When is enough enough?
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As long as I felt appreciated and respected, I welcomed feedback. (I no longer coach a team.) There is nothing unusual or wrong about your concerns. If I had a 10-year-old daughter playing softball and I was in the stands, I can promise I would have some philosophical differences with most any rookie 10U head coach. I just haven't heard enough here to think you should be pulling your hair out about it. It's almost a given that you're not going to see eye to eye on a lot of things. Just talk w/ the coach. Start with how much you appreciate his time and effort helping these kids. Then ask him in a friendly way, 'I notice you bat everybody. In preseason, it sounded like you would bat the best 9. What's your philosophy on that now?' Don't argue, persuade, just listen and discuss. If he wants your opinion, you'll know it.
- Feb 7, 2013
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In general, fall is developmental for most teams, especially at 10u so I would expect to bat the order with only 11 players on the roster and freely substitute your fielders on defense so everyone gets lots of playing time.
Regarding the changeup. I agree most coaches are afraid to throw it with any regularity which IMO is a mistake. When I coached and called pitches at 8u and 10u, I called changeups all the time and was very effective against the good, aggressive batters. However, if you are playing against teams that can't catch up to the fastball, you don't necessarily want to throw a slower pitch that they can hit. Heck, I still see coaches at the 14u TB not using the changeup enough.
To summarize, finish the season but keep an eye out for other travel ball teams in your area that might be a better fit for your DD. At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself if she is enjoying the experience and getting better each month? If not, then no reason not to try to find a better situation.
Regarding the changeup. I agree most coaches are afraid to throw it with any regularity which IMO is a mistake. When I coached and called pitches at 8u and 10u, I called changeups all the time and was very effective against the good, aggressive batters. However, if you are playing against teams that can't catch up to the fastball, you don't necessarily want to throw a slower pitch that they can hit. Heck, I still see coaches at the 14u TB not using the changeup enough.
To summarize, finish the season but keep an eye out for other travel ball teams in your area that might be a better fit for your DD. At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself if she is enjoying the experience and getting better each month? If not, then no reason not to try to find a better situation.
- Jun 12, 2015
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At 10U all girls who are good enough to make the team should hit imo.
Agree with this. I know exactly how you feel I was you, 6 years ago. Time and perspective will tell you that 10u is not nearly important as it feels right now. It should be about developing skills and players. I agree with bat everybody. You can do all the practice you want, but without live batting in real games, the players at the bottom of line up will not improve.
Here is what I have learned after being involved in this wonderful world of softball for about 6-7 years now. You don't have to like anything the coach does. You don't have to agree with anything the coach does. The coach does not need to ask your permission, or opinion on ANYTHING. After being on a few teams over the years, I think you will find issues with something you don't like, on every team. If you think you can get DD on a better team, and one with a philosophy you like more, then do so, but like others have said before, buyer beware. Unless you are running the team, there will be things you don't agree with. You just have to learn to live with it.
I have no problem batting 11 at 10U. Sounds like a great move especially in the fall.
I have a problem with pitching pitchers who don't practice ever.
As far as 0-2. If they fouled 3 pitches off DD is missing her spot. An 0-2 pitch shouldn't be on the corner but off the plate. If they don't call the change up have her keep going out more until they miss it or take it.
One thing I see from newer coaches especially if they came from baseball is that they are hesitant to call change ups.
I have a problem with pitching pitchers who don't practice ever.
As far as 0-2. If they fouled 3 pitches off DD is missing her spot. An 0-2 pitch shouldn't be on the corner but off the plate. If they don't call the change up have her keep going out more until they miss it or take it.
One thing I see from newer coaches especially if they came from baseball is that they are hesitant to call change ups.
I agree with batting everybody. Every team my DDs have been on batted everybody. Even when DD 1 was on a 16U team.
As for the changeup, if your DD has a good changeup, that is a bit of an issue. Once a coach told me that DD 3 shook off too many changeups and was relying on her fastball too much. She learned, but there was one game where one of the batters kept whomping her changeup. I can understand the coach's thoughts. In 10U a good fastball pitcher can get a LOT of outs just by whizzing the ball past the batters. It takes a while for a new coach to realize when to use the changeup. As in, if you are facing a good hitter who has fouled off the first two pitches, maybe a changeup on the 0-2 count. Or, if you have a batter who can't quite get the pitcher's timing down, mixing in changeups can work like magic.
If I were you, I would lay off any talk about batting everybody. I would have a chat about pitch selection. Maybe get his opinions first as to when the changeup should be used, and when it shouldn't be used. After listening to him, maybe make a few suggestions, but make sure he knows you are letting HIM make the decisions. Maybe you can work something out.
As for the changeup, if your DD has a good changeup, that is a bit of an issue. Once a coach told me that DD 3 shook off too many changeups and was relying on her fastball too much. She learned, but there was one game where one of the batters kept whomping her changeup. I can understand the coach's thoughts. In 10U a good fastball pitcher can get a LOT of outs just by whizzing the ball past the batters. It takes a while for a new coach to realize when to use the changeup. As in, if you are facing a good hitter who has fouled off the first two pitches, maybe a changeup on the 0-2 count. Or, if you have a batter who can't quite get the pitcher's timing down, mixing in changeups can work like magic.
If I were you, I would lay off any talk about batting everybody. I would have a chat about pitch selection. Maybe get his opinions first as to when the changeup should be used, and when it shouldn't be used. After listening to him, maybe make a few suggestions, but make sure he knows you are letting HIM make the decisions. Maybe you can work something out.
At 10U, most girls are lucky to get the ball in the strike zone, let alone hit their spot.
- Dec 27, 2014
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At least you are still playing. Our fall ball is just for September. 5 run innings.
- Nov 18, 2013
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According to the OP the pitcher hit her spot four times in a row. I find that suspect, along with the idea that a 10U pitcher has a reliable change up. This post sounds like a stereotypical 10U parent. Everything is somebody else's fault.
One of DD's old coaches had the perfect response for disgruntled parents who constantly complained. "Your time to speak up was when they asked for volunteers to help coach".
