Player and College Coaching Compatability ?s

djcarter1966 · Aug 28, 2017

well if it is down to a couple schools I'd focus on better degree programs, reputation in the field of study I was pursuing, and overall quality of education. As @55 said my guess is as long as she is performing the odds of the coach leaving her alone are high and you can always improve a little so take some of this instruction listen carefully and employ what works for you. There is no promise that coach will be there 4 years from now or even next year so I just would not focus on philosophy that much unless it was something really weird or odd.

Greenmonsters · Aug 28, 2017

Why wouldn't you expect college coaches to have the same mindset as most all coaches i.e., I can make any player better??? I doubt very few coaches believe they are getting a finished product!

IMO/IME you need to do your homework and observe/determine/understand what philosophies/approaches each coach subscribes to and how firmly they hold to those beliefs). Of course a coaching change can render that useless (and force your DD to adopt a no stride hitting style!), which is why most players are best off choosing a college for the school rather than the softball program.

slugger3 · Aug 28, 2017

Greenmonsters said:
Why wouldn't you expect college coaches to have the same mindset as most all coaches i.e., I can make any player better??? I doubt very few coaches believe they are getting a finished product!

IMO/IME you need to do your homework and observe/determine/understand what philosophies/approaches each coach subscribes to and how firmly they hold to those beliefs). Of course a coaching change can render that useless (and force your DD to adopt a no stride hitting style!), which is why most players are best off choosing a college for the school rather than the softball program.

Yes, you are right, school/academics/education first. But I stated that up front, this is all things being equal education wise, but with a choice of Coaching styles.

I have done my homework, and this is what I keep coming up with over and over. We learned this from many of my DD1's experiences as well.
And it worked out great for her. She loves the school, but really likes the coach, and his coaching style.

Rotational hands, sends the ball to a far off land...
Linear hands, puts the ball in the sand...
Did I just make a funny?

DD1 and DD2 are coachable, ...so says their HS and Travel Balls coaches, nothing has ever come up of concern...BUT they are rotational hitting coaches, as well as dear ol' dad..me.
Everybody is giving high fives after batting practice.
All 3 DDs have been subjected to a linear hands hitting coach from time to time, and that did not go over well. So does that make them Uncoachable?
To that linear hands coach I guess it does.

Comocoach · Aug 28, 2017

It doesn't make them uncoachable , I'm sure with fall practice plus all winter to practice that they could have results come spring. But you're right about how it could make someone think they're uncoachable.

I would suggest doing a lot of research about coaches at prospective schools and watching their games. You can pick schools using whatever criteria you desire.

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wjdempkowski · Aug 30, 2017

I am not sure if all things are being considered. Here is my take on it.

Understand that at the collegiate level, the coaches are payed primarily to coach. These coaches have years of experience at the coaching level as their players have at playing. They have run into numerous situations that may have gone well, or poorly and thus adapted their "style" to enhance or combat these situations. Their philosophies are often backed by the statistical data of their experiences. In the recruiting process, the general consensus is to recruit "athletes" that fit the personality mold of the given program.

Now, in the case of camps and being invited, the HC may see the player's swing and think, "Hmmm, she will struggle against College Y's pitcher because she does this." and attempt to prevent that from happening.

We say this player is a good hitter, but is that because she can hit most pitchers? Or because when she does connect, she hits it hard? Or was she invited because she did hit well against the team that the coach saw her play, but what he/she really liked was he plate presence? There are so many reasons why an invite may be given beyond her specific batting style.

My advice? Ask the coach why he/she wants this type of swing mechanic as opposed to what the DD is already doing. After the conversation, you may not agree, but at least you'll have the "why" of it. Who knows, that coach may make you reevaluate your hitting philosophies.

55dad · Aug 30, 2017

Very solid advice. The why can be more important than the what.

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slugger3 · Aug 30, 2017

wjdempkowski said:
I am not sure if all things are being considered. Here is my take on it.

Understand that at the collegiate level, the coaches are payed primarily to coach. These coaches have years of experience at the coaching level as their players have at playing. They have run into numerous situations that may have gone well, or poorly and thus adapted their "style" to enhance or combat these situations. Their philosophies are often backed by the statistical data of their experiences. In the recruiting process, the general consensus is to recruit "athletes" that fit the personality mold of the given program.

Now, in the case of camps and being invited, the HC may see the player's swing and think, "Hmmm, she will struggle against College Y's pitcher because she does this." and attempt to prevent that from happening.

We say this player is a good hitter, but is that because she can hit most pitchers? Or because when she does connect, she hits it hard? Or was she invited because she did hit well against the team that the coach saw her play, but what he/she really liked was he plate presence? There are so many reasons why an invite may be given beyond her specific batting style.

My advice? Ask the coach why he/she wants this type of swing mechanic as opposed to what the DD is already doing. After the conversation, you may not agree, but at least you'll have the "why" of it. Who knows, that coach may make you reevaluate your hitting philosophies.

Great post man!

I agree with everything your saying here.

Great idea!

Player and College Coaching Compatability ?s

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