Using a game of tee ball to build confidence

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Jan 29, 2016
151
28
I coach a 10U rec. Team in a small town ( only 3 10U teams). We have some girls that are really struggling with confidence at the plate. Do you think having a scrimmage game of tee ball can help? I think it can build their confidence by showing them they really can hit the ball. Maybe some of that confidence will carry over to live pitching. I don't want to go backwards in development though. Plus I think it will get the defense alot of work at the same time. Thanks for any input you may have.
 
Jan 29, 2016
151
28
Yeah. Maybe one inning of tee ball, then an inning of soft toss then go to live pitching

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
Jun 20, 2012
438
18
SoCal
I like where you are going but maybe you soft toss to them game?

Agreed.

I also coach 10u, and have found the "Queen of the Dirt" game that I learned about here works really well. I'm sure there are several different ways this is done, but here is how I do it: Object of the game is to hit the ball into the grass. Have all of the girls line up with their helmets on, bat in hand, and glove somewhere nearby. Throw a pitch to the first batter, and her objective is to hit that pitch into the grass. They only get one pitch. If they hit the ball in fair territory and it reaches the grass, they get back in line to swing again after everyone has had a chance. If they miss, they're out. If it goes foul, they're out. If it stops before it reaches the grass, they're out. If they're out, they are to leave their bat near the dugout, grab their glove and get in the field (have them leave their helmet on). Girls in the field have an opportunity to earn a trip back to swing again by cleanly fielding a hit ball, so it is in their best interests to aggressively field a ball if they want to bat again. The batter who hits a ball that is fielded cleanly is out. Towards the end of the game, it becomes harder to hit one into the grass since there's a bunch of fielders. so the girls start trying to hit it somewhere where there aren't too many players. You continue the game until there is only one left, and she is the "Queen of the Dirt." They will want to play this one a lot. I usually save this one for the end of practice and leave enough time to do it 2 or 3 times.

I found after doing this, those girls who are very reluctant to swing start to swing more often and more aggressively. And you should see them go after a ground ball in the infield.
 
Jan 29, 2016
151
28
Thank you. I will try that game at the end of tonight's practice.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,478
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top