Staying Relaxed and calm.

[FiveFrameSwing]

Fair enough. Explain what you would do with an 8 YO to fix the issue, or better yet show us the progression of an 8 YO hitter you have worked with who has had this problem and
the instruction you used with him/her.

Clearly describe the issue you wish to learn about addressing.

 

[_MIA_]

Clearly describe the issue you wish to learn about addressing.

The one the OP asked about???

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

The one the OP asked about???

Refer back to my earlier description of the "timing and sequence" drill that I use.

 

[Eric F]

Any mistakes. I think it was more of a general comment on my "more hitting, less instruction" approach, which I agree probably won't work for everyone. He
has had qualms with me saying this sort of thing previously, which like I said, I can understand where he is coming from. Thing is this isn't a 12 YO girl or even a 10 YO
girl, it is an 8 YO....

I took pattar's comment to be more about clemenslee1 keeping up the work with his DD to continue her development, not advocating less instruction. I guess we interpreted it differently.

 

[CoachJD]

Remind her to focus, not calm down.

As others have said, telling her to calm down is just going to make her think about how she's nervous (excited, whatever).

What you really want is for her to maintain focus. Perhaps getting to think "I have to focus" will give her a positive "something" to do and not a negative "something" to not do.

That said, I have a girl who gets super excited/wound up at times. I just have to get her attention and do the two hands "relax" motion and she knows to just step out of the box, take a deep breath, and refocus. It helps her to just take that extra moment to breathe.

 

[_MIA_]

I took pattar's comment to be more about clemenslee1 keeping up the work with his DD to continue her development, not advocating less instruction. I guess we interpreted it differently.

You responded to my description of what I meant.... In this case, I am not sure anything more than more reps with live balls is necessary.

 

[_MIA_]

Refer back to my earlier description of the "timing and sequence" drill that I use.

I know and I've seen your description, and appreciate it, but I don't think that was in this particular thread was it?? Maybe I missed it.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

I know and I've seen your description, and appreciate it, but I don't think that was in this particular thread was it?? Maybe I missed it.

Glad you appreciated it.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

You responded to my description of what I meant.... In this case, I am not sure anything more than more reps with live balls is necessary.

I have seen parents/hitters take this approach ... and 3years later the hitter's swing looks remarkably the same as it looked 3yrs back.

If you want to make a change, then you need to extend an effort towards making a change. Change seldom occurs from doing the same thing.

That said, there is a lot to be said for the notion of building the athlete first.

 

[_MIA_]

I have seen parents/hitters take this approach ... and 3years later the hitter's swing looks remarkably the same as it looked 3yrs back.

If you want to make a change, then you need to extend an effort towards making a change. Change seldom occurs from doing the same thing.

That said, there is a lot to be said for the notion of building the athlete first.

Not disagreeing with the bold, but in this particular case (8YO hitter), with this particular issue (looking/feeling anxious with a moving ball) then I would tend to think
more reps would improve the situation. Now it is possible that the hitter is starting too late and this is causing the "anxious/panicky" look to the swing, in which case yes, some instruction towards this end would
be useful. However the OP made no mention of this in his post. A video of what he is seeing would be useful.