you start your transfer, as well as prevent kids who tend to go too far out from doing so. You can work on your stance, balance, load, transfer, and stride into the Bosu ball. If it slides, you must put something against it or your foot to stop it. This will give you the feel of where you should stop, with your head over your belly button. Also, it will put you in a good balance position, without falling out past it. 

Other Uses

The Bosu ball can be used for both the front and back end of the transfer. Basically, it can help improve the transfer and also make it stop. The bosu ball is such a great tool for improving your swing in many different aspects. Take a look at our other video about using the bosu ball to start the transfer. 

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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Christina Zinicola – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

 

Bobby Valentine’s First County Bank Athlete of the Month for October is Christina Zinicola. Christina made the switch from baseball to softball when she was seven years old, and made her first travel team two years later. In her first travel year, she helped lead her Stamford Stars team to a state championship! This was only the beginning for Christina.

After a couple of years with the Stars, Christina made the switch to the Darien Angels. She went on to BVSA and the Lady Titans, where she is now in her fourth season with the team. Christina plays middle infield and pitches for both the Lady Titans 18u team as well as Stamford High School, where she received all-FCIAC honors this year!

“Christina is one of the best players I’ve ever coached. She is the definition of a gamer and a treat to watch on the field. She’ll make plays that could be on SportsCenter highlight reels and has a college level softball IQ. It’s been such a pleasure to both teach and learn from her.” – Ashley Simoneau, Lady Titans Coach

At Stamford HS, Christina is in her senior year and is currently taking all AP classes. She has also taken additional college classes at Norwalk Community College throughout high school, specifically studying software engineering. Last year, Christina was awarded a 2021-2022 College Board National Hispanic Recognition Scholar!

“Christina is a tough, tenacious softball player who consistently demonstrates her true passion for the game. Her drive and wanting-to-win attitude are remarkable. Christina is never afraid of getting dirty and is always thinking about taking the extra base. Christina’s an extremely hard worker in the classroom as well. She takes multiple AP classes and already has an associate’s degree. Christina is the true definition of a student-athlete.” – Coach Beezer

The hope and plan for Christina is to continue playing softball in college, while majoring in Civil Engineering. She has always been passionate about helping and giving back to the community, dating back to when she was nine years old. For the last nine years Christina has collected items to donate to local homeless shelters and food pantries in place of birthday gifts. Last year, she was a part of the Stamford Answer to Cancer team, contributing to raising over $25,000 towards the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

We here at BVSA want to congratulate Christina once more for earning this honor of First County Bank Athlete of the Month for October. She definitely has made her presence felt here at the facility, whether she is training with her team, or volunteer coaching for our softball clinics, or walking around in her inflatable dinosaur costume on Halloween. We cannot wait to see where Christina goes from here! Congratulations!

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BVSA Teaches: Bosu Ball Drill (Start Transfer)

BVSA Teaches: Bosu Ball Drill (Start Transfer)

The Transfer

Evidently, there are guys that aren’t striding with their whole body and are just striding with their legs. They are not getting their weight transferred properly, the bosu ball will help you get moving forward just a little bit. This drill is very simple and can help hitters a lot. Just make sure that they aren’t striding past their front foot and maintain a firm front side. This is a drill that can be repeated each lesson or clinic a few times before starting to actually hit.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com