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re: Youth baseball coaching tips
Posted on 4/4/22 at 1:36 pm to ColonelTiger88
Posted on 4/4/22 at 1:36 pm to ColonelTiger88
I’d like to think my son is strong enough, and I actually think he is. His current bat is a 26” -12.5 drop.
We have a bat his sister is using for softball (two years older) that is 26” but only an -11 drop. The barrel is much bigger so it honestly “feels” lighter because it’s less dense. He swings the less dense one faster, despite it actually being heavier.
Of course the little booger now wants a new bat for his birthday
We have a bat his sister is using for softball (two years older) that is 26” but only an -11 drop. The barrel is much bigger so it honestly “feels” lighter because it’s less dense. He swings the less dense one faster, despite it actually being heavier.
Of course the little booger now wants a new bat for his birthday
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Posted on 4/4/22 at 1:43 pm to Lester Earl
quote:
Look up Deven Morgan with Driveline. I love his perspective on youth baseball. He has stuff on youtube and his twitter is a good follow too. It's a nice mix of technical advice as well as new-age philosophies on dedication, athleticism, and mental training.
Thumb through is twitter for an idea
and I would order this right now
drivelines perspective is awesome but by 11-12 its essentially too late for 98% of the kids the OP is talking about. 12 years old will be the last year they play.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 1:52 pm to ColonelTiger88
quote:
Really this is an issue for the pitcher, 2nd base, and SS, as outfield holds the ball up and first and third should always only go to their own bases.
Do we just need to repeatedly practice situations for them or is there a game/station/drill to get them to realize that?
yes its just reps, reps, reps. you have to explain that to 2nd and short if runner is on 1st what to do, runner on 2nd what to do etc. pitcher should usually just go to first everytime at that age.
quote:
The issue too with why bat may be too heavy is due to moving on from a tball bat. My son played tball last year and used a 24" 11.5oz bat. He is in 7u coach pitch for our rec program and I bought him a bat per All Star specs. So he now has a 27" 17 oz bat, got longer bat too so he can use it for 4 years. I grabbed a 26" 20oz tball bat (mine) from my parents house and had him hit off the tee with the 20oz bat for a couple months. I did it to help him get stronger with his swing and now he swings his 17oz bat fine. At the beginning he struggled with his 17oz bat.
I'm coaching 7u team and that is what I am seeing with the kids I have on my team. They struggling to swing a heavier bat since they moved on from a tball bat. But the thing is they aren't practicing at home which is needed.
yea swinging too heavy of a bat or too long of a bat is a huge issue at the younger ages. in general most kids should swing biggest drop they can until they get to 10. at 10 it should be no more than drop 10. at 11 it should be drop 10 or drop 8. 12u should be drop 8 or drop 5. 13u should be drop 3, 14u should be bbcor
6u- 24 or 25"
7u- 25-26"
8u- 26-27" or 28" for really really big kid
9u- 27-28 or 29 for huge kid
10u- 28-29 but big kids can be whatever
11u- 29-31"
12u- 30-32"
13u- 31-32"
14u- 32-33"
if you want a bat to improve bat speed at home and a system to work on, try cam wood. even if you dont get the all american program, getting the one hander and weighted bat and taking 100+ swings a day, 5 days a week makes a huge difference in strength and bat speed.
as they get older, the driveline ax bat speed system is the ticket.
and if a kid is playing baseball at lets say the travel ball level, they should be working out. not doing so is asking for an injury.
its like giving a teenager a car with terrible brakes and every year you upgrade the engine but not the brakes. eventually you will get out of control. thats when injuries happen.
tons of science behind all of this now a days with driveline, 90mph formula, BRX, top velocity, florida baseball ranch, bill miller, tom house, zach dechant etc.
plus its crazy the tools we have now a days with the bat sensors, small radar guns, pitching AI, video analysis with coaches eye etc.
This post was edited on 4/4/22 at 1:56 pm
Posted on 4/4/22 at 1:58 pm to Earnest_P
As a long time ball coach, I've come to the conclusion that there are a number of reasons why many won't swing -
1.) Stage fright. They're afraid of making a mistake in front of everyone.
2.) Confidence. They're not sure of themselves. When to swing. Is this a strike? Etc
3.) Talent. 90% of the "A" players by age 11-12 are either on a tournament team or a junior high team. The guys in the rec league are (90% of them) are a different caliber player.
And - many of them just don't retain what you're teaching.
4.) They know a strikeout is bad. And a walk is good. Once they understand that... it's hard to get some of them to get their bat off of their shoulder.
5.) And yes, some of them have been hit and they're terrified.
(We started 11-12 rec practice a couple of weeks ago and I was amazed at the number of kids who have been playing every year and still throw the ball wrong, have terribll weak swings, don't know where to move to when the ball is hit, the basics, etc)
I love the reps work. With stations. I am BIG on stations. You've got the kids for 90 minutes... KEEP THEM BUSY.
The batting cage is free, my man. Have a batting practice 1 night per week. 1 set of kids on the tee. 1 set running soft toss. And the other set is in the cage.
There is value in every player on your team. All of them can learn / do something to contribute to your team's success.
I promise - there is 1 or 2 (that you can't see today) that will hit for you (besides your top 2-3 players).
There's a little quick kid or 2 on your roster that you can teach how to have a good eye, maybe do a fake bunt and draw a walk. Steal second. Get himself into scoring position.
There is a kid or 2 that you can teach the outfield work to - how to back up each other and get the ball in quick. Make an accurate throw to 2nd or 3rd and gun down a runner trying to get an extra base on you.
I know it's frustrating. Hang in there my man. And good on you for taking a team.
1.) Stage fright. They're afraid of making a mistake in front of everyone.
2.) Confidence. They're not sure of themselves. When to swing. Is this a strike? Etc
3.) Talent. 90% of the "A" players by age 11-12 are either on a tournament team or a junior high team. The guys in the rec league are (90% of them) are a different caliber player.
And - many of them just don't retain what you're teaching.
4.) They know a strikeout is bad. And a walk is good. Once they understand that... it's hard to get some of them to get their bat off of their shoulder.
5.) And yes, some of them have been hit and they're terrified.
(We started 11-12 rec practice a couple of weeks ago and I was amazed at the number of kids who have been playing every year and still throw the ball wrong, have terribll weak swings, don't know where to move to when the ball is hit, the basics, etc)
I love the reps work. With stations. I am BIG on stations. You've got the kids for 90 minutes... KEEP THEM BUSY.
The batting cage is free, my man. Have a batting practice 1 night per week. 1 set of kids on the tee. 1 set running soft toss. And the other set is in the cage.
There is value in every player on your team. All of them can learn / do something to contribute to your team's success.
I promise - there is 1 or 2 (that you can't see today) that will hit for you (besides your top 2-3 players).
There's a little quick kid or 2 on your roster that you can teach how to have a good eye, maybe do a fake bunt and draw a walk. Steal second. Get himself into scoring position.
There is a kid or 2 that you can teach the outfield work to - how to back up each other and get the ball in quick. Make an accurate throw to 2nd or 3rd and gun down a runner trying to get an extra base on you.
I know it's frustrating. Hang in there my man. And good on you for taking a team.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 2:13 pm to lsu777
quote:
drivelines perspective is awesome but by 11-12 its essentially too late for 98% of the kids the OP is talking about. 12 years old will be the last year they play.
You’re really killing my buzz here, sir.
Why can’t it be like the good old days?
Posted on 4/4/22 at 3:29 pm to lsu777
quote:
but by 11-12 its essentially too late for 98% of the kids the OP is talking about. 12 years old will be the last year they play.
I don’t totally disagree, tho I think your assertion is a little more General than “98%”. The guy is a coach & is just looking for improvement. Not necessarily looking to build a high school or college player.
If they are willing to learn & put in time a lot can happen in a few years. At the very least it could make their LL season more enjoyable.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 3:54 pm to Lester Earl
I’m really just looking for tips to help the kids transfer their cage and field practice performance into the games. Though I have appreciated all of the info provided in the thread.
I know that there’s 5 or 6 out of twelve who just don’t have it, but I feel like I’m failing as a coach when the other 6 or 7 who do have some ability (at least for the rec level) appear to be too nervous/intimidated to use their abilities.
Hopefully it improves as the season goes along, but it didn’t last year (not much). I thought I had it fixed this year by doing more pressure-filled practice.
I know that there’s 5 or 6 out of twelve who just don’t have it, but I feel like I’m failing as a coach when the other 6 or 7 who do have some ability (at least for the rec level) appear to be too nervous/intimidated to use their abilities.
Hopefully it improves as the season goes along, but it didn’t last year (not much). I thought I had it fixed this year by doing more pressure-filled practice.
This post was edited on 4/4/22 at 3:55 pm
Posted on 4/4/22 at 4:46 pm to Earnest_P
The most efficient and best way to get better at hitting, is to perform that skill in as gamelike a manner as possible.
The transfer of hitting off a soft toss or tee is minimal at best. That said, those are great ways for beginners to understand how to perform the skill effectively. But once they have the understanding of what the proper form is, you need to get them hitting off live pitching.
Teaching as many players as possible to pitch is helpful when they can consistently put the ball over the plate.
So:
1) Understand what the proper mechanics of the swing is.
2) Demonstrate/show video of the skill to the player.
3) Have them perform the skill in a blocked environment (soft toss, off a tee) until they are able to perform it correctly.
4) Practice hitting off live pitching with proper feedback (video delay is great for this).
5) Practice, practice, practice hitting off live pitching
6) Practice more with targeted feedback or watch delayed video of yourself
They will get better if they do this. This doesn't take into account things like strength training which helps immensely.
I see way too many baseball practices where the entire team is out in the field, and the coach is throwing BP to one kid. This is a terribly inefficient use of time.
The transfer of hitting off a soft toss or tee is minimal at best. That said, those are great ways for beginners to understand how to perform the skill effectively. But once they have the understanding of what the proper form is, you need to get them hitting off live pitching.
Teaching as many players as possible to pitch is helpful when they can consistently put the ball over the plate.
So:
1) Understand what the proper mechanics of the swing is.
2) Demonstrate/show video of the skill to the player.
3) Have them perform the skill in a blocked environment (soft toss, off a tee) until they are able to perform it correctly.
4) Practice hitting off live pitching with proper feedback (video delay is great for this).
5) Practice, practice, practice hitting off live pitching
6) Practice more with targeted feedback or watch delayed video of yourself
They will get better if they do this. This doesn't take into account things like strength training which helps immensely.
I see way too many baseball practices where the entire team is out in the field, and the coach is throwing BP to one kid. This is a terribly inefficient use of time.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 4:47 pm to Earnest_P
Chances are... they won't. I wish I had something better to say.
But I've had a ton of kids of the years that look good in the cage and just absolutely will NOT get after it during the games.
But I've had a ton of kids of the years that look good in the cage and just absolutely will NOT get after it during the games.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 4:48 pm to wheelz007
quote:
Chances are... they won't. I wish I had something better to say.
But I've had a ton of kids of the years that look good in the cage and just absolutely will NOT get after it during the games.
Sounds like a mindset issue.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 4:51 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
Does this work for younger kids too, like 6 year olds? A lot of kids on my sons team may be using bats that are too heavy
The problem is many parents of kids that age see how much a bat costs, so they buy a bat that a kid can "grow into" but the ability of a 6 year old to swing and handle a bat is so, so much different than that of a 9 year old.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 4:57 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
Do we just need to repeatedly practice situations for them or is there a game/station/drill to get them to realize that?
At kinder t-ball, you aren't going to have too many times where the 2B is going to pick up that runners are on 1B and 2B and they need to catch it clean and throw to 3B...
Put a runner on 1B. Hit the ball to the SS. When he catches it, every kid in the field yells and points where to throw the ball.
But understand 99 percent of the time in a game, they will go to first. No matter what.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 5:01 pm to Earnest_P
quote:
You’re really killing my buzz here, sir.
Why can’t it be like the good old days?
$$$$$$$$$
Posted on 4/4/22 at 5:03 pm to KosmoCramer
quote:
I see way too many baseball practices where the entire team is out in the field, and the coach is throwing BP to one kid. This is a terribly inefficient use of time.
It is... but you have to have other adults / older kids out there to run stations.
And that's a big problem for a lot of rec teams.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 5:29 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
It is... but you have to have other adults / older kids out there to run stations.
And that's a big problem for a lot of rec teams.
Teach the players to be self sufficient and throw/toss. The feedback is important, but overall reps more so.
Unless we are talking about very little kids, then yeah get parents to help.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 6:23 pm to Earnest_P
If anything they should have too much confidence at that age. Kids today. 
Posted on 4/4/22 at 8:39 pm to Earnest_P
I think you should record the game and watch it with them, just fast forward to hitting (use Teams or WebEx or the like, on nights y’all don’t have practice) …let them tell you what they see. First let the batter have a shot, then let his teammates. Life’s too short for bullshite, and what these kids think they did…is different from what they really did.
This post was edited on 4/4/22 at 8:40 pm
Posted on 4/4/22 at 10:27 pm to Earnest_P
Be sure to have kids named Gunner or Maverick. You can be named Maverick and be a pansy. All remind yourself that no matter what, your son should be the third or cleanup hitter. No one hits better than he does.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 10:58 pm to Earnest_P
Against decent pitching, give them the ‘hit and run’ very often. Against poor pitching, force them to bunt more. Goal is to force an offensive mindset with a ‘do damage’ goal with each at bat.
Posted on 4/4/22 at 11:35 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
You’re really killing my buzz here, sir.
Why can’t it be like the good old days?
quote:
$$$$$$$$$
That's such a stupid comment.
That's like saying.... don't send your kid to school with better kids, don't want them being too smart.
Kids move to travel for better coaching, better competition and to get better. Kids in travel usually make easy way more progress because the kids are more serious in practice and you are playing better competition.
Also most travel Kids put in way more work than little league kids outside of practice with lessons and work at home.
I dint mean to kill the buzz, but the skill level at the high school level has gotten crazy good, especially in districts like barbe. High schools are only going to take 6-10 kids usually per class. So you have to be freaking awesome to even make it, so you have to when your arse off. Save this for other schools.
Nothing has really changed. Most programs were only taking 10 or so max when I played 20 years ago. Kids realize this and want their spot, they seek the best avenue that can get them there.
I have 3 bits all at different levels. Oldest plays league, middle is on a majors team and my youngest plays tball so I see all the levels and this is my 8th year to coach. Just telling the truth.
If you could play on your all star teM and go play tournaments... you wouldn't treasure that over playing league? Cause that's all travel is essentially.
But dont let that ruin your buzz. Teach them mechanics and encourage them to hit up the batting cages. We have 3 or so that jump out the box as soon as it's pitched. Tonight I got 2 off them to actually swing so we celebrated the small win.
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