Expert: Willie Ansley Jr. - 4/13/2009

Question
i coach my sons 9 and 10 year team. i tell my pitchers to try and block out all the excitment and crowd noise when on the rubber and to forget about the last pitch. And also to get into a rythem meaning the same way every time. am i right in doing this?  And also,is reputition the only way  i can teach these kids to play the game in their heads first? I go over things and over and over  the sam thing now for a week and its not sticking. i mean insantly go right into demo. after istruction and they just stand and watch untill they suddenly remember  Hey im the cuttoff man!!  HELP    thanks   randy

Answer
I would really say that is good advice to your pitchers.Yes the only way the kids will remember is repitition.What you might try doing is in practice make them run when they make mental mistakes(which that is when you dont go where you should) But keep saying what they need to hear because it will kick in at some point in there life and it may be later rather than sooner but as long as it kicks in.Are you playing on little league fields?