Frozen Ropes opens 4-day camp at KLL
50 players participate in baseball training
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 25: “We hope by the end of the 4day session under the expert tutorship of one of the best Baseball/Softball trainers in the world, our players’ skill levels on the field of play will see some tremendous improvement”, said Mercy Boujarwah, a KLL organizer as she spoke to Arab Times on the first day of Kuwait Little League’s (KLL) 4-day baseball training camp being delivered by Frozen Ropes International under Tony Abbatine’s direction.
Tony Abbatine and his Frozen Ropes team were at the Kuwait Little League (KLL) Friday at the start 4-day baseball/softball camp for KLL players. Over 50 players ages 7 to 17 are taking part in this camp. In addition to Abbatine, KLL brought the entire training team from the Frozen Ropes organization in Dubai to be part of the camp. The trainers from Dubai are Carlos Algarin, Luis Algarin, Ady Yatim, and Greg Davison.
KLL players are receiving expert training in batting, base running, throwing, and pitching. In addition to the general camp, players were able to book one on one training sessions with the coaches. The Frozen Ropes team also conducted clinics for the coaches and parents of KLL players providing a wonderful experience for all.
“KLL hopes to establish a relationship with the Frozen Ropes organization in Dubai to bring their trainers to Kuwait several times a year to continue to raise the level of play of KLL’s players. We hope by the end of the 4-day session under the tutorship of one of the best Baseball/Softball trainers in the world our players’ skill level on the field of play will see some tremendous improvement”, said Boujarwah, as she spoke to Arab Times.
The 4-day skill camp, Feb 22-25, at the KLL complex in Subhan, has the Frozen Ropes founder and director, Tony Abbatine taking a lead role in conducting the training, assisted by a team of Frozen Ropes members flown in from Dubai. KLL coaches as well as parents are part of the training program that includes Position-specific defensive skills, Mental skills training, Defensive speed of play, Age-appropriate strength stations, Pitching and throwing, absolutes for baseball and softball and Building blocks for hitters of all ages.
There are four hours each of morning and afternoon sessions for the training with the morning sessions dedicated to age groups 7-12 years stretching from 9 am to 1.00 pm while the afternoon sessions, 1:30 pm-5:30 pm, are for children 13 years and older.
Also being run by the trainers are evening workshops for players, parents and coaches that include CollegeBound, a college selection process in the United States for Softball and Baseball players. The evening workshops also deal with level-one coaching issues for first-time coaches and parents as well as advanced coaching and skills development issues for children 12 years and older.
Kuwait Little League (KLL), chartered with Little League International in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in the United States, has been in existence since 1980. The KLL league season runs from October to April with dedicated and knowledgeable coaches who are all volunteers and working hard to making the child’s baseball experience great.
The voluntary nature of their job, allows the coaches to be able to offer 6 months of a twice a week activity. They also offer the players jerseys and caps which are uniforms for their teams as well as the use of all equip- ment (except a glove). Every child gets a team picture and a trophy at the end of the season which is included in the season fee.
KLL participates in several international tournaments each year. The players range from 4-1/2 to 17 years of age, both boys and girls. KLL is also in the fourth year of having their Challenger division which is for children with physical and developmental challenges. KLL’s Challenger division is the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa region.