Posted by: Jim C. (jhconklinjr@comcast.net) on Thu Apr 28 11:45:29 2005

> I've got parents saying "get your elbow up" when their kids are at bat. Any suggestions as to what I should be saying to them?

Nothing.

The time to be saying things is at practice. On-the-spot instructions can get your hitter to be thinking exactly when his mind should be cleared to be able to simply react. If they don't have their mechanics established before they go to the plate, they won't suddenly 'get-it' from last minute instructions. Let them be free to take the hack they have ... and worry about improving it in practice. Confidence and unfettered reflex will help more.

Simple on-deck stuff is OK and helpful, especially if they are general observations about the pitcher - off-speed, outside, etc.