When I do bp with my boys (ages 10 and 5), I generally pitch an entire bucket to them (about 40 balls). I've experimented with capping it at 20 pitches, thinking they might get tired by then. Most of the time they seem eager to keep swinging away, though.
I noticed recently that in MLB guys generally take maybe 8 pitches or so before stepping out and letting another hitter in (I guess they work in groups of 4 or so and rotate around for 15 minutes).
I assume this is because standing in for pitch after pitch is not productive, maybe their concentration starts to wane.
What's your experience regarding bp? Should I strictly limit the number of swings at any one time? Last night, for example, I pitched a bucket to my 10 year old and he was making contact pretty much the entire time. I suppose he was "resting" a bit more between pitches after the first dozen or so, and I waited until he was ready before letting loose with the next pitch. But do you think it would be better to just have him do a limited number of swings?
In a team practice setting, with more players waiting to hit, I can see where rotating around frequently would be beneficial.
Thanks for your opinions.
BTW, for those of you who might remember some of the threads this past spring about the 10 year old struggling a bit in his first year of majors LL (he was 9 at the time), his hitting is really coming along. Still working on the fear of the hard-thrown baseball, though, which he instinctively shies away from and tried to catch off to the side of his head/body. Tried suiting him up in catcher's gear and having him stand and catch balls hurled by the pitching machine at 60', hopefully he'll get over it!)
I noticed recently that in MLB guys generally take maybe 8 pitches or so before stepping out and letting another hitter in (I guess they work in groups of 4 or so and rotate around for 15 minutes).
I assume this is because standing in for pitch after pitch is not productive, maybe their concentration starts to wane.
What's your experience regarding bp? Should I strictly limit the number of swings at any one time? Last night, for example, I pitched a bucket to my 10 year old and he was making contact pretty much the entire time. I suppose he was "resting" a bit more between pitches after the first dozen or so, and I waited until he was ready before letting loose with the next pitch. But do you think it would be better to just have him do a limited number of swings?
In a team practice setting, with more players waiting to hit, I can see where rotating around frequently would be beneficial.
Thanks for your opinions.
BTW, for those of you who might remember some of the threads this past spring about the 10 year old struggling a bit in his first year of majors LL (he was 9 at the time), his hitting is really coming along. Still working on the fear of the hard-thrown baseball, though, which he instinctively shies away from and tried to catch off to the side of his head/body. Tried suiting him up in catcher's gear and having him stand and catch balls hurled by the pitching machine at 60', hopefully he'll get over it!)
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