- Sep 11, 2014
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Just the typical school screenings. There have never been any issues to warrant any further screening. She seems to see the ball just fine in all other aspects.
How To Conquer The Fear
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Just the typical school screenings. There have never been any issues to warrant any further screening. She seems to see the ball just fine in all other aspects.
What might help is for her to practice being hit with a ball.
There is a way to react when you might get hit. It might help her to learn the skill.
There is a way to react when you might get hit. It might help her to learn the skill.
My initial thought is to have her stand in the batter's box without a bat. Just work on reading pitch location for starters, and get used to standing still as pitches go by.
DD is same way "different player during live at bats". I think caused by
1. Nerves - so we have built a routine with focus points and breathing
2. Feeling pressure to perform - we don't comment on strike outs but on quality swings and remind her that no one dies from a stoke out.
We always work mechanics because the better the swing and timing, the better the outcome and positive outcomes begets more positive outcomes.
1. Nerves - so we have built a routine with focus points and breathing
2. Feeling pressure to perform - we don't comment on strike outs but on quality swings and remind her that no one dies from a stoke out.
We always work mechanics because the better the swing and timing, the better the outcome and positive outcomes begets more positive outcomes.
The one thing I have seen that made the biggest difference on being afraid to get hit by a pitch, was after the girls watched the WCWS. Everyone on our team has aspirations of going to play in college. When they saw how close to the plate the college girls stand and how they reacted (or actually didn't react) to getting hit, they all seemed to lose the fear of it.
They thought if the college girls can take a hit at 70 mph, then taking one at 55-60 mph shouldn't be a problem.
DD would always brush someone back if they got up on the plate too far. Batters would always back up. Now they dare you to come inside, and won't budge to get out of the way.
They thought if the college girls can take a hit at 70 mph, then taking one at 55-60 mph shouldn't be a problem.
DD would always brush someone back if they got up on the plate too far. Batters would always back up. Now they dare you to come inside, and won't budge to get out of the way.
Went through this with my son. Repetition, desensitization, and time. We started with whiffles, which allowed me to plunk him occasionally.
...oh, and a relentlessly positive outlook from Dad. It nearly killed me.
One of the biggest reasons that players are different vs. live at-bats is that the ability to time a live pitch is a greater challenge than many assume, IMO. It's kinda like Mike Tyson said, 'Everybody has a plan, until they get hit.' Similar w/ hitting. Everybody has a plan on how to swing, until the ball doesn't arrive at the location or time they thought.
Not that this has much to do w/ fear of being hit, but thought I'd add that.
- Jun 21, 2012
- 74
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I have done this with fearful batters.
Technique 1: Put a hitting net next to her. The idea is that she can finish her swing, because the bat will just hit the net, but if she steps out, her cleats will get tangled in the net. Make it very uncomfortable to feel and get out of.
Technique 2: Work on fast hands. Turning quickly on inside pitches and purposely hitting them foul. Use tennis balls or incredi-balls initially. Be about ten feet away, front toss, and concentrate on inside pitches. Slowly move closer to the body until she is confident that she can fend off an inside pitch right at her. As she gets better, move back and increase speed to give her a good sight picture. In this technique, do not worry about what the feet do. Concentrate on hand and bat speed.
Technique 3: Have her bunt a lot. I mean a lot. Teach her to catch the ball with her bat. Every batting practice, have her do a 2:1 ratio bunt to hit. This will enforce a really good skill and give her more confidence at the plate. If she is fast, this can be her goto until she feels better about hitting for base hits.
Technique 4: When you do batting practice, throw all outside pitches until she gets the feel for the "toward the pitcher" stride.
Hope this helps
Technique 1: Put a hitting net next to her. The idea is that she can finish her swing, because the bat will just hit the net, but if she steps out, her cleats will get tangled in the net. Make it very uncomfortable to feel and get out of.
Technique 2: Work on fast hands. Turning quickly on inside pitches and purposely hitting them foul. Use tennis balls or incredi-balls initially. Be about ten feet away, front toss, and concentrate on inside pitches. Slowly move closer to the body until she is confident that she can fend off an inside pitch right at her. As she gets better, move back and increase speed to give her a good sight picture. In this technique, do not worry about what the feet do. Concentrate on hand and bat speed.
Technique 3: Have her bunt a lot. I mean a lot. Teach her to catch the ball with her bat. Every batting practice, have her do a 2:1 ratio bunt to hit. This will enforce a really good skill and give her more confidence at the plate. If she is fast, this can be her goto until she feels better about hitting for base hits.
Technique 4: When you do batting practice, throw all outside pitches until she gets the feel for the "toward the pitcher" stride.
Hope this helps
**Didn't realize this was an old thread!! I wonder how her DD is doing now...a year later. 
**
Really don't have a lot of offer but a couple of things that come to mind (keep in mind I am no expert even after years of reading this forum LOL):
1) How is her presentation/walk up to the plate? Does she have the same routine every time? Also, does she walk into the box and then look out to the field and look at gaps and positions? Tell her to face them down with that stare...and then she looks at pitcher straight in the eye. And of course, move her focus to pitcher's hip. Focusing on a routine will help her relax initially.
2) Does she have the Yes, Yes, No mentality? If not, read this: https://www.coachlisle.com/batters-box-battle/
That's all I got...we have BTDT...and as such, a little something else I can offer you. Don't try so hard FOR your DD. Just relax and support her. She will find it, but SHE has to find it and work with it. Important thing here is RELAX. Keep working hard, go through the motions, and it will eventually fall into place.
Good luck!
**Really don't have a lot of offer but a couple of things that come to mind (keep in mind I am no expert even after years of reading this forum LOL):
1) How is her presentation/walk up to the plate? Does she have the same routine every time? Also, does she walk into the box and then look out to the field and look at gaps and positions? Tell her to face them down with that stare...and then she looks at pitcher straight in the eye. And of course, move her focus to pitcher's hip. Focusing on a routine will help her relax initially.
2) Does she have the Yes, Yes, No mentality? If not, read this: https://www.coachlisle.com/batters-box-battle/
That's all I got...we have BTDT...and as such, a little something else I can offer you. Don't try so hard FOR your DD. Just relax and support her. She will find it, but SHE has to find it and work with it. Important thing here is RELAX. Keep working hard, go through the motions, and it will eventually fall into place.
Good luck!
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