How long till they want her to change

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I maybe wrong. But as a high school coach, but I ask all my kids the following ever year:
1... Who have you been working with?
2... Show me your work-out drills
3... And I get their instructors phone numbers and contact them on what theyhave been working on.
over the past 10+ years, about 95% of the off-season instructors have been great to work with me on continuing the girl's progress.

It is my personal belief that a coach can work with off-season instructors to help improve the individual player and inturn help hi/her program. I know I have a solid knowledge of the game; but can always learn more.

Very nice approach HeatQuest.......isn't that why coaches are there to coach? To help the individual improve.......good luck in your season.

 

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Up until now, I thought this was "somebody else's" problem.

My daughter, who is a senior, has been seeing reputable hitting coaches for the last three years. The work has paid off.

Now, the assistant HS coach is telling her to change about eight different things because he expects every player's swing to be "his way" only... Frustrating; to say the least. She tries to do as he asks while he's watching, then switch back to what really works when he's not. But that has to have a detrimental effect overall.

ARRRGH!

 

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Take ANY two instructors and things are probably going to be changed. If it is your private instructor then a new instructor or a private instructor and a high school coach, who is NOW YOUR NEW INSTRUCTOR. For at least the time you are with him/her.

 

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Good luck Looouuuise.

 

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Thanks PB. Her biggest obstacle to overcome is how do you "ignore" the coaches advice without looking like you're ignoring the coaches advice...

 

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Thanks PB. Her biggest obstacle to overcome is how do you "ignore" the coaches advice without looking like you're ignoring the coaches advice...

Hitting the ball should work in her favor since she knows how and it will look as if he is a genius;&

 

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This is why its so important for a parent to start early with your DD's mechanical understanding .

1- Girls that Apply their mechanics , but ignor the work it takes understanding their mechanics ,..can be influenced by misleading instruction .

2 - Girls that apply their mechanics and also understand their mechanics , Can instinctively deflect 95% of misleading instruction .

I simply tell my DD ,.. first an foremost be respectful ,..listen to the suggestion and weigh it out .If its something you feel worth considering ,then try it. If it effects you in a positive way , spend some time exploring it. If its a hair brained idea and you know it ,.play dumb , smile an focus on what youve been taught .

My DD is a catcher and has been receiving instructions form a former college catcher that has been teaching "proper" catching skills for some time. The catching coach (CC) also works very well with my DD and others. CC teaches the "what's" and the "why's" so DD knows what she is doing and why.

At the same time, CC is also teaching DD how to "read" the runners, manage her pitchers, signal plays to the infield and outfield, analyze the batter and her swing to know what pitch to call, analyze the batter on deck, remember what each kid did up at bat, what pitches not to call depending on the play of the infield, etc., etc., etc.

Why all this for a HS sophomore? Easy, because DD wants to learn it. She absolutely loves catching and wants to absorb everything she can. She pushes herself, not the CC, not me (trying to keep up makes my head spin), not anybody but her. And she is a pitbull behind the plate and has tremendous success with the help of the catching coach. And there's more to learn as well. But DD wants to learn all this.

As far as deflecting the misleading instruction, it gets really hard when you're dealing with a young drill sargent style dictator coach with a big ego that has to have everything their way and will berate, intimidate, and disrespect and player to force their will. Even if that coach really doesn't know what they are talking about and even admitted so.

This coach has refused talking with the CC, coming to catching lessons, and even the supporting information I emailed to demonstrate that DD is being taught proper softball catching skills. There is no logical reason why a kid should be put through this kind of ****. This is a BAD coach and the only reason DD is playing softball is she loves the sport and wants to play for her HS.

Because we (parents) got involved at the request of DD, the coach has agreed to work with us but really hasn't kept their word on that either (no surprise there). The coach has moved DD to a different position which a reasonable move but I believe a cowardice one as well. I like DD being able to play multiple positions and seeing and learning the game from different points of view. So we'll see what happens this season.

 

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I maybe wrong. But as a high school coach, but I ask all my kids the following ever year:
1... Who have you been working with?
2... Show me your work-out drills
3... And I get their instructors phone numbers and contact them on what theyhave been working on.
over the past 10+ years, about 95% of the off-season instructors have been great to work with me on continuing the girl's progress.

It is my personal belief that a coach can work with off-season instructors to help improve the individual player and inturn help hi/her program. I know I have a solid knowledge of the game; but can always learn more.

HeatQuest, I wish you were my DD HS coach because the situation would have never developed the way it has with our HS coach. We didn't choose this direction and haven't had anything like this with any other coach. Our TB coach has done exactly what you stated. In fact, our TB coach is sending our second catcher to our catching coach for instructions. That's about as opposite as you can get.

 

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Up until now, I thought this was "somebody else's" problem.

My daughter, who is a senior, has been seeing reputable hitting coaches for the last three years. The work has paid off.

Now, the assistant HS coach is telling her to change about eight different things because he expects every player's swing to be "his way" only... Frustrating; to say the least. She tries to do as he asks while he's watching, then switch back to what really works when he's not. But that has to have a detrimental effect overall.

ARRRGH!

Louuuuu, we did the opposite... kind of. We tried the logical, reasonable approach. That didn't work. We tried sharing what we learned. Nope. We tried including the HS coach. Rejected. So finally, we dug in because no other alternative worked. We dictated back that the HS will not change DD catching skills without our consent... period.

I don't care if they are the HS coach, coaches do not exist in a vacuum. And putting on a title and a cap doesn't make someone the supreme ruler of the universe. With DD playing HS, summer, and fall ball for the 4 year of HS - that's potentially 12 different coaches. There has to some consistency for the kid to develop. If a kid learns 12 different ways they will be a mess. Now I know I'm exaggerating but you get the idea.

 

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Here is a Question???

What happens when some of these players go on to college and the Head coach there trys to "change" a players mechanics or Say "hey Im the coach do it my way"????

Does the player Quit????.Does she cut the coach?? Does she respond and Say ' well thats not how my such and such coach told me how to do it....I think NOT

I am NOT a college coach and would LOVE to here from any College coach to see how they handle it...I would believe that a College coach would NOT take any of that **** at all....JMO..I may be wrong

I know a player who was no doubt one of the BEST hitters in NWO ( hit almost 500 her senoir year and a 4 year varsity player)who went to College this year and the coaches changed her swing because "they did not like it and thought there way would be better" now she is stuggling at the plate....


I TOTALY understand that Parents pay GREAT money for instuction ( I did for my DD)and that Kids are being taught a certian way, NOT ALL PAID INSTUCTORS KNOW EVERYTHING EITHER and just cuz they may have played does not make them a good teacher either...But people really need to quit BASHING HS coaches when they try to help out a player and do whats right for there Program... The HS season is so short and quick that The HC is only trying to do what they think is best..

Now for you people out there that know me know that I am very easy to get along with and always put the athletes best interest in mind first and I try my best to teach the best way for a player to be sucssesfull but I am really getting p`od with the lack of respect people give to HS coaches.... Now I know that some coaches "my not get it" and may not know everything...but maybe there is something that the players and parents can learn from them also...maybe its not the coaches that does not get it maybe it the "uncoachable kids" we deal with and or maybe it the Parents who believe there kids do NOTHING wrong...I personally bust my arse to teach and coach the game of softball and would do anything in my powre to help an athlete to acheive her goal But the lack of support now-a-days is making it very hard....

sorry for such a negative post I am usally ALL positive ( go back and check my posts ) but this thread has struck a nerve and I had to post my opinion......

 

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A great perspective 643pd. It something to think hard about. Thanks.

 

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643dp, I appreciate your input. My response is that by the time they're playing in college, the college coach should now be the only coach the player has. Tournament ball is over. Private lessons should be over. At this point; whatever the college coach says should be gold. (unless you picked the wrong college...)

 

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It's my personal opinion that you do what your coach tells you to do, whether you agree with it or not. I know that people spend a ton of money on instruction, however most coaches will leave a kid alone if they're performing. I know there are some coaches that try to tweak even the best players. The harsh reality is that the coach runs the team...IT'S THE COACHES TEAM, not your team. Your child is nothing more than a part of the team, albeit an important part of the team. Keep the peace and do what the coach is preaching. If the coach is telling you to do something that is hurtful to the body, then let them know. Most of the time they will back off.

I help coach our summer team. Many of our kids go to some form of instruction, but if they're not perfoming to our standards you better believe I'll change something if I see a problem. If a parent does not want to waver from their stance then they need to find another team with a coach they can walk over.

If they're performing I will leave them alone, even though I don't necessarily agree with what they are doing. I'm sure many coaches think the same way.

Len

 

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It's my personal opinion that you do what your coach tells you to do, whether you agree with it or not. I know that people spend a ton of money on instruction, however most coaches will leave a kid alone if they're performing. I know there are some coaches that try to tweak even the best players. The harsh reality is that the coach runs the team...IT'S THE COACHES TEAM, not your team. Your child is nothing more than a part of the team, albeit an important part of the team. Keep the peace and do what the coach is preaching. If the coach is telling you to do something that is hurtful to the body, then let them know. Most of the time they will back off.

I help coach our summer team. Many of our kids go to some form of instruction, but if they're not perfoming to our standards you better believe I'll change something if I see a problem. If a parent does not want to waver from their stance then they need to find another team with a coach they can walk over.

If they're performing I will leave them alone, even though I don't necessarily agree with what they are doing. I'm sure many coaches think the same way.

Len

Good post Len...the funny thing about it is the parents that are problems will read your post and say "Len is right, thats how it should be done, but my case is different ....."

 

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Good post Len...the funny thing about it is the parents that are problems will read your post and say "Len is right, thats how it should be done, but my case is different ....."

Lol Uber.....Thanks and I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.....

Len

 

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I loved the comment the High School coach won't even go to her catching lessons????

Uh don't hold your breath on that one.... Lets see 12 kids playing, each with their own coaches for whatever... You expect the coach to go to all of those... Even to your own DD's is unrealistic expectations. Coaches do have lives outside of school....

 

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Some years back, while coaching my son's middle school baseball team, I had a dad request that I not instruct his son's swing mechanics because he was seeing a "private instructor". Fair enough - and great that he was getting extra instruction. Although it was obvious to me that with his current swing he would struggle against better pitching. But I honored the dad's request.

There is a false sense of security from perceived success. What the heck does that mean? For example, let's take the 13u kid who, in spite of her extreme bat drag habit, is batting .400+ on her summer rec level team - easy against flat slow pitching. That most likely is perceived as success by her parents.

Now, all of a sudden, come high school (and against the occasional college prep pitcher) her batting average falls off the cliff. Did the high school coach fail to teach this kid what she needs to succeed? Is the high school coach "ruining her swing"? I seriously doubt it. All it took was a challenge to show the results of flawed swing mechanics.

The mistake a lot of parents make is measuring success against a bar that is set extremely low. When the bar is raised, failure creeps in and the blame game starts. The approach I think works is when parents become involved in the education process - just like should happen with academics. High school ball is unique in that you can't simply jump teams like summer ball. There is a HUGE advantage in knowing WHY your DD is failing in certain aspects of her game - just like academics. If she goes into high school with superior mechanics and a great attitude, NO ONE can change those things but herself.

 

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I loved the comment the High School coach won't even go to her catching lessons????

Uh don't hold your breath on that one.... Lets see 12 kids playing, each with their own coaches for whatever... You expect the coach to go to all of those... Even to your own DD's is unrealistic expectations. Coaches do have lives outside of school....

Lol, this has been one of my favorite threads since I've been reading OFC, the specialty coaches makes me chuckle. A catching coach has me laughing. Go to camps, go learn as much about catching as you can from as many different catchers and coaches as you can. In NWO for example there is Jo Ann Gordan who is a great coach former D1 coach works with many top catchers including current college catchers, there is De De Justice Tiffin university asst. Coach former SEC Catcher and current catcher in the pro league and Chris Mee the head baseball coach at the university of Toledo all well known for their work with catchers and to top it off we are 45 mins from University of Michigan they have 2 big camps a year. Catching is not like hitting or pitching, you can learn a lot from many different coaches and camps. Take what works from each camp...I think this is the first time I've read a parent complaining about a high school coach and coach wanting things done differently from a Catching coach. It's absurd. I'm on board with kids seeing good hitting or pitching coaches...but what's next a SS coach? Are high school coaches going to be forced to field a team with 12 kids who all have their own defensive specialty coaches...each with their own ideas on how the position should be played? No thought is given by the parents that coaches know their league, the players in the league, umps in the league etc., so they might want things their way.

When did we become a society when the boss (coach) is required to explain every decision to their subordinates or when the boss was forced to cater to each subordinates opinions?

Btw my DD plays college softball, during the recruiting phase her high school coach DID receive calls from a few coaches including the school she signed with. Their questions revolved around what kind of kid she was...so while your on here bashing your high school coach keep that in mind.

 

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Some years back, while coaching my son's middle school baseball team, I had a dad request that I not instruct his son's swing mechanics because he was seeing a "private instructor". Fair enough - and great that he was getting extra instruction. Although it was obvious to me that with his current swing he would struggle against better pitching. But I honored the dad's request.

There is a false sense of security from perceived success. What the heck does that mean? For example, let's take the 13u kid who, in spite of her extreme bat drag habit, is batting .400+ on her summer rec level team - easy against flat slow pitching. That most likely is perceived as success by her parents.

Now, all of a sudden, come high school (and against the occasional college prep pitcher) her batting average falls off the cliff. Did the high school coach fail to teach this kid what she needs to succeed? Is the high school coach "ruining her swing"? I seriously doubt it. All it took was a challenge to show the results of flawed swing mechanics.

The mistake a lot of parents make is measuring success against a bar that is set extremely low. When the bar is raised, failure creeps in and the blame game starts. The approach I think works is when parents become involved in the education process - just like should happen with academics. High school ball is unique in that you can't simply jump teams like summer ball. There is a HUGE advantage in knowing WHY your DD is failing in certain aspects of her game - just like academics. If she goes into high school with superior mechanics and a great attitude, NO ONE can change those things but herself.

Bingo....If she produces she plays and we all win ..If not it is MY JOB to make her produce

 

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643dp, I appreciate your input. My response is that by the time they're playing in college, the college coach should now be the only coach the player has. Tournament ball is over. Private lessons should be over. At this point; whatever the college coach says should be gold. (unless you picked the wrong college...)

Not trying to start an argument but why would private lessons be over ? And why would tournement ball be done? I know a few college players who come back to there hometown area and play tournement ball again and go see there old intructors if needed..

And also why are college coaches given more credit than HS coaches..not a shot at any college coach at all but you would be supprised at the lack of knowledge I have seen at the college coaching level also, Trust me Im not trying to knock anyone here just saying there are some VERY VERY VERY good HS coaches out there that know what they are doing and know what it takes to coach just because they are at the HS level and not college should not mean we as parents should not here what they have to say.