HS pitching and parenting

Sparky Guy · Apr 20, 2017

nanotech14 said:
Well must be great in your perfect world. But for most of us, we have coaches in HS that say things like, "I know nothing about pitching or hitting" true story. I heard my dds HS coach say it with my own ears. He wants no help at all.

That sounds like a truly giant ego stuffed inside a way too small shirt. OTHO, if a coach lets the "Expert" parents start running up to the dugout with unsolicited input during the game she/he will have no time to coach trying to listen to the string of advisors streaming into the dugout.

Speaking about coaches, there are relatively few coaches who are strong in every facet of the game. I know for myself my strengths are in pitching, infield defense, bunting and catching. When it comes to hitting I can see flaws to exploit in opponents hitters. But my knowledge of how to fix them on my own hitters is average to fair at best. That's why I make sure my parents are getting their DD's to a hitting instructor and I avoid trying to "fix" a player because I don't know what the hitting instructor is working on with them. If one of my players is struggling at the plate I will grab the parent and let them know "I'm seeing X and Y." so they can give the instructor some feedback at the next lesson.

riseball · Apr 20, 2017

Sparky Guy said:
That sounds like a truly giant ego stuffed inside a way too small shirt. OTHO, if a coach lets the "Expert" parents start running up to the dugout with unsolicited input during the game she/he will have no time to coach trying to listen to the string of advisors streaming into the dugout.

Speaking about coaches, there are relatively few coaches who are strong in every facet of the game. I know for myself my strengths are in pitching, infield defense, bunting and catching. When it comes to hitting I can see flaws to exploit in opponents hitters. But my knowledge of how to fix them on my own hitters is average to fair at best. That's why I make sure my parents are getting their DD's to a hitting instructor and I avoid trying to "fix" a player because I don't know what the hitting instructor is working on with them. If one of my players is struggling at the plate I will grab the parent and let them know "I'm seeing X and Y." so they can give the instructor some feedback at the next lesson.

So you know what you don't know. Well done!

Sparky Guy · Apr 20, 2017

riseball said:
So you know what you don't know. Well done!

The hardest part is admitting it to yourself.

I've found in life and well as sports, the person who knows nothing won't unusually hurt you. The person who knows a lot won't hurt you. It's the person who knows just a little bit is one who will do the most damage. Especially if they are in charge.

Softball scholar · Apr 20, 2017

Im taking sluggers advice and going to try to stay down the left field line. Probably good for DD to not see crazy pitching dad behind the plate. Im going to try to pace myself and see if I can stay there for two innings. Maybe, by the end of the season, I cans stay a whole game.

On a funny note, last game the other night, my DD peaked out of the dugout and says dad, give me a water out the cooler. So I walk over with the water, and I tried to ask her a question on what type of pitch she threw to strike the girl out. She says "Im not supposed to talk to you", and popped her back in the dugout.

That's the way it is.

JAD · Apr 20, 2017

riseball said:
Time and time again I have observed that the level of control a coach exerts over a team in inversely proportionate to their knowledge of the game and their coaching ability.

.........

JAD · Apr 20, 2017

corlay said:
I would assume, at that level, that in-game adjustments focus upon specific plans of attacks against specific batters.
Pitch calling, location adjustments, mental game, and other strategy whatnot - not mechanical adjustments.

would you agree?

What I would LOVE to see is a college game dugout camera feed, and when a pitcher comes back into the dugout after a tough inning and the pitching coach comes over to talk with her and the head coach snaps at them "Save it for after the game"....LMAO

GunnerShotgun · Apr 20, 2017

JAD said:
What I would LOVE to see is a college game dugout camera feed, and when a pitcher comes back into the dugout after a tough inning and the pitching coach comes over to talk with her and the head coach snaps at them "Save it for after the game"....LMAO

I don't think I have ever heard that particular conversation in a dugout, but I will lookout for it.

They should make a new statistic for pitchers, a modified version of ERA. Lets call it ERAWPIS: Earned Run Average With Parents In Stands.

This way we can quantify this benefit to college coaches. Suzy has a 3.25 ERA but when her dad is in the stands she has a 2.90!

riseball · Apr 20, 2017

JAD said:
What I would LOVE to see is a college game dugout camera feed, and when a pitcher comes back into the dugout after a tough inning and the pitching coach comes over to talk with her and the head coach snaps at them "Save it for after the game"....LMAO

GunnerShotgun said:

I don't think I have ever heard that particular conversation in a dugout, but I will lookout for it.

They should make a new statistic for pitchers, a modified version of ERA. Lets call it ERAWPIS: Earned Run Average With Parents In Stands.

This way we can quantify this benefit to college coaches. Suzy has a 3.25 ERA but when her dad is in the stands she has a 2.90!

Click to expand...

Did not see where [MENTION=5663]JAD[/MENTION] mentioned a parent. I believe this was about a college team and with a pitching coach. But in Suzy's best interest it is much better to have the parent in the stands than a coach expecting her to "figure it out" on her own during exam day.

GunnerShotgun · Apr 20, 2017

riseball said:
Did not see where [MENTION=5663]JAD[/MENTION] mentioned a parent.

See Post #2 and #6. He mentioned receiving feedback from a pitching coach during a game. The conversation turned towards parents and private paid coaches providing feedback during games. My response was that she needs to "figure it out" without the assistance of her parents and or paid pitching coach during a game. Said player has adequate support from the coaching staff (head coach, assistant coach, pitching coach, etc.) during the game. You are making it sound like some individual coach just shows up to the game and rolls out the balls and bats and tells the players to just, "figure it out". I have not seen this before however some posters have pointed out some coaching staffs are morons.

riseball said:
I believe this was about a college team and with a pitching coach. But in Suzy's best interest it is much better to have the parent in the stands than a coach expecting her to "figure it out" on her own during exam day.

I can assure you that when my daughter takes a calculus exam I do not show up to her classroom to provide feedback during the exam. I work with her through the week to make sure she is prepared. We review the results after the exams to identify areas she needs to improve upon.

riseball · Apr 20, 2017

GunnerShotgun said:
See Post #2 and #6. He mentioned receiving feedback from a pitching coach during a game. The conversation turned towards parents and private paid coaches providing feedback during games. My response was that she needs to "figure it out" without the assistance of her parents and or paid pitching coach during a game. Said player has adequate support from the coaching staff (head coach, assistant coach, pitching coach, etc.) during the game. You are making it sound like some individual coach just shows up to the game and rolls out the balls and bats and tells the players to just, "figure it out". I have not seen this before however some posters have pointed out some coaching staffs are morons.

I can assure you that when my daughter takes a calculus exam I do not show up to her classroom to provide feedback during the exam. I work with her through the week to make sure she is prepared. We review the results after the exams to identify areas she needs to improve upon.

What in the world does a calculus exam and being in the circle have to do with each other? That is apples and oranges. Again, you need to take a walk in the real world with regard to softball. Unlike calculus, pitching is a dynamic physical event and performance is enhanced by competent coaching during that event. This is common in most athletic endeavors. That is why top programs in softball and baseball have pitching coaches. Only a coach who is insecure in their abilities insists on providing zero help and then expecting pitchers to "figure it out". Of course when things do go south on game day who do they blame? Of course, it is the pitcher who they have had zero role in developing.

HS pitching and parenting

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