What is RapidBaseball?
RapidBaseball™ [Rapid-Baseball] noun
The best development tool for youth baseball players entering the initial years of kid pitch.
A reimagined competitive baseball game format that invokes fun and development through repetition.
The current problem…
Currently traditional 7U-9U(kid pitch) games are painfully slow and lack development opportunities. The game is heavily focused around a pitcher attempting to throw strikes while hurling ball after ball to the backstop. These games typically have a combined 20+ walks, 3-5 total hits and kids standing around the field lacking opportunities to develop as baseball players.
In a complete 8U baseball game it’s not uncommon for a kid to walk 3 times and not have one opportunity to make a defensive play. This is detrimental to the player's overall development and represents a missed opportunity for growth. The current state of youth baseball is too focused on playing “real” baseball, we’ve forgot what “real” baseball actually is.
Is this “real” baseball?..
20-30 Walks Combined
A typical 6 inning game can consist of 20-30 walks. Baseball players DO NOT learn to hit by walking. While each team may have 1-2 players who can throw strikes, the majority of 8U players still lack the needed pitch control to throw in games.
12-14 Total Balls in Play
Box scores often consist of 1-3 hits per team with each team only putting ~7-8 balls in play. Many players on defense will go an entire game without having an opportunity to touch a ball or make play.
Minimal Defensive Opportunities
With only a few balls being put into play each game, the defense is often standing around bored and unengaged. An 8U team may only have 5-10 defensive opportunities per game, with some kids never touching a ball defense.
0-1 At Bats
Players often only get 0-1 AB’s (1-3 PA’s) per game due to walks. It’s not uncommon for players to walk 2-3 times a game. Kids need to see strikes to develop as hitters and gain confidence!
Pitcher Pitcher Pitcher
Offense and defense takes a back seat with development. Games are heavily focused on watching underdeveloped pitchers struggle to throw strikes.
Lack of Development
Imagine sending your kid to a game on Sunday for 3 hours where you witness him walk twice, strike out once, and never get to touch a ball in the field…..Sound familiar?
The Solution…RapidBaseball
RapidBaseball is an improved format of competitive gameplay, developed for ballplayers 6-9 years old. This format has been created by a team of ex-professional baseball players who saw a problem with how baseball is being coached and played at the younger levels. RapidBaseball offers players an action packed, fun experience that develops baseball players through constant repetition.
Any former professional baseball player will tell you the only way to improve is through “doing” and “repetition”. RapidBaseball eliminates every slowdown a typical game experiences, and creates a competitive and development focused experience. Players competing in a RapidBaseball will improve far quicker as hitters, defenders and pitchers.
What makes RapidBaseball different? ….
Pitching Machine
RapidBaseball leverages the use of a pitching machine for the purposes of speed and consistency. More balls put into play, more defensive opportunities, more confidence, more fun. 3 pitches maximum per batter.
10 Minute Half Innings
A 10 minute timer is set at the first pitch of each half inning. Each team bats for 10 minutes straight. A complete inning is ~20 minutes in length. On average, 22-25 players will bat per HALF inning!
3 outs, Bases Cleared
Once 3 outs are achieved, the bases are cleared, and the offensive team continues to bat. This eliminates the time wasted with players coming on and off the field plus warming up a pitcher.
6-8 At Bats
With the increased speed of play, batters on average will bat twice per inning. More at bats equals more development. With the use of the pitching machine and time based innings batters are cycled through quickly and gain confidence!
60-80 Defensive Plays
With the added consistency of the pitching machine, each team will put, on average, 60-80 balls in play. That’s upwards of 150 total defensive plays each game combined! THIS develops baseball players!
Pitcher Development (RapidBullpen)
No more having 1-2 players on the “bench” each defensive inning. In RapidBaseball, two players are working through a structured bullpen with one of the coaches. Pitching development is made a priority with RapidBaseball.