bunting every PA

[bmakj]

last year, I had a first year girl, sweet kid, great smile, but shy, and not very athletic, stiff, and little confidence. Got hit with a ball in face at first practice, not really injured, but made her scared the rest of season (though parents did get her a mask). could not get her to catch a ball rest of the year. at plate, swung late, did not track ball to plate (head stayed focused out near P), I think had a couple of foul tips all season. even in BP, got very little contact, and I slowed down my pitching as much as I could and still mek it hittable.

as we only have two teams this year, pretty near certain I will have her again, since when it comes down to it, I will probably take her again in draft (we completely redraft every year) if it is down to her and one other girl, so as to avoid hurt feelings, this is little league, and other coach is not likely to take her.

question is not really about draft, want to know other's thoughts on having her try to bunt most PA? will not do it for every PA, if P is a little wild, will let her have normal at bat, she did get a few BB last year. but if P is throwing 2 out of 5 strikes, almost 0% chance of her putting ball in play. torn, on one hand, do not want to short change her, on the other hand this strategy (if I can work with her on bunting in practice), might give her a way to put ball in play, which might do wonders for confidence. Also would help the team.

thoughts?

 

[CoogansBluff]

Embrace the challenge of getting this girl to hit, IMHO.

''Listen, Lupus, you didn't come into this life just to sit around on a dugout bench, did ya? Now get your rear out there and do the best you can.''

 

[RetiredCoach]

Every year I seem to have a girl on my team that requires special attention. I embrace that challenge and do the very best that I can with the girl. Quite often, I've gotten good results; but not always. Paraphrasing the above statement, I am sure that this girl did not come into the world to bunt every PA. And at 10U it's not all about winning the game. My suggestion is, if you are a coach, go and coach this girl and teach her how to hit!

 

[Seattlecoach]

Agreed the end goal should be trying to get her to hit. Getting her confident bunting might be a good stepping stone to achieving that goal.

 

[quincy]

DD got hurt hitting and started bailing out.

In addition to just a lot of reps, she bunted a lot which kept her in the box.

Another thought is have her try a no stride swing. If she is not stepping their is probably a better chance she will not bail.

 

[Momo'sDad]

last year, I had a first year girl, sweet kid, great smile, but shy, and not very athletic, stiff, and little confidence. Got hit with a ball in face at first practice, not really injured, but made her scared the rest of season (though parents did get her a mask). could not get her to catch a ball rest of the year. at plate, swung late, did not track ball to plate (head stayed focused out near P), I think had a couple of foul tips all season. even in BP, got very little contact, and I slowed down my pitching as much as I could and still mek it hittable.

as we only have two teams this year, pretty near certain I will have her again, since when it comes down to it, I will probably take her again in draft (we completely redraft every year) if it is down to her and one other girl, so as to avoid hurt feelings, this is little league, and other coach is not likely to take her.

question is not really about draft, want to know other's thoughts on having her try to bunt most PA? will not do it for every PA, if P is a little wild, will let her have normal at bat, she did get a few BB last year. but if P is throwing 2 out of 5 strikes, almost 0% chance of her putting ball in play. torn, on one hand, do not want to short change her, on the other hand this strategy (if I can work with her on bunting in practice), might give her a way to put ball in play, which might do wonders for confidence. Also would help the team.

thoughts?

For the non-athletic kid who can't hit, there are few things in the world more satisfying than getting a base hit that they earned.

As a coach, there are few moments more personally satisfying than when the kid who couldn't hit a lick finally gets a base hit that they earned.

Your life, your team, your call, but in my humble opinion, I don't think you should shortchange the player...or yourself.

 

[happytobeme]

FWIW... I think you are a very thoughtful coach to be even thinking about her and trying to develop a success strategy. Whatever you decide to do you will have made a difference in a young person's life. Good for you coach, I would have been thrilled to have any of my kiddos play on your team!

 

[JJsqueeze]

I would go the opposite direction with this. Have her swing at every pitch. I had a girl in rec that refused to swing the bat. I mean literally she did not swing the bat for like 4 games at the start of the season. I gave her the simple goal of swinging at every pitch. i literally called out from third base "swing at the next pitch even if it is over the backstop" she still didn't swing. Eventually she swung the bat a few times and we celebrated like it was a home run. She eventually got a hit even.

 

[bmakj]

definitely going to work with her in practice to get her hitting, no brainer there.

definitely about player development, but really most of the girls development of their skills is going to come in practice, just trying to maximize her chances of putting ball in play in a game, think it would boost her confidence, rather than to affect outcome of game. I have yet to have a winning season, but I considered every season a success because of how the girls developed.

BTW we do not allow walked in runs (when bases loaded, offensive coach pitches on 4 ball count), and even when I pitched to her in games, just could not get her to find the ball with her bat, eyes stayed glued to mine. maybe if I avoided eyecontact, maybe she would track the ball better?

 

[darken]

I would go the opposite direction with this. Have her swing at every pitch. I had a girl in rec that refused to swing the bat. I mean literally she did not swing the bat for like 4 games at the start of the season. I gave her the simple goal of swinging at every pitch. i literally called out from third base "swing at the next pitch even if it is over the backstop" she still didn't swing. Eventually she swung the bat a few times and we celebrated like it was a home run. She eventually got a hit even.

+1

I've had rec players in the same boat as your player JJ. Before the at bat, I'd say swing at the third pitch no matter where it is. Like you said, no matter the result, if she swung it was high fives and cheers all around. One of these players is now on a travel team I coach and is one of the more aggressive hitters on the team.