Posting this in the HS Baseball thread, simply because I hope someone here has already had to deal with this, and has a better solution than "get back in there". And I apologize in advance for the length of the post, but need to give some background.

 

I help coach on a 12U team that's playing fall ball right now. We have sort of a rag-tag assembly of players with limited experience. They played together for the first time this past spring in Knothole, with most of them only have 1 or 2 years experience at playing ball period.

 

Anyway, we're dealing with a situation with one of our players, that I really don't know how to handle. He's one of our bigger players size-wise, and as far as overall talent, I'd put him in the top 3-5 of our 13 kids. As far as potential is concerned, he's definitely 1 or 2, which is why I don't want to lose him, and more importantly, I don't want him to give up on a game that he apparently likes very, very much.

 

The situation is this...he's been hit by a pitch at least a half dozen times this fall. It's nothing that he's done in his approach (either crowding the plate, or lunging towards the first baseman on his swing)...but, balls have just seemed to find him. He's been hit in the hand, the upper arm, the ribs, the outer thigh on his left leg, and the inner thigh on his right leg. And everytime, it looks like he's doing his best to get out of the way, but to no avail. It just seems that when the opposing pitcher has one get away from him, this kid is at the plate.

 

This kid is super quiet. While he gets along with every other kid on the team, he's not one to be joking around with them (either on the field or in the dugout). He pays attention to what we're doing, and always does what we say.

 

But, last Saturday, he came to the game, but told his mom he didn't want to play. With a little pressing, we found out it was because he had gotten hit (again) in the last game, and just didn't want to have to bat anymore. We thought giving him a little time, and maybe seeing his teammates out there would get the competitive juices going, and he'd eventually want to play. So, we told him we wouldn't force the issue, but asked if he could stick around, as we only had 9 other kids there, and if we needed him in an emergency, he could fill in. He agreed to that, but didn't play because we got through the game unscathed.

 

At practice on Tuesday, he was there, and like always, did everything we asked. He even got in the box for some batting practice (with the coaches throwing). And while he bailed on the first couple of pitches, he eventually settled in, and got some swings in.

 

Thursday night, we had a scrimmage. It was against a team that we had scrimmaged earlier in the year (and one that he had gotten hit by). He sat over next to his mom before the game started, and apparently told her he didn't want to play. We eventually got him to play, by telling him that we only had enough numbers if he played. But, every pitch that was thrown to him his first time up, he was bailing out on, regardless of where it was. He ultimately walked, and eventually came around to score. But, even then was on the verge of tears when he made his way into the dugout. And, while he played in the field every inning, when it came time for his time in the lineup to bat again, he skipped it.

 

Today we had a game. And a couple of hours before the game was to start, I got a text from his mom saying he wouldn't be there. I asked if it was because of the fear of getting hit, and she said yes.

 

His mom says he loves the game of baseball, and she hates to see him quit it. But, she doesn't want to force him to do something he doesn't want to do, and make him hate the game (or her!).

 

Obviously, the situation has affected his psyche. He's got a mental roadblock already up, regardless of how much control the pitcher has. (Oddly enough, he trusts us coaches throwing to him, even if it's faster than any kid might throw.) But, I'm really at a loss at how to deal with the situation. I don't think the drill sergeant approach is going to work here. He's already partially shut down, and any yelling at him will likely just drive him away (if not for good, at least for the rest of the season). And I'd absolutely hate that. He's too good of a kid, all the way around, for that to happen.

 

So, any suggestions from my baseball brethren? Any tricks of the trade that you'd care to share?

This is a "tough nut to crack", but can be done with repetition, repetition, repetition. The following are some of the things I have done with my 3 daughters and some of the NewCath fastpitch softball players.

 

1st - keep your eyes on the ball at ALL times. As a batter you must learn to focus on the ball, and not the pitchers motion.

 

2nd - teach the proper mechanics of avoiding getting hit by a pitch. It is easier said then done, but getting hit on the backside is always the less pain part of the body to take a pitch. See video at the end of post.

 

3rd - start by throwing wiffle balls (then gradually move up to tennis balls, "softie" balls, & then real baseballs) at them, incorporating the the proper mechanics. Of course, not throwing real baseballs to the point of hurting them. For my daughters, I have plenty of college softball games DVR'ed and I rewind and play back in slow motion how the player reacts, both mechanically & emotionally, almost 100% of the time the simply drop the bat and run down to 1st showing ZERO emotion "wearing it like a badge of pride".

 

4th - "pump them up", by telling them they have helped the team by getting on base.

 

All this coming from someone, who at one time, was just like your player. Hope this helps. :thumb:

 

[video=youtube_share;h2bJSfUYLAE]

That is a touchy subject and every kid is different. You need to give him control of the situation. Teach him how to properly get out of the way by giving his back to the pitcher. Even if you have to practice it a lot, it will get to a point to where he knows if he gets it he's going to have control over where it hits him and it won't hurt as bad. The other option is to start teaching him visualization techniques. College and pros do this a lot and I know of high school coaches that have also started this. Basically for a pitcher you'd give them the lineup and they go through the lineup and how their going to approach each hitter pitch by pitch. For hitters, you get them to focus before each at bat while their in the dugout or on deck as to his approach pitch by pitch. If he throws it here I'm going to do this or if he throws it here I'll do that. Get him focused on the pitchers release point as well. If he feels like he has control of his at bats then it may focus his attention in a different area. He's going to have to do it over and over before he will gain muscle memory enough to where he thinks he can control the outcome of each at bat.

That is a touchy subject and every kid is different. You need to give him control of the situation. Teach him how to properly get out of the way by giving his back to the pitcher. Even if you have to practice it a lot, it will get to a point to where he knows if he gets it he's going to have control over where it hits him and it won't hurt as bad. The other option is to start teaching him visualization techniques. College and pros do this a lot and I know of high school coaches that have also started this. Basically for a pitcher you'd give them the lineup and they go through the lineup and how their going to approach each hitter pitch by pitch. For hitters, you get them to focus before each at bat while their in the dugout or on deck as to his approach pitch by pitch. If he throws it here I'm going to do this or if he throws it here I'll do that. Get him focused on the pitchers release point as well. If he feels like he has control of his at bats then it may focus his attention in a different area. He's going to have to do it over and over before he will gain muscle memory enough to where he thinks he can control the outcome of each at bat.

 

 

Good stuff. :thumb:

 

Stepping to the plate with confidence is key, but for the younger players this can be somewhat difficult.

Teach him how to bail out and throw at him. Tennis balls worked for us. Right or wrong, we taught them to Not turn their back to the ball as it gives the ball a bigger target. As much as you want to take it in the ham you expose your back and kidneys etc.....Right or wrong, we taught to them to put their pitcher's side ear to their shoulder and to fall back from ball. It seemed to work....now if the 12 year olds are pitching behind you, oh well. I also found that the Evo Shield elbow guard gave some of the players a little confidence (maybe a little false confidence) but added just enough extra protection to ease a little of the anxiety.

Teach him how to bail out and throw at him. Tennis balls worked for us. Right or wrong, we taught them to Not turn their back to the ball as it gives the ball a bigger target. As much as you want to take it in the ham you expose your back and kidneys etc.....Right or wrong, we taught to them to put their pitcher's side ear to their shoulder and to fall back from ball. It seemed to work....now if the 12 year olds are pitching behind you, oh well. I also found that the Evo Shield elbow guard gave some of the players a little confidence (maybe a little false confidence) but added just enough extra protection to ease a little of the anxiety.

 

Getting away from this style is how you've slowly seen kids learn proper techniques and not look silly. This is not the proper way to address a ball coming at you. Putting your ear to your shoulder and falling backwards? Really? That not only still leaves you exposed, but statistics are the reason baseball moved to giving up your backside. Less injuries happen when struck in the back area. Everything to the side and to the front of the body are 10 times more fragile and easy to break. Giving up your back also takes your hands and the bat out of the equation. Hand bones are by the easiest to break. It use to be common to see kids bail out like this. Until of course they got tired of looking silly from staring up from the seat of their pants at catcher holding a ball that didn't even hit them. The main reason for giving your back up is to reduce the risk of injury, but I'm sure looking crazy is a close second.

Getting away from this style is how you've slowly seen kids learn proper techniques and not look silly. This is not the proper way to address a ball coming at you. Putting your ear to your shoulder and falling backwards? Really? That not only still leaves you exposed, but statistics are the reason baseball moved to giving up your backside. Less injuries happen when struck in the back area. Everything to the side and to the front of the body are 10 times more fragile and easy to break. Giving up your back also takes your hands and the bat out of the equation. Hand bones are by the easiest to break. It use to be common to see kids bail out like this. Until of course they got tired of looking silly from staring up from the seat of their pants at catcher holding a ball that didn't even hit them. The main reason for giving your back up is to reduce the risk of injury, but I'm sure looking crazy is a close second.

I guess things have changed in the last 10+ years. I will let you youngsters speak to what is crazy vs. non crazy as it sounds like you have it all figured out. It's science ..ha... I will however, back up the Evo shield products though. Elbow and chest/kidney protection.

Unfortunately, he wasn't at practice on Tuesday, so didn't even get a chance to talk to him. Like I said, I don't want to really push too hard, and risk pushing him away from the game completely. Hoping that maybe a week or two away from it, will allow his head to clear.

I have found with players I've coached as well my own sons that positive reinforcement and encouragement will without a doubt fix this issue. I told my kids early on (age 9):

 

" I see alot of kids who fall over after they've been hit, they cry and moan, but I know how tough you are. Show everyone how tough you are, even if it hurts bad, run down to 1st base like it didn't bother you at all"

 

When my youngest kid was 11 he was beaned 1st game by a kid throwing 70 mph+, he dropped his bat and ran down to 1st. A week later he still had a baseball imprint and bruises on his tricep. I asked him after the game "I know that hurt", he said "heck yeah it hurt". I had been building him up for that.

 

Positive reinforcement and encouragement.

Advise him not to play for Mac Whitaker

This is a "tough nut to crack", but can be done with repetition, repetition, repetition. The following are some of the things I have done with my 3 daughters and some of the NewCath fastpitch softball players.

 

1st - keep your eyes on the ball at ALL times. As a batter you must learn to focus on the ball, and not the pitchers motion.

 

2nd - teach the proper mechanics of avoiding getting hit by a pitch. It is easier said then done, but getting hit on the backside is always the less pain part of the body to take a pitch. See video at the end of post.

 

3rd - start by throwing wiffle balls (then gradually move up to tennis balls, "softie" balls, & then real baseballs) at them, incorporating the the proper mechanics. Of course, not throwing real baseballs to the point of hurting them. For my daughters, I have plenty of college softball games DVR'ed and I rewind and play back in slow motion how the player reacts, both mechanically & emotionally, almost 100% of the time the simply drop the bat and run down to 1st showing ZERO emotion "wearing it like a badge of pride".

 

4th - "pump them up", by telling them they have helped the team by getting on base.

 

All this coming from someone, who at one time, was just like your player. Hope this helps. :thumb:

 

[video=youtube_share;h2bJSfUYLAE]

 

This is good stuff and reminds me of issues and solutions that I experienced as a kid.

 

Not sure if any of this will help, but this is my experience.

 

For starters, any little pick up games we had in the neighborhood where we played with official hard baseballs were just slow pitch games where I had no problem playing and hitting, nor did I have any fears.

 

When I started play little league around age 7 or 8, I immediately had trouble with faster pitches as I had terrible mechanics, and fear of the ball coming at me.

 

I was a strike out king and could never seem to get over the hump.

 

It even got to the point that coaches wanted me to get on base so bad they started signaling for me to bunt as that worked a few times to get me to 1st base. I got applauded for getting hits that way, but deep inside was still not happy as I felt inadequate.

 

By about age 11 and still with issues at playing organized ball, my neighborhood friends started playing what we called "Strike Out" with regular bats and super fast pitched rubber balls up against a wall in a big parking lot.

 

It is with that game that I developed proper hitting mechanics, less fear of performing badly in official games, less fear of a fast pitched balls coming at me, tons of experience of perfecting keeping an eye on the ball and working on my timing, confidence as I was increasingly improving by leaps and bounds.

 

When it came time to play an official little league game, the pitches coming at me were not nearly as fast as the rubber ball pitches in the game of "Strike Out", which now for me made hitting seem like a breeze.

 

With being conditioned to faster pitching, now I was less intimidated by the "slower fast ball pitching" that I was now facing. My confidence rose, I starting hitting and the better I got couldn't wait to take my turn at bat whereas before that I'd typically get so nervous that I wanted to puke, and many times I did.