Little League Slumpbuster Tips? (1 Viewer)

[Peak]

My son plays 9U baseball for a select team, and last year led the team in batting. This offseason the coaches began working on everyone's swing and now my son is in a major slump. This has really helped some of the kids, but not mine. He strikes out 2 of every 3 at bats. He's patient at the plate and now leads the team in walks, but unfortunately also leads in strikeouts. It's driving him crazy to the point where he is getting more and more frustrated. I've tried to calm him down and tell him to loosen up and have fun, but it's starting to make the game "less funner" for him (his words). I have never heard him say this before as baseball is 24/7 for him. He will DVR a Reds game and re-watch it whenever he can't find a game on TV. It's always been fun, up until now.

How can I help him get out of this slump? He does well in practice and at a cage, but come game time he can't find it. He makes contact with foul balls and an occasional hit. Any thoughts, drills, anything I can do to help him? We are at the midway point of our league year and I'd like for him to finish this year on a good note.

 

[Jack White]

Give him a game off, like they do in the majors.

When he returns, tell him to be more aggressive at the plate. Walks are good, but he's nine. He needs to hit the ball.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Do what everyone does for a slumbuster....find a fat...bat.

 

[Cjw_55106]

I guess without seeing him in action, the only tips you'll get are going to be superficial.

Is he swinging and missing?

Is he watching called third strikes?

Is he behind on his swing?

What does it look like when he swings and misses?

 

[jon_mx]

glasses...

 

[humpback]

Doesn't really sound like a slump, sounds more like they messed up his swing. Have him go back to what he was doing last year- if it ain't broke, and all that.

 

[Peak]

Give him a game off, like they do in the majors.

When he returns, tell him to be more aggressive at the plate. Walks are good, but he's nine. He needs to hit the ball.

I told him last night after his latest 0-1 (K, BB) that we're not talking/playing ball for the next two days. His next game is Saturday night and I was told he will be the starting pitcher. He loves that aspect of the game, but his lack of hits is getting to him. I'm hoping the two days off will help him reset. The last few weeks have been crazy (13 days of baseball out of the last 18 days). The break is very much needed and timely.

 

[Peak]

I guess without seeing him in action, the only tips you'll get are going to be superficial.

Is he swinging and missing?

Is he watching called third strikes?

Is he behind on his swing?

What does it look like when he swings and misses?

He's aggressive and swings when the ball is in the zone. I haven't seen him take a called third strike this season. With that said, sometimes he's behind on the swing, sometimes he's ahead. He's moved up in the box and now back in the box. I talked to him the other day and told him to stay in the back of the box and use the swing he used last year. That lead to a walk and strikeout last night.

He can hit the ball during practice with live speed pitching (coach and kid pitch). It's game time performance where he is off. I'll try to get a pic/vid of his next at bat on Saturday, but in the mean time I'm open to any suggestions (no matter how superficial).

 

[Cjw_55106]

Dont dismiss Jon's suggestion of having his eyes checked.

If he's hitting in practice with live speed pitching but not in the games, its probably near 100% that the issue is either nerves or confidence.

 

[Jack White]

Dont dismiss Jon's suggestion of having his eyes checked.

If he's hitting in practice with live speed pitching but not in the games, its probably near 100% that the issue is either nerves or confidence.

Yeah, sounds like it's mental more than physical.

I do wonder if kids nine and under really need a swing coach, though. Just let them play, and do what comes naturally.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Dont dismiss Jon's suggestion of having his eyes checked.

If he's hitting in practice with live speed pitching but not in the games, its probably near 100% that the issue is either nerves or confidence.

Yeah, sounds like it's mental more than physical.

I do wonder if kids nine and under really need a swing coach, though. Just let them play, and do what comes naturally.

I have coached for a lot of years and my thoughts are pretty simple; if they hit well, I dont mess with them unless its something they are "getting away with" that might hurt them as other kids get better.

 

[Wooderson]

Well if he is hitting in practice then it's mental. Have him lay down a few bunts to get that confidence back.

 

[Godsbrother]

I agree. You can do more harm that good trying to "correct" a swing that was working.

If he's hitting from kids in practice and not in games it sounds to me like he is pressing. I'm not sure how you get him to relax but that is the key.

 

[Godsbrother]

Well if he is hitting in practice then it's mental. Have him lay down a few bunts to get that confidence back.

This is a real good suggestion.

 

[saintfool]

different meaning for "slumpbuster" in this thread.

 

[Godsbrother]

Please promise me that you will contact the Pittsburgh Pirates once you figure it out. The whole team is in a slump, they've scored a total of 5 runs in their last 54 innings.

 

[Rove!]

ask

 

[The Commish]

Teach him how to bunt....see the softball thread.

This seems completely mental based on what you've stated. I don't know what they did to his swing or why, but if it was working give him the freedom to go back to his old swing regardless of what the coach says.

 

[jon_mx]

Someone missing that much is either pulling his head, closing his eyes, or has a vision problem. If he keeps his eye on the ball, he should not be missing that much.

 

[Peak]

Well if he is hitting in practice then it's mental. Have him lay down a few bunts to get that confidence back.

This is a real good suggestion.

Agree. He laid down a good bunt a few games back - his only hit of that game. He had a couple of hits after that bunt, but then back to striking out. I do agree that alot of it is confidence. I just don't know how to build it back up again.

 

[Peak]

Someone missing that much is either pulling his head, closing his eyes, or has a vision problem. If he keeps his eye on the ball, he should not be missing that much.

I've wondered this myself. He had his eyes checked at school before, but that was the the rush through turnstyle of an eye exam. I might run him over for a real exam during his down time.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Is the team still doing soft toss and hitting off a tee at practice?

 

[Peak]

Is the team still doing soft toss and hitting off a tee at practice?

Some tee work and soft toss. The coaches rotate from game-speed pitching (either kids or coach), to using soft toss with the weighted or wiffle balls. They have been leaning more towards the weighted balls that don't really travel unless you hit them square. We use the little yellow wiffle balls at home to practice when he wants some extra time swinging. I told him that these were off limit over the next two days.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Again, with seeing him, it’s hard. That being said, a kid can hit everything thrown at them and still have bad mechanics…especially at this age. On the flip side, a kid can be struggling and still have good mechanics. Just because you swing and miss, doesn’t mean you are doing something wrong. If his mechanics are good, I’d be sure to not make changes. Minor adjustments are fine, but I wouldn’t change everything he does…unless the mechanics are bad.

 

[Cjw_55106]

I really think the tee is important to evaluate the swing. They should always hit line drives off the tee. Move the height up and down and have them stand closer and futher away from the tee. If they are pounding it into the ground or popping it up, the swing is bad or they are taking their eye off the ball.

 

[Peyton Marino]

he actually doesn't sound that bad at all. the game you described he sported a .500 OBP, which is elite territory. do you have his full season triple slash? OPS+? wOBA and ISO? moreover, where does he hit in the lineup/who is hitting behind him? could be that the protection isn't there and he isn't getting much to hit. i'd also look at BABIP and his line drive rate to make sure there aren't luck factors in play here.

 

[D in the D]

Youtube "Domingo Ayala" and watch his assortment of hitting tips. They wont help a nine year-old, but should make him laugh a bit and get his mind off of scuffling.

And also I agree with getting his eyes checked.

 

[GOB]

If the kid can hit, which it sounds like he can in practice, he is pressing.

Tell him to take a few deep breaths and relax. I have seen more kids just simply over thinking and worrying about every last mechanic. (I umpire little league not a perv)

 

[MarcO]

9U baseball for a select team... 13 days of baseball out of the last 18 days

This is the problem.

 

[Cjw_55106]

9U baseball for a select team... 13 days of baseball out of the last 18 days

This is the problem.

Thats why he can hit in practice and not in games? Huh.

 

[RC94]

Dont dismiss Jon's suggestion of having his eyes checked.

If he's hitting in practice with live speed pitching but not in the games, its probably near 100% that the issue is either nerves or confidence.

This is what I was thinking too. Sounds like a confidence problem.

 

[Angry Beavers]

see ball, hit ball... very simple

 

[walnutz]

I think most have it right here. Get him a few days off and let him rest and rejuvinate.Check his eyes and see where he is there. May just not be seeing the ball. Couple of questions -- When he is striking out is he late, early to the ball? Has there been a noticeable jump in velocity of the pitchers he is facing - between 8 and 9 there is a good jump. Is he fouling them off? If he is are they going to first or third base side? Where is he setting up in relation to home plate - is he getting full coverage of the plate or giving the outside part away? What does his stride look like. Is he opeining or closing up?

It could be a lot of things. Good luck with it. Hope he finds his way out of it.

 

[Kanil]

Stop feeding him until he bats .1000 for a game. He'll adapt and survive or perish. Either way, it will make future generations better (at baseball).

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

9U baseball for a select team... 13 days of baseball out of the last 18 days

This is the problem.

No kidding. This is freaking silly.

 

[Tom Servo]

I dunno, Jim Thome made a pretty good career out of walking as much as he did striking out.

Since he's walking in roughly equal measure to whiffing, this tells me he still has plate discipline. If he's making contact - fouling balls off - it may be nothing more than a timing issue. If he's played 13 games in 18 days, he could well be suffering muscle fatigue in his arms.

If he can hit outside of games but not in them, perhaps the competition has adjusted skill-wise and he's simply not caught up...not much you can do there. I would also think he's familiar with BP pitchers and maybe the kids he's facing now are new so he has no mental "book" on them.

Probably the best thing to do is to keep giving him days off as much as possible. Oh, and maybe watch Batting Stance Guy on YouTube.

GL

 

[Peak]

9U baseball for a select team... 13 days of baseball out of the last 18 days

This is the problem.

No kidding. This is freaking silly.

Maybe a clarifying point is needed here:

13 days of baseball activities out of 18 days. This includes games and practices. He's played in about 7 games and 6 practices - which includes an in-season tournament (Fri-Sun).

I agree in the time off. Over the next week he has 2 games, 2 practices, and then leads into another weekend tournament on 5/15. Today and tomorrow being off days will be treated as such - but this is our typical schedule over the next two months. At least 2 practices and 2-3 games per week. Days off are usually a Thurs/Fri with the occasional Sunday.

It's his second year playing select baseball, and this year's schedule is a little more aggressive than last year. With that said, there are teams in our division which may only take one day off and play in tournaments every weekend.

 

[Fennis]

have him bang Susan Sarandon

 

[matuski]

tinder

 

[Cjw_55106]

Ive seen it work for pitchers, but I dont see any reason it wont work for batters as well.

"Clear the mechanism".

 

[Johnny Rock]

His mind is swimming. Remind him to work a routine with simple, limited movement. Approach the batters box. Check the sign from 3B Coach. Deep breath. Stance. Tap plate or whatever. Clear mind. Whatever works for him.

Tell him to smile and encourage others by talking it up from the dugout and in the field. It's relaxing. If he's pitching, tell him he's the man. Good plays in the field give confidence at the plate too. Have fun!

Take some video of him. Maybe you see something obvious or it will confirm that he looks great. During batting practice vs games might help too. I would just record about 30 seconds so as not to be overbearing.

The number one thing I see with young hitters is failure to keep the back elbow raised while awaiting the pitch.

Don't over-analyze every little thing right after the game. Let him bring up topics if he wants. Focus on positives. It's a team game.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Keeping the bat back and up is great. Keeping the elbow up is not necessary.

 

[Bucky86]

Maybe he just sucks at baseball.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

9U baseball for a select team... 13 days of baseball out of the last 18 days

This is the problem.

No kidding. This is freaking silly.

Maybe a clarifying point is needed here:

13 days of baseball activities out of 18 days. This includes games and practices. He's played in about 7 games and 6 practices - which includes an in-season tournament (Fri-Sun).

I agree in the time off. Over the next week he has 2 games, 2 practices, and then leads into another weekend tournament on 5/15. Today and tomorrow being off days will be treated as such - but this is our typical schedule over the next two months. At least 2 practices and 2-3 games per week. Days off are usually a Thurs/Fri with the occasional Sunday.

It's his second year playing select baseball, and this year's schedule is a little more aggressive than last year. With that said, there are teams in our division which may only take one day off and play in tournaments every weekend.

Yeah...still a little too much IMO for an 8 or 9 year old.

 

[RC94]

9U baseball for a select team... 13 days of baseball out of the last 18 days

This is the problem.

No kidding. This is freaking silly.

Maybe a clarifying point is needed here:

13 days of baseball activities out of 18 days. This includes games and practices. He's played in about 7 games and 6 practices - which includes an in-season tournament (Fri-Sun).

I agree in the time off. Over the next week he has 2 games, 2 practices, and then leads into another weekend tournament on 5/15. Today and tomorrow being off days will be treated as such - but this is our typical schedule over the next two months. At least 2 practices and 2-3 games per week. Days off are usually a Thurs/Fri with the occasional Sunday.

It's his second year playing select baseball, and this year's schedule is a little more aggressive than last year. With that said, there are teams in our division which may only take one day off and play in tournaments every weekend.

Yeah...still a little too much IMO for an 8 or 9 year old.

Disagree. When I was that age I was in baseball camp and played everyday and loved it.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Take him out for a root beer bender and a lot of candy cigarettes

 

[Wooderson]

Maybe he just sucks at baseball.

lol I couldn't bring myself to say it.

 

[Tom Servo]

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

9U baseball for a select team... 13 days of baseball out of the last 18 days

This is the problem.

No kidding. This is freaking silly.

Maybe a clarifying point is needed here:

13 days of baseball activities out of 18 days. This includes games and practices. He's played in about 7 games and 6 practices - which includes an in-season tournament (Fri-Sun).

I agree in the time off. Over the next week he has 2 games, 2 practices, and then leads into another weekend tournament on 5/15. Today and tomorrow being off days will be treated as such - but this is our typical schedule over the next two months. At least 2 practices and 2-3 games per week. Days off are usually a Thurs/Fri with the occasional Sunday.

It's his second year playing select baseball, and this year's schedule is a little more aggressive than last year. With that said, there are teams in our division which may only take one day off and play in tournaments every weekend.

Yeah...still a little too much IMO for an 8 or 9 year old.

Disagree. When I was that age I was in baseball camp and played everyday and loved it.

And look how you turned out.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Have you tried steroids?

Seriously though, sounds like he's pressing. Go out and do some soft toss with him batting opposite handed. Do it long enough where he's just focusing on the ball and timing and trying really hard to make contact. Then remind him that we play sports because they are fun and don't really mean anything at the end of the day. Tell him to go up to bat thinking about his favorite movie, or tell him a joke before he goes up, or think about vacation, anything to get his mind off of actually hitting. If his mind is somewhere else, the rest is muscle memory and mechanics taking over and letting him hit.