High School Baseball Research Articles

SPORT SPECIALIZATION AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP BELIEFS AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AMONG HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PARENTS

BACKGROUND:Youth athletes are increasingly encouraged to specialize in a single sport and participate on club teams year-round to be offered a college scholarship. For collegiate baseball, only 11.7 scholarships are available for a 35-player team. Presently, the beliefs of parents of baseball athletes towards sport specialization are unknown along with whether they have an accurate understanding of college baseball scholarship availability.PURPOSE:To describe the beliefs of parents of high school baseball players regarding sport specialization and college scholarships. A secondary purpose was to compare child baseball participation characteristics by parent median household income (MHI) categories.METHODS:During the 2019 spring baseball season, 155 parents (female N=82 (52.9%), age: 49.45.5 years) of high school baseball players from six San Diego county high schools completed an anonymous questionnaire concerning parent and child demographics, child baseball participation information (e.g., club baseball team participation), money spent on their child’s baseball participation, sport specialization status, and parent beliefs regarding sport specialization and college scholarships. Sport specialization status was determined using a validated 3-point specialization scale. Parent MHI was estimated using residence zip code and categorized into MHI tertiles (low, middle, high).RESULTS:Seventy-three parents (47.7%) classified their children as highly specialized and 110 parents (71.0%) reported their child played club baseball in addition to their high school team. Parents reported spending a median of $3000 [$1500-6000] on their child’s baseball participation during the previous year. Only 44 parents (28.4%) reported being concerned about sport specialization. Most parents (69.9%) believed that specialization would increase their child’s chances of making a college team. Parents underestimated the number of college baseball scholarships available per team (median [IQR]: 5 [0-5]), but 55 parents (35.9%) believed it was “somewhat” or “very likely” their child would receive a college baseball scholarship. Compared to low MHI parents, high MHI parents were more likely to classify their child as highly specialized (65.8% vs. 31.7%, p=0.02), and have a child participating in club baseball (82.1% vs. 58.3%, p=0.02).CONCLUSIONS:Parents who reported a greater financial investment in their child’s baseball participation believed it would improve their child’s sport performance to play college baseball. Despite having a realistic understanding of the limited college scholarships available, parents were optimistic that their child would receive a baseball scholarship. The current year-round, highly specialized environment of youth sports in the United States may favor families with more financial resources.

Does the combination of different pitches and the absence of pitch type information influence timing control during batting in baseball?

Baseball pitchers use various pitch types to reduce hitting accuracy, but little is understood of the practical strategy of using visuomotor skills and timing control to respond to different pitches. This study examined 1) effectiveness of pitch type combinations, and 2) relationship between the presence and absence of advance information about the next pitch and the timing error. Twenty-six high school baseball players hit a ball launched from a pitching machine in a combination of fastballs (34.3±1.3 m·s-1), curveballs (25.4±1.0 m·s-1), and slowballs (25.5±0.9 m·s-1). Each participant performed three conditions. (1) Continuity condition (15 trials), in which the same pitch type was thrown five times consecutively. (2) Random condition (30 trials), in which pitch type was not preliminarily conveyed to the participants. (3) Open condition (20 trials), in which the next pitch type was preliminarily conveyed to participants. Participants’ hitting movement was recorded by an optical motion capture system and force platform. We calculated timing error based on the difference between the measured impact location (ball position relative to the batter’s body at ball-bat impact) and optimal impact location. The timing error between n-th pitch type, (n–1)-th pitch, and the presence or absence of advance information about pitch type (open vs random condition) were analyzed using three-way repeated ANOVA. The results showed that the (n–1)-th pitch type did not affect the timing of impact (p = 0.338). In contrast, the timing errors in open conditions were fewer compared to random conditions (p < 0.001). These results indicate that the pitch type sequence has insignificant effects, and advance information about pitches affects the timing errors. Therefore, having two or more pitch types, reducing the fluctuation of the pitching motion, and the early trajectory of the ball between different pitches potentially lead to increase timing errors.

The Perfect Game: An Ecological Systems Approach to the Influences of Elite Youth and High School Baseball Socialization

The purpose of this study was to examine the elite youth and high school baseball socialization process as a whole and the role of professionalization and corporatization in this process. The unique nature of baseball’s development model in the United States (U.S.), through a dual-track feeder system (college or minor leagues) allows for a wide-range of challenges and sociological factors to influence elite youth and high school prospects. Understanding players’ experiences exposes these challenges and sociological factors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four former elite youth and high school baseball players, one parent of a player, two coaches, and two media members. Using Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) ecological systems theory, the authors examined multi-level sociological factors contributing to participants’ socialization experiences. Key findings revealed corporate-level factors including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bylaws, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and related commercialized changes in elite youth and high school baseball had a pronounced influence on baseball players’ socialization processes. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Operative treatment of chronic ulnar collateral ligament humeral origin avulsion fracture in young baseball players.

Chronic ulnar collateral ligament humeral origin avulsion fracture in young baseball players is a rare condition and a difficult problem to treat. Eight high school or college student baseball players with onset of symptoms in their adolescent ages were collected in this series. Their mean age at surgical intervention was 17.8 ± 1.99 years. The fracture was operated on with muscle splitting, ulnar nerve-sparing technique. Suture anchors were employed to fix the avulsed fragment. Visual analog scale, Mayo elbow performance score, and Conway scale were used for objective patient evaluation. The patients were followed up for 30.8 ± 10.2 months. Six patients have achieved solid bony union, and 2 had partial union. All patients showed no medial space widening on followed-up stress films. Visual Analogue Scale score improved from 9 to 0. The Mayo elbow performance score improved from 60 ± 10 to 85 ± 15 points pre- and post-operatively. The Conway scale had 3 excellent, 3 good, and 2 fair results. The average return to pitching occurred 7 months post-operatively at a rate of 75%. The present results indicate that open reduction and fixation with suture anchors is an effective treatment method for chronic ulnar collateral ligament humeral origin avulsion fracture in young baseball players.

Flexor pronator muscles' contribution to elbow joint valgus stability: ultrasonographic analysis in high school pitchers with and without symptoms

BackgroundFew researchers have examined the different contributions of flexor-pronator muscles to valgus stress in high school baseball pitchers with and without elbow symptoms. This study used ultrasonography to assess these muscles' dynamic contributions to elbow valgus joint stability in high school pitchers.MethodsA self-administered questionnaire on throwing-related elbow joint pain sustained during the prior year was completed by 89 high school baseball pitchers. Gravity stress ultrasonographic elbow examinations with 30° of flexion were done before and after isometric contraction of the flexor-pronator muscles. For study participants with and without a history of elbow symptoms, we compared differences of ulnohumeral joint space without gravity stress and isometric contraction of the flexor-pronator muscles and with gravity stress only and with isometric contraction of the flexor-pronator muscles under gravity stress.ResultsFor each pitcher, the ulnohumeral joint space in the condition with valgus stress was significantly larger than in the condition without valgus stress. Also, the ulnohumeral joint space in the condition with valgus stress was significantly larger than in the condition with valgus stress and flexor-pronator isometric muscle contraction. Participants with and without elbow symptom history showed no differences of ulnohumeral joint space in the unloaded and loaded flexor-pronator muscle contracted conditions.ConclusionUltrasonographic assessment demonstrated that flexor-pronator muscles contribute to elbow valgus stability. No difference was found in the flexor-pronator muscle contribution in high school baseball pitchers with and without elbow symptom history.

中学野球における熟達指導者の状況認知 VR 視界動画を見ながらの語りを通して

中学野球における熟達指導者の状況認知 VR 視界動画を見ながらの語りを通して

The Relationship Between Baseball Participation and Health: A Systematic Scoping Review.

To investigate the relationship between baseball participation and health (musculoskeletal, general, and psychological health) and to identify research gaps in the existing literature. Systematic scoping review. Medical databases and gray literature were systematically searched from inception to November 2018. All studies that investigated constructs related to the health of current or former baseball players were included. Data were extracted for thematic summaries. Ten thousand five hundred seventy-four titles/abstracts were screened, and 678 studies were included. Ninety percent of articles included only baseball players playing in the United States, 34% of articles investigated professional baseball players, and 11% studied college baseball players. Five hundred eighty-three (86%) studies investigated musculoskeletal health, 77 (11%) general health, and 18 (3%) psychological health. Injury incidence (injuries per 1000 athlete exposures) ranged from 0.7 to 3.6 in professional, 4.7 to 5.8 in college, and 0.8 to 4.0 in high school baseball. Among baseball players, 31% to 50% reported regular tobacco use. There was limited research investigating psychological health in current or former baseball players at all competition levels. Almost 90% of all articles investigated musculoskeletal health, with few articles studying general or psychological health. Baseball players have high tobacco, alcohol, and drug use compared to the general population, which may have negative health outcomes. Little is understood about the long-term musculoskeletal, general, and psychological health of baseball players. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020;50(2):55-66. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.9281.

1．「おーとりぃ」高校野球の戦評記事を自動生成

1．「おーとりぃ」高校野球の戦評記事を自動生成

Influence of Repetitive Pitching on Joint Range of Motion and Muscle Flexibility of Junior High School Baseball Pitchers

Influence of Repetitive Pitching on Joint Range of Motion and Muscle Flexibility of Junior High School Baseball Pitchers

Effects of a Systemic Approach for a High School Baseball Player with Internal Impingement Symptoms in the Throwing Shoulder

Effects of a Systemic Approach for a High School Baseball Player with Internal Impingement Symptoms in the Throwing Shoulder

The impact of Victory or Defeat on Psychological State during Competition in High School Baseball Player

The impact of Victory or Defeat on Psychological State during Competition in High School Baseball Player

Abdominal oblique muscle injury at its junction with the thoracolumbar fascia in a high school baseball player presenting with unilateral low back pain.

Abdominal oblique muscle injury is characterized by acute pain and localized tenderness over the lateral trunk. This injury is particularly common among throwing athletes, and usually presents as anterolateral abdominal wall pain. Imaging evidence is scarce in regard to whether oblique muscle injury at its junction with the thoracolumbar fascia can instead present with low back pain. A high school baseball player with unilateral low back pain was referred to us with a different diagnosis. Careful palpation and magnetic resonance imaging guided our care, and the patient returned to high-level competition after 7 weeks of conservative treatment, with no report of recurrence in the subsequent 12 months. Oblique muscle injury at its junction with the thoracolumbar fascia should be added to the differential diagnosis for throwing athletes with unilateral low back pain following a torque movement.

2．高校野球戦評自動作成「ロボットくん」の取り組み

2．高校野球戦評自動作成「ロボットくん」の取り組み

Relation between grip and pinch strength and pitch type in high school pitchers with and without elbow symptoms.

Gripping and pinching a ball is a fundamentally important part of the kinetic chain for throwing baseball pitches of various types. This study of high school pitchers was conducted to assess the association between grip and pinch strength, the pitch type, and the history of elbow symptoms. We examined 133 high school baseball pitchers, all of whom had completed a self-administered questionnaire including items related to pitch type throwing ratios, the age at starting each pitch type, and throwing-related elbow joint pain sustained during the prior 3 years. We measured grip strength and the bilateral side tip, key, and palmar pinch strengths. Comparisons were made between the participants with and without an elbow symptom history to assess the grip and each pinch strength, throwing ratio of pitch type, and the age at starting to throw each pitch type. Pitchers with an elbow symptom history exhibited less difference between the grip strength on the throwing side than those with no elbow symptom history (p = 0.04). No difference was found between participants with and without an elbow symptom history in terms of pinch strength, the throwing ratios of pitch types, or the age at starting to throw pitches of each type. Positive significant association was found between pinch strength on the pitching side and the forkball and screwball throwing ratio (r = 0.27, p = 0.002). Grip strength might influence high school baseball pitcher elbow conditions. The frequency of certain pitch types might develop pinch strength in high school baseball pitchers.

Longitudinal Examination of Factors Related to Shoulder Pain in High School Baseball Players

Longitudinal Examination of Factors Related to Shoulder Pain in High School Baseball Players

Comparison of Change in Humeral Retroversion between Elementary and High School Baseball Players

Comparison of Change in Humeral Retroversion between Elementary and High School Baseball Players

Full endoscopic direct repair for lumbar isthmic spondylolysis in high school baseball player. A case report

Full endoscopic direct repair for lumbar isthmic spondylolysis in high school baseball player. A case report

肘関節外反不安定性評価としての超音波検査による ring-down artifactの有用性 －高校野球選手における前向き調査－

肘関節外反不安定性評価としての超音波検査による ring-down artifactの有用性 －高校野球選手における前向き調査－

Evaluation and Issues Arising from an Injury Prevention Workshop Given by Physical Therapists for Junior High School Baseball Players Ahead of High School Entrance in Fukui Prefecture

Evaluation and Issues Arising from an Injury Prevention Workshop Given by Physical Therapists for Junior High School Baseball Players Ahead of High School Entrance in Fukui Prefecture

Relationship between Release Push Test in Standing and Shoulder and Elbow Pain in High-school Baseball Players

Relationship between Release Push Test in Standing and Shoulder and Elbow Pain in High-school Baseball Players