DD and her hitting coach

[Gronknation]

I played baseball as a kid and fastpitch later in life and will be the first to admit that due to advances in technology, training, and diet the game is played at a much higher level now. I knew some MLB players back in the day who worked construction or unloaded trucks in the off season to stay in shape. Now players work with a cadre of personal trainers, dietitians, etc. How we did it back in the day is irrelevant.

I could see the workout side of it if you want her to be in the best possible shape but don't you think you could work with a young girl and teach her how to be a good hitter. I admit in teaching my DD I utilized hitting machines and lived at an indoor batting cage . As you can tell, I think people are too quick to pay to help their kids athletically. Unless you can see from an early age that your kid is in the top 1% of their sport most of that money will be wasted. DD has been called for hitting and pitching lessons. The dads argued to give her more money than she asked for (she asked for $30 and they gave her $50). She said they didn't have the athletic ability to be more than mediocre.
Had a neighbor that had a son that was great at hockey(if you don't know hockey is very expensive and hockey parents are on top of the crazy list). He was probably a top 5% player but not top1% player. Probably spent 10000 a year for age 8 thru age 16. Ended up going to a playing in a small college with a small scholarship
My argument is not all about the money either. I just think the whole generation is too hung up on taking every aspect of sports to the brain surgeon level.

 

[Eric F]

Send her to me for $50 an hour and I will show her how to put the right foot in front of the left and how to take a left turn. How many of you out there if your DD was getting a B and thought she could get a B+ would hire a tutor. That's what I thought.

No, thanks. Your price is way too high.

Just like hitting, there are details to running mechanics that most people don't know unless they've been properly instructed. Those details make a difference. In the case of my DD, they are making a noticeable difference. Best of all, my DD is having a lot of fun, and understands the benefit of the work.

 

[rdbass]

That will be $25....

 

[CoogansBluff]

You would pay money for DD to be a better hitter but not a better student?????

I might pay for both, or neither, depending on the need.

My daughter is strong enough academically to get into the colleges that she wants to attend. She wants to play softball in college. Her hitting is not good enough to get her into all the colleges she wants to attend. So in her case, I would rather pay a hitting coach over an academic tutor to help her realize her goal to be a college student-athlete. Plus, she enjoys the hitting coach. Softball is her hobby. It's entertainment. You can't just follow the money trail for priorities. Just because a family spends more on a hobby than on tutors doesn't mean they value the hobby more than education.

 

[Eric F]

I could see the workout side of it if you want her to be in the best possible shape but don't you think you could work with a young girl and teach her how to be a good hitter. I admit in teaching my DD I utilized hitting machines and lived at an indoor batting cage . As you can tell, I think people are too quick to pay to help their kids athletically. Unless you can see from an early age that your kid is in the top 1% of their sport most of that money will be wasted. DD has been called for hitting and pitching lessons. The dads argued to give her more money than she asked for (she asked for $30 and they gave her $50). She said they didn't have the athletic ability to be more than mediocre.
Had a neighbor that had a son that was great at hockey(if you don't know hockey is very expensive and hockey parents are on top of the crazy list). He was probably a top 5% player but not top1% player. Probably spent 10000 a year for age 8 thru age 16. Ended up going to a playing in a small college with a small scholarship
My argument is not all about the money either. I just think the whole generation is too hung up on taking every aspect of sports to the brain surgeon level.

I'm not looking at the money I spend (instruction, team fees, equipment, etc.) as an investment in anything else but my DD's current enjoyment of the game. She wants to be the best player she can be, gets a lot of satisfaction from playing at a level that challenges the limits of her abilities, and gets a ton of enjoyment from being successful at that level. If working with a specialty coach helps her have success a little more often, or take a step towards a new level, it's worth it to me. If she eventually reaches her goal of playing softball for Oregon, fantastic. If she doesn't, no problem. In the meantime, she's having some amazing childhood experiences, and learning some great life-lessons along the way.

At the end of the day, do what you think is best for your kid, and I will do what I think is best for mine.

 

[strawman]

Not to be rude but didn't any of you dads play baseball. Did you have a hitting coach when you were kids? I know I didn't . Get a tee, a net, golf wiffles, beans, and get in your backyard and get to work. Do your girls need fielding coaches because you are too lazy to hit them grounders.

Our parents didn't have baseball/softball forums when we were kids either, yet here you are.

Not everyone understands the game enough to help their kids get better. Sure, just about anyone can take their kids out and throw them bp, soft toss, etc or hit them ground balls over and over. But repetition doesn't make you better if you're just repeating bad mechanics.

 

[strawman]

This will piss you off...

My DD is working with a running coach.

I've considered this as well. I can teach baseball/softball. I'm clueless when it comes to running (properly).

How did you go about finding the coach?

 

[Eric F]

I've considered this as well. I can teach baseball/softball. I'm clueless when it comes to running (properly).

How did you go about finding the coach?

She was a recommendation from a player's mom.