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I'm very brave generally, he went on in a low voice: only today I happen to have a headache. - Lewis Carroll

By Charlie Williamson 

Those of you living in the Chicago area probably remember the Little League team from Lemont, IL who made it all the way to Williamsport this summer.  They played several close and exciting games and through their success they showed us all how pitching and defense makes a great team.

However, in thier first two games they gave us a painful reminder of how dangerous a sport baseball can be. In each game, Lemont had a player hit in the head with a pitch, forcing them to leave the game.  Thankfully both boys were okay, but with proper technique both situations may have been avoided.

There are three things you can teach your young athletes so they can minimize injury When a pitch is coming inside.  These techniques require practice to make them instinctive, so if you needed a reason to buy whiffle balls, here's your excuse.

1. Drop your bat head down towards the ground away from the pitcher.

   If you allow your hands to begin the swing, your body may turn toward the pitcher, greatly exposing you to serious injury.  This was the case in Lemont’s first game, when the young man was hit in the chin.  Dropping the bat also avoids a “cheap foul ball.

2. Turn your head away from the pitcher and drop your head below your shoulders.

   By doing this you can minimize the likelihood that you will be hit in the head, even if a pitch is up and in.  In Lemont’s second game, the young man didn’t know how to avoid the inside belt-high pitch and, by not turning away, actually ducked his head directly into the path of the ball.

3. Turn your shoulders about 45 degrees away from the pitcher and bend forward at the waist.

   Along with #2, this will not only completely shield your head, but will minimize any damage to your spine. At worst you may receive a “glancing blow,” which may sting, but won’t put you in the hospital or worse. DO NOT TURN A FULL 90 DEGREES! This completely exposes your spinal cord and sets you up for possible paralysis.

You can practice these techniques with your kids using whiffle balls.  No matter how hard you throw them, it’s not going to hurt them. Once they’re older and have a good grasp of the technique, you can move up to rag balls.  Yes … this drill does involve throwing a ball at your child, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially in this case.