I like this answer. Some parents are very defensive when it comes to private instruction. I try to avoid the topic if at all possible.
Other Parents Ripping Your Coach
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I like this answer. Some parents are very defensive when it comes to private instruction. I try to avoid the topic if at all possible.
I think it is best to simply and completely ignore conversations regarding what pitching coach or what hitting coach your DD goes to. Those who initiate such discussions are generally trying to open the door to preach to you, much the way a religious or political discussion ends up.
- Feb 7, 2013
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I understand your point, but my DD was taught the same curve mechanics by this PC (hand under the ball, come across the belly, had her practice tightening a jar upside down, etc.) which is nothing like the way she teaches her fastball mechanics. Maybe I was out of line but when someone is charging $80/hr and let's a kid and her parent think she has a curve ball but does not, it's hard for me to sit back and let them get ripped off. Maybe some good came out of our conversation and he went back to the PC and said her curve has no sidespin, etc, can you work on getting it right. I truly believe that "Lisa" had no idea how to throw a curve (nor was she being taught the proper mechanics) and she didn't even know what the spin should look like.
- May 17, 2012
- 2,807
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It's amazing that girls learn anything at all from the poor coaching and poor private instruction when it comes to hitting and pitching.
The irony is how much parents are paying for it. I have learned the last thing a parent want to hear is that they are receiving bad instruction (when they are paying for it).
Hell I can't even get the other coaches on our team to agree on best practices.
I just keep my mouth shut and do what I think is best for my daughter. If someone asks my opinion I give it, but I never volunteer.
The irony is how much parents are paying for it. I have learned the last thing a parent want to hear is that they are receiving bad instruction (when they are paying for it).
Hell I can't even get the other coaches on our team to agree on best practices.
I just keep my mouth shut and do what I think is best for my daughter. If someone asks my opinion I give it, but I never volunteer.
"Hell I can't even get the other coaches on our team to agree on best practices."
This raises an interesting thought... Many times when other (adults) help me with my team, some of them have the idea that they are free to instruct as they want. That is, they don't even ask how I would like it to be taught. This adds a great deal of confusion to the players, particularly when the helper is teaching something that is at odds with what I've been advocating. Any parent or assistant coach should inquire of the head coach what he/she would like them to teach. Somebody has to have the final say, and that should be the head coach. I see it as a respect thing. If there are differences, they should be discussed away from the players, and if there is still a disagreement after discussing it, what the head coach wants done should stand.
This raises an interesting thought... Many times when other (adults) help me with my team, some of them have the idea that they are free to instruct as they want. That is, they don't even ask how I would like it to be taught. This adds a great deal of confusion to the players, particularly when the helper is teaching something that is at odds with what I've been advocating. Any parent or assistant coach should inquire of the head coach what he/she would like them to teach. Somebody has to have the final say, and that should be the head coach. I see it as a respect thing. If there are differences, they should be discussed away from the players, and if there is still a disagreement after discussing it, what the head coach wants done should stand.
The conversation goes like this for us.
Who is your dd's pitching coach? She doesn't have one.
Oh so did you teach her? Not really
Well if you don't want to tell me just say so.
Who is your dd's pitching coach? She doesn't have one.
Oh so did you teach her? Not really
Well if you don't want to tell me just say so.
I'm sorry in advance since I didn't read the entire thread so if I repeat what others have said, I apologize. My DD was a pitcher last year for the TB team and we had a Phenom as well. we were playing 14u as a 13u team and we had a 12u pitcher who was throwing 60-62 mph fastballs clocked by the college recruiters at a Bat Wars tourney as well as us coaches. The only problem was that she was in love with her fastball as was her mother who was a college pitcher. The problem we had was with the teams that practiced hitting the 60 mph ball and there were many TB teams that did so. She refused to work on her change-up or ANY off-speed pitch. You guessed it...her curveball was 60 mph. Her screwball was 60 mph. Her change-up was non-existent. So when we actually faced a top quality team that practiced hitting against a 60 mph fastballer, what do you think happened? Power met power and they tattooed her all over the ball field. Needless to say we lost every one of those games since the HC couldn't call an off-speed pitch since she didn't have one. I would much rather have a slower pitcher with a lot of movement both sideways and up or down (junk baller), than a kid with a bunch of speed and only one plane to throw in.
Edited to add: If you are a college coach that would like to contact me, you may do so. However, after many years of TB coaching, you will get nothing more than a thrower as opposed to a true pitcher from this one.
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JJsqueeze
Dad, Husband....legend
"Thanks coach! Glad I found this out about you sooner rather than later"-said some 12 year old fire baller somewhere in the US when she found out her coach said this on a public forum.
Even if a girl pitches faster than your daughter, you are still supposed to represent her as best you can as her coach.
Excellent points Doug. I think it is very important for coaches to be on the same page. Disagreements should never occur in front of other players. I am also very careful with players that have private coaches. While I feel it is my responsibility as a coach to help the players on the team, I do not want to confuse them by contradicting anything taught by their private hitting or pitching coaches. I do not want to force them into a position where they must choose to listen to me or the private coach.
Thank you ... thank you ... thank you.
Softball is a hitters game these days. The best hitters live in a 60 mph batting cage, and is the easiest pitch for them to hit ... and hit REALLY hard !!!
As far as the topic at hand. Don't "rip" anyone ... period. Coach, player or other, Softball is an extremely competitive game. There are no free rides, in the end game. Much more enjoyable to watch and listen to folks who have no clue, and watch them eat crow on there own terms.
The best revenge is to walk off the field a Champion ... with a smile on your face thanking everyone within earshot. Been there, done that.
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