Shying away from hot grounders

For the kids I have worked with over the years, it isn't their shins they are worried about. It is their face.

None of the kids I worked with on this problem would have been helped by shin guards.

First, teach good solid grounder mechanics (approach, knees bent, tail low, glove in front of body, gator grip, soft hands, etc.). This will give him the best chance of gloving the ball, rather than taking in the chest or teeth.

Talk about getting down low. While at first, he may think this increases the risk of his getting hit in the face, the opposite is true. Getting lower allows him to judge the hop better, thus increasing the chances of fielding the ball. Also, getting lower allows the glove to be flipped up in front of the face quicker, should a bad hop occur. This means less chance of getting hit in the face.

Make these good mechanics habits through lots and lots of repetition. But you will need to do so on a good surface that will provide a minimum of bad hops. This is important until he starts to get his confidence up.

Start working on grounder mechanics with the ball laying on the ground. Then rolled grounders. Then hit easy grounders. Then medium. After some practices like this, then one day work up to some harder grounders. Again, do this on a good playing surface to minimize the bad hops. If he shys away, back off a little and keep going. Then creep back up. Don't overdo it. But make him do it right.

Eventually, the confidence will come.

Remind him that there is only one way to ensure not getting hit by a bad hop. And that is to glove the ball. He must take control in order to give himself the best chance of making the play - rather than catching the ball with his teeth.

Taking control means being aggressive, both physically and mentally.

Just a few quick thoughts.