Sports News for Kids tagged with "nfl-week-3"

Pitching Techniques: What is a slider? Why is it one of the hardest pitches to hit?

This article explains the slider pitch in baseball as part of a techniques series. It defines what a slider is - a pitch that appears to be a fastball but breaks sideways and down late as it approaches home plate. The article describes how pitchers grip and throw sliders, and explains why they're difficult to hit: the late break gives batters little time to adjust, they look like fastballs until the last moment, and the speed difference from fastballs disrupts timing. The piece mentions professional pitchers known for effective sliders like Max Scherzer and Mariano Rivera, and cautions young players about learning the pitch too early due to potential arm strain. Through simple explanations and comparisons (like frisbees and water balloons), the article makes this complex pitching technique accessible to young readers.