First you have to understand that everyone that plays baseball from ARod to the beginner in kid

pitch is afraid of the ball to some degree. If they aren't some pitcher like the Rocket will remind

them. It is how you deal with the fear that determines how effectively you can hit.

It hurts to be hit by a thrown baseball. It hurts if it is a fastball. It hurts if it is a curve, change,

or knuckleball. It hurts! I think how people deal with pain is largely a learned response. It is sort of

like the old, if a tree falls in the forest question. You remember when your kid was 2 and zooming

around in the living room and crashed but waited to start bawling until he got into the kitchen and

Momma? So what happens when a pitch hits a young ballplayer? It hurts. He goes down like he was

shot and the umpire, the coaches and maybe even momma rush out to comfort him and check for

injuries. When he drags his little bruised body up and limps to first, all the parents in the stands give

him a standing ovation. It's like Pavlov's dog. Obviously this pain must be a big deal because so many

adults made such a big deal about it and further, the more he acts like it is a big deal the bigger the

reward. For most kids this act of wimpiness results in their only standing ovation ever. Since this

pain is such a big deal, he must fear it and avoid it. He MUST bale.

I suggest that you deal with this before anyone gets hit because it is much easier than after. This is

as much a part of coaching as teaching them how to correctly swing the bat. In practice, point out to

them, that they are going to be hit by a pitch. It is going to hurt but only for a little while. Their job when

they go to the plate is to get to first base. Being hit by the pitch means they were successful! They get to

go to first. They should immediately run to first base trying to not acknowledge the bobo. They might

even glare contemptuously at the pitcher as if to convey, 'is that all you got?’ When he gets to first,

the first baseball coach should praise him for how tough he is. Tell him good job. The next day in

practice, you might have him show his "dot" like a badge of honor. Encourage him to tell the other

kids that it "wasn't nothin". They will learn that pain of being hit by a pitch is no big deal and not to

be feared. It is how you deal with it that matters. If you try this, I think you will find you will have few

problems with kids bailing from fear.

BTW, always take the time to instruct your players in the proper technique to utilize on an

inside pitch to minimize potential injury. Do not encourage them to "take it for the team".

When practicing the proper avoidance techniques use Pickleballs. Don't 'toughen them up' by

throwing at them in practice with baseballs.

Yours in Baseball

THE COACH.                                  SEE ARCHIVES

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