Things to say to a pitcher when she can't find the zone

We all hate it when a coach or parents yells, "Just throw strikes."

But, what should a coach say to a struggling pitcher in attempt to help her "just throw strikes"?

Personally, I rarely said anything. If a kid was struggling, I took her out. I wouldn't even leave the dugout. My idea was not to make a big deal out of it, as in, "Too bad, too bad. You'll do better next game." Kids always got another chance to pitch. But, that is me...I'm not sure that would work with every coach.

Thoughts and idea?

Every pitcher is different but with my DD the coach just strolls out to the circle and says something to make her laugh. Nothing that has anything to do with softball. After that she is usually good to go.

Sometimes there is something wrong, that you don't know about. Like their dog died and they didn't want to tell you. So, I always ask "Is anything wrong?" "Are you feeling OK?" "Well, get the next one." "Do not throw anything down the middle."

I just tell dd. I can't, believe, I pay $100 an hour for pitching lessons and the ball has found every thing in the park, but the strike zone.

I too hate the tiresome line "just throw strikes".

As a former mound nut, I like to find out "why" she is struggling. ( if i cant see something obvious ) That usually means a trip to the circle and a quick Q @ A session. Usually that starts with me "hey, what's going on"? Then you have to decipher between what's in her head, BS, or physical problems. Each trip is different, and especially different for each pitcher. Another part of the trip is "time", valuable time giving the pitcher an opportunity to step back and take a deep breath.

It's the little things that can throw off a pitcher. In TN we usually have a hard clay type infield, when we play further south it's more a sand type mixture. Those "feel" very different planting/dragging. And the dang holes, which are really hard on a LHP following a full day of RHP's.

I also like to question the catcher, alone. I want her input on if we are missing, or are we just not getting the calls.

Sometimes it's the blue, and his or her zone.
As an example our second game at HS state this spring. DD warmed up to start and I saw the PU walk on the field. I knew the PU from a few TB tourneys we played in the past, and she gave NO CORNERS and had an expanded zone for rise/drop pitchers. I told the HS coach to go ahead and warm up our other pitcher and explained why. DD started and sure enough, if it wasn't down the gut it was a ball. Two walks, 1 hit, 1 error, and 2 runs later...........coach pulled her in the first inning. Our rise/drop pitcher came in and did pretty well.

^^^^^Thats why I ask the catcher for input. Umps are human, and sometimes have a prefference to a particular style of pitching. Long story short...........just pulling them isn't the right thing to do. I like to either try to correct the problem or at least give them a "reason" for the action of removal. Communication goes a long way in a pitcher's mind.

You can also have the pitcher, call time and go ask the plate ump. Where the strike zone is because one of us doesn't know where it is. By the way when my mom played and pitched. She asked the ump that question. Let's just say she got to watch from the bench where the strike zone was. Some umps don't have a sense of humor.

I like to say loud enough for the ump to hear that she needs to find "his" zone.
Trust your mechanics, stay loose, stride to your target, keep your arm fast with your elbow tight to your ribs, and be hard on the catchers mitt, not yourself! Go get em

nanotech14 said:

ask the plate ump. Where the strike zone is because one of us doesn't know where it is.

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I don't care who you are...that's funny right there!!

Also, many times they are just working too quickly and aren't even breathing, correctly.

nanotech14 said:

I just tell dd. I can't, believe, I pay $100 an hour for pitching lessons and the ball has found every thing in the park, but the strike zone.

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Man that is cold!!!!!!