Pitching Yips. OMG

Worst weekend ever. Pitching Yips hit my DD hard. Does anybody know a good sports psychologist? And dad is going to need one too. And no, its not mechanics. Something clicked in her head. Shes was afraid to throw, arm tightening up.

I thought cubs over paid Lester, he has been great.

This year good too, didn't make it out of 3rd inning other day.

10 nothing or something when pulled him.

DD was in tears, I am the worst pitcher ever. They never let me pitch again are they? She started next game.

quincy said:

I thought cubs over paid Lester, he has been great.



DD was in tears, I am the worst pitcher ever. They never let me pitch again are they? She started next game.

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I wish it was that simple. Weekend started ok. DD came in relief in the 7th of a close game and threw a couple of walks, was throwing high and not whipping as good. But she found a fix and adjusted. No problem. But something went off in her head and those negative thought demons took over. Warms ups were horrible next game. She started game with 8 straight balls and came out, she wasn't too far off and had tight ump. I had her pitch some simulated innings after game away from practice facility and she was looked sharp. But next day warms up were ridiculously bad and she was in tears and couldnt start. Couldn't get going anything rest of the weekend. This was last tournament of summer, but she was very good and consistent all summer against high level competition. I know mechanically she was tightening up her arm from anxiety and timing was way off.

DD lost her release point a few years ago. Went into a cage and had her throw pitches with her eyes closed. Filmed it and showed her the results after she was done. She was amazed at home much her mechanics are ingrained and she just needed to clean up the 6" of gray matter between her ears.

JAD said:

DD lost her release point a few years ago. Went into a cage and had her throw pitches with her eyes closed. Filmed it and showed her the results after she was done. She was amazed at home much her mechanics are ingrained and she just needed to clean up the 6" of gray matter between her ears.

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I know its in her head. But getting her over this will not be easy. Im talking to a few sports psychologists today and going to get something going and will make a decision. This is going to be expensive. I think ignoring it and hoping it will go away is the wrong decision. We got some time off and hopefully we can get the negative voice replaced with a positive voice. Well figure it out. I know this isn't on the mental page, but nobody looks at that. It amazing the amount of time we talk about mechanics and spend on coaches, but we rarely address the mental game for these young ladies.

Softball scholar said:

I know this isn't on the mental page, but nobody looks at that. It amazing the amount of time we talk about mechanics and spend on coaches, but we rarely address the mental game for these young ladies.

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Nailed it!

If you consistently lose the battle in your mind, I don't care how good your mechanics are, you put a limit on your success. Not saying you can't be real good, but you could be better. In my opinion...most people don't teach it because they don't know how. It involves really getting to know someone, and how they work as an individual, and (some) people just don't want to put the time in.

Softball scholar said:

Worst weekend ever. Pitching Yips hit my DD hard. Does anybody know a good sports psychologist? And dad is going to need one too. And no, its not mechanics. Something clicked in her head. Shes was afraid to throw, arm tightening up.

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You are spot on about the mental side of pitching. There were times when my DD had to deal with various mental issues and one thing we would do is sub for a team playing against competition that she knew she could dominate. I know it is probably not fair to those she faced but by doing that it would restore confidence, eliminate performance anxiety, etc. The mental side of pitching is the toughest imo and hope this concept helps.

Andy

DD went through something very similar for the entire month of June. Continued to throw well in warm-ups and at pitching lessons but would throw high in games and lose whatever confidence she had.
Came off the mound in tears more than once. Her coaches were great and very patient. Her mom and I tried to stay as positive as we could around her. It was two steps forward and one step back at times, but she eventually started getting some traction. She's not 100% back but she's made great strides. Keep the faith, this too will pass and she may become even stronger after this happened.

My brother played with a guy that was a first round draft pick and signed with a big time D1 school. Went to warm up in the bullpen before the first series and was throwing the ball into the stands. Set him down and went back home. Simulated practice and he threw the first pitch into the dugout. Went to JUCO and set a school record while walking around the mound talking about his cat. Signed with another big time D1 and hurt his arm. He's a doctor now.

Coached a kid that couldn't throw it from 2nd base to first. He could pitch and play any other position. He had a game the year before where he made 7 throwing errors at third but could still throw from third. I wasn't the coach the year before.

Softball scholar said:

Worst weekend ever. Pitching Yips hit my DD hard. Does anybody know a good sports psychologist? And dad is going to need one too. And no, its not mechanics. Something clicked in her head. Shes was afraid to throw, arm tightening up.

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As hard as it is, don't let DD see your frustration. Encouragement and support is about the best thing you can do for her. If it persists, a sports psychologist or just one with a sports background could help. It might even be covered by insurance.

I give you credit for coming on here and sharing. Not enough people talk about the mental side of being an athlete. We all want out kid to have "nerves off steel", but that's not reality. DD's seen a sports psychologist a few times. It's not much different from any other injury. She ices her arm if its sore and she talks to the team psychologist if the stress builds up. It doesn't even have to be sports related. Sometimes its school or having a psycho softball Dad she needs help with.