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when reading here I see alot of parents describe their dd in hopes that a team will pick her up. I have also advertised my dd here. I am wondering how many dd are over hyped by their descripton
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Had 1 parent call me last year and said she was a pitcher at 10-u that threw 55 mph, had a drop, curve and change-up. Come to find out she threw about 38 , no curve or drop and below average change-up! :-/
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I think most parents mean well and want the best for their daughter, but they're a little biased, thinking the daughter is better than what she really is.
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I agree, but you never know till you look at them..
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Nah!! Parents who are biased about their kids? Can't be. It's my understanding that this symptom is often referrred to as Daddy Bifocals. ;D ;D ;D For every young lady, there is a team that will match their skill level. I hope all girls that want to play will find a team that will help them learn and grow as a player. And God Bless all the parents who are actively helping their DD's.
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I have never understood that. Why make your daughter out to be more than she is. Do these parents really believe that the coach isn't going to notice.Not to mention what is it doing for your kid if you are making her out to be something she isn't. How is she going to feel when she realizes she isn't "all that" or what if she thinks that she isn't good enough the way she is that you have to brag her up. We tend to be the opposite. I tend to criticize the hardest and let the coach judge her for what she really is. I can't stand listening to parents who start with my daughter plays blah, blah, blah I tend to tune them right out. So not all parents are wearing bifocals when it comes to their dd's but I do see a lot of them out there.
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I find emails that I receive from players usually are more accurate than the ones I receive from parents. Just an observation.
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Well isn't this great!!! I just got a call from a dad who advertised his dd with a .687 avg., runs to first in 2.97 secs. and throws 8 different pitches with a knuckle-rise as her best pitch. He said she started every game for the Classics last year and ask me I needed a good scorekeeper also. You guys got me wondering now.
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Ringer don't you already have a scorekeeper? Isn't your other-half, Statman, your scorekeeper? ;D ;D
Parents will always talk up their DD. That is our job right? :-?
Parents will always talk up their DD. That is our job right? :-?
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Ringer, Statman cannot come to the computer and play right now, he is busy changing diapers. The post was very good though.
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Yeah, he has been absent lately. Statwife must have put the hammer down. When you mentioned changing diapers, I just stopped and thought, oh how glad I am that those days are behind me.
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I have a tendency to do the opposite with my dd. I realize that she may be a good player in my eyes but each coach has different standards they recruit by. I allow her ability to speak for her. If your dd is a good player then others will notice, there is no need to brag her up to everyone. When I look at ones ability, I look at the little things, her glove placement when fielding a grounder, her smoothness in transferring and getting rid of the ball, is she moving on the pitch, the way she approaches a ball, the way she goes back on a ball just to name a few.
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Definitely less than 50%. birdmoken3 asked why parents try to claim their daughter is more than she is when eventually a coach is going to see the girl. Good question, but it's because in most cases the parent believes what he/she is saying. I think very few parents are trying to mislead.
The other thing I hear all the time from parents (and has been stated on this thread) is that their evaulation of their daughter is more harsh than anyone else's evaluation. I am not making a judgment on any of the parents on this thread since I don't know them. Again, almost all of the parents who say this do believe it. But my experience is that it's true maybe 20% of the time from the parents who make the claim.
Now what is funny is that most of the time, the parents have a pretty good perspective on everyone else's ability except their own daughter.
The other thing I hear all the time from parents (and has been stated on this thread) is that their evaulation of their daughter is more harsh than anyone else's evaluation. I am not making a judgment on any of the parents on this thread since I don't know them. Again, almost all of the parents who say this do believe it. But my experience is that it's true maybe 20% of the time from the parents who make the claim.
Now what is funny is that most of the time, the parents have a pretty good perspective on everyone else's ability except their own daughter.
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You go, Joe - as usual right on the money - or shall I say evaluation - especially that last statement.
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Most kids that make it into college softball generally have parents that don't have a warped perspective of their DD's ability. It seems that if they made it that far, the kid MUST have had some sort of ability. This topic could easily be expanded to include coaches who have a distorted perspective of their team.
As you mature in this sport, you find that there are a lot of parents AND coaches that really like to toot their horn - with ultimately nothing substantial to show for it on the field, where it really counts. Over the last few years, I've read on this BB many topics where parents, as well as coaches, try to inflate their player's/team's net worth with nothing more than lip-service.
Most of the college coaches in Ohio have a "network" of trusted sources. When one of those sources drops a prospect's name, you better believe that the coach is all ears. These trusted sources are trustworthy for a simple reason - they know talent when they see it, and have that reputation. These sources are not biased, as a parent or high school/travel coach might be. Some of these sources are actually parents - parents of ex-college players. I tend to listen more to someone who's been through the system, and knows what it takes.
After listening to all the banter for years, as college coaches have, you figure out who knows what they are talking about. The high school season is really entertaining in that respect. Come springtime, read the bragging posts on here about how good any given high school team is. Then go watch for yourself. Some of them wouldn't give the little Slammers a good competitive game. Ironically, the teams that rarely get bragged about are playing in Ashland at the end of the season. Hmmm...
As you mature in this sport, you find that there are a lot of parents AND coaches that really like to toot their horn - with ultimately nothing substantial to show for it on the field, where it really counts. Over the last few years, I've read on this BB many topics where parents, as well as coaches, try to inflate their player's/team's net worth with nothing more than lip-service.
Most of the college coaches in Ohio have a "network" of trusted sources. When one of those sources drops a prospect's name, you better believe that the coach is all ears. These trusted sources are trustworthy for a simple reason - they know talent when they see it, and have that reputation. These sources are not biased, as a parent or high school/travel coach might be. Some of these sources are actually parents - parents of ex-college players. I tend to listen more to someone who's been through the system, and knows what it takes.
After listening to all the banter for years, as college coaches have, you figure out who knows what they are talking about. The high school season is really entertaining in that respect. Come springtime, read the bragging posts on here about how good any given high school team is. Then go watch for yourself. Some of them wouldn't give the little Slammers a good competitive game. Ironically, the teams that rarely get bragged about are playing in Ashland at the end of the season. Hmmm...
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Sammy you are true with the statement that a bunch of the teams that aren't bragging end up in the states at the end of the year. If your teams is good they do not need to be bragged about,. Everyone will already see this.
The parents wh are realistic are nice to encounter. I had one dad say he knows his DD will never be great, but she just loves to play the game. That was refreshing to hear!
The parents wh are realistic are nice to encounter. I had one dad say he knows his DD will never be great, but she just loves to play the game. That was refreshing to hear!
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As a parent I feel there is nothing to be gained by bragging about your dd. For as sure as you do the next time she takes the dirt will be the exact opposite of what you have stated. I have the philospy of let their play speak themselves and if it brings compliments from others say Thank you and "act like you have been there before". In general there is always someone bigger, faster etc. you just have not met them yet.
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I just had my DD tryout for a reputable organization. Team was looking for a experienced softball player. Unfortunately she wasn't, but I told them she was an athlete and very coachable but low on softball IQ, with proper coaching I believed she would develop into an above average ball player. Luckily for us she made the team, I believe by telling the coach he looked for potential rather then inflated skills. ;D ;D ;D
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Rolaids13 - Sounds like your DD has a lot of potential. With the exception of hitting skills, coaches at the higher levels look for coachable athletes who have the athletic skills for outfield, middle infield, and corners. Pitchers/catchers are about the only positions that must come "game ready". Great coaches can spot athletic talent if it's there, and mold a kid who has the right mindset into a skilled softball player. If the athletic ability is there, a coach is more than willing to teach them the game. The surprise may be that you won't be playing the position that you grew up with. But great athletes can do that without missing a beat.
Your comment about potential vs. inflated skills is right on the money.
Your comment about potential vs. inflated skills is right on the money.
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Sammy said: The surprise may be that you won't be playing the position that you grew up with. But great athletes can do that without missing a beat.
That is so true, and to that I would add good ballplayers can also do that without missing a beat. Other than pitcher and catcher, a good ballplayer can move from position to position with no problem.
That is so true, and to that I would add good ballplayers can also do that without missing a beat. Other than pitcher and catcher, a good ballplayer can move from position to position with no problem.