Video and Article by Bill Ripken

The push bunt, when combined with the element of surprise, can be a great way to catch a defense on its heels, to break out of a hitting slump, or to get a speedy runner on base to lead off an inning.

In this video and article, Bill demonstrates the proper execution of the push bunt and discusses some of the situations in which you may want to attempt the push bunt.

By Cal and Bill Ripken

Coming off the first big heat wave to affect the eastern United States, we thought it would be a good idea to revisit an important topic: heat safety.

Baseball, like any physical activity, can become dangerous when temperatures soar past 90 degrees. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be fatal. Make no mistake about it, heat illness on the baseball field is a reality and precautions should be taken to prevent it.

It's on the coach and the parents to make sure players hydrate before, during, and after games and practices.

By Cal Ripken, Jr.

Editor’s note: Each month in this space, Cal will address issues of concern to parents of young athletes. We hope that coaches, many of whom are parents, will find the information enlightening when it comes to working with their own children and dealing with the parents of the players on their teams. If you have a question that you’d like to see answered, please send it to newsletter@ripkenbaseball.com.

Question for Cal in this edition:

"What is a simple yet effective offensive and defensive sign system for an 11u baseball team?" – Coach Moran