Here’s Downside: Your boy won’t progress quite as quickly in what you may see as his “natural position.”

Here’s Upside: Until approximately age 14 he doesn’t have a natural position. He has ability and interest in his “natural position” and he has Dad hoping he will play and excel at his “natural position.” But unless any boy gets experience all over field, he may not truly find that “natural position.”

My son had as much fun as a catcher throughout his 11-12-13 years as any time I ever saw him play another position . . . for whatever his reasons were. His experience there was due to his team’s needs. It ended up allowing him to learn and do something he never really thought much about or had much interest in. It also helped me out of a jam because he got good at it. And yes, he enjoyed it! It also helped our pitchers because he improved where they could count on him . . . and now, as an older player, it allowed him to understand game infinitely better, now that he is developing into a pitcher and a solid middle infielder.

Ultimately, all it took was he and I initially discussing it (I asked for and frankly needed his help – I truly believe that kids like to help), and secondly I spent time working with him at home, one-on-one, and at park, which gave us time for just he and I! That time is worth it just by itself. . . added benefit is that it was time spent at a baseball field!

Under category of "never say never," my son’s High School asked him to play shortstop on JV summer team a few years ago. He regarded it as quite an honor, as he was only an 8th grader in a school of 2,000 students. Although he certainly had, and has, a lot of learning to do at such a complex position…I think he was extremely happy that he was at least forced out of his “natural position” earlier in his career and could call on past game experiences. It certainly made for a more confident and enjoyable transition!

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2A- When and if you are struggling and/or experimenting under fire Let’s make things simple…, hitter is to sit on fastball-only! Repeat, fastball only...until 2 strikes... THEN YOU BATTLE!

The more pitches you make him throw, more likely he throws mistake. And you will crush mistake, right?

No matter how curve or off-speed hangs...you will sit fastball...until 2 strikes! No matter who yells from dugout or stands “What are you waiting for?”, you stick with your plan! You have your plan and YOU ARE A REAL & DANGEROUS HITTER!…they are fans.

2B- When and if you are going great (and if breaking balls or off-speed is a reality for your age group) you will go to plate looking (PICK ONE) fastball or off-speed (either his breaking ball or his change).

And how do you know which to sit on (look for?) WATCH THE PITCHER & WATCH THE GAME!

Ok, you are watching pitcher, he is telling you what he is going to throw you. We have established that all pitchers throw fastballs and let’s face it, at youth levels I doubt you will find guys who can throw 3 hooks for strikes in a row anyway...so let's strongly consider sitting on fastball until 2 strikes, no matter how well you are presently playing...then we will battle!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The curveball, off-speed note – I am absolutely not advising that you do not sit off-speed and only attack fastballs. If you are watching game, you can and will make a correct decision! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So what did we just do? 1- You now have a plan! 2- You now have a simple plan requiring little thinking! 3- You now know to swing controlled and hard....at fastballs (your plan)!

FINALLY – Consider investing in your future hitting successes! Purchase a simple 35 minute audio CD called Quality At Bats, by Steve Springer. Of course it is available on our site. Listen to it 3 times within 10 days and you will understand even further. I know players who have had an immediate and profound impact on how they approach hitting!

Our Personal Pitcher golf ball-size wiffle ball pitching machine will allow you to work on your new mindset right in backyard, by yourself or with other players too! Thousands of quality repetitions are how you quickly become a great hitter!

Remember, as my buddy Spring says, and I paraphrase... "You cannot control getting a hit, but you can control hitting ball hard!"

Now sting something, will ya!

----Coach JP

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