DD completed her first year in 12u in August and moved up to an existing 14u team, where she is now the #2 pitcher and #3 catcher. She is at least a year younger than every other player on the team and still trying to find her 'place,' both with the coaches and the other players. At a recent tournament on Sunday morning, with a 9:30 game time, the team was asked to arrive in time to start warming up at 8:30. DD and I arrived at 8:15 and were joined a few moments later by the other new player on the team. After standing around for 10 minutes, DD and her teammate got tired of waiting for the others and ran off to start throwing. HC and his DD showed up 5 minutes late, and the rest of the coaches and players straggled in over the next 15 minutes, with the team warm up finally starting about 8:50.
One of the other catchers was out sick, so DD was asked to catch for the #3 pitcher's warm up. By the time #3 was ready, there was no longer enough time for DD to do her pitching warm up as the game was about to start. HC told her not to worry as she was not going to be pitching that game. #1 pitcher gives up 5 runs in the first inning so HC tells DD to warm up between innings with an AC. There was no time for her normal routine as he might need to bring her in right away, so she had to jump straight to full speed pitching. Second inning goes better for #1, crisis averted, so the coaches don't continue with DD's warm up. Top of third, #1 walks the first two batters on 8 pitches and DD is brought into the game. At this point she says she had thrown fewer than ten pitches, plus the five she got in the circle.
DD pitches her best game ever. Over three innings she gave up three runs on six hits (all singles) with no walks, against a very strong hitting team (and eventual tournament champion). I was ecstatic about her performance, but spitting bullets about the lack of a proper warm up. She of course just said she doesn't need to warm up.
DD likes the team and the coaches. I am frustrated that the HC would risk injuring a young pitcher by putting her on the field without warming up properly. There are other examples of poor coaching decisions that add to my frustration, but DD and DW don't want me to rock the boat. I'm posting here to vent, but also to get advice on how best to approach the coach as I cannot allow the situation to be repeated. Any ideas? Thanks!
One of the other catchers was out sick, so DD was asked to catch for the #3 pitcher's warm up. By the time #3 was ready, there was no longer enough time for DD to do her pitching warm up as the game was about to start. HC told her not to worry as she was not going to be pitching that game. #1 pitcher gives up 5 runs in the first inning so HC tells DD to warm up between innings with an AC. There was no time for her normal routine as he might need to bring her in right away, so she had to jump straight to full speed pitching. Second inning goes better for #1, crisis averted, so the coaches don't continue with DD's warm up. Top of third, #1 walks the first two batters on 8 pitches and DD is brought into the game. At this point she says she had thrown fewer than ten pitches, plus the five she got in the circle.
DD pitches her best game ever. Over three innings she gave up three runs on six hits (all singles) with no walks, against a very strong hitting team (and eventual tournament champion). I was ecstatic about her performance, but spitting bullets about the lack of a proper warm up. She of course just said she doesn't need to warm up.
DD likes the team and the coaches. I am frustrated that the HC would risk injuring a young pitcher by putting her on the field without warming up properly. There are other examples of poor coaching decisions that add to my frustration, but DD and DW don't want me to rock the boat. I'm posting here to vent, but also to get advice on how best to approach the coach as I cannot allow the situation to be repeated. Any ideas? Thanks!
