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More and more leagues around the country are switching to wood softball bats. Wood softball bats make the game more fun and not just a technology race to see who can hit the ball the furthest with the most expensive non-wood bat. Many leagues are co-ed and the field is leveled a bit and open to more competition with wood bats. Instead of grip it and rip it with non-wood softball bats, skill, bat control, ball placement and strategy play a greater role in the game.

Wooden softball bats are made out of different types of wood, which give them different characteristics. The most popular wooden bats are made out of maple, birch or ash. Since softball players have different batting styles, there are different bat types to accommodate them.

You know that playing sports helps keep kids fit and are a fun way for them to socialize and make friends. But you might not know why the physical kids may have to take at the beginning of their sports season is so important.

About Sports Physicals

In the sports medicine field, the sports physical exam — or pre participation physical examination (PPE) — helps determine whether it's safe for kids to participate in a particular sport. Most states actually require that kids and teens have a sports physical before they can start a new sport or begin a new competitive season. But even if a PPE isn't required, doctors still highly recommend getting one.

Sports are a great way for kids to have fun, stay fit, improve skills, and make friends. But it's not always fun and games out on the field or court. The pressure to succeed can be overwhelming — and that can lead to a lot of frustration and tears.

In some cases, sports pressure is self-inflicted. Some kids are natural perfectionists and are just too hard on themselves when things don't go their way. But more often than not, the pressure is external: Kids try to satisfy the demands of a parent, coach, or other authority figure and end up feeling like winning is the only way to gain the approval of the adults they respect.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. The brain is made of soft tissue and is cushioned by spinal fluid. It is encased in the hard, protective skull. The brain can move around inside the skull and even bang against it. If the brain bangs against the skull — for example, due to a fall on a playground or a whiplash-type of injury — blood vessels can be torn and the nerves inside the brain can be injured. These injuries can cause a concussion.

Three common types of sports injuries in kids and teens are acute injuries, overuse injuries, and reinjuries:

Participation in any sport, whether it's recreational bike riding or Pee-Wee football, can teach kids to stretch their limits and learn sportsmanship and discipline. But any sport also carries the potential for injury.

By knowing the causes of sports injuries and how to prevent them, you can help make athletics a positive experience for your child.

Teach kids to use these relaxation techniques when the demands of competition start to heat up:

• Deep breathing: Find a quiet place to sit down and inhale slowly through the nose, drawing air deep into the lungs. Hold the breath there for about 5 seconds, then release it slowly. Repeat the exercise five times.

Parents can probably spot the difference between their child's good and bad stress simply by noticing kids' game-time interactions. For example, is your child focused and ready for action or is nervous energy getting the best of him or her? How does your child handle mistakes? Is he or she a good sport or do emotions get out of control? Of course, some of this has to do with your child's personality. Like adults, some kids are naturally able to stay calm under pressure.

Sports are a great way for kids to have fun, stay fit, improve skills, and make friends.

But it's not always fun and games out on the field or court. The pressure to succeed can be overwhelming — and that can lead to a lot of frustration and tears.

In some cases, sports pressure is self-inflicted. Some kids are natural perfectionists and are just too hard on themselves when things don't go their way. But more often than not, the pressure is external: Kids try to satisfy the demands of a parent, coach, or other authority figure and end up feeling like winning is the only way to gain the approval of the adults they respect.

Pitching, particularly for adolescent arms that are still growing, puts an enormous amount of strain on joints and tendons. Injuries to wrists, elbows, rotator cuffs, ligaments, and tendons can result from excessive pitching but can be largely avoided if players and coaches follow a few simple guidelines:

We at X Bats are great believers and supporters of youth sports. We believe it teaches young people great life lessons with which they can build a foundation for a lifetime of success in any of their endeavors. 

Athletes have unique skill sets developed over their entire lives starting at a very early age.

1890

• Spalding's League Ball
• Spalding's Association Ball
• Spalding's Boy's League Ball
• Spalding's Professional Dead Ball, white
• Spalding's Amateur Dead Ball, white

X Bats has been making professional grade wood bats for Adult League players to Major Leaguers to Youth League players for over 15 years. One of the challenges that top players face is the transition from metal bats to wood bats. The chief problem is that no matter how light a wood bat is, it can't feel lighter than a bat with a hollow barrel. The balance point in a solid wood bat is dramatically different than metal and composite bats. 

19TH CENTURY BASEBALL MAKERS, MANUFACTURERS & RETAILERS (CONTINUED)

A.G. Spalding & Bros. - 1876 - 1978

Factory in Hastings, MI