Does the title make you an expert

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Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
DD is attending a well known division I camp. At this camp, they are having the pitchers do wrist snaps and warming up with the K but having the ball facing down instead of up. I say something to my DH, he responded that this coach should know what she is talking about since she is a division I pitching coach and I am not.
The reason I am bringing it up is because another PC who has put a lot of girls in college teaches H/E mechanics. Both are instructors that DH seems to respect. I am wondering what is the qualification to be considered an expert?
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
DD is attending a well known division I camp. At this camp, they are having the pitchers do wrist snaps and warming up with the K but having the ball facing down instead of up. I say something to my DH, he responded that this coach should know what she is talking about since she is a division I pitching coach and I am not.
The reason I am bringing it up is because another PC who has put a lot of girls in college teaches H/E mechanics. Both are instructors that DH seems to respect. I am wondering what is the qualification to be considered an expert?

A Fastpitch Foundations Gold Level certification. ;)
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
DD is attending a well known division I camp. At this camp, they are having the pitchers do wrist snaps and warming up with the K but having the ball facing down instead of up. I say something to my DH, he responded that this coach should know what she is talking about since she is a division I pitching coach and I am not.
The reason I am bringing it up is because another PC who has put a lot of girls in college teaches H/E mechanics. Both are instructors that DH seems to respect. I am wondering what is the qualification to be considered an expert?

Classic mistake thinking that a college coach is automatically knowledgeable. Some are, some are not. Just like travel, more are not. A lot of coaches rely on talent to overcome lack of fundamentals or game knowledge. Many 'think' they know, but they are just re-teaching whatever they were taught back when they were playing. The game and techniques move on - but they don't.

Same with H/E pitching coaches who have 'put a lot of girls into college'. Sometimes talent and natural ability can mean a player gets into college or high level despite the coaching (see the IR release pulled into a H/E way after the ball has gone). Also there is a deep, deep lack of pitchers for the number of teams in college. At some of the lower levels of each college division, a willingness to pitch may be all that is needed. For every pitcher with a 1.0-2.5ERA there are several pitchers in the 7.0 ERA range and up. Someone is getting run ruled week after week, game after game. Making the roster of a good college team as a pitcher is really hard - just making a roster if that is what you really want - not so much.

I have seen pitchers in low-DII schools pitching 48mph max.... and I bet there are Pitching Coaches out there claiming they were the responsible for getting her into college to play.
 
Last edited:
Jan 22, 2011
1,610
113
Stopped by our fields last night to watch the pitching instruction being given by a college pitcher to our summer developmental program. She was teaching 'make a muscle' and 'staying loose', but 'a big arm circle'. Outside of that, nothing too bad for beginning pitchers. Afterwards I quietly pulled aside the 4 girls who naturally are pitching close to I/R and explained to them why they shouldn't 'make a muscle' and clarify a couple things.

A pitcher who was taught by these instructors did some volunteer instruction for our league a few years back when she was in High School and my DD politely refused help from her because of the 'make a muscle' cue. I have video of her pitching her senior year in HS and she was using I/R with slight Brush Triggering.

I need to get my Fastpitch Foundations Bronze certification to feel confident enough to do some teaching. Hopefully Fastpitch Foundations West happens soon so I can get those 4 girls there!

PS- Crystal, thank you for posting this clip. I'm using it to help train some leaping out of my DD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVn8bgCPGzU
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
I say something to my DH, he responded that this coach should know what she is talking about since she is a division I pitching coach and I am not.

The attached image is Yuikku Ueno, who was unquestionably the best pitcher in the world for many years. Ball up.
 

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Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Happens all day, everywhere Crystal....
Regardless of titles, resume, or credentials... always make sure the instructor is reasonably on par with what we know is accurate.
There isn't a single coach that I've encountered at any level either in person, on video, or on TV that I didn't learn something from.... now with that said, I either learned how to do something correctly or I learn how NOT to do something... Dom. is a very smart kid and is very capable of sniffing out BS.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
Speaking as an ex expert, the title doesn't mean anyone knows anything. That would apply to HS Coaches, TB Coaches, College Coaches ... and parents.
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
They will then tell you your daughter is awesome, looks great, we're interested and by the way... "don't forget our Xmas camp for $400!!".

The more I watch D1 pitching, the less I think I know about pitching. Many of the mechanics are horrible, they do not have correct spin for pitches and I keep asking myself, "This is D1?" then again, I don't have a Fastpitch Foundations certificate though. :)

The other thing is the pitch calling. While I wish girls would be taught how to call games, that's a losing battle and the calls will always come from the dugouts, especially now with those ultra cool wristbands. I always thought it was common knowledge that with a 1-2 run lead, a riseball is a NO-NO after the 5th inning. Yet in the WCWS, I saw countless. And many ended up being HR's. Sure, HR's can be hit on drop balls but not nearly as likely. But these all knowing coaches would still call these pitches and at the end of the day, when the pitcher gives up a longball, SHE is the one who looks bad instead of the poor pitch calling.

Bill
 

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