In-Season Pitching Lessons?

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Jul 14, 2018
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I just finalized DD's lesson schedule through March, and now I have to consider April. This will be her first year playing school ball (assuming she makes the team), so I'm curious how others approach their pitching lessons once the season is in full swing. Between middle school, the occasional rec game, and a somewhat limited travel schedule, she'll be playing six or seven days a week for two months.

Do most of you step away from lessons during this time? Schedule a once- or twice-a-month tune-up? Tell all of the coaches from every team that you have an obligation with one of the others so your daughter gets a day off?? :D
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
I just finalized DD's lesson schedule through March, and now I have to consider April. This will be her first year playing school ball (assuming she makes the team), so I'm curious how others approach their pitching lessons once the season is in full swing. Between middle school, the occasional rec game, and a somewhat limited travel schedule, she'll be playing six or seven days a week for two months.

Do most of you step away from lessons during this time? Schedule a once- or twice-a-month tune-up? Tell all of the coaches from every team that you have an obligation with one of the others so your daughter gets a day off?? :D

Honestly - just give up one of the three (probably rec). Too much softball will get to her sooner or later. It is just a couple of months.

During HS season, my DD has a pitching lesson on Sunday evening.

But for her, at this point it is tweaking and mental fitness more than anything else during high shool. Basically working on pitches that didn't behave during the week and talking through how she did/what is coming up in terms of how to improve more strategically. Once HS is over lessons move back to mid-week, and it is looking to peak for end of season in late July/early August and then they work on new stuff from September through end of year.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
I'm assuming your child is about 13YOA.

Kids pick up bad habits, so your DD will need some help to maintain her form. If she is pitching a lot, the lessons should be more focused on form and mechanics rather than throwing "full out".

I would not schedule regular lessons.

You should be watching your DD's form carefully. If she starts losing it, then you schedule a lesson.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
I agree about getting rid of rec ball. That's too much. Personally travel and school ball seem like too much to me. Kids are playing from late Feb/early March all the way through the end of November here without a break. School ball used to start in late July after all the year end travel tourneys but this year they had required practices and meetings starting in June when we were still in the middle of the travel season. They're really only getting December fully off before indoor practices start in January. IMO it's overkill. I can't imagine adding rec into that too.
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
We did rec until second year of 12s.. Gave DD a chance to throw some new to her pitches.
We still try to have one lesson a week during school ball. Sluggers said it... after a few weeks without a lesson bad habits form. For my kid I need someone to give her a different perspective.
 
May 27, 2013
2,353
113
Since our travel team shuts down during school ball, it gives dd time to get her lesson in on a Saturday or Sunday. She’s the one who actually asks to get a lesson in, so I gladly take her.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
If you're super lucky, your PC will make it to a couple games. Otherwise, shoot/send some game video to the PC and schedule as needed to tweak form, spin or mindset.
 
Last edited:
Jul 14, 2018
982
93
Thanks to everyone for the responses. I'm not sure I trust myself enough to be able to spot a breakdown in form, but luckily DD's pitching coach is always asking me to send video so I can rely on her to spot any problems that may crop up. Once we have our schedules in place, I'll just have to look for opportunities to get a lesson in where the workload is light.

It's funny that a few people mentioned leaving Rec at the same time that there's an active thread on the Discussions page about multi-sport athletes and how the breakdown of Rec programs is hurting the sport overall. I'm one of those very involved parents who keeps the Rec program alive, and it's where my daughter discovered her love of the sport, so I'm very reluctant to walk away from that. This will be her last hurrah with a team that has meant a lot to her, and has honestly been a cornerstone of my whole family's social life for the last five years. As a coach on the team, my intention is to keep a strict limit on the number of innings she throws in Rec, at least until Districts and (hopefully) beyond.

Ironically, between travel, middle school, and rec teams, it's the rec team that looks to be in the best position to win some games this year. Her middle school team lost 80% of the players to 9th grade and her travel team is a development-level group to maximize her circle time. She's got a very mature mindset about losing games in the pursuit of getting better, but winning every once in while is good for the spirit, and she'll be getting that opportunity in Rec.
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
I can say with almost certainty that the last year for DD in Rec was huge in her development as a pitcher. When she was 10 she was never given the chance to pitch by the coaches even though she was in line with the others on the team. At 11 years old in Rec she was passed up for the All Star team for a coaches kid. That lit a fire.. At 12 years old she dominated the rec league (haha no great feat I know) and not only made the all star team but was MVP for the game. She struck out every kid she faced. At that point she demonstrated to the area that she as here to stay. That confidence boost was needed for her. Every kid is different and no one knows what your kid needs more than you.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
If you're super lucky, your PC will make it to a couple games. Otherwise, shoot/send some video to the PC and schedule as needed to tweak form, spin or mindset.

During DD's high school career she was able to maintain lessons during the high school season, although not as regularly. Due to the distance between our house and her instructor, we typically scheduled 2 lessons per month year round. During the high school season, we did the best we could to get her to one per month (sometimes two worked out). She was also able to send him video if she felt something wasn't right. He was very helpful in this regard.

Now in college, she doesn't see her instructor much at all. She scheduled two sessions over her Christmas/Winter break, but probably won't see him again until the summer (after the college season is over). Again, she will rely on video if she needs any help.

FWIW, I do the same thing with my hitting students. All the girls I currently work with are in college so I don't see any of them on a regular basis any more. But I do get the occasional video. In many cases they are just looking for encouragement. They already know what to do...
 

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