Coach Pitch Baseball
ByAnother post by one of our readers!
Many baseball leagues around the country start with tee ball at a very young age. In recent years, the advent of coach pitch baseball has taken rise as a bridge between tee ball and Little League baseball, and has become a great tool to use to teach proper hitting mechanics.
Tee ball stresses learning a smooth, level as well as starting to develop hand-eye coordination. Hand-eye coordination becomes much more important with a moving, pitched ball. Starting out in a coach pitch baseball league is a great way to develop this type of coordination.
Many people believe that throwing a slow, arching ball to a hitter is best in order to get them to learn how to hit. Slow, arching balls fall to the ground much faster, and for inexperienced hitters, they are especially harder to hit. Young hitters need to learn to hit a faster, more level ball in order to develop proper hitting mechanics. Setting them up to fail right from the get go will serve to do nothing but break their confidence.
Most kids will learn to start hitting pitched ball somewhere between the ages of 7 to 9. Itís important that when coaching coach pitch baseball, teaching proper hitting mechanics such as a level swing and follow through, following the ball from glove to bat, and keeping their heads down through the swing will ensure proper hitting mechanics at an early age. As with any drill, repetition is very important, so that each hitter can establish a consistent swing.
Coach pitch baseball is meant to be a fun experience for all kids involved, so itís important to give them experiences they will remember. As the season moves along, each coach will start to learn where each child likes to hit the ball, whether it be inside or outside, high or low. Pitching to each young hitterís strength will help to give them confidence and make it fun for them at the same time.
Some coaches believe that using a pitching machine during practice is a good idea. This couldnít be further from the truth. Hitters at a young age need to learn the nuances of a pitcherís windup and delivery, and will adapt their hitting mechanics accordingly. Using a pitching machine is counterproductive in that respect.
Coach pitch baseball is a great bridge between tee ball and Little League baseball, and understanding how to teach proper mechanics while mixing in fun will help each and every player in developing their skills, their confidence levels, and their levels of fun.
