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8u tournament team for baseball (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter swirvenirvin
- Start date
But most would end up looking like that dad on the car commercial throwing with his wrong foot forward.........so would it really help the issue? hahahaa
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
Did optional batting practice today.
Problem is we played in a 36 mph and now going to 40 so some of the kids need to get their timing down.
I was having them go tee, soft toss, then pitching machine. Think I should start them off right at pitching machine so they dont get tired from 75 swings prior.
Problem is we played in a 36 mph and now going to 40 so some of the kids need to get their timing down.
I was having them go tee, soft toss, then pitching machine. Think I should start them off right at pitching machine so they dont get tired from 75 swings prior.
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
had awesome helps from parents non coaches too.. only had 7 kids but we hit for 2 hours then took grounders for another 20
belljr
Footballguy
So my advice fwiw -----
On the tee - do drills. For example you can do, one hand top, one hand bottom, separation, flamingos, walk through - then regular swings.
belljr
Footballguy
Welp - mini hijack here.
Its official 5/6 of us are going to club ball in the fall and as usual the board is pissed (but whatever, thats another whole thread and rant)
Will need to find another pitcher and 6-7 girls.
Its fun, nervous and exciting all at the same time. We hope we don't end up with a "worse" team
But the banner we are flying is a well known program
Its official 5/6 of us are going to club ball in the fall and as usual the board is pissed (but whatever, thats another whole thread and rant)
Will need to find another pitcher and 6-7 girls.
Its fun, nervous and exciting all at the same time. We hope we don't end up with a "worse" team
But the banner we are flying is a well known program
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Are you in PA or am I mistaken?Welp - mini hijack here.
Its official 5/6 of us are going to club ball in the fall and as usual the board is pissed (but whatever, thats another whole thread and rant)
Will need to find another pitcher and 6-7 girls.
Its fun, nervous and exciting all at the same time. We hope we don't end up with a "worse" team
But the banner we are flying is a well known program
belljr
Footballguy
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2 hours is a long time and a lot of swings if done efficiently for all players. An intense hitting practice (moving well between stations with no standing around) 30 minutes is about maximum before players get tired and mechanics start to dwindle.
When we do a hitting only practice we typically do three kids (2/3 coaches) and have three stations. The kids hit for 25-30 minutes rotating stations and get in about 150 swings each. That is plenty because they start to tire and their mechanics go bad. We rotate groups every 30 minutes so each kid is there for 30 minutes and we do 1.5 to 2 hours depending on how many kids get scheduled (we have 12 players so 4 groups of 3 at 30 minutes each).
It works really well and keeps everyone focused and fresh so very little standing around.
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
8 parents helping today was awesome
1 on tee
1 on side toss
1 catching
1 at machine
1 shagging balls off machine
1 running grounders in rf
1 doing throwing drills in lf
I got to walk around and watch. All the kids hit great today
1 on tee
1 on side toss
1 catching
1 at machine
1 shagging balls off machine
1 running grounders in rf
1 doing throwing drills in lf
I got to walk around and watch. All the kids hit great today
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Sounds like you got a well oiled machine in the makings......hahaha Good for you.
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
Blessing is with this team is all can hit but doing a lineup card is a ##### since don't see a ton of separations.
Was going to go for speed at top but think will just put one of the best hitters there no kid is that much faster
Was going to go for speed at top but think will just put one of the best hitters there no kid is that much faster
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Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
I want a fast kid 1st and 2nd but they also have to be able to get on base anyway possible. Alot
Eta: Ideally I want some speed batting last also
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swirvenirvin
Footballguy
yeah more I thought, my fastest kid who I thought I would put at top I don't think I will. Hitting was contagious with the kids in rec. The 2 games that my leadoff fast guy struggled with his timing the #2 hitter did the same.
Just going to go with best hitters at top.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
I know these kids are really young, but I would teach them now....be hyper agressive on the bases. When you're on first the plan isn't to get to second when the ball is hit..it's get to third. When you're on second and the ball is hit the plan isn't to get to third..it's to score.
Explain to them that as third base coach you're probably going to run them into an out once in awhile. It's on you not them. We won alot of games this way, especially when they're young because the other team starts throwing the ball around
Explain to them that as third base coach you're probably going to run them into an out once in awhile. It's on you not them. We won alot of games this way, especially when they're young because the other team starts throwing the ball around
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
got a scrimmage with the other all star team today.. after that was going to do half hour of base running stuff with them. First tournament is Friday!
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
First game today.....
And we played vs a U8 travel fed team.. Lol all 9 yr olds by now, every kid 5 inches taller than our tallest kid, hell their backpacks were bigger than some of ourskids. Names on their bags, stickers on their helmets
Its supposed to be a rec all start tournament. Their kids hitting shots to 3rd and ss, our kids late and hitting ball to 2nd and 1B
We lasted until the 5th and then got mercied 12-2.
Ill tell you what they suck as a 8U travel team though to take 5 innings to mercy us. We've had 2 practices together as a team most of our kids just turned 7. ####ers!
And we played vs a U8 travel fed team.. Lol all 9 yr olds by now, every kid 5 inches taller than our tallest kid, hell their backpacks were bigger than some of ourskids. Names on their bags, stickers on their helmets
Its supposed to be a rec all start tournament. Their kids hitting shots to 3rd and ss, our kids late and hitting ball to 2nd and 1B
We lasted until the 5th and then got mercied 12-2.
Ill tell you what they suck as a 8U travel team though to take 5 innings to mercy us. We've had 2 practices together as a team most of our kids just turned 7. ####ers!
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
yep no problem we made some really nice defensive plays and the better competition will only make us better. They scored half their runs on us not hitting cutoffs and making silly throws to the bases instead of to the pitcher
only 3 of our kids cried.. lol
not because we lost but because they struck out or something that happened on the field
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Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
OrtonToOlsen
Footballguy
dino259
Footballguy
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
Need something to loosen them up before the game though, they were nervous out there.
Catcher got hit early and then was scared and had to pull him after 2, another one got ball in left and just froze and didnt throw it in,
Catcher got hit early and then was scared and had to pull him after 2, another one got ball in left and just froze and didnt throw it in,
Mr. Know-It-All
Footballguy
At least your kids are only 8U.
I coached a team from 8U up through 14U. I had a kid who looked fast, but ran pigeon toed so he wound up being one of the slowest guys on the team. He could get thrown out at first if he hit a line drive to center field slow. He had a habit of slamming his fists against his batting helmet if he hit a ball poorly then would make a bunch of audible noises as he ran out grounders to first. We are in a tournament during 12U year and after a few games of these antics he was worse than usual. Somehow we wind up winning the championship game and afterwards one of the opposing parents pulls me aside and tells me how much they respected us for allowing the handicapped kid to play. I asked what they were talking about - and they said that boy with Tourette's. I then had to explain he wasn't handicapped just overly emotional. Made me laugh though.
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
belljr
Footballguy
its the main reason we played up this year. We were crushing it, our 2.5 year record is 85-33-3. We are 29 - 12 this year in the spring. We are only about 4 games over 500 for the division up (B). SOme of those wins were lower level.
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
Surprised there wasn't more of this going on when my son played travel ball. Only faced 1 team that did that. They were 9u playing 11u one Fall. They were very solid on defense and played great "small ball". Those kids should varsity age next Spring so it will be interesting to see what kind of season their HS team has.
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
First W today in the 2nd game.
We played back to back games we were tied going into the 6th vs the first team 9-9 then they put up 5 vs us in the top and we had bottom of lineup up in 6th and only scored 1, but it was fun baseball playing with kids like us.
2nd game big win 16-9. Other teams bench coach yelled at me for being too aggressive on the bases at 3rd. They have yet to play the fed team... I dont think he is going to like playing vs them at all.
We played back to back games we were tied going into the 6th vs the first team 9-9 then they put up 5 vs us in the top and we had bottom of lineup up in 6th and only scored 1, but it was fun baseball playing with kids like us.
2nd game big win 16-9. Other teams bench coach yelled at me for being too aggressive on the bases at 3rd. They have yet to play the fed team... I dont think he is going to like playing vs them at all.
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Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
Oh yeah.... no voice left
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
16-9 is 'close enough' to justify being aggressive on the bases. One of the teams I absolutely hated at that age could put up 16 runs every 2 innings without breaking a sweat, and they were pretty good about not allowing runs as well, so their games got ugly fast. To me, if the other team can't score and you're scoring at will, then you take your foot off the gas, but that doesn't sound like your game today.
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
I would never embarrass a team if I knew we were the dominant team (doubt that is ever going to happen this year) and scoring 7 an inning then yeah. Not the case at all
belljr
Footballguy
Sorry when I say playing up I didn't mean age. I meant level. Softball is divided into
A, B,C, rec
A is top tier. We jumped from C to B were are like B- C+ type team. Play well and lose, ay against teams that are way better.
We play up age based 1 tourney
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
already got complaint about position order and position.
one of the asst who is great guy and helped set everything up he kid is below avg at fielding, not the worst hitter out there but the worst on the team by a decent margin too.
I only made one lineup for the double header so kids got more experience in their positions. His kid we tried to hide at catcher (he was ok with this) but was crying so bad after the 2nd inning of the first game we isnt playing there anymore. So I had him RF and RCF the entire games and batting 12th. The other kid who doesnt seem like he really wants to be there (ast coach choice to put him on). I played him at 3B the first game for one inning. Had two balls hit to hit. On a pop up I think should be caught probably 80% of the time from this age hit right to him he missed it by 2 ft and then coudlnt get the out at 3rd from the runner at 2nd. another hard hit grounder hit to him, and he doesnt move him feet at all and just swipes at it with his glove. Experience over in my opinion until they get more practice and get better. So I played him at Catch and RF the next game. Apparently he wasnt happy either. With 12 kids all kids sit once
Oh well looks like I have to get use to this ####.
one of the asst who is great guy and helped set everything up he kid is below avg at fielding, not the worst hitter out there but the worst on the team by a decent margin too.
I only made one lineup for the double header so kids got more experience in their positions. His kid we tried to hide at catcher (he was ok with this) but was crying so bad after the 2nd inning of the first game we isnt playing there anymore. So I had him RF and RCF the entire games and batting 12th. The other kid who doesnt seem like he really wants to be there (ast coach choice to put him on). I played him at 3B the first game for one inning. Had two balls hit to hit. On a pop up I think should be caught probably 80% of the time from this age hit right to him he missed it by 2 ft and then coudlnt get the out at 3rd from the runner at 2nd. another hard hit grounder hit to him, and he doesnt move him feet at all and just swipes at it with his glove. Experience over in my opinion until they get more practice and get better. So I played him at Catch and RF the next game. Apparently he wasnt happy either. With 12 kids all kids sit once
Oh well looks like I have to get use to this ####.
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lumpy19
Footballguy
Hitting cutoffs!!?? I feel like we're in different worlds. We've played every team in the league at this point (6-7 year olds) and we haven't seen a hit to the outfield(10 games).
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
How big is your diamond and I doubt it but do you have grass infield?
Hard hit balls on the ground easily go through to the outfield and it can get past the OF pretty easily when they are playing a few feet away from the grass. Bases are 60 ft
A handful of balls hit the grass in the air but not many.
also what kind of balls are you using?
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lumpy19
Footballguy
Definitely not hardball's they have a little sponge to them.
Dirt infield and 60ft bases
Thinking back I did try to show the kids what a cutoff was a few games ago.
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
yeah I would think 7 yr olds in your rec league are hitting it through to the outfield a little
in rec I didn't touch cutoff because kids were limited to a double, and well half of them wouldn't understand.
![[scooter]](/data/avatars/m/22/22287.jpg?1659477690){kind=avatar}
[scooter]
Footballguy
Bull Dozier
Footballguy
I'm guessing based on 12 players, 10 positions in the field, two kids sit per half inning and no one has to do it more than once in a 6 inning game.
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
swirvenirvin
Footballguy
Any suggestions on how to teach or the best way of explaining to the kids to know when they have to tag someone vs a force out.
sbonomo
Footballguy
Is this kid actually crying or just doesn't like to play catcher? Does he cry other times? If that continues why don't you send him to the stands for the rest of the game until he can compose himself? This sounds painful.
Bull Dozier
Footballguy
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
The only way I know to teach it is reps in practice with live baserunners.
Also communicate it to them as much as possible during the games. Probably going to take awhile for some of them to get it
Bull Dozier
Footballguy
The reason I asked for age is from one game on my sons freshman team. Now, some programs may be different, but his freshman team was pretty much there to let everyone who wanted a chance to play, play. There were kids who I am pretty sure had never played before, but, they are 14 or 15 years old. Here's what happened in a single game:
Kid playing first, rarely played but only played right field previously. Routine ground ball in the infield to the short stop, slow runner. Short stop throws to first baseman and gets him by two steps. Immediately after catching the ball (foot clearly on the base as well) the rookie first baseman swings his glove and gives the runner a solid whack of a tag. I guess he was just making sure. I'm somewhat surprised the runner didn't give him what for, but for all I know, the runner didn't know any better himself.
Then later in that same game, different kid who also rarely played was playing second. Ball hit to the gap in the outfield. Rookie #2 covers second and the outfielder throws it directly to second base. The throw beats the runner going for a double by a good margin here again, but this time the second baseman catches the ball with his foot on the base, then holds his glove up in the air showing the ump he made the catch before the runner got there, never applying a tag.
It was REAL fun baseball to watch.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Yep. I've seen it in LL with 12 yr olds. They've just never been taught.I think swirves kids are 7-8 yr olds. Imo, some of them will get it quickly, some won't. Reps and more reps in practice are the only thing that ever worked for me. When we didn't have live baserunners I'd just holler "1st and 3rd , one out" before hitting a grounder somewhere
Bull Dozier
Footballguy
I'd agree. You can go over the concept before a drill, explaining that if a runner can go back to the base behind them because it is open, there is no force, in whatever detail you like. But, going through situational drills is the most effective, as you can also teach them the way you want to play in different situations. Like you said, some will pick it up, and some never will. But, at this age the coach should always be coaching and reminding the kids of where they want to go with the ball.
I think swirves kids are 7-8 yr olds. Imo, some of them will get it quickly, some won't. Reps and more reps in practice are the only thing that ever worked for me. When we didn't have live baserunners I'd just holler "1st and 3rd , one out" before hitting a grounder somewhere
[scooter]
Footballguy
It's called a "force out" because the runner was forced to advance. Get them to understand that if the player is forced to move forward, then you only have to tag the base.
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JaxBill
Footballguy
This. Tell them if the runner has a previous open base they can run back to, it's a tag
If it's a weird situation involving runners taking extra bases or whatever and they're not sure, it's a tag.
If the other team has 2 runners on same base, tag them both and let the ump sort it out.
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