- Jun 19, 2013
- 753
- 28
I really never thought we'd find the right place after bouncing around for a few years but it seems we did. This is the first time that I think my DD has really experienced what I see so many people post about. This is the first time my DD wanted it to not end, cried when it was over and is hoping that everyone plays together again next year.
I apologize this is sort of long but I've been mulling over these things this week after our last tourney this past weekend. What exactly made it so much better for her than prior seasons.
It's not the team that I thought would be the perfect team for her. They hardly practice. This is 16B an the girls had all just come off of HS seasons so that was part of the minimal practice. Even though she would love more practice partly because she likes to work, but partly because she likes the group. But since she is self motivated and we go out on our own a lot that has worked. They only play B even though she would rather mix it up a bit and do a few more open tournaments but considering I mentioned we hardly practice playing B is a better fit
The things I've identified that seemed to make this a great season are:
* The coach knows softball - he plays men's FB, can coach a game, he understands fundamentals and knows how to call batters when he wants to interject in that area (this has caused her to respect him and look forward to playing for him)
* The team is full of tough girls who want to play ball - no one is a priss, they push each other, they get dirty, there is no drama
* We played with a roster of 11, usually only had 9 or 10 so they all played a ton
* The coaches don't treat the girls like crap - if they make an error they coach them in regards to how they should have played the ball instead of randomly screaming things like "you've got to want this!!" "We can't play this for you!!" "get your head in the game" (not to say you might not get pulled if you can't figure your crap out, but not mental games to deal with)
* 3 pitchers, one of which who'd rather play infield. It's the perfect number. 2 can alternate and one to fill in when you really need it (we've had a season of 6 - that sucked!!)
* Coaches with common sense - didn't rewarm up for an hour in between every game when it's 100 degrees out, doesn't get nervous against better teams and just call a freakin FB over and over (like last season), lets the pitchers shake off a pitch (but may talk to them later and explain why there choice may not have been the best), somehow found the balance between taking the game seriously and wanting to win - without turning into a total jerk and loosing his mind
*I was determined this year to try not to get too crabby when the catcher would call a FB too close to the zone on 0-2, or was lazy and wouldn't hop up quick enough to get an easy foul, I was determined to not get bent out of shape when practice was cancelled and instead loaded up and went to the field on our own, I was determined to not let the loud mouth get to me and instead moved away (we have had so many worse things to deal with in prior seasons)
* And I suppose 2 first place finishes, one 2nd and one 3rd over the season of 7 tournaments was fun too
This site has helped us so much over the years!! Found Ken B. who is her awesome pitching coach and now seeing FFS who is her new hitting coach (seeing great changes after only 2 lessons so far) and learned more than I ever knew I didn't know from the great contributors on here!!!
I apologize this is sort of long but I've been mulling over these things this week after our last tourney this past weekend. What exactly made it so much better for her than prior seasons.
It's not the team that I thought would be the perfect team for her. They hardly practice. This is 16B an the girls had all just come off of HS seasons so that was part of the minimal practice. Even though she would love more practice partly because she likes to work, but partly because she likes the group. But since she is self motivated and we go out on our own a lot that has worked. They only play B even though she would rather mix it up a bit and do a few more open tournaments but considering I mentioned we hardly practice playing B is a better fit
The things I've identified that seemed to make this a great season are:
* The coach knows softball - he plays men's FB, can coach a game, he understands fundamentals and knows how to call batters when he wants to interject in that area (this has caused her to respect him and look forward to playing for him)
* The team is full of tough girls who want to play ball - no one is a priss, they push each other, they get dirty, there is no drama
* We played with a roster of 11, usually only had 9 or 10 so they all played a ton
* The coaches don't treat the girls like crap - if they make an error they coach them in regards to how they should have played the ball instead of randomly screaming things like "you've got to want this!!" "We can't play this for you!!" "get your head in the game" (not to say you might not get pulled if you can't figure your crap out, but not mental games to deal with)
* 3 pitchers, one of which who'd rather play infield. It's the perfect number. 2 can alternate and one to fill in when you really need it (we've had a season of 6 - that sucked!!)
* Coaches with common sense - didn't rewarm up for an hour in between every game when it's 100 degrees out, doesn't get nervous against better teams and just call a freakin FB over and over (like last season), lets the pitchers shake off a pitch (but may talk to them later and explain why there choice may not have been the best), somehow found the balance between taking the game seriously and wanting to win - without turning into a total jerk and loosing his mind
*I was determined this year to try not to get too crabby when the catcher would call a FB too close to the zone on 0-2, or was lazy and wouldn't hop up quick enough to get an easy foul, I was determined to not get bent out of shape when practice was cancelled and instead loaded up and went to the field on our own, I was determined to not let the loud mouth get to me and instead moved away (we have had so many worse things to deal with in prior seasons)
* And I suppose 2 first place finishes, one 2nd and one 3rd over the season of 7 tournaments was fun too
This site has helped us so much over the years!! Found Ken B. who is her awesome pitching coach and now seeing FFS who is her new hitting coach (seeing great changes after only 2 lessons so far) and learned more than I ever knew I didn't know from the great contributors on here!!!
