When batters are afraid of being hit with the ball
My 7-year-old son is afraid of the ball when batting. Do you have any tips for making him feel more comfortable?
One of the things that I do with players who are afraid of the ball is talk to them and explain that it is part of the game. You are either going to hit the ball or be hit by it. A lot of ballplayers have been hit by the ball, and even though it hurts a little bit, we brush it off and keep playing. One of the very important parts of the game is teaching ballplayers how to get out of the way of the ball properly. To get out of the way of the ball, you turn toward the plate and tuck your arms back, creating a curve to your back. That way the ball will hit the fattier part of your body--the back of the legs, arm, and buttocks. This technique has really helped many players I’ve worked with who were afraid of the ball.
