Learning w/ 7yo

[Rookie~91]

I have been frequenting this website since January when I found it and am trying to absorb as much of the information about hitting as I can.

I have a 7yo son that is playing league ball that I help coach and I want to help him (and his teammates) improve. I have practically no experience in coaching baseball and only played up to a couple of years into high school, but I have remained a fan and do know the rules of the game. I received minimal instruction throughout my career as a player, limited to “elbow up”, “choke up with 2 strikes”, etc. and my limited knowledge on swing mechanics has become quite obvious to me.

I have come to believe that “the posse” is headed in the right direction and I have contacted Steve with a couple of emails, although I haven’t been able to talk to him, and I would like to get his DVD.

I do plan on posting videos so that I can get constructive feedback. In the meantime, I have a couple of still shots from last year. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks.

http://i2.tinypic.com/vhuelg.jpg
http://i2.tinypic.com/vhuez7.jpg

[Jake Patterson]

He's well ahead of many his age. It's difficult to advise what specifically you should do given the basis from which you begin. I would suggest reading as much as you can about coaching and view as many training CD's as you can. Steve's may be a great place to start.

[Rookie~91]

Thanks Jake. I am doing as much reading as I can.

Not being exactly sure about how to go forward with his development while waiting on opportunity to get a DVD from Steve, what should we be working on?

I think I have a fairly good idea about posture, so I have been trying to reinforce that. His is pretty good (I think so, anyway). He tends to want to close his stance and he is now holding the bat close to 45 degrees and his back elbow higher. I also have him tilting a little more by reminding him to stick his butt out.

I am a little worried about completely understanding connection. Will I have to be able to swing a bat myself and "feel" it? Or can I understand it without necessarily being able to "do" it?

[WonderMonkey]

He looks great for his age, and even a bit older.

I coached my son from the time he was little and continue now when he is 13. I also help my wife coach my daughter, who is also 7. From the lessons that I learned helping my son I am doing a few things with my daughters team that seems successful.

1 - I use the terminology that Dusty Baker uses in his book. I think he may have learned most of it from someone else but he has it in the book and it makes sense. I demonstrate one point at a time, like building the foundation for a house first and then going from there. While demonstrating I use the keywords and try to make it as easy as possible.

2 - I don't worry if they aren't doing it right. If they are even coming close to trying I simply reinforce and praise (some, not too much) and then do the same thing the next practice. Amazingly enough they will improve over time and before you know it the team looks good.

******

Each year I start with the stance, hands, and to not lunge forward but to just rotate. If they get those three things right at 7 years old then they will put the ball in play and get on base here and there. Gives them some success and they feel good about the game.

As each individual player is doing ok at that then I introduce "Squash the bug" and "Ike to Mike". Along the way I introduce "Don't break the ice". If you don't know what those are I or someone can tell you.

With stance, hands, "squash the bug", "Ike to Mike", and "Don't break the ice" you have the foundation you need to take a player all the way through High School and wherever they may go from there.

I taught my son those fundementals the first year he played. The second year we stayed with them until his body just knew how to swing. From there each year we start out with the basics to get going and then just tweak. hands position a bit different, finish the swing a bit higher, throw the handle of the bat, etc etc etc.

****

To sum up: Work those few fundementals over and over and don't try to get too advanced with the team. If you see a player is ready, as your son is, you can introduce to HIM (and whomever else is ready) another layer to the swing or a tweak to what he already has.

[Erik]

I have been frequenting this website since January when I found it and am trying to absorb as much of the information about hitting as I can.

I have a 7yo son that is playing league ball that I help coach and I want to help him (and his teammates) improve. I have practically no experience in coaching baseball and only played up to a couple of years into high school, but I have remained a fan and do know the rules of the game. I received minimal instruction throughout my career as a player, limited to “elbow up”, “choke up with 2 strikes”, etc. and my limited knowledge on swing mechanics has become quite obvious to me.

I have come to believe that “the posse” is headed in the right direction and I have contacted Steve with a couple of emails, although I haven’t been able to talk to him, and I would like to get his DVD.

I do plan on posting videos so that I can get constructive feedback. In the meantime, I have a couple of still shots from last year. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks.

http://i2.tinypic.com/vhuelg.jpg
http://i2.tinypic.com/vhuez7.jpg

Rookie~91,
The bottom hand should be turned inward not outward. I noticed the bottom picture shows the botton hand /wrist is rotated outward. This is a very weak set up and can have effects on batspeed. This will also cause the barrell to stay below the hands to much at contact producing popups.



EL,

[Mark H]

Looks perfect to me. I look forward to the clips.

[swingbuster]

Looks perfect to me. I look forward to the clips.

It gets on plane for the " loopy " pitch whcih is probably what he will see for a while.

I might compromise and go to the neck slot or split the helmet

Barrel way too low for HS when you will see FB down.... IMHO

[Mark H]

You better get a video clip before you start making those pronouncements.

[swingbuster]

Sandman should get some footage today and I mailed more today. The higher barrel in conjunction with " looking down" as a pitch selection strategy has really produced many hard hit balls.

Maybe Sandman can take the 3B views of the whole teams set up and make on shot to see the average location. He is a wizard when he gets in the mood.

I will see if he can do that. Mailed that footage First Class to RI today.

[Mark H]

I wasn't clear. I meant you better get a video clip of THIS kid before you start making those pronouncements about HIS swing from a couple of stills.

[Rookie~91]

Thanks to all who offered their comments!

WonderMonkey:

As each individual player is doing ok at that then I introduce "Squash the bug" and "Ike to Mike". Along the way I introduce "Don't break the ice". If you don't know what those are I or someone can tell you.

Could you elaborate on these terms, please? They are somewhat recognizable to me, but how do I use them as a teach?

Erik:

The bottom hand should be turned inward not outward. I noticed the bottom picture shows the botton hand /wrist is rotated outward. This is a very weak set up and can have effects on batspeed. This will also cause the barrell to stay below the hands to much at contact producing popups.

I am not clear on what you mean by the bottom hand is rotated outward. Are you saying the bat should be more vertical? Or that the bottom hand should be rotated around the bat further?

As I said above, I do have him holding the bat this year closer to a 45 degree angle.

Thanks.

[Mark H]

With stance, hands, "squash the bug", "Ike to Mike", and "Don't break the ice" you have the foundation you need to take a player all the way through High School and wherever they may go from there.

.

Which of these MLB swings do you see squishing the bug etc?

http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/pro

More reading for you.

http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting

Always check anything you teach a kid against slow motion video of the best in the world. Any coach owes it to the kids they teach.

[jojab]

...how do I use them as a teach?

Simple answer: You don't!

Take Mark H.'s advice.

Joe

[Rookie~91]

Mark-

Which of these MLB swings do you see squishing the bug etc?

and Jojab-

Simple answer: You don't!


I agree and that is why I asked him to elaborate. I always thought "squishing the bug" was a result of your swing, not something that you do.

I am a little worried about completely understanding connection. Will I have to be able to swing a bat myself and "feel" it? Or can I understand it without necessarily being able to "do" it?

Can either of you address this question for me? Thanks.

[Erik]

Erik:



I am not clear on what you mean by the bottom hand is rotated outward. Are you saying the bat should be more vertical? Or that the bottom hand should be rotated around the bat further?

As I said above, I do have him holding the bat this year closer to a 45 degree angle.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]


The bottom hand when closed should be raised slightly upward not even with the wrist.


EL,

[jojab]

I am a little worried about completely understanding connection. Will I have to be able to swing a bat myself and "feel" it? Or can I understand it without necessarily being able to "do" it?

Personally I would recommend you picking up a bat and learning along with your son. Try out the drills that you see on Steve's DVD for yourself. You can then demonstrate the drills for him and increase your level of understanding.

I think most members of the Posse have picked up a bat and some have even been crazy enough to post clips of themselves on various sites.

You don't want to end up like Tom Guerry and be just full of theories with no hands on experience. :D

Joe

[Mark H]

I might post another clip of myself one of these days. I agree, doing it yourself, at least on a tee, alongside whatever your son or DD is working on, can be helpful in terms of understanding what they are struggling with and in terms of inspiring your young hitter to make sure Dad or Mom doesn't outdo them. I should do more of that myself.