Coach Says DD Should Slap - Against Her Will

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Jul 20, 2013
71
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Long story short, my family had DD in a top travel team for the past 3 years and slapped pretty good. She played up with girls almost 3 yrs older and we reached the point of diminishing returns and DD was already demotivated by hitting balls in the dirt over and over. She's over it. I have to disclaim I was also a coach past 6 years, my couple months not being involved and I don't want to right now.

So, we moved clubs and to help with the new life we went full speed ahead into letting her hit away. We're investing lots of money in lessons (she's now 11 playing 12u) because since she was 8 she never had a chance to hit away and all the fun that comes with it. She was prev a righty then slapper so coach would never let her hit away or train her hit away for those 3 years.

Anyway, past 9 months have gone well with her new team hitting away, home run, triples, doubles, etc. Then out of the blue Mr. Coach starts calling slap all double header long. DD has long forgotten how to slap - been almost a year since shes done it. She had to make it up on the spot.

Mr. Head Coach says to me he's offended because in high school players can't say what they don't want. He keeps ranting about bunting and how my DD only wants to hit away - and I keep telling him she will do every REQUIRED SKILL of the game like bunting. He just can't let it go - keeps talking about bunting and doing what she's told.

I explained to Mr. HC that slapping is a specialty skill that is optional in this sport. No player should be asked to slap if they aren't doing it, don't know how to do it, and have no interest to do it - it's an optional skill.

Just like how every player shouldn't be forced to learn pitching or catching. If you're interested and want to try it, go ahead. On the other hand, I think every player should more or less play every position if they can safely do so with a chance at reasonable success.

Every player imo should learn how to bunt, steal, slide, warm the bench, etch. Other thing that irritated me more is none of those coaches have ever developed a slapper. DD says in the games they just gave a "Slap" signal - our travel club would've signaled the type of slap and where. These new coaches understand the result but to me, fail to understand the process to achieve the result they want isn't what they are facilitating for my DD.

Still no agreement on that - but at least they agreed to stop signaling slap. In turn I budged and said I'll kind of keep her greased with walk through hitting drills and that if they need it - only call power slap. I'm trying to be fair...but DD still doesn't want to do it.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
So your DD has been a full-time slapper since she was 8? If I were her, I wouldn't still be playing - what fun is it to play a regular golf course if you are only allowed to hit a wedge?!? I'd tell coach no deal and or find a new team - kid needs a chance to develop as a hitter. If she's still playing the two years from now, maybe slapping comes back into play, but only if she (not coaches, including you) wants to.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
I hear your frustration in wanting to see your DD use the power that she has. I understand that this can be frustrating for your DD, too. However, I'm also a believer that the more skills a player has, the more valuable they are. My DD (12U TB) is a righty with decent power and mediocre speed. She consistently works on all the hitting tools she's asked to work on - bunting, short slaps, power slaps, and full swings. The HC knows that if we need a ball on the ground on the right side of the IF, my DD has a very good likelihood of delivering exactly what is asked. All of the girls on our team learn these skills, and are expected to perform them to the best of their abilities when called upon. Speedy lefties get a few more tools. HC has also switched a couple of players from RH to LH, and it has been pretty successful.
 
Last edited:
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
It would be nice to hear the coaches side of this.

He didn't ask her to donate a kidney, he asked her to slap.

Perhaps she was in a slump, perhaps she always came up in an angle down situation, it's hard to say. Did she slap effectively? Did the team win?

Me personally I don't make batters switch. I do show all of my players on how to slap though. It's gives them a better understanding on how to defend.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
So your DD has been a full-time slapper since she was 8? If I were her, I wouldn't still be playing - what fun is it to play a regular golf course if you are only allowed to hit a wedge?!? I'd tell coach no deal and or find a new team - kid needs a chance to develop as a hitter. If she's still playing the two years from now, maybe slapping comes back into play, but only if she (not coaches, including you) wants to.

Think you missed the part about him being a coach....I'm with you WHY WHY WHY are you developing a slapper at 8 yrs old??? and she was a RIGHTY??

You said she has been with club for a year and has been hitting away since joining the new club, why would the coach even think she could slap??

I'm simply confused, I would just tell coach she does not slap so stop giving her the sign and move on.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
...Mr. Head Coach says to me he's offended because in high school players can't say what they don't want...

Statements like this are a red flag for me. Tells me that this guy looks at HS softball as a high level of play. Assuming your DD has higher aspirations it is probably time to move on to a team in an organization that is focused on getting players to the next level. As to the slapping, if she has the speed and the ability why not? It is one more tool that makes her more valuable. The worst thing you can be is a 1 trick pony. The kid who has a competent stick but only plays 1B. Or the outfielder who can only slap. Nothing more frustrating than having bases loaded and a kid come to the plate that can't hit the ball more than 100 feet with a tail wind. To me the perfect #3 hitter is a power hitter, with great speed, who can also slap. I seek out these triple threats as I can put them most anywhere in the batting order and they typically play multiple positions.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
statements like this are a red flag for me. Tells me that this guy looks at hs softball as a high level of play. Assuming your dd has higher aspirations it is probably time to move on to a team in an organization that is focused on getting players to the next level. As to the slapping, if she has the speed and the ability why not? It is one more tool that makes her more valuable. The worst thing you can be is a 1 trick pony. The kid who has a competent stick but only plays 1b. Or the outfielder who can only slap. Nothing more frustrating than having bases loaded and a kid come to the plate that can't hit the ball more than 100 feet with a tail wind. To me the perfect #3 hitter is a power hitter, with great speed, who can also slap. I seek out these triple threats as i can put them most anywhere in the batting order and they typically play multiple positions.

Yes!!!!.....
 

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