Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Simple solution - practice until it becomes instinctual and automatic in runners on and two strike mode.
I also tell them better to block and not need to than to need to and not block. Yes, you might lose a couple of low strikes. But that's a lot better than advancing a base runner 60 feet. Especially if she's starting out on 3rd.
It's a mental thing. Breaking through that mental barrier can be really challenging for some players. The first step is anticipating the probable need to block based on the pitch being called - change-ups and drops. One thing I have done in the past is to instruct my catcher that she will drop to block every change up, no matter where it is (it helps if the pitcher can reliably throw a change up low in the zone). The slower pitch speed gives them plenty of time, and the impact is reduced if it doesn't bounce.
Agree. I've found that at some point it just clicks and then they never look back. It does take a lot of reps and girls can have flawless technique except when they actually have to do it. Then at some point they block a few really well and they're off to the races.