Expert: John McInnis - 10/25/2006

Question
My son is going to be 8 in February. He played in the Minors on his Little League team last spring and was the youngest, smallest and least developed player on his team. Although the team won the championship, he simply could not match up to the other kids in terms of his size and ability. He did not get any hits the entire season and played right field where he never had to field a ball. He is afraid of being hit with a pitch, especially since the other kids are much larger  (and he was hit twice last spring). Now he says he doesn't want to play this spring. I don't want to force him, but I would like for him to improve his game and am concerned that if he sits out a season he will fall even more behind. He is involved with  martial arts and ice skating, and is reasonably well coordinated. He rejects my offers to take him to a batting cage to overcome the fear of the ball and learn to make contact. Any advice on how to get him to overcome his fear? (he allows me to pitch to him, and is not afraid of my pitches, which I lob in overhand but very slowly).

Answer
Hi Dave,

I can see you love your son.  Don't worry about him missing a year, if it comes down to this.  What's more important is his development of confidence and the relationship you have with your son.  Baseball can wait.  

Sounds like he is being intimidated by the larger, older boys on the team.  Can you find him a team where he is not the smallest?

Don't force him to play baseball.  If there is a love of the game within him, forcing him to face his fear will only drive throw that love of baseball away.  For older children, it's different, but for 8 to 11 year olds, let them learn confidence at their pace...at least when it comes to baseball and being beaned.

Buy some wiffle balls and get him to 'hit' those small perforated balls.  Gradually move up to tennis balls and then baseballs.  

I wish you much luck with this,

JohnMc