Protection

[Morley13]

I am coaching a 9-10 year old LL team. It is kid pitch and this is the first time most of the kids have pitched before. It is also the first time I have coached kid pitch. I have been reading many threads over the last few weeks about coaching at the younger level and have two questions concerning protection for the kids.

How specifically to you the kids to get out of the way of a wild pitch. Drop straight down to the ground? Turn away from the ball? Do anything you can to get out of the way?

The next question is how to teach the pitchers to be ready for a ball coming back at them after they have released the ball. After pointing their gloveside arm towards the catcher, I have been teaching them to pull their glove in towards their body as their throwing arm goes forward. I then tell them to get both hands up, ready to react to a ball hit back at them. Does anyone have anything else to teach them.

Are there any drills or anyway ways to practice these situations.

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone has.

Ken

[bbjunkie]

You have to stress to them that once they let go of the ball they become fielders. You need to work hard on the fielding fundamentals. Lot's of fielding drills to the pitcher. That and reflexes are their best protection.

[virg]

How specifically to you the kids to get out of the way of a wild pitch. Drop straight down to the ground? Turn away from the ball? Do anything you can to get out of the way?
Ken

A batter standing dead still won't either hit or ditch in good time. Teach them to be moving by release: "stride with the pitcher in case it's a strike, stop if it is not." 9 yr-olds can handle this.

Now you've got him moving, the simplest answer is to turn away, which a kid can handle. Best answer; if it's coming above the diaphragm you duck; if it's below, dodge. Borderline case; duck.

never stop-and- restart because it takes forever.
Drop straight down is a good way to get beaned.

[dw8man]

How specifically to you the kids to get out of the way of a wild pitch. Drop straight down to the ground? Turn away from the ball? Do anything you can to get out of the way?

Ken

We teach the 5D's

Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive and Dodge

We do this by throwing wrenches at the kids. If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.

[Drill]

teach them to throw strikes first and field second

[Morley13]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll start emphasizing this more in the upcoming practices.

Ken