Your Response to an Earlier Question

Question
I am incredulous over the response you gave to the father inquiring about what to do about his son who is afraid of being hit with the ball (i.e., He has to realize that the best way to avoid being hit is to hit the ball with the bat).  

Do you realize that young children do not have the quick reflexes of an older child?  Do you realize that a ball thrown from a pitchers mound located 46' from home plate and a ball thrown from a pitchers mound located 60'6" from home plate cross the plate at about the same time even though the ball thrown from 46' is travelling slower - meaning the reaction time is the same?  Do you realize that young pitchers hit far more batters than Major League pitchers?  Do you realize that young children's physiques are undeveloped, meaning their upper bodys haven't yet developed any muscle?  

Given all of the above - their relatively small size, their undeveloped physiques, their slower reflexes, the limited reaction time due to the 46' distance, pitchers with much less control - is it any wonder so many kids quit after getting whacked a time or two?  

I would guess you weigh 2-3X what the average 9 year old weighs, and I would love to see you bat against Randy Johnson.  I would guess that you would be so far off the plate after he released the pitch that the bat would not even break the plane of the plate if you were even able to swing at the pitch, because I think that you would be ducking.  I am guessing that you are one of those people who yell at your players to move closer to the plate even though you are a wimp yourself.  

Can you arrange to have a Major League pitcher hit you in the ribs with a 90+ MPH fastball, and then we can arrange to film you actually batting against that pitcher so that we can see how you do?  Are you man enough to take a ball in the ribs so that you have some perspective of what you ask your players to do?  Please let me know, because I would be more than happy to arrange it.  

If you follow Major League Baseball at all you will know that the fear of getting hit with the baseball affects even Major League players - they were talking about it on Baseball Tonight again just a few nights ago.

Read the baseball coverage in the sports page carefully and you will get an idea of the extent to which the fear of getting hit with the ball affects even Major Leaguers.  Following is the partial text of an article from MLB's own website that quotes Craig Biggio: 鈥楴ot all players can psychologically handle being hit, and they may become gun shy after a particularly close call鈥︹€?"There are some guys, if you throw up and in on them, knock them down, they're yours the rest of the game," he said.鈥?br>
Here is the partial text of an article covering a Cubs-Sox game: "The moment of truth for Mark Prior came in the third inning Friday after he knocked Frank Thomas off the plate with a 1-2 fastball that irritated the White Sox slugger. The Cubs starter followed with a curve on the outside corner that buckled Thomas' knees for a called third strike鈥︹€rom his first pitch, which sent leadoff man Aaron Rowand reeling backward, Prior had Sox batters wondering what was coming next, whether the strategy was intentional or not鈥?.Early in the game I was a little bit wild, and I think it helped me over the course of the game."


Answer
Lee,

interesting comments.  

Of course, no sane person wants to bit by a fastball and no sane person would suggest that someone take a deliberate hit.  Given your scenario, if I am to swing at a pro pitchers ball, I would therefore be a pro player.  My reflexes, as you pointed out, would have been developed to almost match that of the pitchers fastball ability (hopefully) or I would not be playing 'pro' ball.  I would also have endured many, many hits, based on my age in relation to your scenario.

I've never measured my coaching (or manhood) based on the pain I tolerate or by suggesting that others receive pain.  Instead, I judge myself on how well I prepare for practices, accept responsibility for safety concerns and judge my success by the smiles on the faces of my charges (children) and how they develop both on and off the field.

I've had many children on my teams afraid of the ball. I always suggest that wiffle and tennis balls be substituted and that the proper turning techniques be practiced for that inevitable hit.  I know of no other way to prepare children for a hit.  The best method to avoid being hit is to learn to hit the ball.  If you know of a better way...please let us know and stop hoarding this info!

I've taken children onto my teams that should never have been placed with competitive sport.  Almost always, it's their parents who have 'insisted' that their child play baseball.  Too many times I've seen children playing baseball because they have no choice.  It's usually these kids who are afraid of the ball.  It's also these kids who have NOT gone up thru the different levels of baseball to develop the skills and reflexes to match the ball being thrown 'in their direction.  If you knew this, you would never have made such an insane suggestion.

I started coaching by lightly tossing the ball to 6 and 7 year-old batters.  I can't remember how many balls (and bats) have hit me while I was tossing the ball from about 10 to 12 feet.  In our league, coaches toss the ball for the youngest players.  For 8 to 10 year-olds, we have a batting machine that is used to ensure accuracy and correct speed.  Eventually, children replace pitching machines, usually after 10 years of age.

It's the coaches job to ensure that the children be provided the right equipment and training according to their age and ability.  It's the association and league responsibility to ensure that training and facilities are provided to match these development stages.  And its the parents responsibility to register children in sports that match their expectations with the realities of sport.  

Too many times I've seen parents by-pass this process and thus we coaches are left with the responsibility of teaching some children not to be afraid of the ball.  It's parents like you who often parachute their kids into sports above their children's abilty.  You assume we coaches have magic tricks that instantly transform these kids into DH's.  There are no short cuts.

If you don't want your child hit by a ball thrown by another child, don't play baseball.  Every child will eventually be hit by a thrown baseball.  Most pro's will be hit by a ball as well. Sorry, your child is not provided any 'firewall' protection and no garantees are offered.  No coach wants to see their player hit by a ball, especially this coach.

What we coaches can do is try to teach the children how to swing at the ball, how to turn away from a hit and encourage them as best we can.  Confidence is a major factor as is experience.  A good coach will give children every opportunity to improve.  If I keep a child on the bench for his/her protection, I have parents (like you) yelling at me to 'play' your child more often.  If I play your child and they get hit, I'm blamed for not using my magic to prevent this from happening.  

Maybe I should blame parents like you for not telling me how to coach better. No, 'that dog don't hunt' because parents like you are always telling coaches how to do it better.  Perhaps you should get off the bench, walk around the protection of the fence and start teaching children how to avoid being hit.  

I won't ask you to take a hit from Mark Prior but I will ask you to pick up a ball and help children avoid being hit.  I'll suggest wiffle and tennis balls but I'm sure you have a better method.

JohnMc