Thread: Which one is #1 ?

Cat said at a clinic we were at she likes control first,and in a interview said a 67mph fastball goes out alot fast then a 64mph pitch.This is where you dont have a clue,just because a kid has control doesnt mean they dont know how to put speed on a ball,and by the way chucking is for rocks in the garden,pitching is a art form

Cat is phenomenal pitcher and what she does works for her. Her speed is not fastest, but it is good enough to keep hitters honest combined with great movement and control. Her experience and knowledge is invaluable to an older pitcher. Unfortunately for Cat, Jenny, Monica and the other top name pitchers is when they give a clinic they have to generalize due to the number of kids there. They don't have the time to work with a very young pitcher and address all of the nuances that goes along with each individual pitcher over the years to get them to where they need to be.

I've been through the mill with my daughter. I've worked with 100's of other girls over the years. I've seen kids who could practice against a pane of glass and others who can just plain bring it. I've worked with multiple girls for extended periods of time so I have a real understanding about what it takes to DEVELOP a pitcher, not just a girl who pitches.

This is what I found over the years. If you give me a group of 20 kids who want to pitch 10 of them will quit immediately when they find out just how much work it takes. Of the remaining 10 kids 3 will go for maybe a year and quit. 1 or 2 more will quit later on. 2 or 3 will be good pitchers, 1 will be very good and 1 will be an outstanding pitcher. These numbers are general, but it's what I've seen over the years. Right now I have 3 pitchers who are on pace to be good, one who will be very good and another who is on track to be an outstanding and dominating pitcher. I also have two other girls who really want to pitch and work hard at it. Whether they can make it or not is still up in the air. But, as long as they want to try I will do my best to try and get them there.

So when I look at a girl it's with an unbiased, experienced eye. I'm sure Hal, Amy and any of the other experienced instructors will do the same thing and see something completely different than a parent.

As far as "chucking" the ball goes... I'm sure you understood my meaning.

sparky guy,I have to ask this, were you a PC before you were a parent?Well lets say that you were a parent first and started working with your dd on pitching before you became a PC.So if that is your back round,there again I dont know,when does a parent get any respect that they can teach their dd to pitch.I study videos,read,go to clinics and have talked and asked questions from some of the best pitchers,Finch,Cat and Hillhouse,Bill came and worked with my dd and showed both of us things.I plan on working with girls,when my dd gets older,she is 13yo now.So can a parent become a PC or not?If not then I guess when the last PC moves on to the big softball field in the sky,fastpitch softball will no longer be played!!!!

Lil help, I am 42, live in ny for most of my life, what's a "pole barn"? Also in our area that travel ball A (tourny) teams are pretty competitve at the 10u level. Sally not watching the butterflies, or making mini-mountains in the infield dirt. Just my .02.

OK Perfect C, I wasn't sure you were serious before, but I now believe you were. IMO, at 10U, they all should get a chance to pitch and the results, not the radar gun, should dictate who gets the ball during crunch time, if there is a crunch time in 10U. Notice that I have used the word "should". I made reference to the pole barn earlier to point out that all bets are off when politics or Daddyball come into play. I'm afraid that your DD will always be #4 on this team regardless of her ability or potential.

It is an inside joke in reference to Daddyball, by a group on this site that must also read the other site ? I went to get you the link, but it has expired. Site is called "Hey Bucket" http://www.heybucket.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=537

They were trying to help me understand how the 10U game is coached...