My DD (10) just freezes up while at the plate during games and it is becoming very frustrating for her coaches and me. She is a really good practice hitter (against her teammates and when we do soft toss/front toss) and has what I consider a good feel for the strike zone, but she has some kind of mental block when it comes to real games. For some context she isn't seeing a lot of good pitches to hit, she has a really high on base percentage because she gets about 5 walks for every out she makes at the plate, but she just seems to watch that one/two good pitches each at bat go right by her. Her hitting coach and I have tried to tell her to always be looking to swing (sitting on GO) and then decide whether or not to swing once she sees the pitch coming in but it just isn't sinking in. Any good advice would be much appreciated.
DD freezing up during games while at the plate
- Thread starter stable31
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Parents and coaches are human, so I understand how they get frustrated. But I find it odd that you included this information in the very first sentence. Why does it matter that the coaches and parents are very frustrated? I'd be much more curious how DD feels.
Or could this be part of the problem? DD struggles w/ pitch selection, and her coaches and parents become very frustrated by it? Perhaps both exacerbate the other?
IMO, be patient. She's 10. She'll be learning to improve pitch selection for the rest of her softball life. It's hard. Keep telling her what you're telling her, but don't get frustrated it. Tell her that MLB hitters need work on it. It's challenging, but it's the secret to good hitting. Get her to be exciting about mastering this part of the game, not ashamed if she continues to struggle with it. The better they get at pitch selection, the better pitchers becoming at making you chase. It will be a challenge for as long as she plays. Embrace it, practice it, get better. It takes time.
I can feel frustration without projecting it onto my DD, maybe 'minor annoyance' would have been a better choice of words. Like I said her understanding of the strike zone is just fine, she walks a ton, it's just that she freezes when a strike is thrown and either swings late, and all arms, or she just watches it go by. I'm looking for a way to get her to "pull the trigger" when she does see a good pitch.
Every pitch think, YES, YES, YES on a strike or YES, YES, NO on a ball. Get her moving every time.
- Jul 2, 2013
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We are having the same issues with DD2. She is looking for the walk when she goes to the plate. From the stats you gave, it sounds like your DD may be doing the same. If she's getting walked that much she is probably thinking she'll get walked every time if she just waits the pitcher out.
DD2's hitting coach made her a deal this weekend. For every hit she got, he would do 5 pushups. She went 4-6 and can't stop talking about watching him do 20 pushups at her next lesson. I'm sure we're not over the hump yet but every little bit helps.
DD2's hitting coach made her a deal this weekend. For every hit she got, he would do 5 pushups. She went 4-6 and can't stop talking about watching him do 20 pushups at her next lesson. I'm sure we're not over the hump yet but every little bit helps.
FiveFrameSwing
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The feedback she is receiving from the pitching she is facing is that there is an advantage to determine if the pitch should be swung at.
You have to counter that advantage. It it is easier to develop hitters when they see a diet of good pitching. On the other hand, it is more difficult to develop hitters when they see a diet of sub-par pitching.
- Oct 10, 2011
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I think this answers a question I had but stays on topic I hope
I tried doing full windmill when throwing to DD and I'm not very good at it even though I practiced quite a bit. I have to stand closer and the pitches go into or close to the strike zone most of the time but not where I try to place them LOL. I'm thinking though that this is a good thing...seems to be much more difficult for her to hit. I have to go to regular underhand toss to hit a particular spot if we are working on that area though.FiveFrameSwing
Banned
I think this answers a question I had but stays on topic I hope
Very good. Don't worry if you only throw about 50% strikes. She needs to operate in an environment where she can't rely on a strike. You are helping her even if you don't believe you are very good at it. You'll get better over time ... especially if you learn the art of compression/brush-assisted-whip.
The better you can live on & off the edges of the plate, the better. In other words, you don't want her waiting forever for a 'mistake pitch'.
One of the best things you can do for your daughter is throw her BP. Keep working on your windmill mechanics.
She's 10...lots to learn...lots of fun IF you keep it positive..."frustrated" is not a word I associate with fun...
Keep it in perspective...there are NO scouts at 10U games...honestly, nobody - except over-zealous parents and coaches give a crap over what happens in these games...they are simply part of "the process" of learning "HOW" to play the game...
You haven't even touched on technique yet...she's 10...I'm reasonably certain her swing has flaws...
Here's an example of the yes, yes, yes or no decision that I posted a while back:
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-hitting-practical/22223-so-damn-frustrated-3.html#post297249
Teach her what the strike zone is...if you are handy" something like this is very helpful:
When I was a boy, my dad took me down to the high school where there was a strike zone spray painted on the wall and showed me what a ball was and what a strike was...helped a ton!
Confidence in the box isn't an "overnight thing..."
Be patient, have fun and make her confident to be a free swinger...CP
Keep it in perspective...there are NO scouts at 10U games...honestly, nobody - except over-zealous parents and coaches give a crap over what happens in these games...they are simply part of "the process" of learning "HOW" to play the game...
You haven't even touched on technique yet...she's 10...I'm reasonably certain her swing has flaws...
Here's an example of the yes, yes, yes or no decision that I posted a while back:
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-hitting-practical/22223-so-damn-frustrated-3.html#post297249
Teach her what the strike zone is...if you are handy" something like this is very helpful:
When I was a boy, my dad took me down to the high school where there was a strike zone spray painted on the wall and showed me what a ball was and what a strike was...helped a ton!
Confidence in the box isn't an "overnight thing..."
Be patient, have fun and make her confident to be a free swinger...CP
It sounds as though she is doing exactly what is being taught to her. JMO, but the decision to swing should be made before she ever steps into the box. To ME, that's what "sitting on go" means.
Look at it another way. You're telling her to get in the box, ready to swing, and then to study the pitch coming, determine if it's a strike, and then execute the swing she is accustomed to taking. That's a lot going on! You're basically telling her to react to strikes. What if you told her she is to go in there and swing every single pitch...her swing....the one she does all the time, until she sees it is a ball? React to balls, not strikes. You get THAT to sink in, and you'll have a girl you wish would get more walks. Lol
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