HS Ball question

[riseball]

The simplest answer is the one you are looking for. But if I devote an inordinate amount of time to the battery, team fielding suffers. If I devote too much time to that, hitting suffers. Too much time to that and we're out of sync on the bases. Again, without 4 hr practices, I can't cover everything I would like to cover.

I have been blessed to have P's that don't need large amounts of Team Practice so that they can throw. They realize that if they want to be the best, they are going to have to work outside of Team Practice. It's no different than their school work. If they want to excel, they have to work outside the classroom. Probably not a bad life lesson. Plus, they find time for Pitching the rest of the year without my help. They work it around Basketball, Volleyball, Cheerleading, homework, FFA, etc. So why is it any harder to find the time during the season?

As far as not working much before the first game, I don't care much about the first game/ week. Nobody in the history of softball has won a championship during the first week of the season. The end of our season is the important time. In normal years, I only have about 12 practices before the first game. Half of that may be inside. That's roughly 24 hours. In that 24 hours, I have to figure out who is on the V roster, who can play IF or OF, who can bunt, who can't hit, can I teach a big stick to catch a ball at 1B?, etc. You may think it's sacrilege, but I don't work on rundowns till we are about a month into the year. It's a situation that doesn't happen very often. If it does in the first few games, well, either we'll look real bad or the players will figure it out based on experience. But I can't prioritize the time for rundowns during my first month of the season. But that's just me. I'm willing to hear the experts in the stand tell me everything I'm doing wrong. Notice I said hear, not listen.

And to be fair to the HS coaches, most pitchers when left to their own devices will perform a workout that is "less than optimal" in terms of both intensity and duration. Starting with those idiotic wrist flips. It should not take that long if they focus and get it done.

 

[Greenmonsters]

IF the HS coach did have the Ps throw to Cs during practice, then RB more than likely would be berating him just as loudly because it undoubtedly would conflict with the P's year-round throwing program developed by her PC or TB program. And given that many HS are in situations similar to CB and have a very short window for tryouts/practices prior to opening day, its my experience that the P and C are smart and dedicated enough so that they have been working together for weeks/months prior to the start of the HS season and will work on their own as necessary to become comfortable and effective. Frankly, catching a pitcher on a routine throwing day is a pretty poor use of a catcher's time and energy when practice days and time are limited.

 

[riseball]

IF the HS coach did have the Ps throw to Cs during practice, then RB more than likely would be berating him just as loudly because it undoubtedly would conflict with the P's year-round throwing program developed by her PC or TB program. And given that many HS are in situations similar to CB and have a very short window for tryouts/practices prior to opening day, its my experience that the P and C are smart and dedicated enough so that they have been working together for weeks/months prior to the start of the HS season and will work on their own as necessary to become comfortable and effective. Frankly, catching a pitcher on a routine throwing day is a pretty poor use of a catcher's time and energy when practice days and time are limited.

Highly doubtful. It is not rocket science, but it does require a certain level of commitment.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

You are correct. If she isn't the #1 pitcher next year I'd be dumbfounded. But that will work itself out on its own. I don't want to lose 2 months of training.

Will she be practicing with her travel team during HS season?

Maybe she can get some reps in practice by pitching some live BP...

 

[Greenmonsters]

Highly doubtful. It is not rocket science, but it does require a certain level of commitment.

Which way is the wind blowing now? You've been claiming that the TB girls are dedicated and knowledgeable and are wasting their time w/ HS SB and then you note that when left to their own devices they would not focus or work hard. At least SCdad is consistent!

 

[riseball]

Which way is the wind blowing now? You've been claiming that the TB girls are dedicated and knowledgeable and are wasting their time w/ HS SB and then you note that when left to their own devices they would not focus or work hard. At least SCdad is consistent!

My comment about fairness to HS coaches with regard to pitching workouts was specifically phrased so as not to differentiate between TB pitchers and non-TB pitchers since to do so would not be relevant given the context.

 

[RAZORWEASEL]

Will she be practicing with her travel team during HS season?

Maybe she can get some reps in practice by pitching some live BP...

Probably now that we know how it's going to work...won't be telling our HS coach about it though. I don't know about BP, but for sure will get some pitching time with her TB teammates.

 

[RAZORWEASEL]

Update on DD: Third game of the season, coach decides to have her be the starting pitcher. She responds with 7 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, no earned runs, 14 strikeouts, and a 3-2 win. Also goes 2-3 from the plate with a double and a single. This was her third varsity game, first one as a pitcher.

Again thanks to all of you for your insight...I really do appreciate all the topics, comments, and discussions on this site. I think it helps me keep my sanity.

 

[fastpitch]

Razorweasel - thats great. happy for you and your dd!