How to stay off heels when hitting?

[jbolt_2000]

I have this player on my LL Majors team. He is a descent hitter, but I noticed the other night that he stands on his heels and cannot hit the outside pitch for the life of him. I tried working with him and keeping him on the balls of his feet and tilt, etc. It worked in the drills and one-on-one time, but when we went to live BP he falls back on his heels.

He said he is a little scared of getting hit and knows that is is problem, but doesn't know how to get over it.

he can hit the inside pitch pretty well (granted not alot of power), so he doesn't see it as a huge problem. I am trying to work with him and explaining that he would crush the ball inside or out if he got off his heels, but doesn't seem to be working.

Any ideas to help this player? I don't have any video, but I know that his big problem is the heels and, according to him, is caused by being scared.

Any advice?

[Ursa Major]

JB, this is where you truly earn your stripes as a coach, because what makes the difference here is not knowledge of some arcane hitting drill, but your ability to read and connect with a kid and his deepest demons. We've all faced this problem, and dealt with it with varying levels of success.

All we can do is offer suggestions for what has worked for us in the past, and then you have to pick and choose among them, understanding that you may not achieve success for months or years, and it's as likely that success will come from some force over which you have no control. So, here are some that have worked for me.

1. Logic: "Your best chance for getting away from an inside pitch is to adopt the best and most athletic stance you can -- i.e., on the balls of your feet -- so that you can twist away from that pitch".
2. Survival: Hey, if you don't like facing these guys, let's hit the first decent pitch and get it over with.
3. Bargaining: Look, you'll only be at the plate for mayb 12 pitches a game. For those twelve seconds, for your teammates, let's hang in and beat these guys."
4. Appeal to phony numbers: "Look, there's no one on the planet who's more mobile and able to get out of the way of a dangerous pitch than an 11 year old boy. So, hang in there and plan to hit the pitch; you'll get out of the way if it's nasty."
5. Flattery: you've got the best swing on the team and we're counting on you to get two balls into the outfield in every game."
6. Practice, practice, practice: Do it right over and over while in practice or standing in line to see a movie. That's the only message he shoould take up to the plate with him -- staying on the balls of his feet and striding driectly toward the pitcher.

[TG Coach]

Change his stance to having him start with his front heel up. Not only will it keep him off his heels, when he drops his heel it starts the hips moving.

[Mark H]

And a steady diet of bp on the low outside corner.