RBI Sports A Real Home-Run!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as I was invited to a “Future Sluggers” class. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Today we had the opportunity to check out a “Future Sluggers” class at RBI Sports in Valley Cottage, NY. RBI sports is a baseball and softball training facility. They hold small classes like the one that we attended, have personal training, hold birthday parties, mini-camps, and also run a sports camp over the summer at the JCC in West Nyack, NY. I was really looking forward to checking out this class because of my coaching background. I love to see how coaches approach different sports with the younger kids. So when given the opportunity to check this one out, I jumped at the chance.

The “Future Sluggers” class is an introduction to baseball for boys ages 4-7. The purpose of these 50 minute sessions is to teach the children the basics of the game which include: fielding, running, throwing, hitting, and the kid favorite; sliding. This is accomplished in a small group setting with a ratio no larger than 8:1.

As this was (A)’s first experience with baseball I inquired about equipment. All that a player needs to participate is comfortable clothing, sneakers and a good attitude. RBI has gloves and bats that players can borrow, and the knowledgeable staff will even help you to pick out your equipment when the time comes to purchase your own.

Erik, our coach was fantastic with (A) from the start. This was the last of a four class session that was finishing up and the other players had already been there. When we first walked in (A) was a little shy. Coach Erik introduced himself right away and told him that he could join when he was ready (which of course he was moments later). He really made (A) feel comfortable and got him to try it out.

As the class began, Erik hit it out of the park. He broke down the fundamental skills of the game into manageable pieces that the kids could digest. Erik gave them many ways to remember the specific body positions necessary for mastery with little reminders such as “thumb to thumb” and “pinky to pinky” for fielding. The atmosphere was light and fun. The kids really enjoyed being there, and it was evident that they were learning. The players who had been there for 4 weeks were able to tell Coach Erik how to replicate the positions when asked, and then put them into practice with ease.

After working on the basic fielding skills they played a bit of a mock game where all players had a chance to bat and run the bases. The other “team” worked on fielding. The fielders were given dots to stand on that showed them the correct places to stand in relation to the bases. No one was tagged out, they practiced fielding the ball and throwing to first base. All players got to run the whole progression of the bases and were allowed to slide into home. This was a great culminating activity for the session. The kids had a blast and would have played all day long it seemed.

RBI Sports has lots of space with state of the art equipment, and even though there was a private session going on right next to our class the players were not distracted. You didn’t even know that they were there. There is also a seating area right outside of the cage where parents can sit and watch. A very nice environment, the parents and staff were all super friendly, stopping to chat and welcome us. Al Conti the owner of RBI said that they have great parents and that they love that many parents stay and watch. They welcome the idea that the parents are learning the necessary skills and correct fundamentals that their child will need for success in the sport.

For more information on RBI Sports please visit their website at www.rbisports.net or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RBI.Sports.Academy. They can also be contacted at info@rbisports.net or 845-268-9900.

Coach Erik shows the class the fundamentals of fielding above the waist.