Top 5 Things I have learned as the dad of a pitcher

Cannonball said:

1. When the pitching coach says I don't need shin guards because she is only going to,' spin a few drop-balls," put the chin guards and face mask on! (Pun intended)
2. Why bring the chair if the dd's pitching, I'm not sitting down anyway.
3. Keep your mouth full of 'stuff" so no one can hear what you are saying. Yes, you are saying them regardless of whether you think you are or not.
4. Make friends with the other pitcher's parents. Only you and them really understand.
5. When people ask you if your dd can "move up" to pitch for their team, what they are really saying is that it is getting late in the tryout process and they don't have a pitcher.

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That was hilarious. But so true.

1. Drop curves hitting toes really really hurt
2. Screwballs do move and are not so easy to catch.
3. Fastballs thrown properly do "hop".
4. Buy a bucket with a padded top. Much more comfortable
5. A great catcher's mitt is priceless.

One more to add after Wednesday's lesson with PC:

6. Make sure you, your DD and the PC are all in agreement on which pitch is going to be thrown. Setting up for a drop and instead having a rise ball thrown at your head results in you diving off the bucket in front of 50+ players and coaches...

Softball players like parents learn best from mistakes. Encourage them to have high expectations and to learn the game. Most of all smile and suport them when their little world is coming apart, because afterall it's only a softball game. And make you goal as a parent to have more fun at the game than your daughter. Have a great season.

6. I'm not as objective about my daughter's abilities as I had thought.
7. The umpire's strike zone is completely out of my control- ACCEPT IT.
8. I didn't enjoy the work with my daughter as much as I should have (at the time).
9. I should have spent every inning my daughter pitched in left field (as long as no one else was out there).

Very refreshing to hear such validation! If I may...

Top 10 Things I Have Learned as the Mom of Pitchers in Softball/Baseball and Wife of a Coach:

10. No softball discussions over dinner. We talk baseball/softball far too much as it is anyway.
9. Both of you, (husband/daughter or son) needs to know where your game ends and the other ones begins (both ways).
8. My dear, dear athlete...it's okay that Dad loves the game. He will be officiating (at the least) well after you are gone.
7. My love of the NY Yankees satisfies my love of the game. Play out of YOUR passion, I will support whatever you choose.
6. Softball and baseball may look the same to the naked eye, but technically, they are very (very) different.
5. No postgame analyses in the car. Athletes need time to mentally process the game, first.
4. Build a marriage that has absolutely nothing to do with the game.
3. There comes a time an athlete must take ownership of their sport. No pushing them to practice.
2. The athlete will play for other coaches who may teach an opposing philosophy. The athlete needs to assess success and speak directly to the coach.
1. Now that Dad is a spectator at Varsity and Travel games...nothing feels as good as the proud moments with my husband at my side.

Here's to a great upcoming season...

Angela

P.S. One after thought: Always carry spare air freshener for the car because those sweaty cleat are bad!!

I am a mom, but I learned to take it all with a grain of salt. If I got upset over a softball game, then everything else is going well.

- being concerned about a coach, a team, a game just isn't worth it. If it isn't working for our family, move on.

- get the best private lessons for DD that you can find.

- do not use the word we, when referring to your DD's pitching. For example, "we are working on a drop ball."

- do not sign them up for every college clinic in a 3 state area. Some aren't worth the money.

- and my husband would add this "Take a family vacation, without a softball destination."

bigboyk said:

I've learned that sitting side saddle on the bucket may not look manly, but my shins look a lot better.

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I learned the hard way that it is not just my shins that feel better riding the bucket side saddle.
Softball are not soft!
Your shins can and will dent!
Laces can cut!
If a ball hits a brick wall hard behind your head it can rebound and hit the back of your head almost just as hard!
Catchers wear gear for a reason!
"You should have got that one Dad, it didn't drop that much", means sorry at 13 YOA!
"Dah" at 13 means shut up!
That sound, you know the one, like you make a quiet fart sound with your lips real fast. That also means WHATEVER!
Most of all, how much I love spending time with my DD. I don't get near enough time with her so those times we get pitching are priceless.

Amy in AZ. said:

I am a mom, but I learned to take it all with a grain of salt. If I got upset over a softball game, then everything else is going well.

- being concerned about a coach, a team, a game just isn't worth it. If it isn't working for our family, move on.

- get the best private lessons for DD that you can find.

- do not use the word we, when referring to your DD's pitching. For example, "we are working on a drop ball."

- do not sign them up for every college clinic in a 3 state area. Some aren't worth the money.

- and my husband would add this "Take a family vacation, without a softball destination."

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Amy,

Love your point on the "we." I once used this example in teaching my dd about general personal boundaries in relationships. I asked her how it would feel if I referred to a game saying, "We did great!" She accurately responded that "I (mom)" didn't win it. I went on to explain to her that the fence is a boundary between team and supporters. When a friend has a problem, we support, but the problem does not become ours.

Thanks, Amy...great point.

mkral, I busted a gut on the ball off of the wall - back of the head! BEEN THERE DONE THAT! Thanks for the laugh.