When did you know?

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Sep 26, 2014
14
1
I'm betting that most people reading that title know exactly what I'm talking about, but interpret two ways;

1. When did you know that your daughter had it or at least was getting there.

The other interpretation;

2. When did you know it was over.

I'm betting that most in the second category won't be on these boards anymore, but just in case I'm curious as to when the light bulb went off either way.

If people actually answer this thread one thing I would like if answering #1 as yes is how/what is a good way to know if your daughter is using I/R and/or not using I/R?

For me I feel like I'm half way to number 1, but I'm just not quite sure. My daughter is at about the right speed, I video her and it all looks about right for her age, 12, but when you're doing things that you're not an expert at you're never sure.

Thanks for any replies.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
I figure I will know it's over when the kid loses interest, if that happens. We lucked into an I/R instructor from the beginning before we ever knew what that was, so it's how she was taught.
 
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Nov 16, 2015
184
18
Every February i dont think she is going to make it. May comes along and I start to change my tune as she plays well. I know she is young for her age and I believe she is going to be a late bloomer. I also know her athletic limitations so thus the negative side comes out.

We switched her to IR (2nd yr 14) mid Dec. Only consistently thrown once per week, a few times was twice as she was in basketball. Her Feb 1 gun reading was 4mph harder than December. Catching her this past Sunday I would safely feel comfortable in saying she added another 2-3 mph. The IR light seems to be coming on. No control yet, but i tell her we dont need strikes until May
 
Jun 19, 2013
753
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I'm still not sure sometimes. There was a guy on here all the time (JJ Squeeze) who started this journey about the same time as us and his daughter blew past mine in development so that was really discouraging.

Honestly I think my DD really truly does not "feel the whip" and muscles her way through i/r if that is possible, is just finally starting to get brush after a few years. She did HE for 2 years, then we sort of half tried to switch to i/r for a year but kept pitching the whole time so it was impossible to really get it - and now it's been two years focused on I/R. But when you watch her slow mo video you really don't see that amazing body hugging arm whip at the last moment that seems indicative of the gals that are hitting mid to upper 50's at this age. It's like her muscles are fighting it somehow and she is still getting some push in there. She is 15 now and I think only throwing a bit over 50 (maybe we can clock her this weekend - hint hint Ken B). But who knows she is still having fun working on her spins and getting ready for her first year of HS ball after not pitching much over the winter.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
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1. When did you know that your daughter had it or at least was getting there.

When you stop bringing an entire bucket of balls when you go to the field to practice pitching.

2. When did you know it was over.

When she threw the last pitch in her college career.
 
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Feb 3, 2016
502
43
Tee ball. :) Other's noted she was out performing all the kids. Her dedication was and still is the most telling. 20 hours a month on average even in the off season. She said she wants to be the best player in the world. Lofty goal I'm willing to help with. The most competitive kid I know. If I tell her someone is better it just lights a fire. If she has enough we can always play tennis or golf. An athlete will always find a way to play. The enemy is the Ipad.
 
Jul 17, 2012
48
0
I have 2 daughters that played. My oldest pitched at 10U and was a B pitcher at best but we didnt know any better. My youngest was 8 at the time and always bugged me to catch her. i rarely did because she would chuck most in places i could not catch. One day we heard this bumping sound on the side of the house. when I went out to see what the noise was it was my little one whipping life flights up against the house. I would periodically catch for her and also tell her to keep doing the life flights on her own. I have a theory that she learned IR pitching those life flight balls, because if you dont whip those balls they go all over the place. she was able to create power at a very young age. The next year she won the 10U pitching velocity contest at USSSA Nationals throwing 47 as an 8U eligible player. So for her I would say we seen something special in her at 8. Would love to hear from some of the experts on this forum on their thoughts on the life flights.
 
Jun 29, 2013
589
18
I knew she wanted it when she pestered me non-stop for a year to try pitching. I insisted that she get a lesson from someone first to learn how to do it right. We did ok wit hour first instructor, the current one rocks.
I knew she had something early, when she took to it pretty quickly.
I knew she had something that was pretty good when she pitched well but made an incredible, heads up play to win an 8U (rec) tournament game.
I knew she might be made for this when I saw her crying after losing to a good team in an 8U game.
I knew she was better than rec ball when she matched a really good pitcher for 3 innings of 1 run ball (with no defense behind her) at the end of her first year of 10U
I think she might be really good this year right now because I'm watching her dazzle with a change up, and am trying to put my bias aside to remember anyone in this area throwing one this good at her age (for strikes).

Re: IR, I was on this board for years before I figured out that she was being taught IR, just using different terms. It took seeing a real Hello Elbow Pitcher in 10U before I really got it. All the posters here are way far ahead of my knowledge on this subject an my confusion was so basic that I felt stupid to even ask the questions. Looking at old video, she was initially taught HE style, but that only lasted a few weeks before the same instructor started teaching her something a lot closer to IR. She still gets lost with some mechanics and it can be painful at times seeing her inconsistencies, but when she is good, it's a blast to watch.
 
Apr 24, 2016
30
6
On a bucket
I will know when it's over when she tells me. As far as I/R, she's still working on it. She's 13, about to turn 14. She fought me and her current PC so hard on converting, as she started pitching in 10U. She loves the game; it used to be not so long ago that I had to ask her to go throw with me; now, she has started to see her speed creep up and she asks me, just about every day, "Dad, you wanna go throw with me?" My reply: "Does a bear sh*t in the woods, Kid?" As long as there is a smile on her face and a fire in her heart, I will never stop helping her chase her dream. I am so glad that her current PC is a member here on DFP and told me about this website. It has helped The Kid beyond measure. Just remember what Boardmember says, "Coach them from where they are, not where you want them to be."
 

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