First major setback

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Sep 28, 2015
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So far the comments you have mentioned about your DD tryouts have been one-sided about the coaches not choosing your DD.

Were they all going to be a good fit for your DD? What if they picked her up for their team and partway thru the season then give you these reasons for her not playing C? Be selfish and don’t let your DD get into that situation and select the team where you know she can have personal growth.

So please take their feedback and share it with your DD and help her with setting goals. Find a team that would be a good fit for her now (probably a lower level then what you think) and then create and follow a plan of private lessons and practice for her personal skills goals.

My opinion is that you can introduce some workouts but don’t do them long term or anything serious at this age.

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Last edited:
Apr 20, 2015
961
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I thanked your post because I agree with what you are saying. But this quote to me is just mind blowing. I thought this was the whole reason we send our kids to play on teams etc. I know and understand what you mean. but still.
I think it depends on what level you are speaking of. A lower level travel team is going to teach a lot of mechanics and basics at practice, but a high level competition team is going to teach the fine details and situations and expect the other work to be done on their own. My 12u plays on a high level team and we have only 1 3hr practice a week when the weather allows. Its spent working in situations, base running, learning to work together, positioning etc...not shortening the arm or perfecting the swing.

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Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
First priority is the hitting. Hit well, and TB coaches will help her fix the defensive flaws.

Although I don't have any problem with a LH catcher, it may be an uphill climb with some coaches. Some of the more narrow-minded ones may only want her to play 1B and OF. She may need to be obviously better at C to convince some.

Being able to hit AND play outfield well guarantees that you'll eventually find a solid team and find lots of playing time.
 
Jun 27, 2018
291
28
My daughter is a 16u catcher. She’s been going to same catching/hitting coach since 10u. She had that arm circle issue. She’s still working on her throw to this day. Tell her not to get discouraged and keep working. There’s always something to improve on.


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sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
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Dallas, Texas
First priority is the hitting. Hit well, and TB coaches will help her fix the defensive flaws. Being able to hit AND play outfield well guarantees that you'll eventually find a solid team and find lots of playing time.

Agree 100%.

This kid started every varsity game after her freshman year in HS, and started 90% of the games in her freshman year of college.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KP0uoO_Lmjg" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Jun 14, 2018
172
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1)

2) All high level players go to a *GOOD* hitting coach. All high level catchers go to a catching coach. The critiques she received all reflect a need for a catching coach. Everyone else (outfield and infield) get some specialized training. Your DD is *NOT* going to get the training she needs to be a good hitter or a good catcher from a TB team.

.

She has both a catching coach and hitting coach away from the team and facility she was playing for. DD plays outfield when she is not behind the plate and has thrown runners out trying to score on fly balls (smaller fields) and I almost wonder if that is where the long wind up came from. We did stop lessons when the meat of the season came on because of time (divorced part time dad) and money did become an issue without her mother helping pay of any of it (child support as well). I am planning on her starting back up with her catching coach but I need to see the desire again before I start putting out all the money again.
 
Apr 26, 2015
704
43
DD is a lefty too and yes - it can be an uphill battle. I will say, we have been lucky and found 2 coaches who embrace lefty catchers (one was a harder sell because he has a baseball background) but it's hard because DD is also fast and a great outfielder - so I completely understand where you are coming from. For the past 4 years DD was the primary catcher on her team. She surprised everyone because she was so small and lefty, but she was fast, had a great arm and received the ball well. This last year she was primarily in outfield and there were days where she would rob people of homeruns and days where she thought she was going to fall asleep from boredom. I think it is very hard going from being a part of every play to only touching the ball once or twice a game (if that). DD loves getting her hands on the ball and maybe we probably should have stuck with pitching but she wanted to play soccer and basketball and volleyball and run track too so something had to give. LOL. We are at a point where we need to decide where DD's strengths will be best used. Her soon to be HS coach loves her as a lefty catcher because she likes how she receives a curve ball and how she throws for picks to 1st. Her TB coach likes her in the OF because she is money out there. She is 14U and lead off batter. She was mostly a slapper until this year when she finally found her power. Now she is a true triple threat and keeps the defense on their toes. They expect her to bunt because she is skinny and doesn't look like much, but when they move in she goes to work and sends the ball. She is fast too so we know she should probably play OF to keep her legs, but it's hard on those long boring days with no hits.

All that to say...don't let anyone every underestimate or discourage your fast, lefty catcher/OFer. I'm sorry tryouts haven't gone as hoped. That is always discouraging - but there is definitely a team out there looking for her. At 11 DD could barely hit the ball out of the infield. But she wanted to get better. She has always been self motivated and works on her hitting, blocking, catching, etc every chance she gets. She will catch any pitcher looking for a catcher, she will shag balls for hitting practices, she will take the tee out back and hit the ball...just encourage her to keep working and she will see the improvement. DD grew 6 inches over the past 8 months. She looks like a different girl than she did last summer. I wouldn't worry about strength workouts...but keep helping her with her love of the game.
 
Oct 21, 2016
189
28
The best thing that ever happened to my DD was not making the team of her dreams at 12 y/o. It was specific comments from a coach, which mirrored what I had been telling her, that finally got her to realize what putting in extra work to reach your goals meant. She was crushed as her BFF made the team and she didn't, but she worked harder after that than I have ever seen after the disappoint faded.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Agree 100%.

This kid started every varsity game after her freshman year in HS, and started 90% of the games in her freshman year of college.

THAT was a first-rate catch. Your DD?

KPpower, 14U is where the OF really becomes important. Games are often won and lost out there, and the margin for error is razor thin. An infielder makes an error, and that's usually just a base hit. When an OF makes an error, it's easily a base-clearing triple. There are games where not much happens, and that's usually a credit to the pitcher, but as better competition is encountered, most pitchers can't strike everyone out or generate only grounders. My DD has spent most of her playing career in the IF, but we've worked for years on her being a good OF, and in the last couple of seasons, it's starting to show. She made some very memorable and consequential plays out there this year, and most games, I can't say that she saw any less action than she would have in the IF.
 

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