I didn't like them at first either, but our DD is a 14y/o pitcher and catcher on an 18A team. We have several friends at the local D1 college on the softball team and she constantly picks their brains about the game. They are so good to her too. The biggest thing the pitchers and catchers tell her that they fight with is remembering where batters are hot and where they are not. So as a catcher, she now wears one and makes several cue cards for it. She knows what to look for in stance, how they hold the bat etc, but at the higher level, many are trained to fool the other team by how they stand until the ball is delivered. We record every game, and she makes very good notes before, during and after on each batter for each team. She has quick sight info about their strike out areas, duffs in the dirt or big hits etc. New team, new card in the band. Obviously she can't get all of them, but she tries and does her homework. She is doing her job not only for her pitchers, but for herself. Her catcher wears her wrist band when SHE is pitching. She doesn't have team steal or bunt signals on there, just stuff about batters. As a dad, it really keeps her fired up about what she is doing and where she wants to go with softball. Being with her reviewing tapes of teams batters, setting strategies and feeling like she is going to make a differance on her team is worth more than anything else in the world to me. After all, she could be out on a date. Haha.
Using plays on wristbands
- Thread starter Daddylawman
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- Dec 28, 2008
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I just yell at them what to do, anyway.
The problem I have is that in games I've actually had to do that ... and the girls didn't follow the directions anyway "He must be yelling bunt to fool the other team, I'll just stand here and watch my teammate get thrown out at 3b because I didn't pull the 3b up by showing bunt early enough."
I'm not a big fan of the wrist bands because to me they are nothing more than a cheat sheet that you would use in school. If a player can't memorize a handful of signals, or panics under pressure and can't follow me tapping my belly button and then touching my forearm, she's not really the player I want with a bat in her hand, or the ball coming at her in the field. This isn't rocket science, bunt, fake bunt, take the pitch, hit and run, steal, delayed steal.
The real crime is that in many ways we are using the signals for the wrong thing. It should be "We are the home team, game is tied, bottom of the 7'th. Our fastest runner is on 1b and this teams 3b always forgets to return to 3b on a bunt and their left fielder is playing me really deep. If I bunt I'm sure our runner will get to 3b. Yep the coach confirmed it and gave me the bunt sign." Instead we teach the girls not to think and to follow our every signal and command from picking their nose to how far to round a base to whether or not the situation calls for a bunt." The more we do for them and catch them by surprise, the more we are taking the game out of their hands.
Putting a wrist band on their arm just says "You really don't need to think sweetheart, just read this and do what it says."
Just my 1 1/2 cents (used to be worth 2 cents but the value of the dollar has gone down.)
- Jun 3, 2010
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Druer, everyone in highschool, college and pro football must be stupid according to you with that logic.
That was kind of my thinking as well. Those idiots. However, he has a point, for 6 or 8 batting plays, I'd tell my DD to get a clue as well. My DD has about 18 or so cards for her wrist band for the majority of the teams she faces around here and makes more the best she can during out of state tourneys in case she sees them again. Another tourney or bracket play. NFL has about 200 plays, I think they earned the cheat sheet.
Please tell me you're pulling our leg. If you aren't I hope you realize that what you're doing is by rule illegal under all major rule sets.
It's only illegal if ya get caught. What are they going to do.......check my phone records? I've never had a problem using it ( very rarely ) with any sanction.
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GOINGDEEP... It's only illegal if ya get caught. What are they going to do.... Haha. You are SO right. Not sure where you are, but I can name 20 teams EASY around here that do the same thing. And two college teams. Rule or not, its not getting an inside edge, its getting a perspective on your pitcher and the ump. Not stealing the other teams signs. In NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon(boooo), Jimmy Johnson live(d) saying, if we cheat, its their job to catch us. This is not a listening device pointed at the other teams dugout. Which IS used in this sport, and they are cheap to get from what I hear. Who can get the upper edge is the name of the game everywhere. MLB covers their entire face on mound visits. NFL has a 4 foot play card they use to cover their mouthes talking into the mic's. Wonder why. We look up to these people and coaches, you think this sport isn't imitating them. I have a bridge for sale if anyone is interested.
Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Is the bridge new or used? And does it come w/ a receipt?
So these coaches obviously agree that the best perspective to assess pitchers' stuff is from behind the plate? Hmmm, seems to support the case for the catcher calling pitches.
IJS - GM
So these coaches obviously agree that the best perspective to assess pitchers' stuff is from behind the plate? Hmmm, seems to support the case for the catcher calling pitches.
IJS - GM
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That you've gotten away this illegal act most of the time just tells me that you've got umpires working your games that don't pay attention.
Just the fact that you're wearing a blue tooth on your ear in the dugout or on the field is not allowed by rule. So, obviously you're the type of coach who likes to cheat. That's your choice. I've run into my fair share of HC's and AC's who adhere to the "it's not cheating unless we get caught" philosophy of coaching. Wether it's using communication devices, doctoring up bats and balls, teaching how to IP, plating 'fast and loose" with a tourney roster, you name it, the list goes on.
So, what am I going to do when I see the blue tooth in your ear? Well I won't have to "check your phone records".
I'm going to call time, walk over to your dugout, and without making a big scene, politely inform you that the use of communication/electronic devices are not allowed on the playing field or in the dugouts, and then politely ask you to remove it from your ear, put it away and advise/remind you (and your coaching staff) not to use it or any other such devices again during the remainder of the game; and that by rule this the one warning you'll receive.
Then I'll go back to umpiring the game. If I see such a device being used again by you or a member of your coaching staff....I'll eject the offender.
With some coaches, you may need to ask if that is their hearing aid, first.
No harm intended to anyone that is hard of hearing. DD's catcher had to wear them in both ears.
No harm intended to anyone that is hard of hearing. DD's catcher had to wear them in both ears.
