It can happen to the best of players.
You know they can hit, but for some reason, their hitting percentages have tanked. It’s called a slump, and there are things you can do as a coach to help evaluate the situation and take the player to the next level. Here are 3 recommendations from D-BAT Sports on what to do if you notice a baseball hitter is in a slump:
Record Game Time At-Bats
Players often look differently when batting in practice and when batting in a game time situation. Ask a parent or assistant coach to record the player in the game and then take time to analyze their at-bat. Is there an issue with their batting mechanics? Is their confidence lacking? A lack of confidence is the #1 reason for a batting slump. Determine some corrective measures that can be taken to correct and improve their batting average.
Practice More
Once you’ve identified some areas in need of improvement, take time out of practice to work one-on-one with the player in need of a little extra batting practice. If your practice is an hour, maybe take 15 minutes to work with them while another coach works drills with the rest of the team, or take some time after practice.
Set Goals
When talking with the player, start by offering praise for what they are doing well, sandwich in areas of improvement, followed by advice on how to make that improvement happen. Make sure the player understands their goals and objectives for improvement in the next game and that you will follow up with them on those goals. In a hitting slump, it’s a good idea to focus on making contact with the ball, swinging hard, and looking for good pitches only vs. focusing on hits period. The hits will come if the mechanics and proper batting practices are there.
In a slump now? Find the D-BAT location closest to you! D-BAT Sports is the #1 baseball training facility in the country with state-of-the-art batting cages open year round. Call today to schedule a little extra batting practice for your baseball player or team! Don’t forget to pick up some gear from the D-BAT location you visit. If you aren’t near a location, visit dbatsports.com and order today!