Truely Unbelievable treat yesterday

Having known Crystal when she started pitching and I can tell you that a lot of HARD WORK has gone into her becoming one of the best around. Yes you have to make it fun and the kid has to WANT it to become one of the best. Sometimes a parent can coach their player only so long before some one else takes them to the NEXT LEVEL and give them a unbiased evaluation of their work ethic as well as their skills. It is a great feeling when you have a kid meet you at the door with ball and glove ready to work ,not matter if it cold or hot just ready to work.These kids use the fall to work on different things and improve their game whether it is pitching or hitting. Work ethic isn't something that is taught, it is something that is wanted.I' m glad you noticed how much spin is needed for ball movement. To be a effective pitcher at any level, 4 seam rotation no matter how fast will be hit hard. The ball has to move and the most effective pitchers I seen throw from 58-62 with good movement and able to change speed at will on the same pitch. As my DD"S say I work my butt off to kick yours. Hard work has it's rewards at any position . :xyzthumbs

 

FPSOFTBALL23,

It sounds like your daughter has a good work ethic. If she continues this through high school, then that is great for her. To go to the top schools you cannot stop working. There is always someone else trying for the same thing. That is why I think that grades are important. It give you a little extra to catch the coaches eye.

But I must disagree with respect with 2ACES. I am not sure that at age 14 or 15 all kids truely understand. I think that this is based on the kid and whether they understand what is out there. I have seen juniors in high school come to the realization that there is no where for them to go.

It sounds like you are on the right track. Keep up the hard work.

 

FPSOFTBALL23

Sounds like you get hot under the collar real easy. Hope your not that way when the 14 year olds mind finds it hard to concentrate sometimes when she is pitching. If you really read the post and thought about it I was just giving insight to what I have personally witnessed, not giving you personal advice. Tallented kids driven away. Didn't say a word about you or take a shot at you. Just some things for you to think about. These really fired up fathers about their daughters working hard and tallent etc.... fathers that didn't have anyone who would say I think you push too hard. It was something for you to reflect on......"I hope I don't do that"........or "this is me I need to back off". I didn't say all dads, or most dads, or YOU DAD. I have seen pushy dads. CF says the tallent is there so I hope she really does love it like you say. I've seen kids work their tails off and not have the tallent and I've seen the tallent not care one thing about playing after HS, and I've seen the tallent pushed away. I'm sorry you missed the point of the entire post, and got wound up so easily. I hope you show more patience with your daughter when she pitches and hits!!...........And as I said before good luck, hope she continues to work hard.

And Cardinal is probably right about most 14 or 15 year olds knowing what it takes. Jumped the gun on that. Alot don't have a clue to the work it takes. Your right some seniors don't even know.

 

I have met FPSoftball23 and I feel he is committed to what his DD wants and not what DAD wants. If he gets hot under the collar I haven't seen it. I think he was stating that he is probably the best judge of his DD's situation and I agree. FPsoftball23, thanks for your committment not only to your DD but to the players in your area. You can tell when a player wants to put in the time it takes to make it to the next level. I am just glad for those dad's like FPsoftball23 who are willing to make the sacrifice in time and money to be there for their DD and encourage them through the hard times as well. If it was that easy then every player would end up being a D1 pitcher. :xyzthumbs

 

An old saying goes like this (cleaned up a little), Opinions are like rear ends, everybody has one". So hear goes my rear end:

One important thing to remember is it's about the kid, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with a coach (high school or travel), dad, or a mom. If the kid is talented, then the coaches, dad, and mom are along for the ride. You may feel good about the situation, but that kid got there by wanting to. We, as their "mentors", have just provided the path as we should.

I have seen high school and travel coaches who think they have something to do with a kids talent. Even wanting the kid to change something about their game so the coach can put his/her mark on them and say something like, "see how she swings or throws or pitches, I taught that kid to do it". There are very few coaches who actually have played the game at the level these kids are achieving. And even if they did, it takes certain qualities to bring a kids best out. I have only seen a few coaches who truely inspire confidence and success. In the little experience I have coaching at various levels, the one thing that produces the best results is to build confidence.

It is very easy to live your life through your kid and sports. The excitement of being successful is very powerful and very desirable. The pressure to succeed on the field comes not only from coaches and parents, but from peer pressure also. The kids know when they screw up on the field and pointing it out doesn't make it any better. Next time they make an error, ask them if they know what happened. After they tell you, mention something about spending some time working on it together. Nothing more said! Let them learn from their mistakes, not fear from making them. Make sure you can look back 10 years from now and share fond memories with your kid about those long practices and great times. But make sure they know that hard work breeds success. Also make sure they know that this is the hardest road to take through college.

 

Truely Unbelievely treat yesterday

I guess I 've got to put my rearend in here too.FPsoftball23 best of luck with your DD & her pitching.I have a freshman DD who is a pretty awesome pitcher.My friend you 're about to find out bout High School,everything stated earlier is true.They grow up so quick!!!I must admit ,I have been living my past through her travel ball, but I was never as good as she is.When you're on a successful team it's so easy to get caught up in it.As far as work goes I have had to learn to back off some,but I do have 1 rule.As long as I am paying for her lessons, we will work at the house.We start on Tues,off Wed,throw Thurs,off Friday,usually playing on Sat& Sun,off Mon,& back to Tues.So this is only 2 days at home.She is ready to throw when its time,gets her days off, espicially Fridays.This gets more important the older they get.
She also takes a winter break for about 6 weeks.This seems to work really well for us, as I was told by 1 of the USCS pitchers not to throw everyday,to take your little breaks.Everyone's DD is different,so different scenarios work.I can say this bout my DD,& her coach will back me :when she steps on that field, she's gonna give you everything she's got,& will pitch if she's hurt & will not say 1 word,or will want to come out! I think that is what I admire the most about her.I would like to wish everyone a wonderful & safe holiday season, & look foward to the 2005 season, of HS, & travel ball,the Greatest Game on Dirt!!!! Go Cobras !!!!!!!!!!

 

Cardinal Fan: An old saying...... & Softball Nut: rearend too

Both well said. One great comment was living your athletic experience through your daughters athletic and learning a lesson. I see fathers who still havn't learned and those who never learned that drove their children away. Also, those that have the attitude that "my daughter wont be like those other kids when she gets to HS" have a very rude awakening coming. They all are HS teens, they all will get their license which is probably THE most important thing to all teens. Ball WILL take a back seat. Just how much of a back seat and how long it is back there is up to the kid. If it is that special athlete, they will make time for the hard work it takes to make it to the next level. But ball will still be in the back seat. A ball or my keys. There is no question which is chosen when they first get the chance to drive that car alone, or go pick up a friend who can't drive. Girls are worse than guys too. The whole thing boils down to enjoy your child whatever they are doing, and support them. Working to be the next "great" one from NC, playing because they like to play, or just out to be part of the group. If you are doing that, great....and if your not get honest with yourself....because one day soon you will bat your eyes and they will be gone. If all you do is ball, ball, ball with your kid then they WILL resent you for it. When they see you all they will think of is a ball and that is sad. A boy and a girl confided in me recently.......All my dad talks to me about is working at my game, we can't go or do anything without him saying something about ball.... Why can't he just take me to a movie....go out to eat.....go off for a weekend....Its always ball this or that.... I love ball but he is enough to make you sick of it..... Happy Holidays and Good luck to all dads who spend that quality time with your children whether they are working hard to be THE NEXT ONE, just working a little at it because they just like it, or just are there because they enjoy doing whatever with their child. :xyzthumbs :xyzthumbs

 

With the risk of being a little forward, nice rear ends!

I must agree with softball nut. If your daughter is a pitcher, you do need some time off to save your arm. I was thinking everything but pitcher. If an infielder or outfielder, never throw hard but once or twice a week. On drills, have them roll it to the side. Save that arm and keep the stress to a minimum.
Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family CardinalFan....too!!