I freaking hate pitching

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Nov 17, 2017
73
18
1.5 years later, Lotta Money gone and I FEEL THE SAME.... LMAO

She's still small -entering 1st full year of 12u and she is Sloooooooooooooooooooooow

Barely reaching 40mp if that.

Still working Tincher, still throwing 3 days a week at least....Strength and conditioning and then Travel practice another 2 days.

So much time so much money....... I keep joking she'd be Derek Jeter if we spent all this time and money on fielding and hitting.

Pretty insane what you guys (WE) do.... lol
 
May 20, 2016
433
63
I am a couple more years into the same journey though it is starting to change. My DD came up to me the other day and thanked me for sticking in out even though she won't listen to a word i say about pitching. I pay an instructor to say the same exact words. She's now first year 14U and while she doesn't throw gas, she has a curve ball and change up that look exactly the same and buckles batters knees regularly.
 
Nov 17, 2017
73
18
I am a couple more years into the same journey though it is starting to change. My DD came up to me the other day and thanked me for sticking in out even though she won't listen to a word i say about pitching. I pay an instructor to say the same exact words. She's now first year 14U and while she doesn't throw gas, she has a curve ball and change up that look exactly the same and buckles batters knees regularly.


AWESOME!!!!! Love to hear it!!!

I just know this 1st year of 12u is gonna be insane.....It's the year we all take our lumps playing the older 12u's..... Crazy to see the girls change this year in particular....

No joke, and I know you all know it but, My Daughter will certainly face girls with 75-100lbs over her, She weights 75 soaking wet.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
AWESOME!!!!! Love to hear it!!!

I just know this 1st year of 12u is gonna be insane.....It's the year we all take our lumps playing the older 12u's..... Crazy to see the girls change this year in particular....

No joke, and I know you all know it but, My Daughter will certainly face girls with 75-100lbs over her, She weights 75 soaking wet.

12U is insane for the range of body sizes. I recall my DD playing against a girl that was at least 6'-2".

Good luck with the pitching thing. I hope your DD hits a growth spurt soon. She's about the age where girls start to sprout. One of my DD's 10U-12U teammates was always one of the smaller players on the team. She's now 14, and 5'-7". Be aware that a big growth spurt can sometimes wreck a pitcher's control as their body adapts to it new dimensions.
 
Aug 2, 2019
343
63
AWESOME!!!!! Love to hear it!!!

I just know this 1st year of 12u is gonna be insane.....It's the year we all take our lumps playing the older 12u's..... Crazy to see the girls change this year in particular....

No joke, and I know you all know it but, My Daughter will certainly face girls with 75-100lbs over her, She weights 75 soaking wet.
My DDs friend (different team as her) was 1st year 12U last year. She was probably 4'8", 70lbs, pitching 36-38mph. We went to her game and watched her pitch. She did great. Hitting spots and changing speeds. We watched her pitch a complete game, frustrating hitters it whole time. Gave up 3 runs in four innings. Her dad says her role is usually to come in after their faster pitchers third time through, and she keeps them off balance, but the rarely let her go through the order twice.

I told a story yesterday about DDs team getting smoked by a pitcher throwing a 33mph fastball. They beat the team when they through their mid 40s pitcher at them. The slow girl shut them out.

Long story short, speed isn't everything. And if your DD can compete when she's half the size of the competition, image what she'll do when the playing field evens out.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
It is definitely a challenging position. We spent a lot of time and money as well, often wondering if it was worth it. But, to be honest, if we didn't spend the time and money on that, it would have been spent on something else; piano lessons, ballet, cheerleading, who knows... The choice she made was pitching, and as long as she worked hard and tried her best, DW and I decided to support her. PItching can be more challenging because the pitcher is the one with the ball in her hands all the time. It was more difficult for DW as she was sitting in the stands with the other parents. Every time there was an errant pitch, or a pitch got crushed, she could feel the eyes and hear the comments of the mob. But for every strike out or big play, the smile was just as wide. There are a lot of other hobbies that do not place your children under such a microscope. But I don't know if they are quite as rewarding either. DD is now a sophomore in college, and although she is out this season with an injury, she is still doing what she loves. And regardless of the trials and tribulations, DW and I would not change a thing about the journey. Hopefully you and your DD have just as much fun on your ride!
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
Pitching teaches lessons that are simply priceless. Grit, determination, resilience and many more. If you've been fortunate enough to have your DD pitch for any meaningful amount of time you're fortunate enough.
 
Apr 28, 2019
1,423
83
My 10yo has been pitching and going to lessons for 9 months now.......

It's KILLING ME......Literally.

I mean, unless your kid is some natural kid with size why go thru the motions... Lessons, Money, TIME.... SANITY????

She's fine so far and so far wants to do it but, to me she's out there so vulnerable and IMO is about to get SMASHED...

She did ok in Spring ball..... She was supposed to be maybe the 3rd pitcher "just learning" and due to no one else and the "Starting" pitcher throwing Heat with ZERO accuracy, she became the "Ace" and it ended "ok" - decent year - Bad Playoff loss....

Now we worked and worked more..... FOR WHAT??????

She's not going to Alabama.... Can she even be pretty good some day??? I'm not talking College at all - I'm talking decent.... I mean, if you keep "Playing Up" and playing Travel - Either you're just an OK team or you have one of the few TRUE pitchers in town and that team Wins....

She's on a Travel Team now - They hoped to get 2 good pitchers - those pitchers went elsewhere - so,. She's the "Starting pitcher #1" - it's a start up 10u Travel team..... I have to prepare my kid to understand that this Sunday, She is going to get her Rump kicked up and down the field like she's never seen before... Like 21-2 type stuff...

Is that Good for kids????? Sure She can grasp that for a game - how about next week's 4 game Weekend? How about the next 8 years..... Practicing, working, Busting your tail..... For such little rewards - Can that Damage a kid????? You tell them good things come to ppl who work hard... Well??????? What if it doesn't?????

I wish we never started pitching - seemed like fun.. "Daddy I want to pitch"... Oh Sureeeeeee.. Good Times...

I don't let her know my feelings but, It's not enjoyable at all.... I really don't know why anyone pitches other than some sick Mega Athlete... And I know kids experience "Failure" at other sports but, do you need to be THE ONE out there all alone with the entire Game / Season / Team on your back????

So, we're spending every other day of a kids life throwing a ball just to be the freaking Pinata????

I'm going along for the ride...... But, I seriously think My health is taking a hit.... I wish we could just have a catch, field grounders and work on a swing instead of trying with every ounce of time and energy to throw 27 MPH Bean Balls for strikes.....

Thanks for listening - I'll hang up
I hear you RJ. If your daughter really wants to pitch and is putting her work in encourage her and practice often.

Pitching is hard and takes a lot of time to master. She will improve and you will be impressed, proud, and glad you stuck it out.
 

ArkFastpitch

Dont' I know you?
Sep 20, 2013
351
18
Welcome to the wonderful world of being a pitchers dad! Man you're stressing way too hard, but I have too, I understand. I would bet your DD's blood pressure is wayyyyy lower than yours, she's fine! It took me awhile to understand it is what it is and once the ball leaves her hand.......it's out of her hands now! In the 12/14U years when infielders would blow routine ground balls I thought my head would explode, and you know what happens after a routine play is blown, you ALWAYS pay for it!! And don't worry, she'll let you know if she doesn't want to be in the circle anymore!

Relax Reaper, enjoy the priceless time with your DD, cause please know it'll be over way faster than you think! Right guys??

So very true... They grow up so fast.. Some of my best and worst memories were sitting on a bucket catching my up and coming DD.. I gave her every reason to quit but thankfully she didn't. She has grown to be a beautiful young woman and a pretty dang good pitcher..
My only advice is, be her biggest fan.. Its so easy to do unintended damage..
 
Oct 2, 2018
205
43
Georgia
Video recording lessons or backyard sessions as much as possible. You will see the tremendous growth from year to year eventhough it may seem stagnant. People overestimate what can be done in a year! However, every one underestimates what can be done in a decade. If you understand it takes a decade to build a pitcher then you will relax and not take things so seriously
 

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