Posted by: Chris O'Leary (chris@chrisoleary.com) on Mon Oct 17 15:04:42 2005

> I HAVE A 9 YEAR OLD WHO HAS VERY GOOD HITTING MECHANICS AND WHEN I THROW TO HIM IN PRACTICE (80+ PITCHES) HE HITS THE BALL HARD AND SOLID. I MIX UP PITCHES AND VERY SPEEDS AS WELL AS DELIVERY LOCATION AND HE STILL HITS VERY WELL. WHEN IT COMES GAME TIME HE SEEMS TO LOSE IT. HE'S BEHIND SLOW PITCHERS CAN'T HIT BALLS OUT OF THE STRIKE ZONE (IN PRACTICE HE HIT'S EVERYTHING CLOSE) AND GENERALLY LOOKS UNCOMFORTABLE. WE HAVE WORKED HARD ON THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT'S BECOME VERY FRUSTATING. ANY IDEAS?

I had this problem affect my own son and others I have coached.

First and most obviously, it may be that he is afraid of being hit by the pitch. I'd be willing to bet that you are a lot more consistent in hitting the strike zone than the pitchers he faces in games. This is both good and bad. You should at least teach him how to recognize the difference between an inside pitch and one he should get away from. If all he sees are good pitches from you, then when he sees an inside pitch during a game (or one behind his head), he may not know what to do. Instead, get some foam balls and throw them at the letters, at his head, and behind his head. Turn it into a game of sideways dodgeball, where he only moves if he absolutely has to. He needs to be able to judge in a snap what a ball that is going to hit him looks like.

You may also trying pitching from one knee. You are taller than a 9 year old, and he may not be able to adjust to the difference in the plane of the pitch based on the two release points.

Let me know if this helps.

Chris