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I am not obsessed with it and I am constantly amazed at those that are. The same thing with hitting. What the heck? Maybe to people that never played any sport softball is complicated, but it is so similar to every other sport that I can't believe people think it is complicated.
Hillhouse explains pitching rather simply. Denny Thorneburg does the same thing.
I have had a couple of dads bring their daughter to me, that thought that my lesson would be comprised of them preaching and me catching. I usually don't mind doing whatever I am getting paid for, but they would have their DD in tears. I really think that they should go play slow pitch. There is a totally different world out their for adults that want to play softball. You can play every night, if you wish. Heck, I'll even show up and tell you to line up your knocker knuckles, several times at one at bat.
"Recognizing one's own ignorance is near impossible for most."
Doug Romrell
Sue Enquist has talked about her past practices and how much things change and evolve. For me it's good to remember the things I used to teach with complete confidence and remember the times I learned how far off I was... I'd have to guess that many of our world's best teachers were also great students.“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts."
Attributed to John Wooden by Mike Candrea
To me this message is the true wisdom here. "keep pitching talk simple".
For you dads that talk to other dads and get a glazed-over look when you start to break down motions to them like what happens on this site... Now put yourself in the shoes of your 12 year old and see how that same excessive hyper-analysis verbiage comes across...
Keep it simple. Express the simple basics and let nature take her the rest of the way there. Don't win the war within one pitching session. Simplify and win many little battles towards the speed of "whip" and pitching legally. To me it's amazing (sad) the non-progress a pitcher can exhibit by being overwhelmed with multitudes of minutia.
I think it's a double-edged sword. For every Jenny Finch and Sarah Pauly, there are dozens of kids who burned out or quit because their parent took their "thing" and made it about themselves, or simply pushed too hard and took the fun out of the game. Most of the kids I see getting scholarships have concerned and loving parents, many of whom were crazy dads early on, but realized in time that being that crazy parent closed more doors then it opened. Many coaches at the TB level just don't want to deal with that, and assume that college coaches don't want to deal with it either. Being supportive is different then being obsessive.
I think it just takes time for some people to learn that they can't want it FOR their kids, or throw money, study, and time at it FOR their kids. The kid has to do it, period.
-W
I know a guy that moved over the weekend, to a different district, because his DD didn't get to pitch on Friday. She was in a different school on Monday AM.
So, I have seen all kinds of crazy.