Chanting from the dugout?

For you folks who've been around the game, is this a good thing or not? Does it go on as girls get older? Does it have any effect on younger pitchers? Just curious about how many of you feel about this.

 

interesting as I had a conversation about this with a dad this very week who has a baseball background.

first, yes it becomes less pronounced as they get older but seems to pick up again in college.

The gist of the conversation was that it may interfere with observation and formulation of a plan at the plate based on a pitcher's in game tendencies. I know I have been in a dugout calling pitches and literally could not get information I wanted to my pitcher and catcher because the girls in the dugout were chanting so loud AND I had difficulty concentrating. If I was having this problem how could the girls be studying a pitcher?

However, being very vocal is a huge part of the game and is unlikely to change.

 

Supporting is one thing, but cheerleading & screaming is a .........

Wow, I know that girls like to support their teammates but I thought this was over by 12u. I am sure it messes with the mind and frustrates players but to hollar and perform cheers at a 16u tournament is crazy. The best is when the parents start their cheers that they have obviously been practicing while the girls are at softball practice. This weekend, we heard them all and YES it was frustrating and annoying. Hey guess it is just part of the game.

 

Been to any college games?

Many teams cheer continuously. Some teams even take it onto the field. Go see UGA play sometime.

 

I like it when the girls yell for their team things like "that a baby" "way to go" ect. But I can't stand it when they do the "cheers" or when 1 girl is chanting something then the rest repest it. If I want to hear a cheerleading competition I would go watch one. don't need it in softball

 

I thought after 12u going onto 14u it would subside, but it doesn't. I don't really mind it that much. I just feel its a little unsportsmanship when a girl will shriek from the dugout as the pitcher is going thru there windup.

 

I don't see it often but there are times when the cheering can become unsporting. One of the coaches should correct the team when that happens. It's a fine line sometimes when they're cheering for their teammates so you can't be too strict but there are other times when it is obviously bad sportsmanship.

 

Experienced pitchers don't let it bother them

At least good one's don't. In fact, my DD always said it motivated her to throw harder. In fact, even in college she had her certain ways of letting the other dugout (and particular batters) know when they'd gone too far. Handling that is part of the way a pitcher needs to learn to control the game. In general, though, it's an accepted part of the college game. You learn the teams that try to use it to their advantage develop strategies (primarily psychological) to deal with it.

 

If you whup 'em... they tend to shut up!

 

Sometimes

I think it keeps the team fired up to win. Sometimes it does get out of hand. I have seen teams that will scream at the pitcher. A few times the umpire has said something to the coach. My DD is one of the loudest in the dugout. She is the one that starts the cheer most of the time. She has been taught NO negative cheers. Cheering on your teamates is a part of the game. It is like everything else some teams will try to use it as an advantage. It makes my DD throw harder. Funny to watch when she blows it by um; the cheers stop.