OK this lens lisn't great, but...

I used my Canon 28-80 USM on my rebel XSi to take pictures at my sons basebal practice. Before I go any further I am a NEWBIE! All of the pictures were blurry. I used the sports setting. Still practicing with the not idiot settings so I didn't want to risk it. Was it the lens, me (I steadied on a fence at the field), non IS, the setting???? I have looked on several websites and in the manual for suggestions but couldn't find anything all that helpful. So here I am asking those who know. Thanks

If you add a picture to your post, it would certainly help.

Welcome to the forum.
Post some examples and the settings you used and I am sure some advice can be given.

My gut says you didn't have enough shutter speed

I agree that even the "sport"setting left you with too slow a shutter speed. Can't replace the higher ISO and pick a safe shutterspeed technique. Comes with practice so give it a whirl. Can't be any worse than "blur" the way you went.

Or, you left all 9 AF points active and it always focused on the wrong thing.

here is a sample

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the picture doesn't look as blurry here but in a 4X6 it is very blurry.

Picture doesn't look blurry at all to me. It looks a little out of focus and soft.

OK. I used auto focus. Any suggestions for someone new?

mishymama wrote in post #7556614
OK. I used auto focus. Any suggestions for someone new?

Get closer!

Fill the frame as much as you can. This may mean getting permission to be on the field or getting a longer lens. This will yield the best results regardless of the lens you are using.

You will be better off selecting the focus point you want to use for something like this. You may have to get out of green box or P-mode in order to manually select center-point focus.

The image you posted is just out of focus.

mishymama wrote in post #7556614
OK. I used auto focus. Any suggestions for someone new?

The question is where did you focus?

Your best bet is to use just the center focus point. Put that point over the player (or whatever you want to be in focus) press the shutter button halfway down to focus and hold it there while you recompose the shot. When composed press it all the way to take the shot.

1/100s is also kind of slow for any sports (except maybe Chess? )

I agree, 1/100s isn't going to get it. You need to be at least 1/400s. I like to be at 1/1600s or faster.