Hello, I am so glad to find this forum. I hope someone can help me so I do the right thing regarding my daughter.
She plays on a 12U "A" level team. Her pitching coach says she's got talent and a lot of potential. AC's daughter is #1, HC's daughter is #2, and my daughter is #3.
The pitching coach has told us (as well as many other people) that my daughter pitches as well as #2. The biggest difference is that my daughter lacks the experience #2 has. We have played in 3 big tournaments so far this season, for a total of about no less than 50 innings. My daughter has been allowed to pitch in exactly 6 of those 50+ innings. The first tournament she got an entire game (4 innings) and did so well that she received many compliments. The next tournament she struggled and was only allowed to pitch 2 innings. The last tournament, out of 5 games, she didn't get to pitch at all.
I believe the reason is because the coach is all about winning. Anything to win. He trusts #1 and #2 and knows they have a lot of experience and seems only interested in developing those two. He believe he will always win with one of those two pitching (has not actually been the case). I've heard that my daughter hasn't "proven" herself to him so he isn't willing to risk putting her in.
Her pitching coach says we need to make sure our daughter gets plenty of practice pitching in. During team practices - live batting - it's extremely rare for my daughter to get to pitch to the batters. #1 and #2 ALWAYS get to pitch, giving them good practice time. My daughter has to find time outside of her team practices to practice her pitching, unlike the other two. Okay, fine. We can deal with that, though I think it's pretty lousy.
My question is, if you've made it this far, is what do I ask the coach -- what can I say to him -- to get him to tell us what my daughter needs to do to be able to pitch for the team? What will it take for him to let her throw a few innings? If experience and practice is what she needs, WHERE is she supposed to get it if not from him? I truly don't understand this. He won't put her in because she lacks "whatever" something, but unless she's allowed to pitch, how on earth is she supposed to get it? How can she improve if not given the opportunity?
For the record, my daughter is the starting center fielder, one of the fastest runners on the team, and has the highest batting average on the team. She's an all around excellent athlete, but dang it, she wants to pitch.
What do we do? Thanks for any and all advice. I really appreciate it.
She plays on a 12U "A" level team. Her pitching coach says she's got talent and a lot of potential. AC's daughter is #1, HC's daughter is #2, and my daughter is #3.
The pitching coach has told us (as well as many other people) that my daughter pitches as well as #2. The biggest difference is that my daughter lacks the experience #2 has. We have played in 3 big tournaments so far this season, for a total of about no less than 50 innings. My daughter has been allowed to pitch in exactly 6 of those 50+ innings. The first tournament she got an entire game (4 innings) and did so well that she received many compliments. The next tournament she struggled and was only allowed to pitch 2 innings. The last tournament, out of 5 games, she didn't get to pitch at all.
I believe the reason is because the coach is all about winning. Anything to win. He trusts #1 and #2 and knows they have a lot of experience and seems only interested in developing those two. He believe he will always win with one of those two pitching (has not actually been the case). I've heard that my daughter hasn't "proven" herself to him so he isn't willing to risk putting her in.
Her pitching coach says we need to make sure our daughter gets plenty of practice pitching in. During team practices - live batting - it's extremely rare for my daughter to get to pitch to the batters. #1 and #2 ALWAYS get to pitch, giving them good practice time. My daughter has to find time outside of her team practices to practice her pitching, unlike the other two. Okay, fine. We can deal with that, though I think it's pretty lousy.
My question is, if you've made it this far, is what do I ask the coach -- what can I say to him -- to get him to tell us what my daughter needs to do to be able to pitch for the team? What will it take for him to let her throw a few innings? If experience and practice is what she needs, WHERE is she supposed to get it if not from him? I truly don't understand this. He won't put her in because she lacks "whatever" something, but unless she's allowed to pitch, how on earth is she supposed to get it? How can she improve if not given the opportunity?
For the record, my daughter is the starting center fielder, one of the fastest runners on the team, and has the highest batting average on the team. She's an all around excellent athlete, but dang it, she wants to pitch.
What do we do? Thanks for any and all advice. I really appreciate it.
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