New team not working out

Sometimes coaches have planned out in advance what they would like to see, sometimes last minute changes skew what was planned.... regardless, I agree.. 1) never quit during a season.... 2) for your DD's life lessons (I think half of what SPORTS really teach us are life lessons on how to work with others/work ethic, etc..) Always give 100%, look at Derek Jeter as a GREAT EXAMPLE - and look at your DD learning new experiences and opportunities to learn....

mudbug said:

I have never had a need for outside private instruction, or pitching instruction. .

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What age group and skill level are you talking about?

After reading all the replies I've come to think that I was over reacting. We'll just ride this out, and make the best of the situation. Maybe we made the wrong decision, and maybe we didn't. We'll just need to ride it out. Above all, I think we need to speak with the coach. We have not done this yet, so that may be our fault.

I appreciate all your comments, they have helped us to take a step back and look at this from another perspective.

mudbug said:

I have never had a need for outside private instruction, or pitching instruction.

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Maybe this should be clarified. I'm talking 12u travel ball. It's pretty obvious to look at those who do practice and take lessons on their own, and those who don't. Of course I'm sure there are some studs on the diamond who have never taken a lesson in their life, and just practice with their parents. I think they're the exception though. Talk to any gold or collegiate player, and they worked out and took lessons quite a bit. Even at 12u, it's very obvious in pitching, who has instruction, and who doesn't.

I don't think that a coach has enough time in the week to work with pitchers exclusively, work with the catchers, the infield, batting, and team practices. In rec ball sure. In travel ball the players should be coming with these skills. The coach shouldn't have to develop them from the start. That, IMO, is what rec ball is for.

mudbug said:

I have never had a need for outside private instruction, or pitching instruction. That need should be met by coaches in a good program/team. I am aware that many pay for it, but again, in a good program the coaches should be able to provide for that need. If it is outside their competency, they should arrange for someone qualified to work with their pitchers. A coach that has no knowledge or control over what his players are being taught is a very poor coach indeed. He is only trying to capitalize on what someone else has done, with no understanding of how or why.

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I think its helpful that when you make comments like this, that you mention what age group you work with. That being said, very few pitchers in top programs at any age groups take lessons from people within their team organizations. These pitchers have been working with instructors for years and dont change to fit a team manager's whims. Its most helpful for those instructors to communicate with the managers so they are on the same page about pitches, warmup methods, strengths, etc.

And regarding hitting work, many top hitters have their own hitting instructors that they work with as well, though most orgs have solid hitting instructors as coaches.

DonnieS said:

I think its helpful that when you make comments like this, that you mention what age group you work with. That being said, very few pitchers in top programs at any age groups take lessons from people within their team organizations. These pitchers have been working with instructors for years and dont change to fit a team manager's whims. Its most helpful for those instructors to communicate with the managers so they are on the same page about pitches, warmup methods, strengths, etc.

And regarding hitting work, many top hitters have their own hitting instructors that they work with as well, though most orgs have solid hitting instructors as coaches.

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This has been my experience as well.

Yeah, that's what I was leading up to with my question. Donnie was just much more efficient than me.

It may be a regional difference or it may just be you have a very good situation there but I'm unaware of any situations like you describe around here. Good job.

mudbug said:

What I know is simply that there are no secrets. A coach must know what to look for, enforce the proper mechanics,...

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It seems to me your statement assumes a level of agreement on what constitutes "proper mechanics" that just doesn't exist across the sport. Would that it did. Perhaps in time. I understand golf is much farther down the road to such an agreement than baseball or softball so maybe we will get there.

I know a couple D1 pitchers that have their own Pitching Coaches. One pitcher now plays Div1 out west (Arizona State) and her coach of 5 years prior is from Maryland! I coached with another that had her own pitching coach also. Maybe it is a regional thing as although there are some very good coaches here in the east, the OVERALL level of coaching in the east does not have the experience the west and souothwest have. I can remember about 5-7 years ago that I first started noticing teams commiting to year round practice and team's havinig their OWN indoor facilities, vice just sharinig a school's Gym space. (May be longer, buut wasn't evident to me.)

I'm not sure what part of the country mudbug lives in but here in Southern California in every high level organization from 12U through 18 GOld, most players take outside instruction for hitting, pitching and often times fielding and speed-agilities training.

Coachmom said:

I'm not sure what part of the country mudbug lives in but here in Southern California in every high level organization from 12U through 18 GOld, most players take outside instruction for hitting, pitching and often times fielding and speed-agilities training.

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IMO wherever you are it would come down to whether your paying fees for that service to be included or not. If your in a program that keeps costs around $1000 per year (plus travel) don't expect $3000 worth of private instruction in addition to paying for tournaments, fields, uniforms, etc.