I'm currently coaching 8U machine pitch (blue flame). do you have any drills to get the girls to track the ball from the machine? Some of them just swing but I can see their eyes are looking at me and not the ball.
Put a ball in front of the plate and have them look there after they swing. This will help them track and keep their eyes down so their hands can stay through the zone.
Doing so a batter would find themselves reaching and a weight shift that would take him / her out over their front foot and out of balance. This type of swing often produces weak roll overs and a definite loss of power. Exactly what the pitcher and opposition wants you to do.
If they hit an outside pith outfronnt, they will lose power by being over their front foot and they will more than likely hit the ball off the end of the bat.
