How did you get started with fastpitch softball?

Gurus post about his daughter got me thinking about how I got my start with fastpitch.
When Ashlee Crewe(Elon) was 10 we played rec ball not knowing what TB was. Amanda Millers(Campbell) dad, Teddy and I got a rag tag group from Dunn and had so much fun during regular season that we decided to play Fall Ball too. For a rec club we were strong. Somebody asked after the game which TB team Ashlee played for. I had no idea what Travel Ball was. With an introduction to Dan Ross of the Wildcats, Ashlee and Amanda both got to experience what it was like to have an entire team with quality players.
I was absolutely amazed at my first TB tournament. So many teams, so many really good players, the fun, and fellowship got into my blood and I've been loving it ever since.

 

Nice thread. Chuck Prier, Nicki Priers dad ( Jacksonville State Univ.)and I played slow pitch softball together. We also coached in the recball league. One day, Chuck and Charlie Dobbins, came to me and told me about TB and would I bring my DD out to the NC Challengers.
The very first TB team my DD played for ended up having 11 kids either playing in college now or have committed this year.

Funny thing is mommafish and I didn't have a clue how good these NC kids were then

AND the best to me is that the NC talent coming up through TB keeps getting better and better.

Fish

 

I got started when my DD and Grandchildren got involved. We played for others for a year or two before starting our own team. We played slow pitch for several years before fastpitch came to NC. We played in the NSA fastpitch world series in Jupiter FL in 1998. We currently have 6 teams playing in all divisions. We will be here as long as there is 1 child wanting to play softball.

 

10u

When my oldest was playing 10u back in 1998..... now youngest is 12U

 

I am a newby so I don't have the experience some of you guys do. I always was around baseball as our local Dixie youth all star team won 14 state titles from the mid 70's to 2000. I was lucky enough to play in 2 world series myself. Got asked to coach in a system under the mastermind behind these teams. Learned a lot and enjoyed it, but that was it. My daughter started playing softball. I always said I did not want to coach her but I am at every practice and game so my baseball coaching was over. Now I am not bashing anyone, but I began to realize that most of our girls were not getting the fundamentals. I teach 8th grade so I started talking with some of our better athletes about what they were learning and the "lack of fundamentals" was troubling me. So 2 summers ago I started having practices in the summer. No team just girls that really wanted to work and get better. The two girls that worked the hardest that summer had some success. One made varsity as a freshman and started at short most of the season. The other made all-stars for the first time. I realized I could be helpful to the girls. I always say "you are part of the problem or part of the solution". Been working with some girls this summer when the opportunity to coach at my middle school came open. I was asked and now have an official coaching job. But I plan to continue my summer work outs because this is for girls that really want to work and get better. Our area is pretty rural and many of the girls can not afford to play travel ball or pay for private lessons. Just a little troubling when you see the girls go backwards because of lack of practice during their regular season. But I learned long ago to only worry about that which you can control. I love this sport unlike any other I have been around and I have coached baseball, football and basketball. The girls and this game are awesome. Trying to learn all I can to help my girls be the best they can be. Going to a travel ball tournament this weekend to take notes and already registered for the clinic in Charlotte.

 

camps

Patience is the key....... Attend a few TB tournaments and watch the pitcher warmups and batting warmups. Watch bracket play at each division A then B then C and see where your team would fit. Then look for ways to improve. Go to some of the college Fall and Winter camps UNC theirs is OCT 11-12 hitting and defense and DEC 6th pitching or NC STATE or UNCW, check their softball web sites, take notes and add the fundamental things they do that your team can do also. The college coaches say that "we teach 21 yr old girls the same fundamentals that should be taught at age 10". They are open to the public and coaches are welcome. If you are near UNC Wilmington, UNC Pembrook, or a college in Fayetteville call or email the head coach and explain your needs and you could take your team to watch and maybe even be involved in some of the practices. Have a Saturday camp at your school and have a local College or HS coach give the camp and maybe bring 3 or 4 players to help. They may charge a small fee $20.00 for 2 hrs per player, but it will be worth it.....

stanly

 

...nice post StanMan.

Fishman

 

With lots of help along the way

My DD began playing baseball at age 5. It was the one sport I had not played in high school. I was smart enough to recognize almost immediately that the little girl had a great arm. She could "throw the ball through a wall" from the day she picked it up. She played baseball until age 9 when softball finally came to Pitt County. Her first year the league was 'modified' (slingshot pitching) and her team went 0-18. She did not pitch as that role was reserved for the coach's daughter. She hated losing (she did inherit that from Dad!).

We did two things that fall that proved fortuitous. I petitioned the league to allow her to be put back in the draft the next year. I also discovered that the league was going to a true fast pitch.

I knew very little about the game. I had watched the national championship team play at Texas A & M when I taught there in the '80's. I saw that fast pitch was, in fact, mostly about the pitcher. I told my 10 year old if she didn't want to lose anymore we'd make her a pitcher and she would win. She said "Daddy, that's what I want to do". I got my bucket and some Ernie Parker videos and we went to work together. Along the way I found that it was best that I NOT coach her teams but leave that those more knowledgeable than I. Fortunately, there were a string of talented coaches from 10U rec ball through showcase travel ball that contributed to her success and my knowledge of the game.

A decade later I've watched her throw the final pitch in a world series title game (12U), the CAA conference championship game, and the German national championship game. She's traveled from coast to coast and through Europe thanks to this wonderful sport. Our family will be forever grateful to the softball community for the opportunities afforded our daughter and the joy we have received through those opportunities.

 

.....now thats a cool post.
Fishman