Pitchers donât walk hitters very often, so your players shouldnât step up to the plate expecting to get a freebie to first. Instead train them to hit the ball with confidence. But that doesnât mean they should swing at just any pitch.
Coach India Chiles suggests taking a âyes, yes, noâ approach. When the pitch is first released, the batter should think, âYes, yes, this is my pitch.â If it moves out of the zone, the batterâs thoughts should shift to, âNo, Iâm going to hold up.â
By being aggressive, your offense exudes confidence. This can make the defenseâs self-assurance falter, which keeps the momentum on your side.
Slappers, in particular, will usually get a good pitch. Thatâs because pitchers would rather strike them out than allow fast runners to get on base. So make sure your slappers are prepared to hit.
Yet it can sometimes be difficult to find holes in the defense. In this case, have your slapper take a pitch ... and watch how the defense reacts. This allows her to find gaps in the field, depending on how individual defensive players respond.
When you train your athletes to go after pitches, you teach them to make decisions on their own. Over time, youâll develop smart athletes who arenât afraid to step up to the plate.