Joetsu Myoko: High School Baseball Mentors Elementary Students

Synergy! High school baseball players teach baseball to elementary school students

Classes in which high school baseball players from Joetsu City and Myoko City instruct local youth baseball teams have been held since January this year. On the 1st (Sunday), the baseball team from Joetsu Prefectural Technical High School taught Joetsu City’s Kosei Dragons the basics of batting and defense.

This class has been held for the past three years by the Joetsu Area High School Baseball Alumni 40th Anniversary Association, made up of working adults who were born in the 1960s and played high school baseball, with the cooperation of high schools in Joetsu City and Myoko City, in order to help children learn about the joy of baseball.

On the 1st (Sunday), 18 members of the Joetsu Sogo Technical High School baseball team taught 19 third to sixth graders of the Kosei Dragons, a team based in Itakura Ward, Joetsu City.

First, we warmed up by doing some sprinting, and then practiced the basics of batting, defense, and pitching. When pitching, we observed a movement in which he puts his weight on his pivot foot to increase the speed of the ball.

5th grade
“I’m glad I was able to do well after being taught about batting and defense. She taught me how to hit in the right direction.”

4th grade
“His defense was different from his usual practice. He kept a low stance from the beginning and didn’t stick out his glove too much.”

Light Star Dragons Sosuke Watanabe Captain
“Everyone was having fun doing it, so it was a good practice. The way they taught was good and it was very helpful. The appeal of baseball is that everyone works together to score points and defend.”

Up until now, members of the 40th Anniversary Association had provided guidance, but after the coronavirus pandemic, it became difficult to gather instructors.

While fewer children are playing baseball, we are continuing to hold classes with the cooperation of high schools. This is an opportunity for high school students to review the basics once again.

Joetsu Sogo Technical High School Baseball Club Akio Shimada Captain
“I think they genuinely enjoyed playing baseball. We don’t usually teach them, so it was also a good way for us to practice. We created a menu with the basics of defense and the important movements of batting in mind.”

Joetsu Area High School Baseball Alumni 40th Anniversary Association Chairman Kazunori Kobayashi
“I’m glad I did it because I saw them having fun. I hope they can gain a variety of experiences through baseball and use it as inspiration for something. I hope to connect with the children and contribute as much as possible.”

Eight high schools are scheduled to teach 10 youth baseball teams through late February.