By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— To prepare Pelham Park coaches and parents for the upcoming youth baseball and softball season, Pelham High School is hosting a four-part clinic starting Jan. 24.

“The main reason I wanted to do this was to get to the parents,” said Pelham baseball coach Sean Anderson. “The parents are the ones that are always working with their kids and going on the weekends. I just want to educate our parents.”

The first two sessions will be combined for both softball and baseball, and the final two will be split, according to Anderson.

The first session will feature Dr. Emily Casey of Andrews Sports Medicine, who also serves as the team doctor for Pelham High. Casey will touch on overuse injuries and prevention Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

Anderson said overuse is an issue for players, especially when they get to high school. He explained that a lot of youth travel ball players will play several games in a weekend, and they may pitch or throw several innings each day.

The overuse won’t show up while the kids are 8 to 12 years old, but Anderson said they are seeing more and more arm surgeries in high school because of how much the kids play when they are young.

“We will get a lot of education to our parents, what to watch for and be mindful of when their kids are growing up playing baseball,” he said. “I’m hoping they are going to get some knowledge just about protecting their kids.”

The second session will be held Jan. 31 from 2-4 p.m. at Purmotion, 211 Applegate Trace. Jorge Bonnet, a five-time Olympic athlete and creator of Purmotion, will talk to parents and coaches about strength and speed training.

Anderson explained that Pelham High School baseball only uses the functional training Purmotion, and that the team adopted the style four years ago.

Baseball will host two additional sessions: Feb. 7 from 2-4 p.m. and Feb. 14 from 2-4 p.m. at the PHS indoor facility. The first clinic will feature defensive fundamentals and drills for catchers, infielders and outfielders, and the second will focus on hitting fundamentals, hitting drills and pitching fundamentals and drills.

Softball will combine defensive and offensive clinics Feb. 7 from 2-4 p.m. at the PHS softball field. The session will feature drills for pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders, as well as hitting, base running and technique drills.

All parents and coaches in the park softball and baseball programs are welcome.

“The more people we can reach to try and educate about them about the game of baseball, it’ll help us out as their kids come up in our program,” Anderson said. “I think everyone should get something out of it.”