Boy's and Girl's, Mom's and Dad's, step right up, step right up! You are about to learn a defensive tip that will take your child's defensive skills to a whole new level! There are no expensive training aids to purchase, and this tip will bring you immediate results.
Who doesn't like getting dirty diving for baseballs and making heroic diving catches? The defensive tip I am about to share with you won't take any of that away from you, but you will find you won't have to as often. By applying this defensive tip to your game, you will vastly increase your defensive coverage area, AND reaction time to the ball.
I have worked with many youth ball players over the years, and find this player tip in particular, often being overlooked by coaches.
It is as easy as "training" a player's eye to track the ball from the very point it leaves the bat, OR from the point the ball leaves the hand. Most youth player's that come to me have their eyes trained to pick up the ball right around the Pitcher's Mound. The difference between tracking the ball from the mound, opposed to from the bat, is approximately a 1.0 - 1.25 second difference. That is a significant amount of time that a defensive player is doing nothing, but giving that time to the base runner(s).
To get that time back to your favor, you MUST have your eyes trained to see where the ball is leaving the bat. From that moment, you will be able to quickly gauge the route and speed of the ball, and with quick reflexes, give yourself the time to get yourself squared up to the ball.
The same is true for when a ball is thrown to us. If we train or eyes to pick up the ball from the point of release, we then give ourselves more time to get in position to receive the throw, as well as more time to read and react to errant ones too!
How can I tell if a player is tracking the ball from the bat or hand?
This tip is to improve a player's reaction time to the ball. Therefore, if you are seeing the player take his/her initial first step to the ball the moment it leaves the bat or hand, then you know they are not tracking the ball properly.
Coaches Tip - How to train the players eyes to track the ball from the Bat
It may sound odd, but toss up the ball in one hand and catch it, while asking your ball player(s) to glue his/her eyes to the ball. Continue to toss the ball up and catch it in your hand three times. Then, on the fourth toss hit the ball with the bat. You should see your ball player now react instantaneously to the ball. If not, repeat by tossing up the ball three more times, then swing on the fourth.
Coaches Tip - How to train the players eyes to track the ball from the Hand
Without actually releasing the ball, simulate a throw to the players right side, then to the left. As you motion to either side, the player should be reacting to where you are positioning your hand. When you feel their reaction is in time with your hand movement, step back 25' and throw 5' to either side of the player. The player should be able to square up to the ball when receiving it, if they are tracking it from the point of release.
Have any questions or comments about this article, or wish to enroll your son or daughter in some private lessons with Coach Darren? Contact PSBT today!
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