I feel like the bad habit of how girls catch starts when they are younger and they try to move out of the way while also catching the ball. I have several girls that if you throw it directly at them will sidestep to the left and almost backhand it.Sympathies for the pain as well.
But I'm trying to get most of my team (12U) to do what your daughter is doing - turn the glove more sideways to catch the ball. They (almost) all have the elbow pinned to their side, limiting their range, almost giving them T-Rex arms.
I've found it's also not a very strong position to catch the ball - lot's of glove twisting, glove wiggling, from the force of the ball hitting the mitt. This happens on even the not-that-strong throws.
Thinking about it - maybe I don't want horizontal - I think I'm aiming for 45 degs away from their body. I'm assuming your daughter's forearm is 0 degs (flat / parallel).
Sympathies for the pain as well.
But I'm trying to get most of my team (12U) to do what your daughter is doing - turn the glove more sideways to catch the ball. They (almost) all have the elbow pinned to their side, limiting their range, almost giving them T-Rex arms.
I've found it's also not a very strong position to catch the ball - lot's of glove twisting, glove wiggling, from the force of the ball hitting the mitt. This happens on even the not-that-strong throws.
Thinking about it - maybe I don't want horizontal - I think I'm aiming for 45 degs away from their body. I'm assuming your daughter's forearm is 0 degs (flat / parallel).