Is 12 to young to push?

My DD plays TB and Rec (for practice) (her choice to do both). She is a second year 12 player. She is also a picher. She has natural ability and a drive for the game... most of the time. Lately she has been struggling with her pitching form. I thought she might be tired so I backed off of some of her practices but she would still drag me outside to pitch. She has asperations of playing upper level ball and that is all she talks about. (High school, College) Her form problems are something that we recognize and work with her on. But she still does them. This has gone on for 2 months now. Basic stuff, foot placement, arm rotation things she has done prior. She says she does not realize she is doing them incorrectly. Last night after a league game (she had a rough one) Her mom and I told her that if she can't correct these problems she won't advance and she needed to do a gut check to see if she really wanted to be the kind of pitcher she says she wants to be. We and her pitching coach honestly believe she has the talent. Things got rough and she took it very personally and broke down.

Her mom and I do not force her to pitch. We leave the choice to play up to her. We have explained that if this what she really wants we will support her in it but her effort lefvel on correcting things needs to increase.

So my question is... Is 12 to young to demand a higher level of performance from her? Make her take responsibility for her actions and training?

I do not want to ruin the game for her but if she is going to progress I feel it is time she steps up. Please give your thoughts and ideas.

Hauss

 

Not to young!

Well, if you lived on the West Coast - she would actually be behind! They start fastpitch at age 8! A lot of coaches see "potential" in girls that will only manifest if they are putting QUALITY practice time in. I am going to assume since your daughter has a pitching coach that the coach is focusing on her mechanics and fundamentals. With that in mind, I was a visual learner myself - which required me to have a coach to "show me" before I really understood. My pitching coach made me focus on what my body was doing and then if I still didn't realize I was doing something I wasn't supposed to, he put me in front of a mirror. That was my personal savior! Overall, to correct a mechanical problem, it required alot of patience, practice and more practice! (Not twice a week for a few hours!)

Now as to your daughter "drive". Has she had a chance to watch some college ball on tv lately? I am from the midwest and played ball at UofArkansas and in our minds we can say "I want it and I can do it", but we have to really grasp what it really takes to play at the DI or even DII level! You can "talk" and "wish" all you want, but the day to day activity and practice you put in will determine what kind of athlete you really are and where you will go.

Most all beginning pitchers will go through what I call the "make you or break you" game. This is where you either can't hit the broadside of a barn or you are getting hit like crazy. After one of these games, an athlete has to be honest and ask themselves if they are truly willing to put in the time it takes to be an "elite" pitcher. I have hardly seen but a handful in this state.

Does you daughter play competitive travel ball or just rec ball? If she doen't play 12U travel ball, take her to a tourney in Charlotte or Raleigh so she can see what level the girls her age are at. No matter what you want your daughter to have fun, but as you have told her, it's gut check time. Pitchers put in twice the practice than the rest of the team, if that's not really for her, find out what other positions she is interested in and nurture that aspect. You daughter should have that "drive" naturally. A little push from parents is ok, but you can't "want it or do it" for her.

I've rambled on enough, but you might want to also talk to her coach and see if this is something she should really continue on with.

 

I know a guy that golfs readily. He says he still goes and gets refresher lessons every year to cover the basics. I would say the same about pitching. Go back to the basics and cover all areas making them as fun as possible with certain goals to meet and a reward for meeting that goal. I would do this for at least 2 weeks. First time back at regular pitching I would limit it to a few pitches and within one week work up to normal pitch count. At least one night a week just work on basics. Remember to tell her at all times that it will all work out. GOOD LUCK!!

 

She's a stud!

NVRGIVUP,

By most my DD is considered a stud on the field. She has been pitching for 2 years and at the end of her 1st year 12 she broke her pitching hand, her left leg, sprained her right ankle and developed tendonitis in her right knee. This all happened in 7 months of 12 U. She bounced back well and really progressed from her injuries. Yes she plays travel ball and when her form is correct dominates the tournaments she is playing. The problem is she is not consistent and claims not to realize that she is not using her form correctly.

I love the mirror idea, that really sounds good. We have thought about taping her so she can watch it during and after.

Her pitching coach says (and i do not think hes after the money lol) that she is moments away from being the "oh sh**" pitcher no one wants to face. I just can't get her to turn the corner.

She practices her pitching 5 to 6 days a week. Pitches 56 to 58 mph and has breaking pitches that seem to dance....... when she uses proper form. I say this as a proud dad but have developed these thoughts as a result of the coaches of the team she plays for.


Thanks for the advice i do really appreciate it.

 

Putting the fun back in!

acfan,

You know that's true. I coach her league team not her select team. And I do things in practice that make practices fun. I have not done that with her pitching in along time. Thanks for reminding me about that. I am here for her and she is there because she loves the game.

Thanks,


Hauss

 

Views from another Dad

My DD has just started pitching and is doing very well I must say But she has been Playing at the travelball level for 6 of her 7 years. She started playing 8U and is now playing 14U. I have 2 DD's who have played this game and only 1 still playing. I really have to contribute my DD's dedication to the aggressivness and demand that travel ball puts on a young girl. She has been the one that pushes me instead of me pushing her. BUT not always. I also have been exactly were you are. (feelings wise that is). When she first started obviously 8U didn't have enough teams out there to play year round so we played rec ball. Once she started 10U we were able to dedicate all her time in travel ball. There are alot of good rec organizations around I suppose but the area I am from didn't seem to put alot of interest in girls softball, therefore we had to look into better avenues. Last year my DD was old enough to play in the 12U age group BUT played in the 14's with her friends. She went through something similar to what your saying as far as her attitude towards her game.
I still think she was somewhat intimidated and that had alot to do with it but anyways her Mother and I told her We dedicate our winter,spring,summer & fall towards her and her softball and spend a bunch of time and of course money towards her softball education. If she felt that she wanted to go a different way that we would back her 100% But if she decided to play this game at this level then we expect her to give her Coaches and teammates 110% of her dedication at all times and not when she felt the need to be a softball player. We did the next hardest thing there is as parents...We didn't say another word. We sat back and watched. it was less than a week I believe and I looked outside to see her setting up the hitting net & tee and smiled while I watched her hit balls off the Tee. She started doing this every day!!! She went from being a #10 batter to being a #6 batter with her dedication NOT mine. She found out that this is what she wanted not us and hasn't looked back. I said in the beginning that she has just started pitching. Actually she started the 2nd or 3rd week in February of this year and this past weekend pitched 2 FULL games out of the 3 for her Travel Team and she was awesome!!!!!! Now thats DAD talking BUT it's all HER hardwork and dedication!!! Not ours. Also she has a great pitching coach that has taught her so much in such a short time.
I hope this book I wrote helps you some. Give her some time, good advise and room to grow if thats what SHE wants Dad thats KEY!!!!

 

Time to Back Off Some

Hauss-

I certainly don't know your situation, but my experinces make me feel it is time to back off a little. The kind of pressure and dissapointment your DD is experiencing now will not be good for her long term enjoyment of the game. Now there's not a thing wrong with teaching a child there is adversity in life and we all must find ways to get through those times, but at 12, I just think when softball is the primary focus of a 12 year old, I think the priorities may be slanted somewhat. If your DD truly has the love and desire to excel at the game, a little time away from the pressures of being a pitcher may do her a lot of good. She will let you know when she is ready. There is plenty of time for her to improve. I know this is true because I know very good high school pitcher who didn't pitch a softball until she was 13 and has become one of the best in the state and will be playing softball for UNC next year.

I also could care less that if the 8 year olds on the west coast and midwest are ahead of our 12 year olds. (no offense nvrgivup) All you should care about is what is best for your DD and provide her the opportunities to discover what she wants to do and enjoys doing. If it is to be a great pitcher, she will let you know. Then, if she has the God-given talent and works hard to develop that talent, then she will reach her goal. But she also may decide that she would like to play another sport along with softball or without, and we as parents must check our egos and let our kids be kids.

I have been coaching for almost 20 years and I have seen everything from the child who has the parent who is so involved you would think they were the ones playing, to the ones who just drop their kids off at practice and games and then expects the coach to bring them home. There is a middle ground between these intsances and thankfully most (not all) parents I have dealt with found that middle ground.

All of us parents love it when our DD's succeed and we feel terrible when they don't. And when they don't, that's the time we have to be careful not to over react and just think more practice and more practice will resolve the problem. Sometimes just the opposite (for a while) may be the best thing to do.

When my oldest daughter was younger, I was really bad about replaying her entire game in the car on the way home. The bad things got a lot of attention, the good just a little. Well one day all it took was for her to tell me that the game wasn't as important to her as it was to me and then I realized what I had been doing. Ever since that day, I only talk about the game if she brings it up. We all know if she had a good game or not so there is no need to dissect every inning. She is in high school now and either she or her HS or summer coach can help her through the changes she may need to make. Although I see things that I can help her with, I let her learn on her own (with guidance from her coaches) and just I offer all the support I can. So far things have been going pretty good for her.

I commend you for being so involved with your DD that you have the concerns you have. There are way too many kids out there who don't have Mom's and Dad's that are involved like you and that's too bad. Your DD is one of the lucky ones. But I believe if you just back off a little and follow your DD's lead, she will guide you to how much you need to push.

Please remember this one thing I have learned from my coaching experience "boys have to play good to feel good and girls have to feel good to play good." Think about it. Good luck and I know things will work out for the best because your DD has parents that care. See you at a tournament this summer!

 

Bmac, I see a book with your name on it. That is great insight that every ball dad has heard or going to hear.

 

Thanks, but I'm sure there are plenty other Moms & Dad's that could contribute to a book as well!

 

no......middle school age is where most(not all of course) are learning to be organized, prepared and need your and our guidance to see the importance of proper training to be successful and that they are responsible for doing their part for the Team! Remind her team is just that....team and everyone has a role and with those roles, come responsiblities. You sound like you are heading in the right direction Hauss so best of luck and she will turn the corner!!