I need help with my son's baseball ability. Any suggestions?

Question

I have an 8 yr old son whom I'm told is "AMAZING" on the baseball field. He plays short stop mostly, and never lets anything past him. When he is batting (which he as very good at as well) he is stepping back instead of to the pitcher. How can I get him to stop stepping back? He loves the game and I've been told he "has a future on the diamond", but he is not challanged enough at the regular camps etc. I need advice on how to improve his skills so he can pay his own way through college!LOL!!

Answer 1

This is a common problem in 7 & 8 year olds, as they go from soft-toss coach pitch and t-ball. It is a fear of getting hit that make many kids step back. The best idea I've seen is a combination of some answers here. During practice, put a decent sized frisbee top side up and dug into the dirt right behind your sons back foot. He'll notice a huge difference if he steps on it, but it won't hurt or trip him like a bat or bench would. Then add something in front like another smaller frisbee, coaster or other object he should get in the habit of stepping forward on. The quarter incentive is a good one! A week of practicing like that should cure it.

Answer 2

idiot question :if your son is 8 years old why is he facing live pitching at all ? whose throwing the baseballs at him ? another 8 year old ? a 10 year old ? A parent ? kids close to his own age have serious control problems and umpires that use "real " strike zones exacerbate the problem. Of course he's stepping back ,he's afraid of getting hit with the damned baseball.`
I don't know here he's setting up in the box. is his belt buckle hang out over the strike zone ? is his back foot even with the back of the plate? is he further up than that ? If so then balls are going to get quite close to his body. When i was coaching kids his age in little league i had them fairly deep in the box, almost that back foot/ back line softball stance . this allowed a liitle more reaction time and brought that high strike down to more hitable levels.
as far as paying for college can you spell P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E ?

Answer 3

As far as what he does during the wind-up and pitch, a lot of variation is acceptable. If you want to see something interesting, look at Ted Williams' book The Science of Hitting. In the back is his Gallery of Great Hitters, which goes through the early 1970's. In the pictures, you will see a very wide variety-- leaning back (Al Simmons) , leaning toward the pitcher (Hack Wilson), ram-rod straight (Hank Greenberg, and Williams himself). There are many other options and styles. I've always loved the look of old-timer Chuck Klein's swing. Anyway, so long as the mechanics are good (that's what the book is about) the rest is personal.

Answer 4

Practice with your son as much as possible. Playing catch and long toss is one of the best things you can do for him. My son used to step back too , so I understand your problem. It comes from a fear of being hit by the ball , very common with youngsters. Always use a very soft spongey ball for batting practice. I actually hit my son with the sponge ball several times to show him it would not hurt. Then I had someone else pitch to him while I physically held his front foot in place. This sounds a little strange but after several times of doing it he finally began to keep his feet where they belong. He is 12 years old now and is playing great. By the way , never use a sponge ball for any type of throwing , only for hitting the ball. Hope this helps, good luck to you

Answer 5

I had a coach that found out my nich, he found out, after practice I would go to games at the field, I liked getting snow cones,
back in those days they were only 25cents.
He put a quater where I was suppose to be put my foot(towards the pitcher). He said every time I stepped on that quarter
I got to keep that quater for a snow cone.
I know there is infation now but, knowing from my kids they love money. I hope that trick works it did for me.
I did hit a few balls over the fence.
tatboy

Answer 6

Wow, so many nasty remarks, she was just having wishful thinking folks not expecting him to actually pay his own way through college, that would just be a bonus. My son is an all-star catcher and is 4th in the line up all the time. I would suggest trying travel ball to hone your son's skills. It gets them playing in the off season and the coaches are often former college or minor league players. Just keep him playing and pray for great coaches each season , they should be aware of your son's struggles and be willing to help him through their knowledge and specific drills. Just keep in mind, your son's skills are secondary to his desire for the sport. Good luck from another baseball mom.

Answer 7

well with the stepping towards thrid base is easy to fix, while hes is practicing his swing put a bat behind his feet so he only can step forward. ALso he can get good at baseball just by watching the game and listening to coaches, theres not much else to do at that age

Answer 8

Yeah. YOU step back and let him have fun. You're not the coach.

You'll do more good if you do these things:

- make sure he does his homework
- taking him to games, support him, and give him a healthy diet
- let him play competitively no more than 6 months per year until he's sixteen or at least 5'8"
- keep your mouth closed around the coach and the umpires

Meddlers and parents living vicariously through their kids are the biggest impediment to children's success.

Answer 9

Children can learn well by imitating others. Joe Mauer, the catcher for the Minnesota Twins, for example, has one of the most fundamentally sound swings in the game right now. Having your son watch and imitate his favorite player might be a good way to improve his technique.

Answer 10

The chances of your 8 year old eventually making it to professional baseball are about the same as winning the powerball lottery.

If I were you, I'd have a good plan B (like making sure he gets good grades in school so he can earn a scholastic scholarship) for financing his college.