Coaching Youth Baseball - Things to Say During the Game to Build a Batters Confidence at the Plate

Young baseball batters are often nervous whenbase on balls.
they step up to the plate. It is the job of the5. "Don't Guess - See, Read & React" Tells
coach to say things that will calm the playersthe batter who has two strikes to even the
nerves and give the player confidence. Here I givestance and hit anything close. Do not guess or
examples of things that coaches may say to helplook for a certain pitch but rather hit the ball
their players be successful when batting. Here are"where it is pitched". Pull or Punch.
10 things that coaches often said to young6. "Nothing Above the Hands" If a batter has a
batters during an at-bat. Each saying is explained.tendency to chase high stuff out of the zone, this
These communications are most often conveyedreminds the batter to start with the hands at the
to the better by the 3rd base coach.top of the zone and do not chase anything above
1. "See it out, See it in, See it off!" - Tells thethose hands.
hitter to keep the head down and see the ball out7. "Squash the Bug" or "Shoelaces to Pitcher" -
of the pitcher's hand, into the strike zone, and offThe correct action of the hitters back foot.
the bat!"8. "Trigger"-The hitters final inside turn movement
2. "If it is close enough to call, its close enough tobefore the swing.
hit!" This saying reminds a hitter with two strikes9. "See the Ball Flat"-See the ball until it goes flat
to swing at anything close because taking a pitchagainst the bat and comes off.
close may result in a 3rd called strike without a10. "Hitters Count" This means that the batter is
swing. Do not go down "looking".ahead in the count such as 2-0, 3-1, or 1-0. The
3. "31-Zone, Nothing Above, Nothing Below!" Thesaying means that the pitcher is more than likely
batter with a 3-1 count is looking to hit a perfectto have to throw a strike over the plate and that
pitch to hit in a tight zone. The batter should laypitch is more than likely going to be a fastball.
off anything above or below that zone.These are just a few. I am sure that you know
4. "Base Hit, Ball Four, Something Good for Us onof more. I hope these help you in some way.
this Pitch". The batter has a 3 ball count. TheGood luck until next time.
batter is looking to hit the pitch hard or get a