Using Simple Programs to Individualize and Maximize Hitter Performances

Hitting is one of the most difficult skills to do in all of sports. If you add individualizaiton to the mix, things can even get more complicated. Not to mention the feeling that you can't afford the technology needed to individualize all of your players. No need to worry, because today I will go over some free programs that can help keep your information all in one place to meet the needs of your hitters. 

Fall Hitting Assessment

The first thing that can be done to understand what your hitters strengths and weaknesses are is by using a hitting assessment. I learned of this assessment from Coach Edwin Thompson of Georgetown. This hitting assessment can be accomplished during batting practice. The resources the coaches need are a clipboard, pen, and a sheet in front of them keeping track of the results of the round. The rounds for the assessment are as follows:

Round 1: Sacrifice bunt to first base, sacrifice bunt to third base, push bunt, drag bunt, squeeze bunt. The Standard is to get 4 out of 5.

Round 2: Hit and run, move the runner over from second base, get the runner in from third base with the infield in, move the runner in from third if the infield is back. The Standard is to get 3 out of 4. 

Round 3: Hit the ball to the opposite field gap (3x), hitting the ball to either gap (3x), and hitting the ball pull side. The Standard is to get 4 out of 7. 

Round 4: Getting the ball in play with two strikes and hitting the ball hard when in an advantaged count (2x). The Standard is to get 2 out of 4. 

Overall the hitter will get 20 opportunities. Whatever skills the hitter executes will get a check mark, and what he doesn't execute will be given an "x." This will tell the coaches what the hitter can and cannot do well. This will also place the hitters into different groups based on their strengths. These groupings will allow for individualized batting practice and they will mostlywork on situations that these kinds of hitters will experience in game. You can have one assessment per the fall or have one assessment in the middle of fall and at the end of the fall. 

Blast Data

The next thing that can be done after finding out what each hitters's strengths are would be to do a Blast Sensor hitting assessment. You can have the hitters go against game like pitching by either a coach or player. The player will get a set amount of swings to take. After the session a coach will break down the data and group up the hitters based on their deficinecies. For the following week or weeks the hitters in each group will work together and do drills that Blast says will improve their deficiencies. When testing using Blast you can either test once every six months, once every month, or once a week. It is up to what you and your staff. 

When giving the information to the players you need to have an easily understandable document for players and coaches to read. The players don't have to see their results unless they ask, but the coaches need to go over the reasons why the hitters are in each group and what they need to do to improve on. Here is an example of the sheet I use to give the results. (Blast Data Results Sheet)

Google Survey

The last thing I will go over is using a Google Survey. Creating a survey through Google is very simple and is easy to send out to your team. You will receive the results from what the players have said once they have answered the questions. Coach Todd Interdonato of Wofford College uses a Google Survey after every practice and game to assess how his hitters felt in the box, how their swings felt, and if any changes needed to be made. Those three questions will tell the coaches what is going on in competition or practice to help coach each player better. In summation, each of these services are easy and affordable, while also giving you information that is helpful with maximizing each hitters potential.