Example of 12U coach pitch calling--please, don't be this guy.

[_MIA_]

Help me understand how throwing fastball after fastball in order to "just get the batter out and move on" and never throwing an off speed or breaking pitch is helpful towards the development of a pitcher.

If a kid is blowing away a batter with fastballs, and there are other hitters in the lineup (e.g. this isn't a kid dominating in Rec ball) who she would need to throw offspeed pitches to, doesn't make a lot of sense to throw anything but fastballs to that particular batter. Development isn't only about the skills of the game but also understanding situations,etc. Plus if a pitcher cannot locate her fastball she should probably concentrate on developing that first, no?

 

[DNeeld]

Help me understand how throwing fastball after fastball in order to "just get the batter out and move on" and never throwing an off speed or breaking pitch is helpful towards the development of a pitcher.

Its pointless to move on to breaking pitches if the pitcher can't hit a spot about 80% of the time, which is what you most often see at 12U.

Off speed is another matter. But throwing an off speed pitch to a batter that can't catch up to the fastball is pretty stupid.

 

[badmonkey]

Many 12U coaches with their wrist bands (for offense, defense and pitching), pitch calling, 1st and 3rd defensive plays, etc remind of those pictures you see of little girls who put their mothers shoes on and then smear lipstick all over their face..

DDs team used wristbands this fall. When we got them I wasn't excited about it. The girls learned to use them quickly. The team only missed one sign all year. My DD has, let's call it a focus issue. She missed signs regularly before. I talked to the coach of her old team. They installed a bunch of signs. A few of the girls can't remember any of them, most get them mixed up. He had a similar negative opinion on wrist bands, and I told them how well I thought they actually worked. He came and watched a game and was surprised how well they were working. That said, they aren't used for pitch calling. It's basically fastballs until 0-2 or 1-2. Then, if you're feeling it, CU.
Point is, if they are used properly (sparingly) they are great. Some coaches want to be Peyton Manning out there and way overuse them.

 

[grcsftbll]

My DD doesn't pitch anymore but in 12U she could locate her FB and change up and had an awesome curve. Our other main pitcher in 12U also had great control and movement. It does happen! And I agree that they don't develop their change up or drop (or fill in the blank) by only throwing fastballs the other team can't catch up to. Great for 12U but they'll light her up in a year.

 

[_MIA_]

DDs team used wristbands this fall. When we got them I wasn't excited about it. The girls learned to use them quickly. The team only missed one sign all year. My DD has, let's call it a focus issue. She missed signs regularly before. I talked to the coach of her old team. They installed a bunch of signs. A few of the girls can't remember any of them, most get them mixed up. He had a similar negative opinion on wrist bands, and I told them how well I thought they actually worked. He came and watched a game and was surprised how well they were working. That said, they aren't used for pitch calling. It's basically fastballs until 0-2 or 1-2. Then, if you're feeling it, CU.
Point is, if they are used properly (sparingly) they are great. Some coaches want to be Peyton Manning out there and way overuse them.

I don't mind them for hitting. When they start using them for pitching and defense is when I throw my hands up.

 

[badmonkey]

I don't mind them for hitting. When they start using them for pitching and defense is when I throw my hands up.

Strongly agree.

This year they are adding in all kinds of stuff. Last summer we had three signs. Take, bunt, steal. Now have added fake bunt, sac bunt, hit and run, slap. Third base coach might as well be trying to fly giving those signs to DD, all she's going to see is flailing arms.

 

[Ken Krause]

One thing that struck me in the video is the coach just sitting out there in live territory throwing the signs. Whatever happened to you have to be in the dugout? This guy wasn't just out a little bit so the catcher could see better around a fence. He was around the center of the dugout.

Just seems odd to me. The field is for the players. The dugout is for the coaches when you're on defense.

 

[Westwind]

I'm sometimes confused by the mixed messages received here. On one hand we have everyone saying that 12u is all about development. Wins and losses don't matter. Pitchers need circle time in order to develop. Then we get a thread like this where it seems that everyone is advocating for the pitcher to just throw fastball after fastball in order to get the hitter out. Help me understand how throwing fastball after fastball in order to "just get the batter out and move on" and never throwing an off speed or breaking pitch is helpful towards the development of a pitcher.

I think that is a fair criticism.

But... I wish that when dd was a 10/12u she would have been taught to attack the zone by hitting spots first before messing around with 4 pitches and taking every friggin’ count full.

If only I could do it all over again I would insist on it. And she would probably still be pitching.

 

[OsDad]

One thing that struck me in the video is the coach just sitting out there in live territory throwing the signs. Whatever happened to you have to be in the dugout? This guy wasn't just out a little bit so the catcher could see better around a fence. He was around the center of the dugout.

Just seems odd to me. The field is for the players. The dugout is for the coaches when you're on defense.

This is almost never enforced in Oklahoma, in my experience (even in sanctioned tournaments). Typically it’s only enforced by umpires that have gotten mad at one of the head coaches in prior encounters lol. In fact, a decent amount of umpires will let multiple coaches wander around along the fence while their team is on defense.

I wish they’d enforce it. Maybe more coaches would let their kids just play the game instead of having to insert themselves into every play.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[The Man In Blue]

I'm sometimes confused by the mixed messages received here. On one hand we have everyone saying that 12u is all about development. Wins and losses don't matter. Pitchers need circle time in order to develop. Then we get a thread like this where it seems that everyone is advocating for the pitcher to just throw fastball after fastball in order to get the hitter out. Help me understand how throwing fastball after fastball in order to "just get the batter out and move on" and never throwing an off speed or breaking pitch is helpful towards the development of a pitcher.

Edit: Posted this before reading page 2 ...

I think this is more of a commentary on how these pitchers don’t have multiple pitches to be calling. Their version of “hitting their spots” equates to the catcher actually catching a ball. Most have two pitches: 1) a strike and 2) most everything else.

I’m not trying to denigrate the pitchers, but rather the coaches who think this is what a coach does. Teach the girls to read the game and learn situational awareness. Teach them how to think and work. Telling them what to do at every turn is not coaching.

I didn’t watch the whole video. I saw enough to say:

1) Coach, get it off my field. The bucket, your body ... all of it needs to be in the dugout.

2) Why is your catcher looking to you to get physical signs AND wearing a wristband for numeric pitch calling? (None of my business as the umpire, but I’m really intrigued since the coach feels the need to direct air traffic on my field.)