Something that I never get to do except during Summer Camp is throw batting practice to a group of players and then immediately watch those same players face live pitching in a game setting.

During the lesson season, I'm in the cage 30+ hours a week and never get to see my players hit during games and during Fall Ball I get to see them hit during games but we don't take BP before first pitch on Sundays.

At Summer Camp, I'm able to see the kids hit in the cage and then see them go directly to facing live pitching.

The hitting psychological I'm about to describe is one I've witnessed for as long as I've been a coach and for those of you who read this blog regularly will recognize some of these concepts, but described in a new way.

Last week after we finished a BP session I asked the dugout the following question: "When you were just in batting practice, every time the coach was about to throw the ball, what were you thinking?"

Every single kid answered, "I'm going to swing at it."

Then I asked, "Is that what you are thinking right before a live pitcher in a game is about throw the ball?"  

Almost every kid kind of sheepishly smiled and shook their heads "no."

They got it already.

My next question to them was, "WHY are you ready to swing at every pitch in batting practice?"

Their answer: "Because who cares, it's just batting practice."

Then I asked, "WHY aren't you ready to swing at every pitch against a live pitcher in a game?"

And the answers started flying!

"Because what if I swing at a bad pitch?"
"Because what if I miss?"
"Because the umpire might call it a ball."
"Because my coach gets mad me when I swing at a bad pitch."

And my response: "Who cares, it's just a game."  :-)

If young players took the same relaxed, free swinging, fearless, "I'm ready to attack the ball even before the pitcher throws it" attitude that they have in batting practice to the game with them to the game, the positive changes in their overall aggression, bat speed, and enjoyment of games would be instantaneous.  

As the pitcher lifts his leg, the batter should turn his "I'm going to attack this pitch" switch to ON.

Then, if the ball ends up in their hitting zone, they're already ready, just attack.

If it's not in their zone, it's really easy to just turn the switch OFF and let the ball go by.

But waaaaaay too often, the batter's switch is turned OFF as the pitcher starts his delivery and then by the time he realizes he wants to swing, it's too late to turn it ON and a good pitch has gone past him without him ever getting the bat off his shoulder.

Being too worried about making a mistake "because it's a game" prevents them from reaching their full potential.

And parents, the best part about this whole "Turn the switch ON" philosophy is...YOUR SON ALREADY KNOWS HOW TO DO IT BECAUSE HE DOES IT IN BATTING PRACTICE!

Have fun with this - it really works!

PS. Sorry for any typos! It's late and I'm tired but I really wanted to get this out of my head and into a blog while the camp experience from last week was still fresh. Thanks for reading!