Cleanup Batters' Slump

Welcome!  Is this a high school varsity team?  Some other level of high school team?   Freshmen adjusting to varsity pitching is a big jump.

Is this a HS or club team?

Because there's a huge difference between middle school and high school ball. And for a team that's enjoyed nothing but success in the past, losing would be a new and unfamiliar feeling. Add to that a jump into HS ball, 5 straight losses, and they might all be thinking the next 4 years look very bleak.

So, as a coach it seems like you need to find a way to restore the collective confidence. Good news is that they have the talent.

Perhaps bring in some JV pitchers or even Varsity pitchers to throw BP to get them used to seeing higher-level pitching. Try scrimmaging against a lower-level team you know they can beat, to build their confidence. More reps could also help.

One last thought - have you asked the players what they think the blockage might be? There might be some team dynamics of which you're unaware. You mentioned coach turnover...

Ted Williams, Get a good pitch to hit, Hit it.  Pitch selection?

In the most broadest brushstroke possible, the slumps I have seen in games vs. practice, tend toward sliding forward to go get the ball. Way too eager, not staying back. Getting over the front foot.

The further forward you are, the more likely you are to swing down.  Leading to grounders, weak pop ups and swing and miss.  Both are low percentage plays.  Nerves will do that to young players.

Staying on plane with the ball as long as possible increases their odds of hitting the ball.

If your #4 hitter is convinced he has to hit bombs and is using a huge upper cut for a better "attack angle", that will really screw up a kid just as bad.

There are a lot more qualified people than me, so use at your own risk.

Based on this, “I have next to no experience with baseball.” , you should probably leave it to the head coach.  The nuances of how physical skill, mechanical proficiency and mental approach combine to impact a players performance are quite unique to the sport and no one on the internet, regardless of experience, can give you guidance on diagnosing and fixing this issue.  They made it this far as ball players, they were good in middle school.  Most will likely adjust to the new level of play on their own.  Best to let them figure it out unless you have specific insights based on your own experience.

@22and25 posted:

Based on this, “I have next to no experience with baseball.” , you should probably leave it to the head coach.  The nuances of how physical skill, mechanical proficiency and mental approach combine to impact a players performance are quite unique to the sport and no one on the internet, regardless of experience, can give you guidance on diagnosing and fixing this issue.  They made it this far as ball players, they were good in middle school.  Most will likely adjust to the new level of play on their own.  Best to let them figure it out unless you have specific insights based on your own experience.

This is good advice.  A coach with little baseball experience can be very useful for many things: hitting flies, hitting grounders, throwing BP, whiffles or front toss, running drills, etc., but solving hitters' mechanical or approach issues is probably not on the list.

I was an assistant coach for a 13U team that included a future #1 overall draft choice.  I was smart enough to tell that kid absolutely nothing.

He is a stand in for a HS assistant coach in Canada.

I agree this is something that the HC needs  to address and should help you with.

@DD 2024 posted:

Is this a HS or club team?

Because there's a huge difference between middle school and high school ball. And for a team that's enjoyed nothing but success in the past, losing would be a new and unfamiliar feeling. Add to that a jump into HS ball, 5 straight losses, and they might all be thinking the next 4 years look very bleak.

So, as a coach it seems like you need to find a way to restore the collective confidence. Good news is that they have the talent.

Perhaps bring in some JV pitchers or even Varsity pitchers to throw BP to get them used to seeing higher-level pitching. Try scrimmaging against a lower-level team you know they can beat, to build their confidence. More reps could also help.

One last thought - have you asked the players what they think the blockage might be? There might be some team dynamics of which you're unaware. You mentioned coach turnover...

Thanks for the reply. We're a HS varsity team, and our team is mostly made up of local players who are in their first year of high school.

I was really confused as to what the problem was because before the loss our batters had been doing well in practice games against other high school teams, but we got eliminated in the third round of a tournament and suddenly teams we had played and won against before were getting tons of strikeouts in practice.

I agree that the reason is probably that our team's confidence took a hit. I asked one of the players and he said he can't seem to make contact when there are runners because he keeps thinking about what he needs to do in order to help them advance. So, most likely their performance is due to their mental state right now.

We're a small team, so it's hard to have inter-squad games, but on the bright side we get to play a lot of practice games because our district is pretty competitive. I'll take your advice and ask the Head Coach about scrimmaging to build the team's confidence.

“Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical”

Yogi Berra

Honestly, from what you posted you are likely just seeing the results of a step up in competition. Keep it fun, give them quality reps, and most importantly stay out of their heads.