Looking for some new Winter Gym drills/games for 8-9 year olds

[Coach KA]

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Jake Patterson]

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Coach, I feel specific specific drills at this age has limited to no benefit. Many would even offer they are detrimental to overall development. I would suggest getting him on a rec basketball team.
jake

[shake-n-bake]

Coach, I feel specific specific drills at this age has limited to no benefit. Many would even offer they are detrimental to overall development. I would suggest getting him on a rec basketball team.
jake

perfect advice - rec. basketball. My son played rec. basketball from age 6-11 and had a lot of fun, stayed active, gave us access to a gym (could show up a little early or stay a little late with the baseball gloves if we chose to). I highly recommend Upward if it's in your area. It comes with a nice positive message for the kids as well and because of it's popularity draws some pretty good players. Daughter loves it as well and this will be her 4th year.

I wish my son could still play, but he's too old now and he doesn't want to play junior high basketball. We've been talking about what to do this winter and are going to do Turbo Jam (Taebo) and try to find some footwork drills for WR and TEs and see if my daughter's activities (Upward basketball and Boy's and Girls Club volleyball) get us access to a gym. That and isometrics which can be done anywhere.

[Coach KA]

Just to clarify, it's for a team that is currently together playing fall ball and will be together in the Spring. Nothing strict, just some things to keep them from getting rusty throughout the winter, maybe once a week indoors for those that can make it.

All these kids played basketball last year (some in Upwards) and none want to play this year, so we're just going to get together in the gym once a week for those that want to and hit off the tee, etc. These kids are pretty motivated (it's not a parent thing, no one's being made to do it). Just want them to have some fun together with a bat and ball and if they want to shoot the basketball around when we get done, great. Most of the parents on our team socialize together, so this is a pretty close group of kids and parents.

Thanks

[Jake Patterson]

Just to clarify, it's for a team that is currently together playing fall ball and will be together in the Spring. Nothing strict, just some things to keep them from getting rusty throughout the winter, maybe once a week indoors for those that can make it.

All these kids played basketball last year (some in Upwards) and none want to play this year, so we're just going to get together in the gym once a week for those that want to and hit off the tee, etc. These kids are pretty motivated (it's not a parent thing, no one's being made to do it). Just want them to have some fun together with a bat and ball and if they want to shoot the basketball around when we get done, great. Most of the parents on our team socialize together, so this is a pretty close group of kids and parents.

Thanks

At this age I would recommend let them have the winter off and pick it up before the spring season begins.

[Ifubuildit]

We always played wiffle ball in the gym or at the neighbors barn. You can still work on the the mechanics of hitting and throwing. Do not let them use a glove. Tell them they have to field the ball with their bare hands. You will be pleased at the result come spring when you find out they all keep their hands close to the ground to field the ball because of their wiffleball experience.

Good luck keep it fun and don't over instruct. Just let them have a couple of hours of fun and let them play any position they want.

Dana.

[Jake Patterson]

We always played wiffle ball in the gym or at the neighbors barn. You can still work on the the mechanics of hitting and throwing. Do not let them use a glove. Tell them they have to field the ball with their bare hands. You will be pleased at the result come spring when you find out they all keep their hands close to the ground to field the ball because of their wiffleball experience.

Good luck keep it fun and don't over instruct. Just let them have a couple of hours of fun and let them play any position they want.

Dana.

Connecticut - Kitchen sink basketball - My wife hated it!

[Prouddadof5]

You may want to try the "Ultimate Hitting Machine" marketed by Ultimate Sports. It's a soft toss machine that is very user friendly so kids can practice batting on their own.
You step on a foot pad to pop ball up. Shift weight to rear leg and load up. When ball comes back down to waist level, swing away.

No electricity or batteries needed.





-

[Chris O'Leary]

You may want to try the "Ultimate Hitting Machine" marketed by Ultimate Sports. It's a soft toss machine that is very user friendly so kids can practice batting on their own.

Looks like this has the same problems as the Hands Back Hitter, in that it could introduce incorrect pauses into the swing.

[Prouddadof5]

Looks like this has the same problems as the Hands Back Hitter, in that it could introduce incorrect pauses into the swing.

After a person taps down on the foot pad to pop the ball up, they will have plenty of time to load up and take a normal swing as the ball comes back down to strike zone. Same as self tossing a ball in the air or doing soft toss.

By keeping foot on foot pad while swinging, will help teach young kids to not overstride... just rotate. Helps develop good eye coordination and helps kids to learn to stay back and wait. If they swing too quick before ball is in strike zone, they pop up.
(Machine will toss ball higher than shown in video.)





-

[Chris O'Leary]

...they will have plenty of time...

This is precisely the problem.

In reality, when the front heel drops the shoulders start rotating immediately.

I could see this device introduce timing problems into the swing.

A fix, as with the HBH, might be to hit the ball on the way up rather than on the way down.

[Ifubuildit]

I like the personal pitcher. Throws the little golf ball sized wiffles. You can load it up with balls and hit away all you want inside. You can also set it to throw curves and sliders. Plus it will change speeds. Max speed is 55 MPH but if you put it in close it will look like 70mph.

Good way to test reaction times on your hitters.

Dana.

[Prouddadof5]

This is precisely the problem.

In reality, when the front heel drops the shoulders start rotating immediately.

I could see this device introduce timing problems into the swing.

A fix, as with the HBH, might be to hit the ball on the way up rather than on the way down.

I understand what you are saying about the heel drop, and you are correct. With this machine, the first tap on the pad is just to launch the ball, foot stays on pad, then as the ball comes down, there's enough time to load up and for heel to drop to start the swing. (No striding, just rotate around)

Does a person try to hit a ball on the way up when they self toss, or are soft tossed to, or do they try and wait til it's in the strike zone?
If they swing when it's on the way up, they'll be lunging and not staying back.





-

[Chris O'Leary]

I like the personal pitcher. Throws the little golf ball sized wiffles. You can load it up with balls and hit away all you want inside. You can also set it to throw curves and sliders. Plus it will change speeds. Max speed is 55 MPH but if you put it in close it will look like 70mph.

I have this and like it for the reasons you stated.

The only issue is that it's pretty much indoor-only since the balls are so light.

[Chris O'Leary]

I understand what you are saying about the heel drop, and you are correct. With this machine, the first tap on the pad is just to launch the ball, foot stays on pad, then as the ball comes down, there's enough time to load up and for heel to drop to start the swing. (No striding, just rotate around)

But if the foot stays on the pad, which heel is dropping?

Does a person try to hit a ball on the way up when they self toss, or are soft tossed to, or do they try and wait til it's in the strike zone?

In self toss and soft toss the batter doesn't have to drop their front foot to trigger the ball release.

If they swing when it's on the way up, they'll be lunging and not staying back.

Not really.

All they have to do is swing fast, which is what you want.