What is the consensus on having the team's pitchers throw live BP to the hitters?
My group of protègès are only 10, but I like it...a lot. However, it is really only good for the hitters to see our #1 P. #2 P is a distant second and if she throws at our hitters it is more for her benefit than the hitters. Outside of #1, I'd prefer to import another town's ace if I want to benefit the hitters. I want the girls to see and get comfortable with the best pitching we will face in TB.
To me, a tee or machine or soft toss has it's place, but there is is no substitute for facing live pitching. Working mechanics is essential, but if girls do not face live pitching then I have failed to prepare them. Afterall, it is one thing to practice rock climbing on a plywood wall in a climate controlled facility...trying to summit everest is a whole different ball of wax. Swing training is needed-yes. Taking that swing and training your eye and learning to actually hit real pitching is also needed IMHO.
Now, I have found that it is worthless to have each batter hit a 10 balls or a bucket or whatever. Nay, they get at most one 'at-bat' with a 0-0 count before rotating out. My favorite live BP at this age is a 'first strike' drill. For this, each batter steps in and must hit the first thrown strike. Hit the strike or go down looking--either way that's all you get unless you fouled it or took a called ball. This reinforces what I want the girls to do in a game, moves quickly with each kid rotating in many times, and does not dog the pitcher.
I should add that at this age I encourage kids not to work the count. See a strike and smash it is our rule. If the girls swing the bat at three good pitches, the likelihood of hitting the ball approaches 100% no matter how dominant the pitching. Watch 2 strikes and then swing only once and the likelihood of hitting it is WAY under 1/3. In a game, only my best hitters might be asked to take one pitch in order to let a baserunner steal. One pitch only. Otherwise the green light is on even at 3-0.
I realize this mentality could be cause for controversy. Certainly this is not the approach I would take with older girls. The best 10 yo's do not play like 18u gold. Period. There is a developmental progression (physical, mental, confidence, life experience, etc)that should never be overlooked. It is ok to play the game differently at younger ages. It is best to get 10yo's crushing the ball and hungry to do so. As they age and the game changes, it will be easy enough to tone down an aggressive hitter who now only needs one strike to do something with.
What prompted this? Something that struck me as odd from another board:
"Something unique to the environment that adds to the challenge is the fact that live pitching for BP is rare. No one wants to use their own itchers to throw BP. Absolutely verboten. "
Comments welcome
VW
My group of protègès are only 10, but I like it...a lot. However, it is really only good for the hitters to see our #1 P. #2 P is a distant second and if she throws at our hitters it is more for her benefit than the hitters. Outside of #1, I'd prefer to import another town's ace if I want to benefit the hitters. I want the girls to see and get comfortable with the best pitching we will face in TB.
To me, a tee or machine or soft toss has it's place, but there is is no substitute for facing live pitching. Working mechanics is essential, but if girls do not face live pitching then I have failed to prepare them. Afterall, it is one thing to practice rock climbing on a plywood wall in a climate controlled facility...trying to summit everest is a whole different ball of wax. Swing training is needed-yes. Taking that swing and training your eye and learning to actually hit real pitching is also needed IMHO.
Now, I have found that it is worthless to have each batter hit a 10 balls or a bucket or whatever. Nay, they get at most one 'at-bat' with a 0-0 count before rotating out. My favorite live BP at this age is a 'first strike' drill. For this, each batter steps in and must hit the first thrown strike. Hit the strike or go down looking--either way that's all you get unless you fouled it or took a called ball. This reinforces what I want the girls to do in a game, moves quickly with each kid rotating in many times, and does not dog the pitcher.
I should add that at this age I encourage kids not to work the count. See a strike and smash it is our rule. If the girls swing the bat at three good pitches, the likelihood of hitting the ball approaches 100% no matter how dominant the pitching. Watch 2 strikes and then swing only once and the likelihood of hitting it is WAY under 1/3. In a game, only my best hitters might be asked to take one pitch in order to let a baserunner steal. One pitch only. Otherwise the green light is on even at 3-0.
I realize this mentality could be cause for controversy. Certainly this is not the approach I would take with older girls. The best 10 yo's do not play like 18u gold. Period. There is a developmental progression (physical, mental, confidence, life experience, etc)that should never be overlooked. It is ok to play the game differently at younger ages. It is best to get 10yo's crushing the ball and hungry to do so. As they age and the game changes, it will be easy enough to tone down an aggressive hitter who now only needs one strike to do something with.
What prompted this? Something that struck me as odd from another board:
"Something unique to the environment that adds to the challenge is the fact that live pitching for BP is rare. No one wants to use their own itchers to throw BP. Absolutely verboten. "
Comments welcome
VW