wrist bands

This is a serious question, and not one of my famous sarcastic ones. What is the deal with the wrist bands? Honestly, what is the purpose? In days gone by, a coach would sit on a bucket and give the signal to the catcher (which is ridiculous itself) but besides that. I ASSUME the wrist band is meant to hide the signal better, God forbid they teach the catcher how to call a game herself. But how is it harder to pick the signal being relayed to the wrist band as opposed to the signal being sent to the catcher? What is the difference? I've even see hitters looking at wrist bands as if they can't figure out what the coach's signals are. Talk about overkill. And, I'm even talking about Division 1 college pitchers who basically throw 3 (maybe 4) pitches.... imagine how much complexity must go into the 12 year old who throws 65mph and has 12 pitches!!!!!!!

For over 100 years, a catcher would put down signals and the pitcher would throw. Now, it's like directions to setting up a space shuttle launch. Why do people have to make things soooooo complicated? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill

Our 12U team and MS team use them. I hate them with a passion. As a former high school baseball coach it feels like you are cheating the game. I now coach 1st base and shiver every time a number is called out.

How else would an adult coach remove any and all possibility of a player being self sustaining or making a single move on her own that the adult coach didn’t tell her to do? I’m surprised they don’t have to call out a three digit number from third base on a passed ball so a base runner knows to advance.

Edited to add: think this is complicated? Cruise over to the hitting technical forum. OMG I don’t know how anyone can understand some of that stuff let alone explain it to a player.

Two weeks ago with the 3rd base coach and the other teams coach standing beside each other calling numbers out. With a 3-0 count and bases loaded the pitcher throws a change up and the batter bunts. Both girls got the numbers mixed up from the other coach. Worked out well for us. LOL.

Hillhouse said:

This is a serious question, and not one of my famous sarcastic ones. What is the deal with the wrist bands? Honestly, what is the purpose? In days gone by, a coach would sit on a bucket and give the signal to the catcher (which is ridiculous itself) but besides that. I ASSUME the wrist band is meant to hide the signal better, God forbid they teach the catcher how to call a game herself. But how is it harder to pick the signal being relayed to the wrist band as opposed to the signal being sent to the catcher? What is the difference? I've even see hitters looking at wrist bands as if they can't figure out what the coach's signals are. Talk about overkill. And, I'm even talking about Division 1 college pitchers who basically throw 3 (maybe 4) pitches.... imagine how much complexity must go into the 12 year old who throws 65mph and has 12 pitches!!!!!!!

For over 100 years, a catcher would put down signals and the pitcher would throw. Now, it's like directions to setting up a space shuttle launch. Why do people have to make things soooooo complicated? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill

Click to expand...

First - when set up well it is not complicated. 3 numbers and done. Quick look on the band at the grid and off you go. When set up well, it is way faster than the old hand signs. 3 numbers and the player(s) on your team who needs to know, immediately knows. Takes about 1 minute to learn and you don't have to remember anything - not what body part means what or what number means what or when you change things, you don't have to remember what the changes are. And when you change teams - well you don't have to learn new signs or forget old ones.

And yes - it does make signs basically impossible to steal. But it also makes signs impossible to miss. The wristbands when set up well are easy to use and easy to make sure the signs are received and understood. And that means for all phases of the game you want to use them. Not just pitching, but fielding and hitting.

You ask why is it impossible to pick - well because on a wristband I have multiple numbers for every pitch or call I make and they were generated randomly. So in a game, I never need to repeat a number for a particular call. So when I go '321' and it is a fastball I never call '321' again that game. And if you DO bother to track that for future games - generate a new wristband and now '321' is something else. It is all a grid look up - so '321' is look across the top line for column '32' and then '1' down - whatever is in that box is your call.

I can also have different wristbands for different types of pitchers. Easy stuff.

If you go out to Nevermissasign.com and watch some videos there you can see how it all works.

-- Biggest mistake is making the grid too small to easily see. That is what you see sometimes when players are looking at their wristband - if you print it too small it can be hard to read.

I am on the other side of the fence. I personally think the wrist bands are much easier for players to understand. Especially if you get into a scenario where you have to change your numbers or signals in the middle of the game. Can you imagine how hard it would be young players to memorize a different set of signals in the middle of the game or tournament? I am referring more to the signals to a hitter in regards to bunting, taking a pitch, etc.

As far as pitch calling goes we keep it simple. Call the type of pitch and the quadrant for location.

I am sure that people said similar things about electricity back in the day.

Marriard- dd’s Hs team uses the wrist bands. They must have followed your post because it actually works pretty good. They are just using them to accurately get signs in. When I hate them in the summer when it’s a timed game and you are playing that super control freak coach that has to consult his clipboard for the scouting report then send the signal in with great forethought.

I think there easier but still hate them. As a HS football coach we went no huddle and used wristbands. Great for football practice and saving time breaking in and out of a huddle. Still hate them.

I was of the same opinion as Hillhouse until we used them. I'll never go back; it's just too simple to use and too hard to steal. I'm generally an "old-school" guy but when the new stuff works I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot by not using it.