Other Parents Ripping Your Coach

Just venting here a little bit and see if anyone else runs into this. My DD is a pitcher. Seems like every time I talk (last nights was the worse) to a parent about pitching they ask who are pitching coach is and then if they don't use the person the jabs start coming.

Last night it was the "She's horrible" bit, and she doesn't teach speed so you're daughter will never throw fast, etc. etc. etc. etc. The parent that did that is the mother of a daughter who is phenomenal pitcher. 9th grader and already has colleges drooling. I would never even think of my kid being in that position she just doesn't have the DNA. She just likes to play and likes to pitch and does a pretty good job of it.

Seriously, I have no designs on ripping your pitching coach. In fact I respect every one of them and what they do. I do have one that I'm not too thrilled about but it's because she blatantly undermined my daughters relationship with her Travel Ball coach (probably why I love our pitching coach so much, she would never do such a thing to anyone).

So, anyone else get bored about having their coaches ripped on for no reason other than someone's need to feel superior?

The other thing is this softball thing is a small community. I have no designs on ripping somebody I may have to deal with at some point. The fact that other parents don't seem to mind doing that boggles me to no end.

You should have said "Have a Merry Christmas" and turned around and left.

I run into people here that inquire if I know coach B, I just say, "No, we haven't met." Coach B teaches Hello Elbow, but people like to brag that their kid goes to her.

Amy in AZ. said:

You should have said "Have a Merry Christmas" and turned around and left.

I run into people here that inquire if I know coach B, I just say, "No, we haven't met." Coach B teaches Hello Elbow, but people like to brag that their kid goes to her.

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Great idea.

Got to go with Amy...my DD's pitching coach was a "colorful" figure in Chicagoland softball. People either hated him or loved him...and everyone always had an opinion they were more than willing to share. I would change topics.

The parent that did that is the mother of a daughter who is phenomenal pitcher.

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I still giggle when I hear some of the comments by parents. Sounds like a parent trying to bask in the glory of her DD's accomplishment.

No pitching coach or parent can make some kid "great". The only person who can make a kid "great" is the kid. (PC's can teach and are important...but, the person who made Danielle Lawry great was Danielle Lawry, not her PC or her father.)

I remember this type of thing in 8 and 10U, 9th grade parents should know better by now.

I have also become smarter and very very seldom discuss pitching. If I see a P I really like, I might ask if she goes to lessons and with whom, that is about it.

sluggers said:

Got to go with Amy...my DD's pitching coach was a "colorful" figure in Chicagoland softball. People either hated him or loved him...and everyone always had an opinion they were more than willing to share. I would change topics.

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My DD seems to have the same pitching coach. Just different city and different gender.

What gets me, is that people have the nerve to say those types of things. I was working with a 9yo, this summer and another 9 yo (coach's kid) was there. She says to me "I go to ___ ____." I said "Good for you!" Then, she says "My drop ball wasn't working yesterday." I said "Oh, shoot." Haha

I was that parent once with our first pitching coach. I shouldn't have done it...it was wrong. We have been with our second coach for 5 years. People ask me now...I will say you need to shop around and find the right fit for your dd. I will say I don't know that coach but this one is a good fit for my dd. Change subject.

It's a tough balancing act. One of my DD's teammates (let's call her Lisa) sees my DDs former pitching coach (HE style, etc). I was warming up Lisa at pitching practice and told her to throw her curve ball. Everytime she threw the curve it had 12/6 spin just like her fastball, in fact I could not tell any difference between the two pitches. I mentioned this to her father that the PC wasn't teaching her correct curve ball mechanics because for the pitch to have movement it needs side spin (9-3 spin) and he kinda got defensive with me.

So as an assistant coach and a parent, should I not have said anything to Lisa's dad? I personally would want to know if my PC was teaching incorrect mechanics.

Rocketech1 said:

It's a tough balancing act. One of my DD's teammates (let's call her Lisa) sees my DDs former pitching coach (HE style, etc). I was warming up Lisa at pitching practice and told her to throw her curve ball. Everytime she threw the curve it had 12/6 spin just like her fastball, in fact I could not tell any difference between the two pitches. I mentioned this to her father that the PC wasn't teaching her correct curve ball mechanics because for the pitch to have movement it needs side spin (9-3 spin) and he kinda got defensive with me.

So as an assistant coach and a parent, should I not have said anything to Lisa's dad? I personally would want to know if my PC was teaching incorrect mechanics.

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Depends. It may be the pitching coach is teaching it right but the kid hasn't gotten it yet. Some pitches take a long time, a lot of practice, and a lot of lessons.