10U Strategy question

CoogansBluff said:

You are correct, although I think that discussion should happen even before the first practice, such as when the player is accepted on the team. Few years ago, my DD got on a team that previously had batted everybody. Then, after the first practice, he tells all the players that he'll be playing the best 9 in elimination games and wanted to make sure everyone was OK with that. Well, what is a player supposed to say at that point? We were fine with it, but that's late in the game to be making a philosophical change like that.

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This is what happened. We've been playing 11 all season, alternating sitting 2 for an inning at a time. For this last tournament he changed to playing 9. I'm not sure why since we were by far the strongest team there (I think we all knew that but we did not fully appreciate how much stronger we were - we scored 56 runs and allowed 6). He even played 9 for the pool game. I can definitely see the benefit of playing 9 in an important bracket game or a championship game. interestingly, for the championship game he ended up playing all 10 we had there at the time. Anyway. It definitely blindsided some of the parents and nobody likes that.

JAD said:

DO NOT become overly concerned with pitch speed, especially at the younger age groups. Focus on mechanics and speed will come with growth and practice. A lot of flame throwers at 10U just matured earlier than others. In the long run your DD is much better off learning proper mechanics and mastering the different pitches and hitting her locations. Trust me when I tell you that at 14U a lot of the 10U flame throwers are no longer pitching.

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ITA. I just think the speed is why *he* is pitching her less. It's all I can figure since her location is so great and she has a killer change up. We are absolutely focused on mechanics, though.

grcsftbll said:

ITA. I just think the speed is why *he* is pitching her less. It's all I can figure since her location is so great and she has a killer change up. We are absolutely focused on mechanics, though.

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Unfortunately, when you have all the other pitchers throwing low 40's and your DD is the only one throwing high 30's in games, that is a big difference from 35 feet. You say she has a killer change-up (high 20's, low 30's?) but she is probably arcing it a lot to get it to the plate which makes it a very hittable pitch.

JAD says that a lot of the flamethrowers at 10U are no longer pitching at 14U, but I say who cares even if it is true (which I would question that argument because there are just as many slow pitchers at 10U that give it up because they were not effective pitchers and are now playing middle infield and outfield)? What matters is that right now your DD is not getting the reps that she needs to get better and to continue to enjoy playing the position. I think you are doing the right thing focusing on mechanics and speed is a natural by product of good pitching mechanics. Ultimately, she may need to find a team where she is getting lots of circle time.

Her change up has very little arc actually. I know that seems strange but it fools almost everyone. It looks just like it's going to be a fast ball. They swing before it's anywhere near the plate. It's pretty awesome to watch especially on a third strike We've never clocked her change up so I have no idea what speed it is.

DD will reload if the CU is too slow, it sounds like your DD has it right.

Best pitch in softball is a bad CU, worse pitch in softball is a good CU.

quincy said:

Best pitch in softball is a bad CU, worse pitch in softball is a good CU.

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For the batter or the pitcher?

I call the c/u the "great equalizer"!

For whatever reason the change up just clicked with her right away. She was throwing them consistently way before she was throwing a fast ball consistently. I guess it makes sense, different kids will have more of a natural affinity for different pitches?

Rocketech1 said:

Unfortunately, when you have all the other pitchers throwing low 40's and your DD is the only one throwing high 30's in games, that is a big difference from 35 feet. You say she has a killer change-up (high 20's, low 30's?) but she is probably arcing it a lot to get it to the plate which makes it a very hittable pitch.

JAD says that a lot of the flamethrowers at 10U are no longer pitching at 14U, but I say who cares even if it is true (which I would question that argument because there are just as many slow pitchers at 10U that give it up because they were not effective pitchers and are now playing middle infield and outfield)? What matters is that right now your DD is not getting the reps that she needs to get better and to continue to enjoy playing the position. I think you are doing the right thing focusing on mechanics and speed is a natural by product of good pitching mechanics. Ultimately, she may need to find a team where she is getting lots of circle time.

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Pitching in a game setting, when results are the focus, before the mechanics are consistent is counterproductive and actually will delay a pitcher's development IMO. Sounds like this is the case w/ the OP's DD as she's throwing 10 mph less in games than in practice - practice until you can't get it wrong and THEN worry about circle time.