Probably Just Don't Practice Enough

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Jun 19, 2013
753
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Sometimes I have questions I want to run by you all - but then I think it's probably that we just don't practice enough.

My DD likes pitching. She likes practicing. But she also likes crocheting, sewing, watching silly comedies and cooking shows, playing with the cats, swimming, working on her hitting and fielding, having straight A's and doing the work to keep those, working on the plays and drama class and helping with the sets and costumes, hanging with a friend once in a while, hanging with the family (not at the ballpark) once in a while and probably some other things that I'm missing.

So honestly our practice can vary from 1-2 times a week and rarely 3 (on top of games). I read on here that people pitch every day or 4 days a week and I just don't know how they fit it all in. I work full time (way more than full time part of the year) and have a 2 hour commute each day so my time with her is also limited and I'm the main practice partner. Maybe this next year when she can drive we can have her initiate more practice time with other players so that might help. Does anyone make it to some level of college ball as a 2 day a week practicer??

So sometimes I want to say how come one day the DB is right on and the RB sucks and other days it's the complete opposite. Or should we work on the back toe drag more. Or is this screw/scrise worth working on. But then I decide we are just getting what we are getting because this is a small piece of our lives and probably can't expect much improvement from here on out I'd think.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
It really depends on what she wants to do and where she wants to end up.

Best pitcher I have seen in action is now a VB player.

Yes, I am positive DD can make a DII or DIII school.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
It varies by player but I prefer quality of quantity. If there is something that needs to be worked on I like to see the player become obsessive about the time spent on it. Other than that there isn't a need to practice just to practice.

Certainly you can't not practice at all as then you are not maintaining.

Just my observation.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
We're in the same boat. DD is not super self-motivated. We practice with her a couple of times a week. She has never been the kid who will go pitch into a tarp because we're too busy to catch for her. She loves to pitch, but she loves 3B and SS too. I really think she has the potential to be an ace pitcher but I'm not sure she's got the motivation for it. Like your DD, she loves lots of other things. She's never once refused to practice - if we suggest it she's all for it. But I don't see a lot of drive to do it in her. I figure in the next couple of years she'll either become driven, or become a short stop/3B. We shall see.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
People who becoming very good at something--softball, math, chess, art, physics, biology--are obsessed with it. They don't spend a lot of time doing other activities because they want to focus on one thing.

Your DD is not obsessed with softball...it sounds like softball s something she does when she doesn't have anything better to do. And that is OK...she doesn't have to be a softball pitcher to have a wonderful, productive life.

She and you can't really expect her to be "good" at softball. There will be lots of people better than her at pitching. Maybe she gets chance to pitch in HS, maybe she doesn't. Who knows? And it sounds like she doesn't really care.

But, your post is kind of weird. You say it is good that she has all these interests other than softball... and then you suggest she wants to pitch in college.

For heaven's sake, why?

The time commitment to play college sports is huge. If she pitches in college, she will have *ZERO* time for anything other than studying and playing softball.

My DD#3 played D3 basketball...and during season she didn't do any other activities. She would go to school from 8 to 3PM, practice from 4PM to 7:30PM, eat, and then study from 8:00PM to 11PM. That was *D3*. My DD#1 played D1 softball...and it was like all year round...except she got up at 6AM to lift weights.

So, how does "playing college softball" even fit in with your DD's lifestyle?

If a kid doesn't love the game, she shouldn't play in college. If she doesn't, it would be a tremendous waste of time and energy.

Does anyone make it to some level of college ball as a 2 day a week practicer??

Does she practice 2 days a week and then pitch in games 2 days a week 50 weeks of the year? Or does she just throw 2 days a week most of the year?


But then I decide we are just getting what we are getting because this is a small piece of our lives and probably can't expect much improvement from here on out I'd think.

It is all about priorities, choices, and expectations.

There is some girl practicing pitching while your DD is crocheting. That girl will be better than your DD at pitching.

If your DD is OK with that, then great. There is no requirement that she be a great college pitcher to have a wonderful life.
 
Last edited:
Jun 19, 2013
753
28
Yeah I think she is happy with what she's doing. She likes pitching. But she isn't obsessed with being the best. She said she wants to find a college that is good for her future career and then if it happens to be somewhere where she can play fine. She is nervous knowing she has a lot of weight on her shoulders as one of the only varsity pitchers next year. She is a good B+ pitcher, she can handle the pressure, she has good spins (most days) and she throws in the low to mid 50's.

Mostly she seems happy having a pretty balanced life. Just wondering if anybodies daughters have had similar path and just kept working slowly but surely and played at the next level albeit one of the lower of those levels. Or if even the gals that pitch for community college all have a pole barn and get in a minimum of 4 days a week.
 
Jun 19, 2013
753
28
That's probably the first time Sluggers has been called compassionate ;) quit kissing up to the commentators :)
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
Lower levels of college softball are full of pitchers like your DD. She won’t pitch D1, but as sluggers said, it doesn’t sound like she wants that kind of life anyway.
 
Nov 16, 2015
184
18
There is some girl practicing pitching while your DD is crocheting. That girl will be better than your DD at pitching.

I dont think this is 100% accurate. It doesnt take into account ability. Also, you can practice all you want but if it you are not practicing things the right way, it doesnt matter. its just a waste of time. I coach girls that refuse to change their pitching mechanics and they dont get better. They are practicing but not getting better. Doing other activities also helps softball ability. DD playing basketball is great for her foot work. Who knows, maybe crocheting is strengthening her fingers or mental focus needed to be a pitcher.

I am convinced this is going to happen with my dd. She busts her tail for softball. Its her #1 love. We do the travel, pay for offseason training, speed camps, practicing extra. The girl loves the game. She is working on the recruiting aspect now. At some point a college coach is going to come watch her play high school ball and say who is this other girl? the girl is a freek athlete, 4 sport stud, but does nothing extra. Only plays the in-season sport and does minimal offseason. I guarntee that the coach will want her over my dd do to athleticism and i would too. This girl could be that good. She doesnt put 5% of the time my dd does but she has a better shot in college than my dd do to athleticism and natural ability. This is not intended to bad mouth the other girl. She's a great kid and a good friend to my dd.
 

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