Getting bad instruction...

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What would you do if your daughter came home from practice and demonstrates bad techniques her high school coaches want her to learn. From hitting to fielding. I told her do what she knows is right and have been taught but she's worried she may be punished for it.

Should I try to discuss it with the coach? Should I send them emails with links that demonstrate proper techniques? Or would that be insulting?

 

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First and foremost you need to be sure that it is bad instruction and not just different instruction. Many of us fail to realize that things (techniques, standards, etc..) are constantly changing and the way we were taught may not necessarily be what is sheik today.

 

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Second how do you know that it is bad techniques being taught to her in high school. Maybe she has not been taught correctly by the others that you think are teaching her correctly.

I like the way Crystl Bustos says it, "Why is your way the right way, Show me".
Your daughter, if she has been taught the right way, and if she truly understands what she has been taught should be able to explain and show through examples / tests on why her way is the best way... like the way Howard Carrier demonstrates things.. But if she can not do that, then does she really know what the right way truly is.

 

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There is more than one right way to do a lot of this stuff. Some people have different philosophes. Trust me Im in that now, worst part is that its our varsity coach and Im coaching reserve and we have some disagreements on coaching but neither are wrong.

 

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...Should I try to discuss it with the coach? Should I send them emails with links that demonstrate proper techniques? Or would that be insulting?

I can guarantee emails with helpful links will not be appreciated.

I think I would tell the girl to do as the coach asks...it's his/her team. Gotta bite the bullet if she wants to be on the team. *shrugs*

 

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I can guarantee emails with helpful links will not be appreciated.

I think I would tell the girl to do as the coach asks...it's his/her team. Gotta bite the bullet if she wants to be on the team. *shrugs*

Sue is absolutely correct! Your dd should do what the coach tells her to do. When school season is over your dd can go back to the other instruction you deem correct.

Even though you might be able to send an email with links to proper techniques, I bet the coach could send you back an email with links to his/her "proper" techniques. I would also advise against discussing your differences with the coach. This will not help, but it could hurt your dd's play time. If your child wants to play school ball, she really should do what the coach wants her to do.

Len

 

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Not much you can do about it but, deal with it.

Sending coaching tips/drills will not help the situation and addressing the coach will turn your DD into a player that cannot be coached.

Just have her enjoy the experience and take any positive coaching she can get...two months will not kill her softball career...

 

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I would tell them to log on to OFC and read the following thread:

http://www.game-ex.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=34123;&

 

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I would tell them to log on to OFC and read the following thread:

http://www.game-ex.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=34123;&

And come back here and tell us how it went.

 

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Understannd that teaching this game is no different than teaching football, or basketball, or even teaching the Bible. It's all subject to interpretation. If there was only one method of doing everything, then all coaches (teachers) would be preaching the exact same philosophies. Former posters who suggested biting the bullet are probably correct.
It's the player's responsibility to take something from everybody & form her method. No method of hitting is correct for every batter. Different body styles, strengths, etc. exist. While one hitter may excel with a rotational hitting style, another may not be able to grasp it, but she may hit .700 with a linear style.
Just look at the professionals. While there are similarities. they are not all exactly the same.
Good luck with the world of vague!

 

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Don't bruise an ego and put your daughter in a socially awkward situation with her current coach. Encourage her to contribute to her school team as instructed and not to lose sight of the true meaning behind her playing school ball. She's volunteered to represent her school and community in competition. This is a privilage, not a right.

Regardless of the instruction, at the moment the school coach is her boss and has their own method they want used for the task at hand. It's up to your daughter to adapt or lose her job. This is no different than working in the adult world.

Teach a life lesson here. Perhaps over time and some trust is established your daughter can share her ideas with the coach and help improve the team effort. Remember; it's not her call or yours. Work on the people skills and wait for the right time to make suggestions but more importantly back off as a parent and let your daughter grow up and learn something from the experience.

 

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Second how do you know that it is bad techniques being taught to her in high school. Maybe she has not been taught correctly by the others that you think are teaching her correctly.

I like the way Crystl Bustos says it, "Why is your way the right way, Show me".
Your daughter, if she has been taught the right way, and if she truly understands what she has been taught should be able to explain and show through examples / tests on why her way is the best way... like the way Howard Carrier demonstrates things.. But if she can not do that, then does she really know what the right way truly is.

lol - it was a lesson with Bustos that started her on her hitting fundamentals a couple years ago. I shouldn't worry to much I guess, keep a tight lip and see how the season gos.

 

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Thanks for all your perspectives - very helpful to get insight from different views. The census seems to be that it's the coaches ship and he's captain. I have always taught my daughter to have an open mind and if something is different from what she has been taught, she should discuss it with me. But I'll make sure she understands that for this season, it's the coaches way and do best she can with his methods.

 

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The emerging consensus on this and other threads appears to be that the player should do exactly as the HS coach suggests. I'm not drinking that kool-aid, at least with respect to a player who is performing well. If I had a DD in high school who made a positive contribution to her team, I'd tell her to nod respectfully and keep doing what she was taught by her private instructors and what has resulted in success in travel ball. I acknowledge that the people in favor of doing what the HS coach suggests are being reasonable and that there is no perfect answer in this situation. I just can't agree that a HS coach always knows what is the best technique for a player who has sought out private coaching prior to her HS career. If the HS player is productive, leave her technique alone. That, by the way, is the rule that I apply to myself in travel ball. You won't see me trying to change a player who has a great batting average and fielding percentage. And frankly, I also won't try to change the player who has miserable stats and clearly doesn't want to change.

What I find interesting is that the consensus on doing what the coach asks has emerged prior to any games this year.

 

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Here's how we handled this already this year. Daughter shook her head to the coach and said "OK". Came home and told me about about what the coach asked her to do. I spoke with her travel coach to see if what the HS coach told her was something she needed to do. Travel coach said that it could be something a coach would ask a hitter to do, but not really nessasary. Travel coach also said that it should not affect her swing mechanics. I told daughter to continue to say "OK" and do what works for her. Nobody's ego gets bruised and no hard feelings and confusion. DD is still hitting the heck out of the ball.

 

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Once more into the breech we go....I would and have drawn the line at demands that are stupid or dangerous. Stupid---come to a complete stop while centering a grounder. Danger--attempt a drill having the girls do a 180 and then pivot before throwing to base(maximizes torque on knee). Remember-these coaches are NOT going to be paying your kids medical bills or helping them out of cars after surgery....And to play the other side of the coin, some school coaches do know more than some travel coaches...So make sure you are "right", and remember each coach has thier own style.

 

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The emerging consensus on this and other threads appears to be that the player should do exactly as the HS coach suggests. I'm not drinking that kool-aid, at least with respect to a player who is performing well. If I had a DD in high school who made a positive contribution to her team, I'd tell her to nod respectfully and keep doing what she was taught by her private instructors and what has resulted in success in travel ball. I acknowledge that the people in favor of doing what the HS coach suggests are being reasonable and that there is no perfect answer in this situation. I just can't agree that a HS coach always knows what is the best technique for a player who has sought out private coaching prior to her HS career. If the HS player is productive, leave her technique alone. That, by the way, is the rule that I apply to myself in travel ball. You won't see me trying to change a player who has a great batting average and fielding percentage. And frankly, I also won't try to change the player who has miserable stats and clearly doesn't want to change.

What I find interesting is that the consensus on doing what the coach asks has emerged prior to any games this year.

Amen...

 

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IMO; Muscle Memory will determine what the player does in the heat of the moment! When a player receives conflicting coaching technique, it only broadens her perspective of what works best. Unless the technique is harmful, encourage her to try it. When in question, encourage her to speak with the coach. It will go a long way!

 

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Let's quit messing around with these kind of posts....What does the high school coach want your DD to do and what is your understanding on what she should be doing?

Thats the only way to figure out if she's being taught correct or incorrect, or if it even matters.

Once its established who is right, wrong or indifferent...then the advice your given maybe something you can actually use.

 

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Uber:

I think you are clearly right that setting forth generalities, of which I have been guilty, doesn't make much sense with respect to this topic. Of course, the problem is that asking a poster to be very specific about the conflicting instructions may reveal the identity of the coaches and thus expose the player to a risk of retaliation.