Differing coaching philosophies on hitting

FP26 said:

I agree with those that suggested keeping it cordial and asking to allow your DD to follow the instruction of her hitting coach. The only time it became an issue with my DD was when she started high school. The approach that the high school coach was teaching didn't mesh with the approach DD was using. She had a private conversation with the coach explaining that she sees a private instructor (didn't mention it was me...), and asked if she could continue with that method. Coach didn't give her a problem. She ended up finishing third in hitting on the team as a freshman, and then led the team each of the next 3 years. By a wide margin the last two. Sometimes coaches are insistent on their methods, but we have been lucky enough to avoid that type.

Edited to add: As a travel ball coach, I am also open minded when it comes to private instruction. Several players I coach also work with me for hitting. But it is not a requirement. Some other players on our team go to other instructors and I am fine with it. Ultimately I am more concerned about results than who their coach is.

Click to expand...

Coach Foster said:

Have you had a conversation about it with him? Does he know you have philosophical differences, or is he assuming that you teach the same that he does?

I have went though the same thing. The HC I worked for, for four years, was a good coach, solid defensive coach, treated the girls extremely well, had high standards, successful, he just had an old school hitting approach. We had conversations, he felt his way was best, and ultimately, I was the assistant, so we did things his way when we were at practice. He and I were always honest with each other. It's tough sometimes, but it is what it is...it wasn't my program.

Like Marriard said - what you cannot do is teach something that the HC isn't. That turns into confusion for the team and could lead to mistrust from your HC...and that turns into losing a job.

Click to expand...

4 girl's dad said:

I have considered trying to explain to him what I am teaching my DD and the others. The problem is that in his mind, the upward part of the swing is what is causing pop ups. I can show him all the HR swings I have saved on my iPad but then he’d be like yeah but what if it doesn’t leave the yard? Then its a fly out.

I get it to some extent but the push swing, put the ball in play on the ground is not a game winning strategy IMO. Hit the ball hard and things will happen.

Really appreciate the conversation. My DD knows to smile and nod. Been doing that a long time. Ive tried to get him to read here. I dont think he ever has. I’m not sure what he is reading. Kinda like every pitching coach in the area teaches HE.... They dont know what they dont know.

PS one of the things he said yesterday that got this started was about keeping the bat in the zone longer by pushing the barrel out in to the front of the zone Vs starting deeper in the zone. (Facepalm).
His DD is a slapper and He wants everything to swing down. I tell her that a slap is just a moving swing that you are controlling. She does well when she hits with me but if he there telling her how to swing, its usually a lot of mis-hits.

Click to expand...

FP26 said:

I had some success explaining to one parent that all good swings have an upward component to them, and then show them a video or two I keep on my phone. I then expand on that by saying if she hits the ball too far out front, the upward angle is steeper at that point in the swing. We need to convince her to make contact deeper. That was enough to satisfy them...

Click to expand...

FP26 said:

I had some success explaining to one parent that all good swings have an upward component to them, and then show them a video or two I keep on my phone. I then expand on that by saying if she hits the ball too far out front, the upward angle is steeper at that point in the swing. We need to convince her to make contact deeper. That was enough to satisfy them...

Click to expand...

4 girl's dad said:

I have considered trying to explain to him what I am teaching my DD and the others. The problem is that in his mind, the upward part of the swing is what is causing pop ups. I can show him all the HR swings I have saved on my iPad but then he’d be like yeah but what if it doesn’t leave the yard? Then its a fly out.

I get it to some extent but the push swing, put the ball in play on the ground is not a game winning strategy IMO. Hit the ball hard and things will happen.

Really appreciate the conversation. My DD knows to smile and nod. Been doing that a long time. Ive tried to get him to read here. I dont think he ever has. I’m not sure what he is reading. Kinda like every pitching coach in the area teaches HE.... They dont know what they dont know.

PS one of the things he said yesterday that got this started was about keeping the bat in the zone longer by pushing the barrel out in to the front of the zone Vs starting deeper in the zone. (Facepalm).
His DD is a slapper and He wants everything to swing down. I tell her that a slap is just a moving swing that you are controlling. She does well when she hits with me but if he there telling her how to swing, its usually a lot of mis-hits.

Click to expand...