Pitching coach and raw talent

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
My DD was *not* a natural. But, I've seen some who are...I've wondered about the PC's approach to a kid who is talented.

How much credit does a PC get for developing a natural pitcher?

Some kids have a lot more talent for pitching than others...so, when you have a "natural" come in, how much is the PC and how much is the kid?

Do you measure yourself by whether you can "take her to the next level"?
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Mine is a natural at anything with a ball but I give her PC a TON of credit for how far she's come since she started pitching. Pitching is so *specific*.
 

javasource

6-4-3 = 2
May 6, 2013
1,347
48
Western NY
My DD was *not* a natural. But, I've seen some who are...I've wondered about the PC's approach to a kid who is talented.

How much credit does a PC get for developing a natural pitcher?

Some kids have a lot more talent for pitching than others...so, when you have a "natural" come in, how much is the PC and how much is the kid?

Do you measure yourself by whether you can "take her to the next level"?

Naturals don't need help learning to throw the ball underhand correctly. Their natural coordination simply allows them to perform at a higher level... as they more naturally convert potential energy into kinetic energy.

However, there is a dearth of pitching talent at higher levels that really know how to manipulate the ball.

In more scientific terms, there are three stages of motor learning... cognitive, associative, and autonomous. In other words... thinking, doing, and becoming automatic.

Naturals will blow by the first two stages... developing a much more automatic high-level throwing pattern in quicker fashion. Where this is a very large advantage to them, it also isolates the weaknesses in natural talent.

A good PC will recognize their advancement... not teach the athlete out of them... but also spend their time teaching them how they do it so naturally... and how to do more with their natural ability. The kid that throws bullet spin on all of her breaking pitches... is unfortunately what a lot of people consider a natural. Unfortunately, without a really good pitching coach... much of the natural talent hits a ceiling they cannot break through.

Any pitching coach that takes credit for any student should be avoided.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Over the years I have worked with my share of pitchers and then some. Some had great athletic talent that transcended softball, others simply had a high level of natural ability. And of course some were a mix. In the case of my DD I would not characterize her as an athlete, rather she was born to pitch a softball. In fact the only sport she really played was softball because it was the only one where she could excel. For her something is not really fun unless she can do it very well.

I have found that the majority of pitchers that really excel at the next level share a common trait. They are acutely aware of their body and what was happening while they are pitching. To me "natural ability" is not about build, or mechanics but the "body awareness" that allows them to efficiently make mechanical adjustments. I have had both athletes and those with natural mechanics that never really developed because they never could understand and control what they did with respect to mechanics. They had good attitudes, and worked hard but just could not progress to a high level. Conversely I am currently working with a 2017 that has been pitching for only one year. She is about 5'3" with a very muscular build, less than optimal levers, and has average athleticism. However, she has an extremely high level of "body awareness" and is progressing very rapidly. Her progression over only 5 weeks I would typically expect to take 2-3 months.

As a PC when you work with such a kid your job is much easier as you communicate on a totally different level. You are not searching for the right cue so they understand what you are saying. No matter how you say it, these kids just get it and are able to apply the information. With others your job is more difficult as you need to spend more time helping them develop the awareness and the ability to act on the information you are providing.

As to how much credit is deserved, obviously the "natural" as I have defined it is much more the kid than the PC. A competent PC is important to provide guidance but is mostly the kid. As to the others, as a PC if I can help develop the "body awareness" I feel I have done my job well as I have set them up so they can progress and hopefully do well at the next level.
 
Last edited:
May 8, 2013
42
6
A good PC will recognize their advancement... not teach the athlete out of them... but also spend their time teaching them how they do it so naturally... and how to do more with their natural ability.

Any pitching coach that takes credit for any student should be avoided.

Thanks for the awesome post! I agree with everything you said and being the parent of a "naturally" talented pitcher, I'd add that the need for a good PC becomes even more important once you hit the 12U stage - natural talent allowed my DD to always be the "1" through 10U and 12U - we had to try a few PC's before she landed with the right person who realized how to maximize her potential - we found him during her 1st year of 14U - first time he saw her he turned to another trainer at the facility and said "we've got a live one here" lol.
I digress -
Anyway - to the OP's point - I don't think her PC measures himself against anything. He realizes that it is a partnership between the two of them - she works on what he teaches at home and he reinforces what she should be doing during her lessons , and they are both in some ways responsible for her performance in the circle.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Pitching coaches are great, but the amount of time the pitcher spends working outside of pitching lessons is usually a bigger influence on the level of success. Having dedicated parents and a bucket mom/dad doesn't hurt either!
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Just to make sure there is no confusion, I take credit for all my good players.

The ones that are OK, it is there parents fault.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,481
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top