Ideas for promoting fastpitch, motivating players?

Let's post some ideas that could motivate players.

I'll start with the suggestion that teams take advantage of some free opportunities, with no dead period restrictions. Too cold to practice? More than 8 players? No problem! Take your whole team--V and JV!!

UNC-W and Campbell will play a doubleheader Thurs., Feb 11 at Campbell. Take your whole team!!

UNC-W at Elon Feb. 13 and 14. Virginia will be there also. Take your whole team!!

NC State hosts NC Central Feb. 17. Take your whole team!!

 

Well....the 17th is in the middle of tryouts. I like the idea until we go to workout with our coach all jacked up and ready, only to find out there are dead periods and girls get discouraged from signing up because of player limitations in the off-season.

 

I Think ---

I think any chance to get rid of dead periods the punishment for violating any contact with a player directly or indirectly forcing the player to feel obligated,and torn between being here or there that will cause confusion the coach should be punished severely...no pop on the hand, but he or she should lose the helm of the team if they violate these times. The athletes do not need extra pressure on them trying to play multiple sports, and keeping their grades up while trying to keep Coach ?? happy, because he or she can't be here or there while being committed to sport A...If W & L's are more important than education, than a coach should re-evaluate themselves as a coach, mentor, or a friend...I have known many coaches that will make players feel guilty of not being at their practices, tryouts,etc..and not seeing the whole realm of the situation...If the Dead Period stops those hard nose coaches then I can't say that I totally disagree with the rule, but that's JMHO, and who am I ???

Guru

 

Funny...All I've read regarding dead periods is about how they protect kids and other sports from narsisstic coaches. Blessed are the cracked because they let in the light. But what about the kids who really want to do it.

What happened to us is when my DD could not get to her hitting instructor because his Mom was sick late last Spring early Summer, we ended up at UNC with Coach J working on hitting. Surprisingly, several of the players on the HS team ended up going with us. Why, because they saw first hand what my DD and other kids were doing to consistanly improve their skills and they wanted in on that. What those girls saw other girls doing and my DD SPILLED over onto them. It has been extremely positive. These kids have been working hard to become better hitters.

Then in October just before the Dead Period started in November, we contacted our coach and told her my DD was getting ready to sign up for a conditioning program (like we did last Winter before my DD even made varsity) and do you think any of the other incoming Frosh, JV, or returning Varsity want to join us? To our surprise and to the delight of the coach FIFTEEN girls (there was a waiting lsit) signed on to go and work independly at a training facility with a Sports Preformance Specialist working on core strength and absolute lateral and rotational speed mechanics.

Everything in the off season has been totally voluntary and the parents paid for the time. These kids have been doing this outside of school since the first week of November and finish their last session tomorrow night. BUT....because of rules to protect us and other sprots we were FORCED to go outside of the program to do what we do. And my guess is some of the narsisstic coaches who left SB are now coaching TB and charging parents for what they once did for free to escape the rules. Go ahead...slam me for that and finish me off, but they're out there.

So maybe this will help you Phreak in promoting fastpitch, motivating players. Got any kids who work like my DD and others (you know what we do), who are willing to drive other kids to group hitting lessons and form a TEAM conditioning program outside of the school program? The coach loves it, and wishes we could get rid of 8/8 and be at the least a little more open on Dead Periods. I hear you on exams. BTW, two of our varsity girls ARE playing BBall and will join us very soon...with the coaches blessing.

And the sad thing is there are people who see what we do as a negative. Go figure.

 

Here's The Deal !!

Just like paying high premiums on auto insurance....What makes me really mad is there some of you speeding ,and driving like maniacs causing my premiums to go up. One day I purposely drove 65 mph on I-485,and everybody passed me.I don't mean just barely passing, I mean zooming by, even so with Dead Periods, somebody just had to try to get the edge,and cause the rest of us to suffer. I didn't say I liked Dead Periods, I said if it protects a kid from getting stressed out then I'm for them. If anybody is doing something to really help a kid and for her interest, I commend you,but if it is for other raesons, well let's just say.......

Guru

 

I hear you loud and clear. There is not one thing we have done since last Summer with or without other kids that they did not want it. What my DD has done on a personal leve is what SHE saw other kids doing and she learned real fast...if I want to play like that I have to work and train like that. Just that simple.

I guess the debate rages on concerning dead periods so we will continue to do what we do as long as DD wants to do. If by chance we are able to promte the game and/or motivate another player(s) like others have done for my DD, then hopefully we help make it better for others who come up behind us when we are gone.

 

Agree !!

Agree 100% !!

Guru

 

UNC-W and Campbell will play a doubleheader Thurs., Feb 11 at Campbell. Take your whole team!!

Get on out there; get a little sun!

Sat. and Sun. there are games at Elon! Virginia, Elon, UNC-W.

Weather's gonna be real nice Sunday!

 

Tryouts begin Monday! Go to your local cages (Grand Slam, i.e.) and watch the weekend wonders try to make up for sitting around the past 5 or 6 months.

 

I would laugh at y'all for being two weeks behind us folks south of the border, but with weather being what it is, we've not gotten all that much of a head start.