Intentional Hit By Pitch - Coach Tells P to Hit Batter?

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Jun 15, 2016
48
6
So we were playing in a little 10U tourney last weekend and played a "rival" team. Rival team meaning a couple of our players use to play for the opponent. Durring the game it was normal energy and seemed to be good sportsmanship all around. However yesterday at practice one of the new players from the other team and her mom come to me before we start. They tell me that the P form the other team who is a class mate of my player told her she hit her because she was told too. The mother had already called the other coach and obviously he denied it. Now I played ball through college as a pitcher and have been given the sign more times than I could count, so it is part of the game. However these are young girls who mostly live around each other and play other sports on the same team, etc... I dont really know how to react. I called the other coach and luckily did not get an answer because when i called i was a little hot. Now after thinking more about it I'm not sure what to do if anything.

Any thoughts on the situation?
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Right or wrong it is one thing for kids to make these decisions on their own. But it is a bit much for what should be a mature adult to tell a kid to throw at another kid. Yes, this is common in baseball. But this is not baseball. If softball were slower and easier then it would be like baseball. :)

As to what you should do, usually the most appropriate response to situations such as these is nothing. All too often little things become big things when adults feel compelled to "do something". Are you really ready to get "a little hot" and take another coach to task based on hearsay from a 10 year old that you hardly know?
 
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Oct 3, 2009
372
18
FWIW, I agree with Riseball. There is all sorts of opportunity for the story you heard to be completely false or at least highly distorted for all sorts of reasons. If you as an ex-college player did not detect any intent in the moment that is another data point. I am not at all saying it is not true just not very much to go on. And I really agree with Rise's second point, it could easily become a bigger deal than necessary and coaching is hard enough without extra distractions as I am sure you know.

Having said all that I would keep a close eye on things next time you play them assuming you do. Just my two cents....
 
Jan 31, 2011
453
43
Its not part of the game of softball. At least not what I have been around. I agree with the advice given so far... no reason to confront the opposing coach as the conversation will not turn out like you think. He won't admit it even if its true. If it is true, his coaching future will take care of itself.
 
Jul 16, 2008
1,520
48
Oregon
At 10U that thought never crossed my mind whatsoever, heck I was happy if she threw a piper down the middle... lol

At the older ages, although I have never called it, I bet there was a couple of times the players took it among themselves... I suspected and inquired of the players but of course they denied it.... doesn't happen much that I can tell, but sometimes I wonder......

You never said if the girl got hit? If she didn't then why call the coach? I would just watch the next time you play them and see.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Now I played ball through college as a pitcher and have been given the sign more times than I could count, so it is part of the game. However these are young girls who mostly live around each other and play other sports on the same team, etc...

So it's OK for adults to tell kids to hit one another, but 10-years-old is a little young, especially if the kids have to live with each other outside of softball?
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
I haven't called for a hit batter in 20 years of coaching fastpitch. It's not a part of the game I coach. I have had pitchers hit batters and a couple of times I am sure it was intentional. I never asked and they never volunteered.

This isn't baseball. Take your unwritten rules elsewhere.
 
Apr 12, 2015
792
93
First of all, the kids are 10. An adult telling a 10 year old to do something purposefully that could potentially lead to serious injury is deplorable.

Second of all, the kids are 10. They are just as likely to make up all kinds of fantasy stories for a gajillion difference reasons that only make sense to the mind of a 10 year old.

Outside of some hard evidence of the coach doing something wrong, I would assume 10 year old kids are being 10 year old kids and move on. Especially if this coach hasn't done or been accused of doing anything similar in the past.

And off the topic, a batter battling a pitcher for control of the inside of the plate is part of the game. A pitcher hitting a batter while trying to own the inside of the plate is part of the game. Throwing what is basically a small cannonball at 50+ mph at a batter on purpose is not part of the game. It amazes me how many people don't understand this simple concept.
 
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May 4, 2016
200
28
I tend to agree with DNeeld 10 years make up sorts of stuff all the time for no apparent reason.


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