dd and myself nervous about her first time pitching at 12u level

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Sep 15, 2016
40
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double header coming up this weekend. DD is normally a catch at 10u level but has started to learn to pitch and isn't doing too bad for only seriously working on it for a few months. at practice today HC told both myself and her that he was gonna have her pitch a couple innings. she has moved up to 12u for fallball and will be in 12u in the spring. she did pitch a couple innings in spring at the 10u level but she is very nervous about pitching in a game this weekend. I think she will do fine but she is nervous about the other girls on the team giving her a hard time if she doesn't do well....

I told her pitch your game and don't worry about anything else...
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
12 year olds hit a lot better and seem to swing more. Ball should stay in park so let defense make plays.

DD enjoyed pitching more in 12U then 10U.

Good luck.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
I would expect any first time pitcher to be nervous. As long as that nervousness is not getting in the way of her actually pitching, then I don't see a problem. My DD went through a similar situation. This past summer, playing on in a rec league, she decided to try pitching. It wasn't all her idea, her rec HC recommended she try. When it came to her first game she was plenty nervous. I told her to turn that nervous energy into determination. She looked nervous when she was in the circle for the first time, but I also saw determination in her face. She did well.

Your DD is nervous about the other girls giving her a hard time? Is that just in her head, or have her teammates done something like that in the past? I hope not. If they have, is this the type of team she wants to be on?
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
By the way for DD hitting the 12" ball was a bigger change then pitching.

Took her a while to get the ball to go anywhere. Pitching she did not miss a beat.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
DD pitched in a couple of 12Us last year (playing up) but this weekend is our first "official" 12U tournament. I'll just empathize with your nerves.
 

2br02b

Trabant swing
Jul 25, 2017
303
43
Your DD is nervous about the other girls giving her a hard time? Is that just in her head, or have her teammates done something like that in the past? I hope not. If they have, is this the type of team she wants to be on?

This! ^^^^^

Nerves are too be expected - pitcher has a lot to pay attention to, but her experience as a catcher should help that a lot...
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
...she is nervous about the other girls on the team giving her a hard time if she doesn't do well....

Is there a pattern of this kind of behavior with this group/team??? In my experience with being a parent and coach from 8U rec to 14U TB, is that players don't talk badly about a pitcher because they struggled (or an fielding error, or strikeout, etc.). Effort is applauded, regardless of results. A good teammate picks up a player who is down. If a player ever talked badly about a teammate's performance in my dugout, there would quickly be a conversation with the whole team about how we support each other no matter what the results are. That kind of behavior is not to be tolerated. If there is a culture of that behavior on your DD's team, I suggest finding another team. Soon!

All that said, if it's just her nerves generating anxieties, that's understandable. Remind her that everyone has to start somewhere, and an expectation of being excellent is unrealistic. Even the best pitchers in the world struggled in the beginning - some were even told at a young age that they should give up trying to be a pitcher. All that matter is that she goes out and gives her best effort.
 
Sep 15, 2016
40
8
she came in late to this team..she missed the seeding tournament and the first weekend of double headers. when she joined the team parents and some players were not happy that she joined late saying that she was coming in to take there kids spot on the team...well this is a 12u rec ball fall ball team that only had 11 players. knowing that she came in late she knew she wouldnt be starting or even playing catcher which she is well known for in our league. right now she is playing left field and 3rd on occasion. she has only worked out on the team as a pitcher once. even while sitting on the bench she is the teammate that is on her feet cheering her team mates on...even the ones that give her a hard time...im super proud of my dd but I just hope that the atmosphere of this team doesn't hurt her love for the game...
 

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