I have two boys ages 7 and 9. I'm managing both their baseball teams. At these ages I'm looking for the most important fundamentals in regards to hitting and pitching for these respective ages. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
Question for Fletcher and Wondo...
- Thread starter rrc
- Start date
3 points
1 most importent let them have fun
2 throwing make sure elbow is above tits and hand is on top of the baseball not behind it or they will push the ball and glove elbow should drive down and back as throwing arm goes through.
no cb spinners or anything till they are 14 they can at their age throw a so cald change up that will drop from lack of speed making it a pitch on a different plain. grip baseball deep in palm middle 3 fingers loose across seams of ball and thumb and little finger have the pressure this will work for them.
3 hitting buy a tee and peactice hitting ball at different spots move the tee higher it lower it and have the bat come through the zone on a flat plain hitting middle to middle top of ball and middle lower part of ball put board in front of front foot 3 inches infront of the front foot and have them hit that way front foot should come up and down almost in same spot and the power comes fro rotating hips to hit . so this will teach them that the hips bring the bat to the ball.
keep it simple and fun you can put up 2 polls in yard and put sheet up and have them hit all day like that and can mix in some soft toss the same way but keep the board inplace, this will keep them from over srtiding and becoming a front foot hitter which is a hard problem once learned and as the get older the breaking pitch will get them everytime and i like elbow in a v pointed down and to get to launch spot turn hips in hands should not move they should be the same at all times to avoid a hitch. so the hips go back and rotate throught the contact zone.
hope this helps fun is the key word at this age. do it right but make it fun
Eric
1 most importent let them have fun
2 throwing make sure elbow is above tits and hand is on top of the baseball not behind it or they will push the ball and glove elbow should drive down and back as throwing arm goes through.
no cb spinners or anything till they are 14 they can at their age throw a so cald change up that will drop from lack of speed making it a pitch on a different plain. grip baseball deep in palm middle 3 fingers loose across seams of ball and thumb and little finger have the pressure this will work for them.
3 hitting buy a tee and peactice hitting ball at different spots move the tee higher it lower it and have the bat come through the zone on a flat plain hitting middle to middle top of ball and middle lower part of ball put board in front of front foot 3 inches infront of the front foot and have them hit that way front foot should come up and down almost in same spot and the power comes fro rotating hips to hit . so this will teach them that the hips bring the bat to the ball.
keep it simple and fun you can put up 2 polls in yard and put sheet up and have them hit all day like that and can mix in some soft toss the same way but keep the board inplace, this will keep them from over srtiding and becoming a front foot hitter which is a hard problem once learned and as the get older the breaking pitch will get them everytime and i like elbow in a v pointed down and to get to launch spot turn hips in hands should not move they should be the same at all times to avoid a hitch. so the hips go back and rotate throught the contact zone.
hope this helps fun is the key word at this age. do it right but make it fun
Eric
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Great info, thank you. I always make sure thay have fun, you wouldn't believe the "win at all cost" assh*les I have to deal with that manage the other teams. Hard to understand that mentality at this age. :shrug:
i'd say the same thing... have fun and make sure they enjoy the game.
if you can get them to throw half-way decent, it's a huge huge plus, but i'm not sure what's natural and what's taught with that.
most of it is just general athleticism and devloping some kinesthetic awareness through playing any sport. let them learn more mechanics later (high school) when they are a little stronger and more in tune with it all.
you gotta make it fun because it can be tough for some youngsters to feel confident because you'll see most of the better players are simply physically stronger, but by high school it all evens out. if they like playing, try to keep them sticking with it.
one drill i kind of like because i think its important is a "clap drill" for little guys.
get them into a stance, then the a coach claps once. the first clap is the signal for them to stride and get into a hitting position. this is what eric was talking about not lunging or overstriding. foot strides towards the pitcher, but body weight goes back -- kind of counter-intuitive, especially for young guys. but really important to understand. then the coach claps again and you finish the swing. you can take your time clapping or clap real quick twice. mix it up and try to make some game of it, but try to impress the point that the stride and the swing are two separate movements.
another drill/game when throwing that kids usually like is a competition to throw to a partner and catch. each time the ball is dropped/missed, both partners turn their hats a 1/4 turn. so it goes side, backwards, other side, out of the game. makes a little fun and also has them concentrate on throwing the right way and paying attention.
but whatever you do, like eric said, have some fun.
if you can get them to throw half-way decent, it's a huge huge plus, but i'm not sure what's natural and what's taught with that.
most of it is just general athleticism and devloping some kinesthetic awareness through playing any sport. let them learn more mechanics later (high school) when they are a little stronger and more in tune with it all.
you gotta make it fun because it can be tough for some youngsters to feel confident because you'll see most of the better players are simply physically stronger, but by high school it all evens out. if they like playing, try to keep them sticking with it.
one drill i kind of like because i think its important is a "clap drill" for little guys.
get them into a stance, then the a coach claps once. the first clap is the signal for them to stride and get into a hitting position. this is what eric was talking about not lunging or overstriding. foot strides towards the pitcher, but body weight goes back -- kind of counter-intuitive, especially for young guys. but really important to understand. then the coach claps again and you finish the swing. you can take your time clapping or clap real quick twice. mix it up and try to make some game of it, but try to impress the point that the stride and the swing are two separate movements.
another drill/game when throwing that kids usually like is a competition to throw to a partner and catch. each time the ball is dropped/missed, both partners turn their hats a 1/4 turn. so it goes side, backwards, other side, out of the game. makes a little fun and also has them concentrate on throwing the right way and paying attention.
but whatever you do, like eric said, have some fun.
