hitting before a game

[luky013]

want to get some different points of view from other coaches on hitting warmup/practice before a game. some guys i notice use a hitting stick with small wiffle balls, some use regular bats with wiffle balls, some coachs pitch 2000000 pitches to each kid. I personally like to give each kid about 20-30 soft toss to warm up and get them swinging hard then another 20-30 coach pitch at medium speed just to let them see real pitching and loosen up. dont want to wear them out. I am not big on swinging at wiffle balls or off a tee before games. any thoughts?

[D_wats]

I don't like to see, nor do I, "soft toss" or any thing like that to my son. We get in the cage, I throw from just a few feet closer than the mound, and as soon as I'm warmed up I bring it. I try my damnedest to throw it past him. I think it's easier for a kid to stay back and wait on a slower pitcher than to try to catch up to the better ones. Does it work? The kid has struck out 8 times in the last 100+ @ bats. He may pop-up or ground out but at least he puts the ball in play, even against the best pitchers we see.

[tom2p]

Before a game, I prefer to run team through soft toss - 5 good swings (solid hits) - and then in the cage - 5 good swings (solid hits). (In that order). Requires two coaches to complete quickly - one coach for soft toss and the other coach pitches in the cage. Kid completes soft toss and then is sent in the cage.
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(more swings - 20, etc. - might be better - but the time is limited before the game. In separate practices, we might do 20 swings - sometimes run kids in pairs - 10 swings for each kid and then repeat for both kids, then bring in the next pair of kids, etc.).
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Some not fond of soft toss. In my experience, kids hit better in the cage after they have run through soft toss. (Have a kid that hits weak ground balls, etc ? Soft toss good drill to reduce/eliminate this. For a kid that is struggling at plate, I won't waste my time pitching to kid in the cage until the kid demonstrates he can hit ball squarely and with authority in soft toss).
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As for bringing heat in the cage and challenging the kids to faster (and faster) pitches - we generally do this in a separate BP - a day or two before game(s) or whenever - but (generally) not right before the start of the game. Do not want to blow pitches by the kid - but rather have kid hit the ball. The better hitters might see a few fast pitches, but for the most part we are just trying to get the kids comfortable and ready to go.
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btw - almost always start each kid with a few bunts when I pitch to them in the cage. Many have put this drill away - but in my experience this small drill pays dividends. And Manny still does it ... (just Manny being Manny .... lol ) .....
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[LLdad]

is valuable in my opinion. We never have time or space available for full swing batting practice prior to a game, so I go with what is available as determined by time, space, and what I feel will help the kids on a given day.

Soft toss and tee work are both effective ways to get the kids dialed in and making solid contact. Neither of them help with their timing but that isn't always what they need. I'll always do these with real baseballs if I can. I carry a bucket of roughed up balls around for hitting into fences. There isn't always a fence available to hit into since it is quite hard on them. If not, then we just use wiffle balls.

If I think we're facing a real hard thrower, I'll pitch the wiffle balls from very close, maybe 20 feet or so, and throw them as hard as I can (and still throw hittable pitches). The kids always struggle for a few swings, but most of them catch on and it really speeds up their eyes. If they can get dialed in on this, they won't have any trouble catching up with the harder throwers in our league.

When I played baseball I always benefited from pre game batting practice IF the pitching was good and hittable. Speed was never important to me. The key was just to get my mechanics and eye dialed in and my confidence up. I wish we had more opportunities like this in our league but they just aren't there.

[al_dad]

We start an hour before a game and we rotate half a bucket (30 Balls) for our ten players...so far in the Williamsport Tournament we are averaging 8 runs a game.

[luky013]

I am big on soft toss before a game. good way to get lots of swings in a little amount of time. gets them swinging hard and good repetition drill. then we get them some live pitch throwing from about 35 feet at medium speed, pitches they can drive to get there confidence up, not for timing. so far in 4 district games we are averaging 17 runs a game at the 10 y/o age. what age group are you al dad?

[dolphindan1]

I do several things if time allows...5 pitches of each drill...I always carry 2 tees...to set them up and hit with till its there turn for drill...

after they hit off tee...5 to 10 good swings...I do soft toss, then behind soft toss, then 2 ball soft toss and tell them to hit top or bottom as soon as I let the balls go, then close eye soft toss then close eye and then when I say ball they open eyes and hit...may thing is not speed of drill good quality swings...then if there is a cage we do 3 bunts, 3 fastballs, 3 curves, 3 changes...then 3 closed eye pitches....

if no cage we have a hit stick, and lightining rod a whiffle balls...I am not a huge fan of whiffle balls cause they do funny stuff so you have to get close and try to hard to throw straight...but I mix it up with small and regular size whiffle balls...we also have a zip n hit if needed

It sounds like alot but we can do it in 45 minutes with 11 kids....we have a great hitting team and we have too cause our defense sux sometimes...LOL

[luky013]

thats the kind of info I was lokking for dolphin, Thank You, what is and how do you perform close eye hitting drills?

[dolphindan1]

Lucky...

I tell them to close eyes and say ball soon as I am about to release or for fast bats and good eyes once I release the ball...the kids say it makes the ball look fat...LOL...doesnt mean my team hits better than others but at least they are seeing the ball....LOL....

[dolphindan1]

one other drill you can do and I do it for my slow bats...is stand out in front but to the side opposite of hitter and hold the ball over your head and drop the ball and have them hit it before it hits the ground...this drill has really sped up the bat of one of my kids....ball falls straight through the strike zone...they have to be fast to get to it...

[inthepark]

Dolphin this is excellent!

I am coaching a lot and being asked to coach more so I am going to start really using these drills.

My 6yr old starts playing 10U fall ball here shortly so I am going to start some of these on him now..

[rmueller24]

We show up an hour before game time and have a dedicated tunnel for the team.

What we do depends on the pitcher we're preparing to face. For a decent thrower, we simply rotate the team through the batting cage (pitching machine) for 2 rounds of 12 balls each. Speed is set to what we think we might face, maybe a little slower. The purpose is just to get the kids used to seeing the ball that day, get nice and loose. I'm not so much concerned about their timing at this point, that's something we focus on during practice.

If the pitcher is known to have a decent #2 pitch, we may skip the machines and do some live pitching from maybe 30', focus on getting the kids to recognize the spin, maybe lay back a little longer.

Pregame BP is really just a time to get your kids focused on the task at hand, enhance their concentration level for the upcoming game.

[dolphindan1]

I actually did a whole practice of these drills today with my 12u Travel team...We were working cutoffs from the outfield but after water break they all complained there arms hurt....I think they planned it while on break...LOL...

But instead of taking chances...we just hit...it was great cause I partnered them off and let them go through it with each other as I walked and watched....then we took live BP, ran our poles, prayed and went home...

[inthepark]

I took my kid out yesterday.

Did the drop softtoss. He loved it but missed it a lot. LOL

Did back softtoss. He hit the crap out of it there.

Question?

When he hits I notice he stops his swing or doesn't get his hips going? Suggestions?

I have tried to get him to step saying "ba" when his foot hits and then "boom" to turn his hips. LOoks good with no swinging or dry swing.

Tried the bat behind the back making him turn his hips to hit off tee. Looks good then but as soon as we pitch it end.

Yeah I know he is only 6 but I want to fix the problem now.

[BoltsBaseball]

We usually have two tees set up, for guys waiting... then we do BP in cage. 10 or so swings, get back on tee, then get back in cage for another 10 or so swings...

[dolphindan1]

inthepark,

did I read that your 6 year old is gonna play 10u this fall? any reason why? Is he just that good? If not I would think it would be a little discouraging to him....

any way....He may be a bit young for behind soft toss....My son started this drill pre-loaded...Also have him looking down at the plate...I wouldnt do it a whole lot...its more of a hand eye drill....

I would lean more to the 2 ball drill and tee work and normal soft toss till he gets real comfortable with his swing and then introduce these others gradually and soon as you see something wrong go back to the tee and start over....takes several good swings to fix 1 bad swing....so keep that in mind

[tom2p]

ouch .... 6 yr olds playing with 10 yr olds .... not good ....
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[tom2p]

as for 'fixing the problem now' at 6 yrs old .... be patient .......
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it is typically not that easy - and sometimes un-attainable at that level ..... it can take some time .... a few seasons or whatever ...... if it was that easy, we would all had/have perfect hitting 6 yr old players .......
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6 yr old is a good time to begin with proper form, mechanics, drills, etc - but it is unrealistic to believe a 6 yr old will be able to perform at a high level in a consistent manner ........
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and what works for a major league player - and even a high school player - may not work for a 6 yr old or even be appropriate. A major league player is big - swings a big bat - and has a small strike zone. A youth league player is small - swings a small bat - and has a relatively big strike zone.
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again - be patient .... it's a marathon - not a sprint ..... and good luck !
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[inthepark]

Unbelievably yes he is that good.

He did pretty good for the first time with behind soft toss.

I actually was a little worried moving him up so I took him in for a tryout for a couple of coaches without telling them his age.

Put him on the pitching machine at 40mph and he was hitting them very constitent. Moved it up to 45mph and he still stay on it. They were like this boy can hit how bout throw.

Took him to throw and he made some nice throws from ss to 1b and they why are you trying him out for 10U he plays like he is 10. He should probably look at 12U. I laughed and he he was only 6 and the coaches mouths dropped. I had to add that he can pitch too and they started arguing amungst themselves on who gets him.

Maybe our leagues up here are a little behind. I am not sure. He just loves ball so I will do what it takes to help him and keep him playing.

side note took him to the cage b4 my tourney the other day and worked up to 60mph and he got 3 out of 10 with 1 being a decent hit.

How do you do the 2ball soft?

[dolphindan1]

Inthepark,

I agree with Tom dont push him to far ahead of himself...but anyway sounds like you have a good ball player on your hands...my 7 year old was asked to play 9u travel and I said no he wasnt ready. He may have been but i didnt want him to get discouraged with the game

as far as the 2 ball soft toss...setup up like normal soft toss...use 2 balls I usually put my index and middle finger between the balls so they will seperate...then toss them like soft toss and just after you release the balls say top or bottom and that is the ball that should be hit...some times both balls will be hit because they dont seperate enough....My son loves this drill...as does his teammates...treat it like regular soft toss but with a added ball tossed together with one hand

[tom2p]

Even the best 6 or 7 or 8 yr old kid will not have the reactions to field a ball drilled at him by an accomplished 10 yr old player if he was playing the infield ... 3B or whatever. Not on a small LL field.
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There are a few very accomplished 7 yr old kids that I can recall that I would place with the 9 yr olds - but not the 10's. A 6 yr old would be out of the question.
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This is not about ability to hit the ball or throw (to 1B or wherever) - it is about safety.
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[D_wats]

Shoot I wouldn't be worried about fielding a ball as much as at bat. My son and a couple of the 10 yr olds on his team are throwing right at 60 mph, we faced a kid who was at 65-68 I'm told, and after seeing him I don't doubt it. My son got hit in the helmet a few games ago and the ear cover left a black and blue half circle on his cheek for almost a week, and people are going to put a 6 yr old out there. Hope that works out for ya'll.

[tom2p]

A ball can come off the bat much faster than a pitch.
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[tigerdan]

I have to agree that infield would be out of the question. Some of those kids hit the ball just wicked hard. It ain't worth your kid's teeth or cheekbones. Some 10's are already hitting puberty. On the pitching side, those kids who are starting to hit the 60 mph range as 10's usually have some control problems, as do most hard throwers at times of any age. Getting hit by a kid throwing hard can scare even the toughest kid.
But, I've seen some kids who looked like they were going to be studs at 6 & 7 turn out to be duds later on. Kids develop differently, learn to enjoy the ride and the growth along the way...no 8-12 year olds are offered D1 full rides.

[tom2p]

kid on the mound can be at the most risk ......

we (our LL org) had a kid that took a line drive off the side of the face/head ... he was pitching ..... kid was out of action for a while ..... he did not play rest of sesaon and did not play tourn ball ... kid did play the next season - but did not pitch and did not play infield ...... batting was so-so ....
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fortunately, kid was ok ..... no recurring head aches, dizziness, etc .... no loss of vision .... but unfortunately kid was not the same baseball player since.
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one of worst injuries actually happened to a kid after a game ..... middle school game ...... one of best players on the team (and in league) ..... kids were horsing around in locker room after game and pushed kid backward and kid hit his head .... concussion ..... (took concussion test and peformed significantly slower) ...... missed a number of weeks of school .... missed remainder of middle school baseball season ..... then missed Pony and Fed league ball ......
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