Fidgety in the batters box

Annesdad said:

She's 11. I do know she has had a fear of striking out in her for a while now and when she does she strikes out looking more often than swinging. Which irritates us both, as well as her HC.

I'll give your ideas a try! Thanks!

Click to expand...

After a girl struck out looking, one of the coaches on my DD's past team would always say..."Close your eyes. Now, swing the bat. You just gave yourself more of a chance to hit the ball than you did by just looking at it."

In my own observations, players who are afraid to strike out are a lot more likely to strike out.

Good luck! I hope your DD finds her way to becoming a successful, confident hitter.

I think Eric is observant and going in the right direction. A Google search for body language, fidgety feet, etc. Points towards impatience, anxiety. We all do stuff like it at times.

Hi Annesdad,

Great takes, expecially from Eric. I'd recommend paying attention to those.

In addition to the other questions above...is she hyperactive, smaller for her age, born late in the calender year, competing at a higher level or age level that is uncomfortable for her, et al? From what you describe, she's uncomfortable...whether it's physically, mentally, emotionally or a combination of those.

Especially since she's at a growing age, is she wearing a good pair of cleats that are fitted properly, and don't have any sharp or rough edges inside? I'm assuming so, but just thought I'd fire you up a little!

As she develops as a softball player, happy feet won't aid in helping her become a more comfortable, confident or competent hitter. There are absolutes in hitting, and the feet are foundation of the closed chain kinetic energy transfer. Good energy transfer and power start always at Mother Earth (ground). The rest of the upward directional kinetic chain will not work efficiently with uncomfortable, anxious feet. In fact, that will likely work in reverse, and cause imperfections throughout your daughter's mechanics because she is now trying to compensate for her feet. You may be witness to that already, as she's very late with her swings. I'd guess those swings are very timid and wristy. Timid is very important here, because it's an antonym of confidence...which perhaps leads you back to her mental softball maturity at 11 years old.

Have you considered a hitting coach for her? Outside of all the well intentions with training, sometimes dad or mom can actually hinder their child's athletic development. For example, if she's not confident in your knowledge, she may mirror that in her approach at the plate. At least, consider it.

Another option could be a sport's psychologist.

Anyway, best of luck and have fun with her hitting journey. She'll get there!

Chris

fidgeting in the box

Annesdad said:

Hey. My daughter moves her feet in the box a lot before the pitch comes. I am trying to teach her to settle in before but she doesn't seem to understand. There are times when the pitcher has some pace that she doesn't seem ready to swing and she either doesn't have time to swing or swings very late. Most of her hits against pitchers who are slow to normal speed still go to the right side. Any suggestion on how to help her dig in and be ready? Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

If your daughter still has this problem something she can do is to basically breath into the batters box. Put the back foot in, take a breath and breath out as she is putting the front foot into the box and settling in. Using a mental training tool such as breathing is one of the best ways to relax into something. Use visualization to see herself relaxing into the batters box the night before just as she is going to sleep or in the morning when she wakes up and is relaxed.

Would a no step stride help with this?

There can be movement of the front leg in the stance and load (toe tap to load, for instance) but not the rear. Teach her a better stance. Bend at knees, sit in her stance. Dig in rear foot (even on a gym floor). Pre-coil a little bit in her upper leg/hip. Her rear foot should want to twist backward but if it's dug in it won't, instead she'll feel pressure at the foot and at the upper leg/hip. That rear leg should now be solid as a post and she should think about loading into/around it. Have her pick her front foot up to initiate her swing and coil deeper as she puts it down (loading her hands back and she coils forward). Talk to her about "riding" her rear leg or "hovering" her front foot.

She should be building a dynamic platform not standing on stick legs (that's the phrase I always use). In short, stop her from dancing by replacing it with what she *should* be doing down there