Suggestions for how to overcome fear of the ball

My DD (10u) plays thirds and she has always played close until there is a force at 3. This weekend girl showed bunt and DD was crashing hard on the ball, then the girl slashed and I thought she drill DD right in the chest. Good thing she has quick hands and the ball hit all glove. But it still took her a couple of batters and a little talk before she was playing like herself again.
When we first started I would hit balls to her pretty soft and slowly increase the speed over time. I still do that now, play a little pepper and build the speed up until it's humming.

Old post from similar thread, but may work for your team too...

I always liked using the velcro balls and disks when teaching really young players (4-5-6) who are absolute beginners. If you haven't seen these, it's a backyard/beach game you can find at Wal-Mart, Target, Dollar Store etc. Round disks go over the hand and velcro ball sticks to disc. Reason I liked it is that kids usually end up having to "catch" ball with fingers up and don't get into basket catching habit. If they slap at the ball it will bounce off instead of sticking...good way to teach soft hands simultaneously. Ball is basically a tennis ball, so it doesn't hurt if they get hit.

you will need parents to work with them, couple hours of week in group setting is not enough. go over whatever you are teaching with parents as well and give the players and parents homework.

for my DD, I had her stand about 8 feet from me (age 5-6-7 I think), and put glove up like she was waving high to me with her catching hand. I threw hundreds of balls right into her glove (under hand so it was coming straight in at her, rather than down at her, and more like a throw she would get from teammate). then I had her hold her catching hand on other side of her body, about chest high (ie backhand) and did same. then same with glove right in front of her belly. then with glove in between knees facing downward.
always throwing ball right into the glove. This built confidence in her and the glove to do the job. built out distance wise from there, and then started moving it around, first predictably, like in a circle (left center right low), which also helped learn how to transition the glove to the different positions. if they are backing away, put them against a wall and do same.

Strike2 said:

I coached Rec teams when DD was younger, and it is REALLY hard to teach a kid to catch well in a short time period. If they aren't regularly playing catch with someone away from practice, they won't get better.

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This is our big issue. We only have four practices before our first game, and one was rained out, so we don't have a whole lot of time. I've told them and their parents to play catch as much as they can.

Tom said:

I always liked using the velcro balls and disks when teaching really young players (4-5-6) who are absolute beginners. If you haven't seen these, it's a backyard/beach game you can find at Wal-Mart, Target, Dollar Store etc. Round disks go over the hand and velcro ball sticks to disc. Reason I liked it is that kids usually end up having to "catch" ball with fingers up and don't get into basket catching habit. If they slap at the ball it will bounce off instead of sticking...good way to teach soft hands simultaneously. Ball is basically a tennis ball, so it doesn't hurt if they get hit.

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I love this idea. I have to see if I can find them.

Thanks for the other replies as well!

I like the ideas above! lots of options but best said" tell them the truth, it hurts" but I would add, snowcones for those that don't cry!

if they catch it, it doesnt hurt at all. and if they turn their head away (as many do, holding glove at arms length), they are much more likely to be hit. also, facemasks

dbronstein said:

This is our big issue. We only have four practices before our first game, and one was rained out, so we don't have a whole lot of time. I've told them and their parents to play catch as much as they can.



I love this idea. I have to see if I can find them.

Thanks for the other replies as well!

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Here are some on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Latches-Catc...ocphy=9026907&hvtargid=pla-390937258460&psc=1