- Oct 3, 2009
- 372
- 18
So I got out of coaching four years ago and turned my DD over to a great organization where we live and it has worked out well. I was happy watching my DD, chewing sunflower seeds, and occasionally keeping book every weekend in some part of the country and then........
About 6 weeks ago a friend calls and asks me if I could "help a little" with his 12u rec team. He just needs a little help with the pitchers he says, but no big deal because they all have instructors. Next thing you know I am in it deep. Now the nice thing is like many of you this is not my first time and I have no DDs on the team which makes this really enjoyable. But that is not the real point of this post...
We have a pitcher at 12u that is easily 5'9" and a lefty. VERY athletic and great attitude. We play on Thursdays usually and she told me last week that she cannot wait for my email to the pitcher's and catcher's parents on Tuesday on who is going to pitch/catch. I send out the pairings with little blurbs on what I want them to focus on this week. This kid naturally throws with IR and great leg drive but she cannot hit her spots consistently. She has a very natural peel drop because of the spin that she puts on the ball. All this to say the kid is a freakin' natural. But...........
She has a very well-meaning Dad who has no clue about his DD's natural talent and just pitching in general. This is his first child. He literally screams crazy stuff at her from the stands like the classic "xxxx throw strikes!!!!" During last weeks game I go out and visit her in the 3rd because she is clearly rattled despite the fact she is pitching fairly well. I cannot even open my mouth and she looks me dead in the eyes and I MEAN DEAD IN THE EYES and says clearly "Coach can you tell my Dad to stop yelling at me? It is distracting and I cannot pitch." It caught me a little off-guard but I told her I would. And I waited for him to yell one more time which he did so I pulled him aside privately and talked to him. I put it on me and did not mention what she said to me. But I said while she is playing I don't want him yelling at her and I understand she is his DD but during this game she needs to be able to focus on the task at hand and listen to us as coaches. He got mad which I expected. This guy literally has no clue how good his DD is naturally. All he can see is she does not throw strikes.
I am meeting with him tomorrow afternoon before the game. I am not looking for advice just passing along a story.....
About 6 weeks ago a friend calls and asks me if I could "help a little" with his 12u rec team. He just needs a little help with the pitchers he says, but no big deal because they all have instructors. Next thing you know I am in it deep. Now the nice thing is like many of you this is not my first time and I have no DDs on the team which makes this really enjoyable. But that is not the real point of this post...
We have a pitcher at 12u that is easily 5'9" and a lefty. VERY athletic and great attitude. We play on Thursdays usually and she told me last week that she cannot wait for my email to the pitcher's and catcher's parents on Tuesday on who is going to pitch/catch. I send out the pairings with little blurbs on what I want them to focus on this week. This kid naturally throws with IR and great leg drive but she cannot hit her spots consistently. She has a very natural peel drop because of the spin that she puts on the ball. All this to say the kid is a freakin' natural. But...........
She has a very well-meaning Dad who has no clue about his DD's natural talent and just pitching in general. This is his first child. He literally screams crazy stuff at her from the stands like the classic "xxxx throw strikes!!!!" During last weeks game I go out and visit her in the 3rd because she is clearly rattled despite the fact she is pitching fairly well. I cannot even open my mouth and she looks me dead in the eyes and I MEAN DEAD IN THE EYES and says clearly "Coach can you tell my Dad to stop yelling at me? It is distracting and I cannot pitch." It caught me a little off-guard but I told her I would. And I waited for him to yell one more time which he did so I pulled him aside privately and talked to him. I put it on me and did not mention what she said to me. But I said while she is playing I don't want him yelling at her and I understand she is his DD but during this game she needs to be able to focus on the task at hand and listen to us as coaches. He got mad which I expected. This guy literally has no clue how good his DD is naturally. All he can see is she does not throw strikes.
I am meeting with him tomorrow afternoon before the game. I am not looking for advice just passing along a story.....