Officials with the United States Baseball Academy announced the opening of its Houlton location and the beginning of registration for its winter/spring program.
The U.S. Baseball Academy has been in business for more than 20 years.
The U.S. Baseball Academy spring training 2013 program will be directed by Shawn Graham, head coach of Houlton High School’s varsity baseball team, with help from a staff of the top coaches in the local area.
Proceeds from the program benefit amateur baseball in Houlton.
U.S. Baseball Academy’s spring training 2013 is a unique concept that provides young players with advanced hitting, pitching, catching, fielding and base running training programs.
The training sessions include six weeks of instruction for $99. Registration is now under way at www.USBaseball Academy.com.
The Houlton session runs March 3 to April 14 at Houlton High School. With a player-coach ratio of 6 to 1, each player gets plenty of individual attention in a small-group atmosphere. In addition to instruction by the area coaches, players get a preseason tuneup that helps them enter team practice in mid-season form. With numerous age-specific sessions, instruction is specially tailored for each ability level. Overall, it’s the type of intense, professional instruction young players just can’t get in a summer league.
Each week, hitters rotate through a series of supervised stations, including indoor batting cages, with each drill designed to teach a different aspect of hitting. Players enjoy participating in hitting games and unique stations used by top high school and college programs. The program is designed to improve pitch and strike zone recognition, timing, balance, power, situational hitting, bunting, and other aspects.
Pitchers work under the supervision of coaches who can help with all aspects of pitching, from fundamentals and mechanics to more advanced concepts. Drills and repetition will improve a pitcher’s speed and control.
Catcher’s camp covers all aspects of being behind the plate. Players will get instruction on stance, signs, receiving, framing, blocking, throwing, fielding bunts, tags and the mental aspects of dealing with pitchers.
The camp is for youth in grades 1-8. Because of the low player-coach ratio, spots in each session are limited. Complete details and times, as well as registration forms are available online at www.USBaseballAcademy.com or by phoning toll free 866-622-4487.
