Chadwick McCrea Graham has led activities at the Graham Adair, Inc. business immigration law firm in San Jose, California, since co-founding the firm in 2010. Beyond his work as an attorney and business leader, Chadwick McCrea Graham spends time contributing to various community groups. He is particularly involved with youth organizations, serving as a teacher with his church and as a local soccer and baseball coach. One of the most important roles of a little league coach is to help younger players understand the sport’s rules and regulations. First base is a great place to start a player’s education, as there are a number of somewhat complex rules governing the base for base runners, including rules about advancing and the uncaught third strike rule. When it comes to advancing, first base is unique compared to second and third base in that players are permitted to run through the bag while attempting to outrun a throw. In most cases, a player will cross the base, receive a safe or out call from the umpire, and either return to the base or head back to their team’s dugout. However, once a player makes any indication that they may attempt to advance to second base, he or she can be tagged out. There are several steps players can take to help umpires determine whether they are interested in advancing or simply returning to first base. Contrary to popular belief, a runner who turns left after running through first is not automatically eligible to be tagged out. While coaches should encourage players to turn right in order to avoid a judgement call on behalf of the umpire, players can only be tagged out if they make a decided effort to advance to second. More simply put, a player that turns left and immediately returns to the base is not likely to be viewed as a threat to advance by the umpire. In fact, youth coaches should consistently remind players to quickly return to the base after such a play. More information regarding advancing through first can be found under Rule 7.08 in the official Little League Rulebook.
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Cofounder of the law firm Graham Adair, Inc. in San Jose, California, attorney Chadwick McCrea Graham also owns ID Shredders, Inc. When not at work, Chadwick McCrea Graham enjoys staying active and participates in numerous races. The one race he is most proud of is competing in the Warrior Dash, which he finished third for his age group. Begun in 2009, the Warrior Dash is a 5K obstacle course race that invites everyone to participate. As of November 2016, the Warrior Dash has donated more than $13.5 million to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. More than 2.5 million people have participated in this worldwide event, which features 12 obstacles. Those who complete the course receive a medal, T-shirt, helmet, and a beer. The 2017 race in Southern California occurs in Chino at Prado Regional Park on April 6. This race features mud mounds, a giant cliffhanger, and the goliath, which requires participants to climb two stories and splash into the bottom of a 30-foot-high slide. After the race, participants can hose off all the mud they accumulate, or for an additional $20, they can run the race again. Chadwick McCrea Graham is an attorney with Graham Adair, Inc., in San Jose, California. When he is not working, Chadwick McCrea Graham contributes to a number of youth activity groups. He coaches weekly practices and games for his son's little league baseball team. The primary role of a little league baseball coach is to keep each player safe and free of injury. Coaches are further tasked with teaching children the basic fundamentals of baseball and should spend a fair amount of time teaching players about the strike zone, so that players understand when and when not to swing at a pitch. Generally speaking, the strike zone can be defined as the area directly above home plate, extending from a batter’s knees up to their armpits. However, players should be made aware of various circumstances that can lead to changes to this definition. For example, some batters assume a crouched position in the batter’s box, which theoretically shrinks their strike zone. A smaller player taking such a stance may further minimize their strike zone. It is up to the umpire to consistently enforce a reasonable strike zone, while it is the coach’s responsibility to explain strike zone changes to their players. Younger players may also experience larger strike zones. For instance, children between the ages of nine and 11 rarely possess the pitching skills necessary to hit the strike zone with any consistency. Umpires are advised to enlarge strike zones for younger players in order to run games at an acceptable pace, and to keep defenses engaged. Similarly, coaches should encourage children to go after pitches they think they can hit, rather than wait for four balls. |
AuthorAn attorney with more than a decade of experience in the field of law, Chadwick McCrea Graham currently holds a partnership in Graham Adair, Inc., in San Jose, California. Archives
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