Pitchers are Rock Stars

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Jun 19, 2013
753
28
And I don't mean in the Diva way. I was just thinking this morning in the 5 years that my DD has been pitching now how much they go through. From the crazy drills that you tried for a day or a week. To the possible pitching coaches you visit or pitch callers that have no idea what or how to teach. Aside from the pressure of being in the circle and trying to be a leader and then the tons of hours of extra work I was just chuckling this morning at some of the memories from the learning curve.

Such as -

  • your drive foot should be turned more, your drive foot shouldn't be turned it should be straight, or NVM I guess it's fine the way it is but just slide it to the middle before you drive, ok and dig your toes in more
  • let's try not having a back swing, oh no back swings are good look all the top pitchers have them, just turn your hand like this when it's back there - no not like that with the thumb brushing your thigh and move your glove over here and hide the ball like this until the last possible second
  • Close the door, open the door - okay somewhere in between - just make sure that the ball is facing forward at the top, up at the back and somewhere in between if it's a change up
  • The grips, the finger pressure, the stripe ball, the tape ball, the stripe and dotted ball, the ball of socks, the big ball, the heavy ball, the beach ball, the hockey puck, the spinner, the paint roller thingy majig
  • The glove arm has to go straight at the catcher, no it can't make a big circle, no it can't be bent at the elbow - oh nvm I guess it can be bent and make a circle
  • Slap your leg, oh no don't slap your leg, try to just pull the glove in, oh you like slapping your leg and having a bright red thigh even in shorts? ok go right ahead but if you are going to slap your leg flip the glove around in the other direction and slap it with the other side of the glove
  • Land on the front of your foot, no not on your toe, sort of flat, but not that flat, ok nvm just stop dragging the side of the other foot in the dirt and we'll leave you alone about what is going on with the front foot
  • release father back - when your wrist hits this stick thingy that is when you release, ok we'll pad the stick thingy, ok lets just put tape on your pants, brush your pants, stop your elbow, turn over your hand quicker, point your finger, go high in the air with the hand, touch your shoulder, no not that should we're going across your chest with that arm instead, or no lower to your hip, well it will be different for every pitch at some level, but don't let the batter see that it is somewhat different they should all the look the same at the end
  • ok forget all of that "Just Throw Strikes!"

I know I am not remembering all of it but everything above is stuff we did at some level - and I didn't even mention the one that included pitching with one shoe on and putting a rock in your shoe - we moved on from that coach! These girls deserve a reward :)
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
I don't know how they go out there every game and do well.

- Go stand out there in the middle of the field and throw a ball underhanded as hard as you can with lots of spin into a small area 43' away and make sure the batter doesn't hit it. BTW everyone is looking at you and yes I know it is a team sport, but if we lose it is probably at least 50% on you... now do it 100 times two to three time per weekend.

Oh, and it is you. This isn't baseball - there isn't anyone else to do it. Your backup is pitching the games you are not and we need her for that.

And yeah, everyone has advice. People you respect as coaches and players showing you pointing your elbow at the catcher. Ball on a stick. Tennis ball duct taped to shoe to discourage pre-turn. Weird push-off clicky thing. Balance beams. Wiffle balls.
 
Last edited:
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I was almost in tears by the end of that!!! Half or more of that was from me! (Not the rock-in-the-shoe part... ;) )
 
Last edited:
Jun 19, 2013
753
28
I was almost in tears by the end of that!!! Half or more of that was from me! (Not the rock-in-the-shoe part... ;) )

No Ken you have been awesome! cause what is worse than a pitcher parent coming to you who is clueless is probably one like me who comes to you and says "you know what I saw on line! what if we try ________"

I do come to her now very sparingly with big changes after all the early years when I would be excited about the next great drill or fix. Now it's more sheepishly with my head hung low and goes like this "soooooo, I was watching some videos on DFP (this is where she snorts a bit and tries not to roll her eyes) and I was just thinking maybe we want to try focusing on __________, if you feel like it and we have some time the next couple practices, I just thought we could give it a shot and see how it feels and maybe you'll like it . . . " haha it's ridiculous.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I've REALLY appreciated your dedication and interest in learning along with your rock star. It's nice to be able to discuss fastpitch with a parent rather than explain homework and get the smile-n-nod...
 

ez_softball

Life at the diamond...
Apr 14, 2017
158
28
I was thinking about this subject last night after a conversation with my DD. I ended up finding this message from Amanda Scarborough to fwd to DD for inspiration. Dear Pitcher, You Are Not Alone - Amanda Scarborough

I email that to my daughter every 6 months... Scarborough has been very influential for my daughter. Just over a year ago when my daughter was getting chit on by her TB coach she attended the Packaged Deal. My daughter really just went to meet Amanda... imagine how jacked up my daughter was when Amanda stopped watched my daughter throw 4 or 5 pitches and the first comment out of Amanda's mouth was "you have beautiful mechanics". That's a moment that my daughter will likely never forget.
 
Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
Here is some more:
Softball pitching is just like baseball pitching just upside down.
To drive out further, you must take two more steps after the pitch. That way it not only improve your drive, but you are now be in a fielding position. Counting the two extra steps is how far of a drive you got(so if you continue to walk to the catcher, does that count?)
You must lift your drive leg up higher(actually right idea but for the wrong reason), to allow you arm to come through first, then your hips. Right now, your body is in the way. You must get behind the ball.
The first part of your pitch is only to line up to the catcher...then explode.
She is short, so she has to do something different(I guess short girls need to learn to throw, jump, skip differently as well).
Load back(somewhat a good idea, since it keeps the shoulders back)again for the wrong reason....your chin should never be over your toes.
When finish, the glove side should go behind, like swatting a fly.

He teaches exactly like Rick Pauly but explains it differently(refer to above comments). H/E is taught except for the drop curve...which he actually does teach I/R. It is also the signature pitch of many of his students.
 
Last edited:
Jan 30, 2018
252
0
SE Michigan
Pitchers have to be a cut above the rest and have tough skin. My daughter recently went to a much more 11u competitive travel team this year. She had been on a good team but the expectations, schedule, and competition we are playing could not compare to this year's team. She went from being the #1 and striking out 8+ a game to the #2 and getting rocked by some of the elite 12u teams we are playing. Our #1 may be the best in the state. She started to not like pitching as much, didn't want to work at it, got into bad habits. Her pitching coach is a well known coach in our area, but never really drove her or set expectations or held her accountable. He pitching coach could not get her to break her bad habits and gave us no drills to work on. She would basically just watch my daughter pitch from near the catcher and give her directions. I discussed with my daughter that if she wanted to continue pitching she had to love it, she had to work, and I was not going to make her do it, she had to want it for herself. We are fortunate to have a hitting coach that was a former PAC10 player of the year and set records at her school in both hitting and pitching. We had been seeing her for hitting for a couple months and my daughter responded very well to her and her hitting went from being fairly good to very good quickly. I decided to give this coach a shot for pitching as a last ditch effort and change of scenery, and I am so glad we did. After 4 lessons I think my daughter has thrown maybe 25-30 actual pitches, instead she does drill after drill with her coach standing right beside her teaching, encouraging, complimenting, and scolding. Some of the drills are very strenuous and my daughter has wanted to cry on occasion. Her coach sees this and always says something to get her back focused. I would not call my daughter lazy but she has never been one to love conditioning, but she responds well and enjoys her pitching lessons. This coach broke a couple bad habits 1st lesson. She is throwing harder and more accurate, and has rekindled her love of pitching. I am so proud of her
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD does not cry in public, once we get in car all rules are off.

Seems likes she gets blamed If we lose, team or player gets credit if we win.

I have no idea why she does it.

Both of us probably should go to a physiologist or take up yoga.
 

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