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BASEBALL AND THE BODY SYSTEMS

By: Owen O’Neill

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BASEBALL AND THE BODY SYSTEMS

There are different types of baseball positions that each player is assigned. Even though the positions are separate, the body systems all work together. The immune system doesn’t necessarily work to perform the sport, but is an important piece of the puzzle and must be maintained in order for the player to keep up his strength and not get sick.

PitchingFieldingCatchingBatting

Respiratory System (Brings in

oxygen)

Muscular System (Lets our body

move)

Circulatory System

(Transports nutrients & gets

rid of waste)

Skeletal System (Our body’s

frame)

Digestive System (Breakdown of

food & nutrients)

Immune System (good health)

Nervous System (Tells the body

what to do)

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THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND BASEBALL

The job of the respiratory system is to bring oxygen into your body, and remove the carbon dioxide from your body. Your body needs oxygen to survive

When a pitcher throws the ball he breathes deeply to try and calm himself before he throws it. These deep breaths, help him inhale oxygen at a maximum level, delivering oxygen to all parts of the body. This helps him pitch at a better level and gets the ball to go where he wants

When a batter breathes, he is able to have full flexibility and be fully present, seeing the ball and seeing the bat connect with the ball

When a fielder breathes, he is able to be fully aware and focused with all of his attention in the moment, and focused on catching the ball

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THE SKELETAL SYSTEM AND BASEBALL The skeleton works very closely with the

muscular system to help us move. Without the bones of our skeleton, we would be a blob of water-filled tissues. Our bones create a framework to which our muscles and organs can connect

The skeletal system helps baseball players throw, catch run, walk, stand up, slide, etc… The ball and socket in our hips and shoulders helps us bend and un-bend our arms to catch a ball, swing a bat or pitch a ball

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THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND BASEBALL The function of the digestive system is digestion and

absorption. Digestion is the breakdown of food into small molecules, which are then absorbed into the body

What baseball players eat and drink is highly responsible for their body's energy, performance, mood and overall wellness. Essentially “we are what we eat.” Foods like fruit, vegetables and complex carbohydrates are what players need to be at the top of their game. Water is also essential to keep them hydrated

Baseball players burn a lot of excess energy during training. In turn they need to consume more calories than the average person in order to replenish their bodies and repair damaged muscles. Baseball players need to have a strong digestive system to break down this food so that they can absorb its nutrients within their bodies

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THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM AND BASEBALL The main function of the muscular system is movement.

Muscles are the only tissue in the body that has the ability to contract and therefore move the other parts of the body

The shoulders, arms, back, legs and core are responsible for the movements in baseball

In pitching: The deltoids (primary muscles of the shoulder) allow your

shoulder to rotate back during the windup, and forward when throwing the ball

The triceps provide power when you are releasing the ball and pushing it forward

The lats (large fan-like muscles located on either side of your back), help your body to stabilize during the throwing motion while also providing power to the throw of the ball

Your core (your abs, lower back, glutes, pelvis and hips) helps you to remain stable when throwing a baseball

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THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND

BASEBALL The nervous system is a collection of

nerves and cells known as neurons that transmit signals between different parts of the body. It is essentially the body’s electrical wiring

The nervous system informs a baseball player’s body how to react. So, it tells you to “swing the bat” when the pitch is thrown or “catch the ball” when you’re in the field. Neurons are firing in your brain telling you to do all of the necessary actions needed to play the sport

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THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM AND BASEBALL The circulatory system is responsible for

transporting materials throughout the entire body. It transports nutrients, water, and oxygen to your billions of body cells and carries away wastes such as carbon dioxide that body cells produce

The main component of the circulatory system is the heart and it is used to pump blood to all areas of the body. When baseball players move, their heart rate increases and it helps move the blood throughout their body. This causes adrenaline, which helps players run fast

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THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND BASEBALL The immune system is a system of

biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease

The immune system doesn’t help baseball players, but baseball helps players immune systems! The physical activity of baseball, whether training or a game, helps make their immune systems stronger and keeps them from getting weak and sick. The stronger their immune systems, the more games they get to play

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CREDITS

Google Search WebMd Google Image Biology for Kids

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THANK YOU &

GO BIRMINGHAM BREWERS!