Break-in  - Your Patent Pending Can O Corn ^tm is made from genuine leather and will continue to become more supple as you use it. You can accelerate this process by doing the following:

Fill a sink with about 1" of warm water and set the Can O Corn ^tm  in the water. Let the ball soak for 15 minutes. Roll the ball in a circular motion with your palm pressing the ball against the bottom of the sink. You should start to feel the ball give after about 20-30 seconds. Water is entering the seems and allowing the leather to stretch and the beads to move more freely.  Roll the ball in the sink for about 2 minutes. Remove the ball and continue to work the ball between your palms as shown on the left. Work as much water out of the ball as you can and let it sit overnight. Once the ball is mostly dry begin to work a small amount (about the size of a pea) of petroleum jelly into the grain of the leather. Take the ball outside and PLAY CATCH!! Over time the ball will become soft and supple, easily conforming to the pocket of the glove. There will be little or no rebound making it perfect for teaching a child to catch a thrown ball.

If your Can O Corn ^tm becomes wet or dirty use a small amount of petroleum jelly to restore the soft feel of the leather. The petroleum jelly will bring the dirt to the surface where it can be wiped away with a clean cloth.

Step1: The Basket Catch

Stand approximately 6 feet away from your T-baller and have him or her push on the toe of the glove to 'open the pocket'. (On Team Can O Corn ^tm we push on the toe of the glove between every catch in practice and every pitch during games.)

Have the child hold the glove in the Basket Catch position with the pocket facing up and the glove  waist high . The throwing hand should be palm down above the pocket - see pictures.

Throw the Can O Corn ^tm overhand with some velocity into the pocket of the glove. The Can O Corn ^tm will not bounce out of the pocket like a tennis or sponge rubber ball and the weight will give the child the sensation of making the catch. Continue this drill several evenings in a row but keep it within the child's attention span. With some kids it may be 10 tosses others will make 20 or 30. See how many you can catch in a row, but remember - keep it light and fun!

Step 2: The Overhand Catch

Once the child is making 7 or 8 catches out of 10 you should move  to the ear or overhand catch. Begin the same way by pushing on the toe of the glove so that it is wide open. Have the T-baller hold the glove up by his ear with the pocket facing you. Stand 5 or 6 feet away and throw your Can O Corn ^tm  and let it pop into the pocket.

The proprietary bead core will allow the Can O Corn to conform to the shape of the glove's pocket with little or no bounce - giving the child an extra split second to close the glove on the ball - making the catch! Because of the soft and supple feel of the Can O Corn ^tm the child will not be afraid of being hit by the ball and they will be less likely to turn their head and lose sight of the ball. You as a parent/Coach should be more confident in your tosses which will help you make a better throw.

When the child becomes comfortable with the overhand catch next to the glove ear, move the glove to the opposite ear and begin again!

Step 3: Proper Throwing Technique with Can O Corn ^tm

Your little slugger is catching better since you have been doing these drills with him/her, but that is only half of the equation. He needs to be able to get the ball to his teammates. Team Can O Corn ^tm uses this drill to teach proper technique. Have the child stand with his belly button turned 90 degrees from where he will be throwing. Have him point his glove at his target and stretch out the throwing arm with the thumb under the ball. Hold the ball as much in the fingertips and as loosely as little hands will allow. We use the mental cue of 'Reach back and touch the fence.'

Have him step with his front foot and bring the arm up and over at about a 60deg angle. Children are great at visualization so I tell my little guys to pretend they are standing in a doorway at home and they want to bring their hand up through the part of the doorway where the top meets the side. As they release the ball they should let their arm follow through and the back leg should come up and over landing slightly in front of their front, or plant, foot. The mental cue we want to use is 'Point, Step, Throw.' Since Can O Corn ^tm  is squishy and an ounce lighter than a standard ball it is easy for small hands to grip lightly. Be on the lookout for kids that want to stand flat-footed with their belly button pointed at the target. By not stepping through and using the big muscles of their legs and torso they are only using the arm and are losing power and accuracy in their throws. As they get older and the throws become farther this can lead to sore and injured arms.

Step 4: Grounders with Can O Corn ^tm

Since the bead core of the Can O Corn ^tm allows the shell to deform it makes an excellent tool for teaching grounders. The shell will absorb any irregularities in the field, which will help to eliminate 'Bad Hops'.  Older fielders can begin this drill in the ready position. That is his feet shoulder width apart, his knees slightly bent, his hands resting lightly on his knees and his head up.

For younger players, we preset them in the actual fielding position of glove opened up and on the ground with their head up where they can see the ball. We use the mental cue of 'Glove down, Bottom down - Eyes UP!'

Since the Can O Corn deforms as it hits uneven terrain we will have to roll it a bit harder than a real ball to get it to our fielder. Once he traps it in his glove with the throwing hand he pops up and turns his belly button 90^o from the target and we are right back to the throwing drill.

Step 5: Batting Practice with Can O Corn ^tm

The reduced rebound of Can O Corn ^tm makes it an ideal batting aid for younger players (age 7 and below). It will not fly nearly as far as a sponge rubber ball, which will allow batting practice in a smaller space. We recommend using it off of a tee, but it can also be used for children that are afraid of the pitched ball. While Can O Corn ^tm is made from top quality leather and true waxed cotton stitching, it should not be batted by anyone over the age of 7. If the shell of your Can O Corn ^tm is ripped, exposing the inner membrane remove it from service immediately!

Step 6: Have Fun together with Can O Corn ^tm

Thank you for taking an interest in the Can O Corn ^tm Catching Aid, and your child's future. We hope your youngster experiences a dramatic improvement in his or her ability to catch which will lead to a heightened enjoyment of the game. If you will spend 5 to 10 minutes 3 times a week your slugger should look as happy as our little guy below!

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