What if.......

So much depends on the quality of the Team she is trying out for but I do not know what it would hurt to give it a run. It will probably help the rest of her game.

A couple things I would do a little different are:
1) Accuracy needs to become a priority sooner rather then later
2) Tell her she is not allowed to practice 7 days a week, try to setup a realistic practice schedule she can work into.

U

sbcowboy said:

As long as she doesn't put a lot of pressure on herself, it could be fun. Great opportunity!

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Right. Who says you have to make a huge investment in lessons? Let her go out and see what she can do.

sbcowboy said:

What if you had a player that wanted to pitch for her 8th grade team. She has pitched some before but not a lot. She is trying to get ready in a month! What do you tell her? Forget it and just work on getting her ready for the next season? What could I do to help her? Any ideas? Thanks guys!!!!

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Tell her to work hard and if she's not ready by the start of the season she might be ready later in the season. You can never have too many pitchers.

Tell her that some pitchers, who have pictched awhile (12U) Practice 5 days a week, and 2 adays on Sat. 1 month before tryouts. But it was 2 mo. this year...

I think the best thing she can do is give it a shot, and stay with it, and give'em hell next year...

SoCal_Dad said:

What is the pitching situation for the 8th grade team - are there good pitchers already or do they need some player(s) to step up? If it's to fill a need, the month isn't the end-all.

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I asked the same question. Not sure if they have an 8th grade pitcher. I think they want somebody to step up. I think at one time she was trying to learn. I am sure it was not I/R. Most school down here do not have 7 or 8 grade softball. For most schools softball does not start till 9th grade.

Amy in AZ. said:

What do I tell her?
- Do core work every day. - Run a 1/2 mile every day - Make certain that your grades are very good (i have one now, that is almost ineligible.) - Practice even if it just throwing a ball against a wall

Be prompt. Be early. Have everything with you, that you will need.

Avoid gossip. Avoid the complainers. Tell your folks not to sit with the complainers. Do not huddle up and complain about the cold, the rain, the heat, etc.

Smile. Call girls by their name. Help carry equipment. Avoid social media and do not even reply, if others start to cause problems.

And congratulate, even the girl at your position.

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So simple, but yet, SO effective!!

sbcowboy, this is a common problem that most PC's run into.
Every year when the season starts I get a phone call from a coach saying, "Season just started and I just realized I don't have a pitcher, can I send you some girls, we have a game next week".

I had 3 last year from local high schools that pretty much wanted the same thing. 2 had never pitched and one had only basic instruction when she was young.
The 2 with no previous experience didn't make it. The one with experience was able to help out her schools JV team.

I guess the key will be her expectations, if she's expecting too much too fast then she is going to be disappointed when in a month she isn't where she thought she'd be.
Be realistic with her, explain how much she's going to have to work at it.
Make small goals. That way she can see some improvement, and be encouraged to continue.

sbcowboy said:

What if you had a player that wanted to pitch for her 8th grade team. She has pitched some before but not a lot. She is trying to get ready in a month! What do you tell her? Forget it and just work on getting her ready for the next season? What could I do to help her? Any ideas? Thanks guys!!!!

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My first thought is why does she want to pitch? Are there other pitchers on the 8th grade team? Would she see meaningful circle time if she can learn to throw strikes? How dedicated will she be to practicing for the next month?