I guess my style is all wrong

Most of you have read about teaching pitching to young players, and know I am the only one teaching pitching here locally.
Now the man I learned from, Who taught my DD was a student of John Gay. And so I learned that style of pitching.

As most know "Closing The hips " Is not taught in this style and "Staying Sideways" is what is taught. Now I am not saying it is the "BEST or the WORST". but I have seen a lot of pitchers be very sucessfull with a very open delivery.

But here is what I am posting about The HS coach says he will never use any one I have taught because what I am teaching is inefective and wrong.

He says that there is no Pitcher that is any good who does not close violently.
Slam the door I think is what he termed it.

There are two 7th graders that I have taught who are doing quite well for there skill level and He says he will never use them as pitchers because I am teaching them a "Second rate" style of pitching.

Now I am not an expert, And maybe I am wrong I have been in the past but I just want to help the kids . Talking to him is a waste of time things must be his way and his idea or not at all.

Now I am not saying it is the "BEST or the WORST".

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OK...I'll say it...violently closing the hips is the *worst* style.

The guy is a moron if he thinks that "slam the door pitchers" are the best.

I don't know what to say...the guy is an idiot.

I will express my ignorance on this whole thing.

When I watch a collage game in full speed, it does look like the pitchers “slam the door”. A lot of them move from open to close extremely quickly after they release the ball. I need to play close attention to see that they are releasing the ball in an open position.

If the HS coach is looking for a training video, the Simpsons had a softball episode a few years ago.

I would believe that balls, strikes, and velocity would play into this conversation at some point. When your girls pitch for him, I would think that if they are the best pitcher by a decent margin, sanity would win out. If not, perhaps a third party could be brought in for tryouts....?

Ultimately, I would guess he is so closed minded because he doesn't understand the style, and thus would be an ineffective coach in his own mind. How could he ever be dependent upon someone else's advice for pitching.....!

RookKev said:

I would believe that balls, strikes, and velocity would play into this conversation at some point. When your girls pitch for him, I would think that if they are the best pitcher by a decent margin, sanity would win out. If not, perhaps a third party could be brought in for tryouts....?

Ultimately, I would guess he is so closed minded because he doesn't understand the style, and thus would be an ineffective coach in his own mind. How could he ever be dependent upon someone else's advice for pitching.....!

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Not necessarily, my DD was kept down for 2yrs, till the coach was fired, when she went to varsity her Jr year, the current pitcher of the same age moved to the outfield--she had the closed style all the way--That year her HS team went the farthest in play-offs they had ever come --missed state by one game,every game was a pitchers dual 0-0 in extra innings until someone scored.
Some coaches don't care how well the team does, just getting a paycheck.

He says that there is no Pitcher that is any good who does not close violently.
Slam the door I think is what he termed it.

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This clown should not be allowed on a softball field. You're fighting a losing battle with this idiot if you challenge him. Unfortunately with this "coach" your girls are going to have to prove themselves and out pitch the other girls.

I do have a question. You stated earlier there are no pitching instructors in your area so you figured you'd step up and teach the girls who wanted to pitch to the best of your ability. If this is true where are the "1st rate" style of pitchers learning to pitch at around you? Lemme guess.... From the HS coach..

wild man said:

Now the man I learned from, Who taught my DD was a student of John Gay. And so I learned that style of pitching.

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John Gay knows his stuff. Sorry to hear about your situation.

John's clinic handout: www.softballclinics.com/handout2.pdf

While I myself am also an advocate of the open style (aka how nearly all top-level pitchers pitch), it is incredibly foolish of that coach to care about what style pitchers use or who taught them. The team coach's job is to put the best players on the field. Period. Doesn't matter how they get there, as long as they're effective.

I think calling him a clown is being kind.

I think calling him a clown is being kind.

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It was the best I could come with since there were some conversations about being chastised for using language that was too strong.