- Oct 3, 2009
- 372
- 18
Take this post for fwiw. I am about to head to Florida to watch DD#1 play a little softball so I am feeling all philosophical and what not. A couple of lessons I have learned.
1) Your DD will have good coaches and those who could use some improvement. The not so good ones let you appreciate the good ones even more. And on the not so good ones maybe ask yourself why you or your DD think they are not so good? Sometimes it turns out those coaches are saying things you may not want to hear but are 100% correct.
2) You will have good teammates and not so good teammates. Figuring out how to lead both is a skillset most adults never acquire so if your 16u left fielder figures it out the hard way good for her!
3) You have to own your performance. My DD pitches and was a perfectionist. Let that wash over you for a second. And then notice I said was? Softball teaches you the circles will have ruts. The kind created by wagons a hundred years ago. Deal with it. The umpires won't call "your" strike zone. Hell I am convinced some do not even have a strike zone. Coaches won't call "your" pitches. Get the outs anyway. Some days your second baseman will more resemble an oak tree that things just bounce off. Deal with it and get the next batter out.
4) And many want their kid to play college softball. That is great. Just realize the adversity and difficulty increases dramatically. If you are trying to shield and protect them from the "injustices" that occur on a routine basis in tb/hs ball, are you really doing them a favor?
Bottom line is softball is hard and yet maybe the most valuable place you can learn a few lessons that don't come naturally in the classroom.
Andy
1) Your DD will have good coaches and those who could use some improvement. The not so good ones let you appreciate the good ones even more. And on the not so good ones maybe ask yourself why you or your DD think they are not so good? Sometimes it turns out those coaches are saying things you may not want to hear but are 100% correct.
2) You will have good teammates and not so good teammates. Figuring out how to lead both is a skillset most adults never acquire so if your 16u left fielder figures it out the hard way good for her!
3) You have to own your performance. My DD pitches and was a perfectionist. Let that wash over you for a second. And then notice I said was? Softball teaches you the circles will have ruts. The kind created by wagons a hundred years ago. Deal with it. The umpires won't call "your" strike zone. Hell I am convinced some do not even have a strike zone. Coaches won't call "your" pitches. Get the outs anyway. Some days your second baseman will more resemble an oak tree that things just bounce off. Deal with it and get the next batter out.
4) And many want their kid to play college softball. That is great. Just realize the adversity and difficulty increases dramatically. If you are trying to shield and protect them from the "injustices" that occur on a routine basis in tb/hs ball, are you really doing them a favor?
Bottom line is softball is hard and yet maybe the most valuable place you can learn a few lessons that don't come naturally in the classroom.
Andy