Hitting in Practice vs Hitting a Game

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Aug 2, 2011
129
16
My daughter played 4th grade rec. ball earlier this spring/summer. I have been coaching her swing since kindergarten and it was the best on the team mechanically. It certainly has a long ways to go, but as many of you know at 4th grade rec. ball most of the girls have bat drag, swing with their arms only, pull their heads completely off the ball, don't shift their weight forward, etc. I could go on. My daughter didn't exhibit these faults to the the degree of her team mates. In practice she regularly drove the ball to the outfield. In her first game she got a triple and was poised to lead the team in hitting for the season.

But it didn't turn out that way. She quickly went into a slump and her goal from then on was to "not strike out." She took a lot of close pitches that may have been balls but that she could have driven. So she walked a lot since it was the first year of player pitch and the pitchers were wild. And she occasionally swung at pitches way out of the strike zone.

I always praised her for swinging at strikes even when she missed. But I got on her a little when she took strikes and wasn't swinging the bat or when she swung at pitches way out of the zone. (I mean a little; I'm not a "barker" or one of those overbearing dads that suck enjoyment for all out of the game)

One issue is aggressiveness. She wasn't a great soccer player. Instead of diving into the crowd and trying to control the ball, she was like a satellite always near but rarely IN the action. Her main activity since kindergarten has been ballet. She has great self-discipline, balance and I think physically ballet has made her a good softball player.

The other issue is the wildness of the pitching and the uncertain strike zone. Every ump called strikes differently. A pitch at the neck would be called a strike one day and a pitch an inch inside or outside would be called a ball one game.
It was confusing to say the least.

Her problems at the plate did not extend to her defensive play. She regularly made great plays in the field.

She just made a 10U club team. I am wondering if anyone has suggestions on how to approach at bats mentally at this level. I told the team to always be thinking swing and then "decide NOT to swing at a pitch." This had them thinking swing and deciding not to when the pitch was out of the zone. This advice seemed to work for a lot of the girls.

Being nervous is certainly normal for girls this age playing their first year of player pitch, so I am not that concerned, but I am looking for the right thing to tell her to adjust mentally from passive and hesitant to more aggressive and confident. More at-bats will certainly help.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Jim
 
Jun 24, 2013
1,059
36
DD will swing at anything close to the strike zone, not sure that is the right anwser but if she strikes out it is going to be swinging. I do not trust our umps. We are pulling her strike zone in a little but but she is really hard to walk. It drives her coach nuts but I am OK with it.
 
Oct 25, 2009
3,345
48
Tell her to keep the ball from getting to the catcher.

One drill I use is called the "stop" drill. I throw pitches and have the batter stop when she makes contact with the ball. Freeze at contact. This forces them to see the ball better. In addition, it allows the player and the coach to observe the path to the ball.

Before someone says that will mess up the batter's extension, this drill is only done for a few pitches at a time.
 
Aug 2, 2011
129
16
Tell her to keep the ball from getting to the catcher.

That sounds funny, but it just might be helpful!

I also like the emphasis on swinging on close pitches. The pitcher is often just trying to get the ball over the plate in 10U, so the hitter should have time to adjust and hit a ball off the plate. I guess they have to be more selective when the speed increases, but at 10U free swingers with any ability should be able to clean up!

Thanks!
 
Aug 20, 2013
558
0
I just downloaded this and have only made it through about a quarter of it and it has already helped. We took the girls out and used the first drill and it was most helpful. Best of luck!

Softball Excellence
 
Jul 2, 2013
681
0
Welcome to the club. Players go through slumps, especially when moving up levels, until they get comfortable.

If she is a hitter, she needs to try to play for the highest level travel ball where she gets regular at bats. Rec ball is not travel ball, and she will soon be facing players who face higher level pitching on a more regular basis.

Facing Rec Ball pitching is especially difficult on hitters. The pitches are all over the place, and the umpire tries as hard as he can just to keep a good game going.

She needs to face better pitching, and get a real good feel for what an actual ball and strike is. Sounds like she is second guessing, which is very predictable against the wild pitching in rec ball.
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
I would buy her a $350.00 bat. I am only partially kidding. A new bat, might do the trick to get her over the mental thing. I wouldn't say much about it. Just give her 2 or 3 choices and order one.
 
Aug 2, 2011
129
16
I got her an Easton Synge at the beginning of the rec. season Amy. She really likes it, but those new Dimarini CF6's look pretty nice!
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
My advice, leave her alone. By this age you have taught her a strike zone but then have told her to swing at balls that are not strikes and then you correct her for swinging at balls that are not in your judgement close enough to be strikes... Imagine what it sounds like to a 10 year old, who typically hear things much more literally then adults. Nothing wrong with walks, as long as that is not the main goal of the at bat.

BTW the goal of a soccer player is to play a position and not dive into the crowd. Too many parents and rec coaches reward the kid who abandons their position and chases the ball all over the field when the kid who is actually playing her position correctly looks to be lost or not aggressive. I always rewarded the player who created a passing opportunity by being in the right spot to make a play possible.
 

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