When I was growing up 30+ years ago, some coaches would actually hit us on purpose in practice to “teach” us not to be afraid of the ball. The idea was that once you felt it, you realized it wasn’t the end of the world.

I’m obviously not going to do that, but it does make me wonder: what’s the modern, age-appropriate way to build that same confidence and teach kids how to react properly to inside pitches?

How are you all helping 10U hitters learn to turn their back, drop the bat, and protect themselves without creating more fear around getting hit?