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Started By
Message
Youth baseball coaching tips
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:22 am
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:22 am
Rec ball, and these boys (11-12) just won’t go up to bat with any confidence.
What do you tell these kids to get them to swing the bat like they mean it?
I already started adding random Ys to all their names on the lineup sheet, but it’s not working.
What do you tell these kids to get them to swing the bat like they mean it?
I already started adding random Ys to all their names on the lineup sheet, but it’s not working.
This post was edited on 4/4/22 at 9:26 am
30
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:24 am to Earnest_P
Hit them with the ball during BP so they understand it's not the end of the world and they don't have to be scared of the ball.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:25 am to Earnest_P
What age?
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:26 am to ProjectP2294
I thought by 11 years old they would be past that, but maybe that is a part of what is going on, just fear of being hit.
I do have one kid who has never played before, and he actually got a hit in the first game. And now that I think about it, in the last scrimmage he took one off the helmet.
I do have one kid who has never played before, and he actually got a hit in the first game. And now that I think about it, in the last scrimmage he took one off the helmet.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:26 am to Earnest_P
develop core strength with medicine balls, and work deadlifts
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:27 am to Earnest_P
Ensure your lineup consists of the names: Brayden, Colton, Jaden & Hunter for starters.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:28 am to Earnest_P
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:30 am to BackInBlackTiger
I have:
Brayden
Jaxson
Maddox
But the other nine could have been your grandfathers name, so that’s probably the issue.
Brayden
Jaxson
Maddox
But the other nine could have been your grandfathers name, so that’s probably the issue.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:31 am to ProjectP2294
quote:
Hit them with the ball during BP so they understand it's not the end of the world and they don't have to be scared of the ball.
Completely agree. Most kids cry b/c they got hit...not bc it hurts
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:31 am to Earnest_P
quote:
Rec ball, and these boys (11-12) just won’t go up to bat with any confidence.
It’s Rec ball. Just let them have fun. They are playing 11/12 Rec for a reason. Hitting takes lots of reps to build confidence. They are not going to get that in a 12 game Rec season. Let the kids have fun, encourage them when they fail and celebrate the shite out of the small victories.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:32 am to Earnest_P
quote:
I already started adding random Ys to all their names on the lineup sheet, but it’s not working.
I don't think I can help you then. They might be fricked.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:43 am to Earnest_P
Give them something easy to work on. Like getting hands to the ball or nob to the ball or push off with back foot. Then toss little plastic golf balls and let them concentrate on the skill you are teaching. Work your way up to hard ball with you pitching. It'll get their mind focusing on one aspect of the at bat and build confidence.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:48 am to Earnest_P
Make sure to create a strong bond with any single mothers on the team. It shows you care deeply about their sons success
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:50 am to Earnest_P
My 8 and 9 year old dudes were making contact but not putting any power in their swing either. Brought a bunch of tee's in and told them to beat the shite out of the baseball. It helped some of them start swinging hard all the way through. Doesn't seem like many rec ball kids are practicing much at home these days, and probably aren't hitting off a tee after 5u.
This post was edited on 4/4/22 at 9:52 am
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:56 am to ProjectP2294
quote:This is a big problem with young kids in the field for sure. It was for a friend's kids. I let a pop fly hit me in the chest to prove the point of it not really being a big deal, and regretted it. They never knew it hurt really bad, but I did for weeks. I stood there lying to them, telling them it didn't hurt.
Hit them with the ball during BP so they understand it's not the end of the world and they don't have to be scared of the ball.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 9:57 am to TriadTigers
Well practice is over now, the way our rec does it, so I don’t know how much I can do besides try to motivate them.
“Watch the ball” and “you have two strikes, you HAVE to swing if it’s close” don’t seem to be doing the trick.
“Watch the ball” and “you have two strikes, you HAVE to swing if it’s close” don’t seem to be doing the trick.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 10:00 am to Earnest_P
quote:
Well practice is over now, the way our rec does it,
Oooh that sucks. If you can't have practice you're pretty much screwed I think.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 10:05 am to BigPerm30
quote:Big Perm30 has a heart!
It’s Rec ball. Just let them have fun. They are playing 11/12 Rec for a reason. Hitting takes lots of reps to build confidence. They are not going to get that in a 12 game Rec season. Let the kids have fun, encourage them when they fail and celebrate the shite out of the small victories.
I agree with him, but it's hard to not get frustrated as a coach. I know this from coaching C League co-ed softball for a few years. I begged some ladies in my office to play, and they were terrible,but couldn't get them to practice. When I got mad at them for not showing up to practice, they said I told them it was going to be fun, and practice wasn't fun. My "If you can hit or catch the ball, it will be more fun" posturing was laughed at. I was coaching the parents who were in favor of everyone getting a trophy.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 10:08 am to Earnest_P
Earlier posters have alluded to this, but it's a two-tiered solution. More reps, and expose them to consistent pitching that is actually not going to hit them.
Get your practice organized to where you have people hitting live pitching, tee work, and soft toss simultaneously. That way every player gets three hitting drills every practice no matter what.
Then get a pitching machine to throw strikes at them over and over for a while. Take the bat away from them and let them watch pitches come in for a little bit. Let them see that it's not going to hit them, then let them hit.
That will get their mind off of getting hit and get them more dialed in to hitting and being more confident at the plate. And it will also teach them what a hittable pitch looks like.
If you want... you can also actually teach them how to take a hit by pitch with tennis balls. Teach them to turn inward on a pitch like that so it hits their back/shoulder instead of their lead arm/face. Sometimes knowing what to do in that situation builds confidence. Depends on the personality type a bit.
Get your practice organized to where you have people hitting live pitching, tee work, and soft toss simultaneously. That way every player gets three hitting drills every practice no matter what.
Then get a pitching machine to throw strikes at them over and over for a while. Take the bat away from them and let them watch pitches come in for a little bit. Let them see that it's not going to hit them, then let them hit.
That will get their mind off of getting hit and get them more dialed in to hitting and being more confident at the plate. And it will also teach them what a hittable pitch looks like.
If you want... you can also actually teach them how to take a hit by pitch with tennis balls. Teach them to turn inward on a pitch like that so it hits their back/shoulder instead of their lead arm/face. Sometimes knowing what to do in that situation builds confidence. Depends on the personality type a bit.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 10:17 am to SpqrTiger
quote:
Get your practice organized to where you have people hitting live pitching, tee work, and soft toss simultaneously.
This "station" type batting practice has also worked the best for me. The lights will come on for kids at different stations for god knows what reason. After one or two practices I had a kid who couldn't hit his arse with both hands go to the soft toss and starts ripping the ball.
But, if you can't have practice like OP said, I don't know what you can do.
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