My daughter has been pitching (consistently) for 6 months now. She has natural IR and BI--didn't have to teach her much in that regard.
This week was her 4th lesson with an experienced pitching coach. Things have been going well. The rule set from the beginning was that the catcher (usually bucket mom or dad) does not interfere with the lesson/workout. Cool. I got it.
Today the coach was asking my DD to start finishing with HE. . . Gasp!
"Crap. . .I gotta do something. . . "
I calmly walked to the rubber and calmly but emphatically stated, "I don't want her finishing with a high elbow."
Okay. . .in retrospect, I probably didn't use the most diplomatic, kindest, or warm-fuzzy voice or body language. Shoot, I've never had to confront an issue like this before and I'm really bad at having to do something for the first time! I pretty much always screw it up.
A 3 or 4 minute. . .ummm. . . discussion. . . ensued whereby I explained why I thought it was wrong and asked her if she was familiar with the term hello elbow. She hadn't but proceeded to explain how long she's been doing this, she's coached this and that All-American, etc.
The conversation quickly defaulted to "I may not be the right pitching coach for you."
"And that may be" I responded. But we finished the workout.
After the workout, I very humbly told her I was not trying to meddle but that I knew enough to make me dangerous and there are some staples in mechanics I've been working with DD that I don't want to change.
She explained whatever ends up happening, she's trying to get DD to finish with structure.
A structured finish. I like that idea--just that HE isn't the structure I'd like.
Irony is, my DD confessed on the drive home that HE actually helped her control the ball better. It was true. She was much closer around the plate.
Can someone help with how I can work with DD and give her confidence in her control without HE?
Question 2: What is a good method or how does one teach a "structured finish"?
This week was her 4th lesson with an experienced pitching coach. Things have been going well. The rule set from the beginning was that the catcher (usually bucket mom or dad) does not interfere with the lesson/workout. Cool. I got it.
Today the coach was asking my DD to start finishing with HE. . . Gasp!
"Crap. . .I gotta do something. . . "
I calmly walked to the rubber and calmly but emphatically stated, "I don't want her finishing with a high elbow."
Okay. . .in retrospect, I probably didn't use the most diplomatic, kindest, or warm-fuzzy voice or body language. Shoot, I've never had to confront an issue like this before and I'm really bad at having to do something for the first time! I pretty much always screw it up.
A 3 or 4 minute. . .ummm. . . discussion. . . ensued whereby I explained why I thought it was wrong and asked her if she was familiar with the term hello elbow. She hadn't but proceeded to explain how long she's been doing this, she's coached this and that All-American, etc.
The conversation quickly defaulted to "I may not be the right pitching coach for you."
"And that may be" I responded. But we finished the workout.
After the workout, I very humbly told her I was not trying to meddle but that I knew enough to make me dangerous and there are some staples in mechanics I've been working with DD that I don't want to change.
She explained whatever ends up happening, she's trying to get DD to finish with structure.
A structured finish. I like that idea--just that HE isn't the structure I'd like.
Irony is, my DD confessed on the drive home that HE actually helped her control the ball better. It was true. She was much closer around the plate.
Can someone help with how I can work with DD and give her confidence in her control without HE?
Question 2: What is a good method or how does one teach a "structured finish"?
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