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- Feb 22, 2013
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If pitching is something that you want to do, go for it. If we can teach an 8, 9 and 10 year old girls with 5 second attention spans to pitch a softball, then why couldn't a 14 year old girl learn to pitch a softball?
I have watched 22 and 23 year old college baseball players learn how to pitch men's fastpitch softball competively in less than a year's time. I have watched JUCO baseball players go from the infield into relief pitchers in less than a year's time. I have listened to the former men's fastpitch pitchers who believe with all their hearts that, "Fastpitch softball pitchers are born."
I have seen 16 year old kids turn out for basketball for their very first time during their sophomore year in high school and get college scholarships 3 years later.
If pitching a softball is something that you want to do, pursue it. Then in 4 years, when your travel ball and high school softball seasons are over, you won't be sitting around and wondering whether or not you could have been a fastpitch softball pitcher.
As I look back in life, most of the things that I regret aren't things that I tried and failed. Some of my bigger regrets were not trying something and wondering if I would have been good at it or not.
I have watched 22 and 23 year old college baseball players learn how to pitch men's fastpitch softball competively in less than a year's time. I have watched JUCO baseball players go from the infield into relief pitchers in less than a year's time. I have listened to the former men's fastpitch pitchers who believe with all their hearts that, "Fastpitch softball pitchers are born."
I have seen 16 year old kids turn out for basketball for their very first time during their sophomore year in high school and get college scholarships 3 years later.
If pitching a softball is something that you want to do, pursue it. Then in 4 years, when your travel ball and high school softball seasons are over, you won't be sitting around and wondering whether or not you could have been a fastpitch softball pitcher.
As I look back in life, most of the things that I regret aren't things that I tried and failed. Some of my bigger regrets were not trying something and wondering if I would have been good at it or not.
- Feb 26, 2013
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Dose of reality:
Those who learned to pitch did so because they had opportunities to pitch on teams. And then, they were devoted to doing so. It goes that way and not the other way around.
PS. JUCO overhand to JUCO relief pitcher is nothing like learning to pitch underhand.
Those who learned to pitch did so because they had opportunities to pitch on teams. And then, they were devoted to doing so. It goes that way and not the other way around.
PS. JUCO overhand to JUCO relief pitcher is nothing like learning to pitch underhand.
I think one reason this thread struck a cord with me:
When my DD #1 was 13 and 14, her rec ball coaches (one is now DD #3's TB coach, the other is DD #3's pitching coach) encouraged DD #1 to pitch. DD #1 never believed she could pitch. The coaches explained to her, and later to me, some of her physical attributes that would make her a good pitcher: an unusually strong wrist and unusually strong legs. (When she was a freshman, she was the fastest base runner at her HS). When PC evaluated DD #3, he said "Wow! She's got (DD #1's) wrist!"
Since then DD #1 quit softball. BUT, she was dead wrong when she said thought it was too late to start pitching. If she had started pitching at age 14, she would probably be in line to pitch her junior year, or her senior year at the latest.
Looking back, DD #1 could very well have started pitching at the ancient age of 13 or 14, and she would've been a very good pitcher had she done so.
In fact, she would already have started games for her old TB team that she quit when she left softball. I am sure of that.
When my DD #1 was 13 and 14, her rec ball coaches (one is now DD #3's TB coach, the other is DD #3's pitching coach) encouraged DD #1 to pitch. DD #1 never believed she could pitch. The coaches explained to her, and later to me, some of her physical attributes that would make her a good pitcher: an unusually strong wrist and unusually strong legs. (When she was a freshman, she was the fastest base runner at her HS). When PC evaluated DD #3, he said "Wow! She's got (DD #1's) wrist!"
Since then DD #1 quit softball. BUT, she was dead wrong when she said thought it was too late to start pitching. If she had started pitching at age 14, she would probably be in line to pitch her junior year, or her senior year at the latest.
Looking back, DD #1 could very well have started pitching at the ancient age of 13 or 14, and she would've been a very good pitcher had she done so.
In fact, she would already have started games for her old TB team that she quit when she left softball. I am sure of that.
- Feb 26, 2013
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A strong wrist means nothing in softball pitching. We have actually tested that.
And please give me some examples of where this pitching has happened when a kid started at 14, because I have only seen it on JV, and the results are ugly and not fair to the girl. I have never seen it at V level, but popularity in softball is dropping in our area in favor of an evil sport with a stick. Again, that means an opportunity exists, not some "wanna do it to stretch myself" idea.
I can't imagine TB being easier to get a coach to believe in you. Maybe 14-17 rec league.
PS> We have an example of someone who started at 14, and sadly, told her she will not be pitching, because we have other options. However, she plays a mean infield so we have a spot for her. And she went to lessons for 2 years and got opportunities to pitch relief for a C team, which resulted in her being pulled regularly. So let's be real.
And please give me some examples of where this pitching has happened when a kid started at 14, because I have only seen it on JV, and the results are ugly and not fair to the girl. I have never seen it at V level, but popularity in softball is dropping in our area in favor of an evil sport with a stick. Again, that means an opportunity exists, not some "wanna do it to stretch myself" idea.
I can't imagine TB being easier to get a coach to believe in you. Maybe 14-17 rec league.
PS> We have an example of someone who started at 14, and sadly, told her she will not be pitching, because we have other options. However, she plays a mean infield so we have a spot for her. And she went to lessons for 2 years and got opportunities to pitch relief for a C team, which resulted in her being pulled regularly. So let's be real.
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I have seen it more than once but it requires a competent pitching instructor working with a dedicated athlete. At age 14 with no bad habits to overcome, a gifted athlete is more than capable of becoming an elite level pitcher and certainly fine for HS ball. But it requires continuous work, not seasonal enthusiasm.
As to the value of a strong wrist snap, my Rev Fire proves that it is not to be discounted.
As to the value of a strong wrist snap, my Rev Fire proves that it is not to be discounted.
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Interesting. My impression was that a strong wrist helped with the spin on some of the pitches.
As far as an example of someone who started 14 or later, several examples have been given. Michelle Smith started at 16. My DD #3's PC started in his late 30s, and pitched men's FB for many, many years. Other examples have been given of male baseball players who learned to pitch FB in college.
It depends a lot on what people are looking for. In Madison, WI, there are folks in their 60s who still play competitive softball. Someone who learns to pitch at 14 could still be pitching 50+ years from now. It depends on whether someone is looking for the long-term or the short-term.
As far as what I said that if my DD #1 had started pitching at 13 or 14, she would've already pitched TB and would have probably pitched either next year or the year after at varsity level: that is an analysis based upon the pitching around here. Her old TB team had 2 really good starters and a reliever who had previously quit pitching, and one of the starters left. They were desperate for pitching, and would've pulled her onto the mound at least once.
As for her HS team: her team had two legitimate starters, and one graduated. They will probably use a freshman for their other starter this coming spring, partly because they have good freshmen coming in, and partly because their pitching is suspect. OR, it could turn out that the JV pitcher will rise to the occasion and pitch varsity. Stranger things have happened. When teams (both HS and TB) are hurting for pitching that much, an athletic girl who started at 13 or 14 would be most welcome, even if she only gets a few innings here and there in relief.
My DD #3 started much earlier, and is about the only one in her grade funneling into her HS who is a legitimate prospect as a starter. She is a rising 7th grader. However, there are some really good rising freshmen, some really good rising 8th graders, and some rising 6th graders with serious potential (too early to tell). DD #3, starting at 10 1/2, has a shot at starting varsity, but the competition will be really tough. DD #1 would not have had a snowball's chance in Hades with that kind of competition, just because she started so late.
Another local HS is going from strong in pitching to weak in pitching. I saw a game this spring where this other Hs's JV team was getting whomped. DD #3, then a 6th grader, looked at the pitcher, and said: "Even I am better than this pitcher!" I told that to their JV coach later, while he was watching DD #3 pitch a TB game, and he agreed with her.
Moot point anyway. DD #1 never pitched, and even quit softball. If she comes back, it will most likely be as a JV infielder. She MIGHT have the talent for D1 (as an infielder), but not the desire. So, this is all speculation.
The point is, if the OP wants to start pitching at 14, there will be a team somewhere, at sometime, where she can pitch. It might be rec league, it might eventually be JV (or V if her HS team has weak pitching), it might be later in life for an adult club team.
Anyway, my DS had a coach in another sport this year who got medals in two Olympics in a sport she didn't start until college.
As far as an example of someone who started 14 or later, several examples have been given. Michelle Smith started at 16. My DD #3's PC started in his late 30s, and pitched men's FB for many, many years. Other examples have been given of male baseball players who learned to pitch FB in college.
It depends a lot on what people are looking for. In Madison, WI, there are folks in their 60s who still play competitive softball. Someone who learns to pitch at 14 could still be pitching 50+ years from now. It depends on whether someone is looking for the long-term or the short-term.
As far as what I said that if my DD #1 had started pitching at 13 or 14, she would've already pitched TB and would have probably pitched either next year or the year after at varsity level: that is an analysis based upon the pitching around here. Her old TB team had 2 really good starters and a reliever who had previously quit pitching, and one of the starters left. They were desperate for pitching, and would've pulled her onto the mound at least once.
As for her HS team: her team had two legitimate starters, and one graduated. They will probably use a freshman for their other starter this coming spring, partly because they have good freshmen coming in, and partly because their pitching is suspect. OR, it could turn out that the JV pitcher will rise to the occasion and pitch varsity. Stranger things have happened. When teams (both HS and TB) are hurting for pitching that much, an athletic girl who started at 13 or 14 would be most welcome, even if she only gets a few innings here and there in relief.
My DD #3 started much earlier, and is about the only one in her grade funneling into her HS who is a legitimate prospect as a starter. She is a rising 7th grader. However, there are some really good rising freshmen, some really good rising 8th graders, and some rising 6th graders with serious potential (too early to tell). DD #3, starting at 10 1/2, has a shot at starting varsity, but the competition will be really tough. DD #1 would not have had a snowball's chance in Hades with that kind of competition, just because she started so late.
Another local HS is going from strong in pitching to weak in pitching. I saw a game this spring where this other Hs's JV team was getting whomped. DD #3, then a 6th grader, looked at the pitcher, and said: "Even I am better than this pitcher!" I told that to their JV coach later, while he was watching DD #3 pitch a TB game, and he agreed with her.
Moot point anyway. DD #1 never pitched, and even quit softball. If she comes back, it will most likely be as a JV infielder. She MIGHT have the talent for D1 (as an infielder), but not the desire. So, this is all speculation.
The point is, if the OP wants to start pitching at 14, there will be a team somewhere, at sometime, where she can pitch. It might be rec league, it might eventually be JV (or V if her HS team has weak pitching), it might be later in life for an adult club team.
Anyway, my DS had a coach in another sport this year who got medals in two Olympics in a sport she didn't start until college.
JJsqueeze
Dad, Husband....legend
Bravo OILF...truly good stuff. I can see why the stick sport is so popular in your area.
I had the same observation. Nothing like giving a self righteous smack down and reality check to a 14 year old to feed ones ego. To the OP - Please consider the source of this negativity. If you want it bad enough you should pursue this. Get some competent coaching and give it your best shot.
- Feb 26, 2013
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There are at least 15 or so HS's in my area within 20-40 miles, public and private, most much larger than mine, so the stick sport's popularity and softball being less popular in HS has nothing to do with me at my little HS. What don't you like? That fingers spin the ball, not the wrist? That a 14 year old will have a tough time pitching in HS unless she has a coach, is dedicated, and needs an opportunity?
I thought the board hated wrist snaps...
This is not negativity but a proper perspective. That poster has not returned so I doubt it is that big a deal. And the stuff with the wrist strength comes from an adult and pie in the sky is coming from adults who want competition for TB spots and parents removing the rose colored glasses in other cases.
I thought the board hated wrist snaps...
This is not negativity but a proper perspective. That poster has not returned so I doubt it is that big a deal. And the stuff with the wrist strength comes from an adult and pie in the sky is coming from adults who want competition for TB spots and parents removing the rose colored glasses in other cases.
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