My daughter keeps stepping out of the battters box

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My daughter keeps stepping out of the battters box

My daughter moved up from rec ball to 12u travel ball this year. The pitchers are, of course, a little intimidating. She seems to have developed a fear of the pitch, NOT the ball. In turn, she is stepping out of the way of "wild pitches" which are actually strikes right across the plate.

Any suggestions?

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My daughter keeps stepping out of the battters box

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May 11, 2010
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Change her mindset
by: Jimbo

Convince her that she is better protected by stepping INTO the pitch than stepping OUT. Demonstrate this by pitching a rubber ball or tennis ball at her. When she steps out, she is opening up her hands, chest, throat, etc. to being hit by the ball (all of which hurts). When she steps into the pitch, all she needs is a slight turn of the upper body to take the hit in the back (which doesn't hurt much at all). Also establish the minset that she is to "protect the bat" from getting hit, which encourages her to keep her hands on the bat while turning her back, instead of raising her hand to block the wild pitch (which can result in broken fingers). Every ten balls you pitch to her, mix in a couple of intentional pitches to hit her (with a rubber ball) to get her comfortable with stepping into the pitch and turning her back to wild pitches.

Dec 13, 2009
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PRACTICE
by: Lulu

I would recommend that you take her to a ball field one day and get someone to come pitch to her.I have been through the same thing before, but my coach just put a bard behind my feet so I could not step out of the box! It has worked VERY well because now I am one of the best hitters on my team.

Jul 12, 2009
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She needs to get hit
by: Anonymous

This might sound silly, but the only way she won't be afraid of the pitches is if she actually gets hit by one.

You could either try pitching to her at home, but if you don't have the speed, try rewarding her when she doesn't step out on a strike during the game.

I'm on a 12U tournament team and I used to be afraid of the pitching until I actually got hit by a pitch.

Jun 30, 2009
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hit her
by: Anonymous

it sounds silly. but hit her with a wiffle ball, and put a bat behind her. im 14 and it works.

Jun 15, 2009
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Same
by: Anna

I am 12 right now and i have played for a while. I know how your daughter feels. I have this one pitcher on my team who pitchs very very fast but has no control so she has been taken out many time. My advice is to at first start out throwing her wiffle balls. Then after a while start throwing real softballs and increase the speed every pitch. When you start out with the real ball, out a bat or somthing behind her so she won't step out. Then you can increase the speed. My father (coach) has done this to me mutiple times and it works.
Hope it works for you.

Jun 02, 2009
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toot
by: toot

my daughter keeps tooting when she pitches

May 31, 2009
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It doesn't hurt
by: Anonymous

Throw her wiffle balls and hit her a couple times. It doesn't hurt it's just wiffles. This will help her to not be afraid of the ball and teach her how to go with the hit and turn instead of just taking it. Also as the level increases a lot of umps won't give a free base if the batter just takes the pitch, they have to make an attempt to avoid it.

May 20, 2009
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Go back to basics
by: Anonymous

Start on giving wiffle balls first. Give her regular pitches with no speed at all just control. Until she gets comfortable. Increase speed when you see her being more comfortable

http://www.softballperformance.com/articles/softball-hitting-attitude-for-success/

May 20, 2009
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May 15, 2009
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crate
by: Anonymous

My daughter had this fear in 8U after she got hit 3 times in a game. After seeing her back out every pitch I put her in a milk crate as I pitched to her. The crate didn't allow her to bail out on the pitch and she was able to overcome the bad habit

May 12, 2009
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REPLY
by: Anonymous

PLACE A BAT DIRECTLY BEHIND HER FEET AFTER SHE SETS UP TO BAT. SHE WILL THINK ABOUT THE BAT INSTEAD OF BACKING OUT.

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My daughter keeps stepping out of the battters box

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My daughter keeps stepping out of the battters box