We are talking 12 year old girls, not professional players with control. My dd is extremely accurate but on very rare occassion in her whole 2 1/2 years pitching experience has hit a girl. She needs to feel nothing but focusing on the next pitch so that it doesn't happen again. She has taken her share of rib shots and ankle biters in this game. She knows she has to move quick to get out of the way of a wild pitch. It is just part of the game.
What is proper HBP protocol?
- Thread starter Jillsdad
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We are talking 12 year old girls, not professional players with control. My dd is extremely accurate but on very rare occassion in her whole 2 1/2 years pitching experience has hit a girl. She needs to feel nothing but focusing on the next pitch so that it doesn't happen again. She has taken her share of rib shots and ankle biters in this game. She knows she has to move quick to get out of the way of a wild pitch. It is just part of the game.
Agreed. But you're talking about the common HBP. I'm talking about the rare occasion when somebody might be seriously injured.
Good sportsmanship never goes out of style, so apologizing is the right thing to do, but you cannot let your DD dwell on it. Over the years I have found that a pitcher who is able to 'forget' about her last pitch, and concentrate on her next pitch, is the best mindset to have!
redhotcoach
Out on good behavior
- May 8, 2009
- 4,698
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Well yeah! We are not trying to raise satan's spawn. Of course if a girl is laying there hurt, most coaches are not going to try to train feelings out of their pitcher. Most of the girls I know would throw down and walk off the field if I or any other coach suggests no feeling about a hurt player. The fact of it though is probably half of 1% percent of hit batters are truly hurt beyond a bruse and a few tears.
I had one game where I hit one girl her first three at bats. Mainly because she was crowding the plate every time. Her last at bat she walked up with knee pads and elbow pads on 
(and love the ump for turning and saying 'If you didn't stand on the line you wouldn't need that)
Apologise and move on.
(and love the ump for turning and saying 'If you didn't stand on the line you wouldn't need that)Apologise and move on.
- Oct 19, 2009
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Never apologize during the game. When you apologize you lose your psychological edge. A successful pitcher commands a certain level of fear - be it failure to hit or getting hit, it's an advantage you don't give up.
Coach-n-Dad
Crazy Daddy
- Oct 31, 2008
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Best quote in this entire thread
Agreed. I don't want my DD to become some sort of heartless "spawn of satan"
. But, I think that the apology can wait until after the game and still be heartfelt. There are no kumbaya parties in softballRemember the good old days of baseball? When pitchers felt they owned the plate, and if a hitter was crowding, they were pushed off the plate, period, even if it meant a fastball in the ribs?
Most hitters in softball today sit on the inside box line. Should a pitcher apologize when the ball is 8 inches outside? If it's 8 inches inside, sometimes hitters are going to get hit, simple as that.
If you can throw inside, the outside opens up. When you throw inside, you're going to hit people.
Most hitters in softball today sit on the inside box line. Should a pitcher apologize when the ball is 8 inches outside? If it's 8 inches inside, sometimes hitters are going to get hit, simple as that.
If you can throw inside, the outside opens up. When you throw inside, you're going to hit people.
