winter drills

Question
is there anything we can do in the offseason to help with throwing or batting in the house? maybe somekind of practice drills or a beanbag toss or something? just curious if you have any recommendations

Answer
If you go to one of the chain drug stores, there are these toy foam balls--I think they are called "Splash" balls.  They are intended for play outside.  They are bright pink and purple and orange colors.  They are for water fights for big kids--but dry, they are light and harmless.  Nolan Ryan could throw one of these things at a lamp or a piece of china and it would just bounce off.  You'll see what I mean if you look in the toy aisles at a drug store or at a KayBee toys or something.  Your son could practice his FORM--and the straightness of his throws, but again, don't let him throw very hard.

Just hard enough to have fun and practice.  I don't know if you want to risk involving a bat in the drills, but you could toss those balls to him to work on his hitting if you have enough room.  I can't guarantee that the bat won't break anything though!  As far as swinging (which would be a new topic entirely) just try to teach him to be balanced and to keep his head as still as possible so he'll always have a good look at the ball as he swings.  This is as important as anything in baseball (keeping your eye on the ball, as they say.  Your head must be still to do so.)

At nine, isn't he hitting off a tee?  If he is, you can use a traffic cone, set the foam ball on it, and let him swing at it, I suppose.  Again, stress proper form.  Strength, power, confidence...it all comes with practice.  I was a terrible player at nine--one of the last guys picked in Little League, but I kept practicing.  Some kids are going to be great, but they never know it until they begin to develop in puberty.  I was a very, very late bloomer.  I ended up making my high school team (19 were picked from over 200 trying out.)  If you had seen me at nine, you wouldn't have believed it.

Hope this helps.  Feel free to e-mail again.