In my travels of scouting and instructing, I’m frequently asked
the same questions regarding youth baseball players. As we enter
the holiday season with yet another year looming on the horizon,
I’m going to answer a few of the hot topics.
In my travels of scouting and instructing, I’m frequently asked the same questions regarding youth baseball players. As we enter the holiday season with yet another year looming on the horizon, I’m going to answer a few of the hot topics.
While I’m not a child psychologist or an orthopedic surgeon, my 28 years of experience has allowed me to understand what kids are thinking, how they react to pressure and basically what makes them tick. They may not let on to coaches or parents as to exactly how they feel or what the problem is, but in examining things further you’ll usually get to the bottom line of why success isn’t happening.
“My son hits well in the cage but can’t seem to carry it over into the game, why is that?”
A couple of reasons come to mind on this one. There’s no pressure in the batting cage, all the balls are thrown in the same location and the atmosphere is relaxed. Taking that mind frame into a game is the challenge. Hitters need a plan on hitting, must be given a relaxation drill to overcome the jitters and can’t be yelled instructions from the stands or something different on every pitch. They need a proven system that works for them, not someone else.
“In a game my kid steps in the bucket on every pitch, so how can I get him to step into the ball?”
He won’t step into the ball until he’s not scared of the ball. Plain and simple. A player who steps away from the ball is scared of being hit. Until he has the confidence of how to get out of the way of a thrown ball coming at him or realizes it won’t hit him in the face if he correctly gets out of the way, this problem will linger. Maturity and confidence of hitting will also aid the cure. Getting him to stand closer to the plate to help compensate for stepping out is not a solution.
“How can a child develop a stronger arm?”
On a daily basis I’m asked this one. The answer is a lot of long toss and resistance strength training for the shoulder. Some players are gifted with a live arm. Most at a young age aren’t. If you keep playing catch at 40 or 50 feet your arm will never get any stronger and you’ll continue to suffer sore arms after playing, especially if you’re a pitcher. Overuse is not the answer. Playing twelve months a year is not he answer. Proper rest and throwing correctly is a good start.
“Throwing a bullpen on the sidelines is not a problem, but why can’t he carry that over into a game?”
For some of the reasons a hitter can’t make the transition, a pitcher falls into the same category. He must trust his mechanics, not be afraid of hitting the batter, have a plan of attack and be able to eliminate distractions and relax. It’s a big chore and most kids want to aim the ball because their main concern is throwing a strike. Therein lies the problem. We put way to much pressure on the kids to throw strikes and since they’re in the pleasing mode at that age (not wanting to fail in front of mom and dad), they let up and just try to get the ball over the plate. The more you leave them alone, take the pressure off them and say the right things, the better they’ll become.
“Do you think my son has the skills to play college or pro ball?”
I usually chuckle at this one. The odds are so stacked against players nowadays that every parent should just let things take their course. Let you child have fun. If they have the desire, work ethic, physical ability and things fall into place down the road, good things will happen. No one can predict where a youth player will be 10 years from now. But if they have a dream … .
Well, I can’t predict what route Santa will take as he traverses the country, but if you can impart some gifts of wisdom to your child this upcoming season it’s one of the best presents you’ll give them. And the smile that follows that game-winning hit will make it feel like Christmas morning all over again.
Rich Taylor is the CEO and head instructor of California Pitching Academy and a scout for the New York Mets. Reach him at
rj******@ya***.com
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