Today was a rough day for DD (11yo in her 3rd year, mid 40's mph I guess) and I. At a softball clinic hosted by the Varsity Coach of our High School, DD was receiving lessons from the best pitching coach in our area. I don't dispute this... she has helped many of our area's best pitchers have excellent high school careers and get recruited by colleges. She also teaches H/E mechanics. We knew this, but DD needs help with lower body mechanics and we were hoping for a drill or two that could help that (we should have just stuck to Java's 2 step drill!). Anyway... DD managed to push the ball down the back of her circle when the Coach was watching and keep her mouth shut when told not to hold the ball "that way." Her father, on the other hand, failed miserably at the keeping the mouth shut part (in my defense, I was there helping with other instruction, she approached me). Somewhere in these forums is the exact conversation that insued after I asked her if she ever studies slow motion videos of pitching. "She'll never be able to throw accurately or hard enough"... "the high level pitchers we see only do that when they throw curves and screws"... blah, blah, blah. You guys told me it would happen, and you are right as usual.
The problem came when HC made the comment that if she continues this way, she'll never make the varsity team. Anything the guest coach said meant nothing, but we both have great respect for our HC and unlike alot of the country, playing for her school means alot to DD. That was pretty discouraging to both of us. I am certain his comment was less about how the ball is delivered and more about what he perceives the results to be. If DD continues on her path and throws faster, more accurate, and with better spin than anyone else on the team, I don't believe there will be an issue with him using her a pitcher. If she doesn't, there will be no issue with us understanding that someone else gets the circle time. I'm pretty sure he is trying to tell me that she needs better instruction than what I am giving her, which I totally agree with. We have been in contact with someone I believe will be a perfect fit, and won't require an airplane ride to visit.
In the meantime, we could use a little pep talk (maybe me more than her). What is it that is so much better about I/R mechanics that we need to insist, to the very coach we are trying to impress, "thanks for your input, but we'll do it our way." Is it possible to overcome a shunning from the High School Coach to get recruited for college by being effective in Travel Ball? All I have ever tried to do was help her be the BEST she can be...if her best isn't good enough to make a team; travel, high school, college, or whatever, we will accept that. I'm just looking for a little reassurance that this truly is the path to her best.
Thanks for listening!
The problem came when HC made the comment that if she continues this way, she'll never make the varsity team. Anything the guest coach said meant nothing, but we both have great respect for our HC and unlike alot of the country, playing for her school means alot to DD. That was pretty discouraging to both of us. I am certain his comment was less about how the ball is delivered and more about what he perceives the results to be. If DD continues on her path and throws faster, more accurate, and with better spin than anyone else on the team, I don't believe there will be an issue with him using her a pitcher. If she doesn't, there will be no issue with us understanding that someone else gets the circle time. I'm pretty sure he is trying to tell me that she needs better instruction than what I am giving her, which I totally agree with. We have been in contact with someone I believe will be a perfect fit, and won't require an airplane ride to visit.
In the meantime, we could use a little pep talk (maybe me more than her). What is it that is so much better about I/R mechanics that we need to insist, to the very coach we are trying to impress, "thanks for your input, but we'll do it our way." Is it possible to overcome a shunning from the High School Coach to get recruited for college by being effective in Travel Ball? All I have ever tried to do was help her be the BEST she can be...if her best isn't good enough to make a team; travel, high school, college, or whatever, we will accept that. I'm just looking for a little reassurance that this truly is the path to her best.
Thanks for listening!