Second this post!
Post game:
"how did you thing things went today" your job LISTEN
"what did you think of the zone today?" LISTEN
"Is there something you'd like to a do over on?" LISTEN ..."If so what would you do different?" LISTEN
"your mom and I are so proud of you and your work ethic. WE LOVE WATCHING you and your teammates play"
The car ride can be one of the worst parts of a players day. We've found doing a lot of listening is therapeutic for DD and she will talk/share when ready.
During the week we try to remind her of some great advice we were given years ago. As a pitcher, you can control the windup and everything up until the release of the ball. Once you let it go, it’s over, you can’t control what happens next. Work hard on what you can control.
On another note...it's not all about the pitching...the friendships, camaraderie, fun...AND ICECREAM and other team functions are the things that last a lifetime.
Pitching I encourage her to practice 3-4 times a week, but at this point she needs to own her in game improvements if she wants to keep pitching. I'm proud of her since going to see Javasource at a clinic she has been at a minimum practicing spins 10-15 minutes a day, 4 to 5 days a week. Yesterday at JH practice she caught BP, but during points the coaches were talking to the batters or defense, asked me for a ball and snuck in 5-8 minutes practicing spins.
Dabears17: I think we were parked next to each other for a stint of bucket time. My DD has been doing the same...in fact that, while always motivated, that clinic really motivated her and she's been working even harder and w/o my reminding her.
That's just it.... She's so Shy, Meek and fragile...... BUT, she loves wearing the uniform, she loves wearing her travel shirt to school...
But, can you even invite Friends and Family to a Travel Game where she's going to get her rear end handed to her?????
You can make 3 Errors at Short Stop and strike out every time and not come close to the feeling of standing on the mound not able to to throw a strike.... And not knowing which of the 40 Steps the Pitching coach told you is an 1/8 of an inch off.....
Tough for me to watch to and not be able to help her....