Scrimmaging with a 1-1 count

Our hs coach does that as well and I think it is the best way to keep the scrimmage moving along. It forces the batter to be more aggressive to get that hit which is good. If it is close then go get it!

Knowledge is Power! Thank you Mavens and HSBBWEB!

When we scrimmage in practice we change the counts all the time. We have 0-2 counts 2-0 counts most of the time. The reasoning has nothing to do for us with time. We want our hitters to be able to hit in game like situations. A team that can put the ball in play on 0-2 counts and be disciplined in 2-0 counts will be obviously more sucessfull. Sometimes we use 3-2 counts as well. Forces out pitchers to really concentrate as well as the batter.

JustBaseball-
I think all successful coaches run scrimmages that are designed to simulate the game as much as possible. The problem with many young people today is that they are afraid to fail. Scrimmages with any specific counts, as well as those that change the counts every inning, are great because they force players to deal with the inevitable pressure of being a top-flight athlete.
One of my favorite quotes, from Mark Twain, says this:
"Courage is the resistance to fear & the mastery of fear...not the absence of it."
We must always keep our players focused on the fact that failure is what good players face as they try to ascend to greatness.

Thanks Coaches Knight and May. I always enjoy reading your posts as they give me insight to a high school coach's thought process.

I coach a very successful 11U team. A drill we run fairly often is a "2-strike drill." We make a game of it with the team split into two teams. We talk a lot about a batter changing his approach with 2 strikes, and they score "points" for fouling off close pitches or putting the ball in play and lose points for taking a strike.

It is really fun to watch in the games when one of our hitters gets in the hole with 2 strikes and we just say "2-strike drill." Those kids eyes light up and they go to work like no other young team I've seen. Its a spark that turns the light on in their heads and becomes a game within the game. They even ask in practice sometimes "can we run the 2-strike drill coach?" So I'm a big fan of practicing different counts with the young kids.

I have no idea how it would work with HS aged kids, but its great for the younger kids.

justbaseball,
it works just as well with high school kids. the only difference between them and your 11 yr olds, is that they are bigger kids. competitions is the key. like coach may and knight we use many different count situations. we may have a hit and run scrimmage. a bunt scrimmage etc. something to simulate game situations.

Our fall league starts with a 1-1 count. Forces pitchers to throw strikes, hitters to swing at good pitches and tends to speed games up as long as the pitchers are around the plate.u