New baseball instructor heading into Extra Innings
02-Feb-2012 As the new director of baseball operations at Extra Innings in Margate, Sam Luppino is expected to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm into his baseball training. Said the 26-year-old Coral Springs resident, “Baseball is a great way to learn life lessons, whether you’re an older kid, or a younger kid. I adapt with each player.”
When talk shifts to baseball, Sam Luppino is raring to go. It's one reason why the Coral Springs resident was named the new director of baseball operations at Extra Innings in Margate.
"I have a lot of energy and enthusiasm," said Luppino, 26, a Gold Glove shortstop at Northeast High School ('03) in Oakland Park. "Baseball is a great way to learn life lessons, whether you're an older kid, or a younger kid. I adapt with each player."
Luppino, who went on to play the middle infield positions at Palm Beach Community College (PBCC) for two seasons, is expected to bring in a crew of experienced baseball trainers to help instruct lessons and clinics. His goal is to provide superior training to serious ballplayers.
"I chose this facility because it's a great location," Luppino said of Extra Innings, located on 1690 Banks Road. "It has all the tools to make a player successful."
After graduating with his associates degree from Palm Beach Community College—now Palm Beach State College (PBSC)—in 2005, Luppino went right into coaching because it was "better off for me right then," he said. That's because Luppino's father Rich has his own United Sports Academy program, which is a travel baseball company that specializes in providing baseball camps for children ages 6-14.
Luppino has not only worked as an instructor for Rich, but has also trained travel teams, such as the 11-Under Coconut Creek Hawks, the 12-Under Coconut Creek Hawks, the 12-Under Coral Springs Sandlot, the 13-Under West Boca Panthers, the 12-Under South Florida Spikes and the 12-Under Coral Springs Clippers age group squads.
"Our goal is to bring baseball training and baseball players through here," said Luppino, referring to Extra Innings. "I want players who are serious about improving their games. That's what we're selling. We're not baby-sitting."
Besides working with his father, Luppino has taken coaching lessons from the Doyle Baseball Camps in Orlando. His brother Nick is the assistant baseball coach and developmental coach at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach.
When it comes to question asking, Luppino hears this from student-athletes: 'How do I get more power in my swing?'
"We teach a lot on getting your hips through the zone before your hands," Luppino said. "Your hips lead your hands through the barrel. It's about saying level, barrel through the zone, hip rotation. I call it 'rotational swing'."
According to Luppino, the No. 1 tool to being successful in hitting is repetition.
"We build the swing through drills," said Luppino, who works primarily with ballplayers of ages 9-14. "We go into the cage, do soft toss. It's some of the best batting practice throwing. I teach opposite field hitting, hitting the outside pitch. It's all about the time and effort."
As live pitching is taking place, Extra Innings sets up the iPad 2 for its own video tape analysis of each player. Luppino has previously done as such with his iPhone.
"Speed training, weight room work, pitching," said Luppino, who goes over plyometrics, ladder drills and fielding routines with each participant. "I pride myself on playing defense. It's about a lot of footwork, quick feet, soft hands. In the outfield, it's about staying behind the baseball to get a stronger throw. Positioning yourself to the different angles to the ball with runners on base."
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New baseball instructor heading into Extra Innings
02-Feb-2012As the new director of baseball operations at Extra Innings in Margate, Sam Luppino is expected to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm into his baseball training. Said the 26-year-old Coral Springs resident, “Baseball is a great way to learn life lessons, whether you’re an older kid, or a younger kid. I adapt with each player.”
When talk shifts to baseball, Sam Luppino is raring to go. It's one reason why the Coral Springs resident was named the new director of baseball operations at Extra Innings in Margate.
"I have a lot of energy and enthusiasm," said Luppino, 26, a Gold Glove shortstop at Northeast High School ('03) in Oakland Park. "Baseball is a great way to learn life lessons, whether you're an older kid, or a younger kid. I adapt with each player."
Luppino, who went on to play the middle infield positions at Palm Beach Community College (PBCC) for two seasons, is expected to bring in a crew of experienced baseball trainers to help instruct lessons and clinics. His goal is to provide superior training to serious ballplayers.
"I chose this facility because it's a great location," Luppino said of Extra Innings, located on 1690 Banks Road. "It has all the tools to make a player successful."
After graduating with his associates degree from Palm Beach Community College—now Palm Beach State College (PBSC)—in 2005, Luppino went right into coaching because it was "better off for me right then," he said. That's because Luppino's father Rich has his own United Sports Academy program, which is a travel baseball company that specializes in providing baseball camps for children ages 6-14.
Luppino has not only worked as an instructor for Rich, but has also trained travel teams, such as the 11-Under Coconut Creek Hawks, the 12-Under Coconut Creek Hawks, the 12-Under Coral Springs Sandlot, the 13-Under West Boca Panthers, the 12-Under South Florida Spikes and the 12-Under Coral Springs Clippers age group squads.
"Our goal is to bring baseball training and baseball players through here," said Luppino, referring to Extra Innings. "I want players who are serious about improving their games. That's what we're selling. We're not baby-sitting."
Besides working with his father, Luppino has taken coaching lessons from the Doyle Baseball Camps in Orlando. His brother Nick is the assistant baseball coach and developmental coach at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach.
When it comes to question asking, Luppino hears this from student-athletes: 'How do I get more power in my swing?'
"We teach a lot on getting your hips through the zone before your hands," Luppino said. "Your hips lead your hands through the barrel. It's about saying level, barrel through the zone, hip rotation. I call it 'rotational swing'."
According to Luppino, the No. 1 tool to being successful in hitting is repetition.
"We build the swing through drills," said Luppino, who works primarily with ballplayers of ages 9-14. "We go into the cage, do soft toss. It's some of the best batting practice throwing. I teach opposite field hitting, hitting the outside pitch. It's all about the time and effort."
As live pitching is taking place, Extra Innings sets up the iPad 2 for its own video tape analysis of each player. Luppino has previously done as such with his iPhone.
"Speed training, weight room work, pitching," said Luppino, who goes over plyometrics, ladder drills and fielding routines with each participant. "I pride myself on playing defense. It's about a lot of footwork, quick feet, soft hands. In the outfield, it's about staying behind the baseball to get a stronger throw. Positioning yourself to the different angles to the ball with runners on base."