- Nov 3, 2014
- 1
- 0
Ok I am looking for some advice both as a parent and as a potential coach. Background is my step daughter has picked up softball back in August. We started her in rec 13U. At 14 this is her first organized team sport she has played. Due to her height and speed the coaches instantly feel in love (she is 5'8"). They have asked her to play on the travel team they have. We are all for this however i have a concern with how she is being pushed and pulled. Dad who has never played a team sport, or organized competitive sport in his life keeps telling her what position he wants her to play. Of course this changes but he always wants her in the highly involved positions like pitching, catching or first base. The coaches then have their own ideas. I will not pretend i know all that much about softball, i played competitive baseball for 18 yrs until it was time to come to the realization i was never going to make money and needed to move on. What i see is a young girl getting put in every position and left to fail. The coaches and dad kept telling her to concentrate when she kept missing the balls thrown to her. Actual problem was new glove without TLC and no one explaining to her how to close her hand to catch. I tried to sit back and not get involved and let her coaches coach and just be the fly in her ear telling her listen to coach not dad. What this got us after a full rec season was a girl who likes the game, and wants to play more and in high school, but doesn't know the basics or the love and commitment needed starting so late. How as a parent can i help her without shoving it down her throat and have her eat sleep live it the next 6-9 months. Second the travel ball coaches have asked me to assist them this upcoming spring season. I would gladly help however i don't want to add to the pushing and pulling of where she should play. Any one have any suggestions with her height where i could focus her and give her a fighting chance to continue. Also being she has never really played sports before she doesn't know good running techniques. Anyone know where a good starting point is for that? Sorry for the rambling the coaching idea and her wanting to continue with travel all has happened in the last 3 hours so i am still trying to get my head wrapped around the idea