I can see a term like "forearms" resulting in blank stares from the intended 10YO students. Would it be incorrect to describe the desired action as involving the wrists, rather than hands? But then again - hands is probably the simplest. Maybe just say "hands", but demonstrate how the hands are moved by rotating the forearm.
Building a swing from scratch?
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Yes, I agree that "forearms" could be met with confusion. Definitely demonstrate.
- Jun 8, 2016
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There is no fast way. I would start them the same way you did with your DD, since you are comfortable with that form of instruction, and move on
from there. Since these kids are bit older then your DD was when you started, they may progress a bit faster since they will have a bit more body
awareness than your 5 YO DD did, regardless of how much hand-eye coordination/athleticism she had at that age.
You should also make sure to let them know that they will not improve significantly without putting in the work on their own. Hitting once
a week with you ain't gonna cut it.
I'm certainly no expert but I really like this video by Mike Candrea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUa2OEo8HSI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUa2OEo8HSI
TL/DR: (which of course came to me after I already brain-dumped what's below) - Teach them that they have to MOVE on every pitch, but not SWING at every pitch.
1. I know this may sound like something that would be encouraging a cookie-cutter type swing, (and apologies for channeling my inner "songtitle") but think about showing them pictures of hitters right at toe-touch - hands back, elbow working back, shoulder tilt, bat mostly upright. Show them the position they need to get to before they even start swinging. (May also be helpful to point out that it's all a continuous movement - don't stop once you get there!) Which also ties into my other coaching frustration, which is
2. The need to "START MOVING". "You need to look like this roughly around the same time the pitcher releases the ball - what do you need to do to get yourself in this position? WHEN do you need to start moving to get to that position?" I first wrote "...get to that position ON TIME" - but I think that's an entirely separate discussion. Yes, it's all about timing. And I don't know if the simplicity of the following statement conveys the idea that's in my head - but you can't be on time if you're not moving.
The 10YO's you may be teaching are only a year or so more coordinated than the 8-9YO's I work with. And we're talking about beginners - smooth, powerful mechanics would be great - but even a DBSF, all-arms swinger will GREATLY increase their chance of contact if they just START MOVING before the pitch is thrown. Load, coil, stretch, launch - are all wasted if there's not some sort of pre-pitch rhythm or movement. At our level, pretty swings often show up as a "K" in the book, b/c the ball is by them before they've even turned the barrel. An ugly swing that makes contact has a chance to end up as any number of scorebook notations.
Instill in them, to paraphrase Rich Balswick's pitching video, "the need, no the urgency" to START MOVING before every pitch. If they can understand and demonstrate the ability to MOVE on every pitch, but not SWING at every pitch, there's a chance they'll be equal to, or ahead of, many of their teammates come Fall.
1. I know this may sound like something that would be encouraging a cookie-cutter type swing, (and apologies for channeling my inner "songtitle") but think about showing them pictures of hitters right at toe-touch - hands back, elbow working back, shoulder tilt, bat mostly upright. Show them the position they need to get to before they even start swinging. (May also be helpful to point out that it's all a continuous movement - don't stop once you get there!) Which also ties into my other coaching frustration, which is
2. The need to "START MOVING". "You need to look like this roughly around the same time the pitcher releases the ball - what do you need to do to get yourself in this position? WHEN do you need to start moving to get to that position?" I first wrote "...get to that position ON TIME" - but I think that's an entirely separate discussion. Yes, it's all about timing. And I don't know if the simplicity of the following statement conveys the idea that's in my head - but you can't be on time if you're not moving.
The 10YO's you may be teaching are only a year or so more coordinated than the 8-9YO's I work with. And we're talking about beginners - smooth, powerful mechanics would be great - but even a DBSF, all-arms swinger will GREATLY increase their chance of contact if they just START MOVING before the pitch is thrown. Load, coil, stretch, launch - are all wasted if there's not some sort of pre-pitch rhythm or movement. At our level, pretty swings often show up as a "K" in the book, b/c the ball is by them before they've even turned the barrel. An ugly swing that makes contact has a chance to end up as any number of scorebook notations.
Instill in them, to paraphrase Rich Balswick's pitching video, "the need, no the urgency" to START MOVING before every pitch. If they can understand and demonstrate the ability to MOVE on every pitch, but not SWING at every pitch, there's a chance they'll be equal to, or ahead of, many of their teammates come Fall.
Teach them that they have to MOVE on every pitch, but not SWING at every pitch.
Love it. Love it. Love it!
I have girls that have played for years that do the statue thing. I hate it.
I am implementing this today.
Thanks
Love it. Love it. Love it!
I have girls that have played for years that do the statue thing. I hate it.
I am implementing this today.
Thanks
I tend to refer to it as "pre-launch movement", but it definitely MUST happen on EVERY pitch. From what I have seen, this is often the biggest stumbling block when players move to a higher level of play. At the rec level, they are often used to having lots of time to evaluate pitch location before initiating their pre-launch movement, and still execute a good swing. As pitching speeds up, there quickly comes a point where they no longer have time to read location before they start the process. The early process must start well before they know where the ball will be, or they simply won't have enough time to execute a good swing sequence. As a general guideline, I recommend that they start their stride at the same time the pitch is being released (ball in the air, foot in the air).
