Getting bad instruction...

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643dp, I don't think anyone would have a problem with tweaking or making adjustments to a situation. Adjustments during a game happens, it's part of playing. And I wasn't referring to something like that so please don't get me wrong.

When Bouldersdad mentioned that parents need to understand that skill development is a process, I believe a coach should also be aware of it as well. I don't know Bouldersdad but what had said sounded very down-to-earth common sense and I just expounded upon it a little.

With that being said, it sounds to me that coaching softball effectively and having player development essential, coaches today have to be able to incorporate input from other sources (e.g. private instructors) since more and more kids get input from other sources. To blindly dismiss this could throw a kink in that development process of a player.

A coach depending on their level of expertise could help or hinder player development by how they interact with the player. I don't think any coach would purposely cause harm to a player. Unintentionally, a coach may and not realize it.

Man, they don't pay you coaches enough....

Ha..yea they don`t...BTW I am not sure where my post went^^^^..intresting..

Your right all us coaches could use a little help, any coach that tells you they know everything about the game is not a real student of the game and I think ALL coaches should be students of the game to be able to teach it...


inthecrowd..I have a pretty good idea who your DD is and the school she plays for...Your DD is a fantastic kid a very hard worker and extreamly talented . Only advice I can give is be patient with your DD`s coaches..keep working hard, and good things will happen. I am very sure that the coaches are trying to do the right thing

 

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643dp, I appreciate the compliment and I'll pass it along to DD.

About the patience, I don't have to have it because I'm the passenger on this ride. It's DD that has to have it; it's her call not mine. And she has really good instincts when it comes to things that she feels is best for her. She's made decisions in the past that I thought were not good ones but it turned out she knew the situation better than me.

It's her sports career, her decisions. I just pay the bills and play cavalry when called upon.

 

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Doug, we tried the same thing but not the same results (not hitting). We barely got an acknowledgment from the coach. It's been really hard on my DD and it was a relief when the coach moved DD to a different position. Now, the coach may be switching DD back and my DD last told me she's sticking to her training. It's just very frustrating dealing with someone who refuses to listen, explain anything, or communicate at all. Everything is a "power" move and the talent is walking away from the program fast.

Things tend to work themselves out, HS ball is over before you know it ..

I did kinda put Alli out there with the coach, had she struggled hitting out of the gate it might have backfired for her ... Good news is she is leading the team in hitting - 8 for her last 14 with 2 triples and last night at Waynesville her first 'over the fence' HR of the season.

She called Howard 'Hitter' all excited to tell him .. of course I was listening to her and she did not waste any time telling him, "I need to get back down there for some more training..." ... lol

 

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Things tend to work themselves out, HS ball is over before you know it ..

I did kinda put Alli out there with the coach, had she struggled hitting out of the gate it might have backfired for her ... Good news is she is leading the team in hitting - 8 for her last 14 with 2 triples and last night at Waynesville her first 'over the fence' HR of the season.

She called Howard 'Hitter' all excited to tell him .. of course I was listening to her and she did not waste any time telling him, "I need to get back down there for some more training..." ... lol

I know I am repeating myself on some of what I am about to post....information is powerful and sometimes when you can get a coach to feel it and that is any coach, high school, travel or college the ego shield can be lowered. Crystl and I get this all the time which is why we opened up the coaches clinic to parents/ coaches clinics as Crystl heard what you were saying and it was her idea! Why are these coaches not understanding what you and Howard are teaching?

Some of the parents have used it as a way to begin dialogue with the coaches as to why they teach hitting down on the ball and rolling the wrist at contact. Most coaches can not even teach how to get balanced and yet force a particular stance on a hitter without considering how it effects vision, tracking, timing or rhythm. They move them up in the box without any regards to the hitters hours of training to establish a window to hit in.

I know who the kids are that practice on their own as they are performing and usually these are the same kids who have good grades. I do not see a kid every week as we have a hitting process that we encourage them too follow and if they choose not to do it then I choose not to work with them as there are many more wanting to learn and advance.

Doug's daughter wanted to learn and I think I know him and his daughter well enough to say she was frustrated with what and how she was being taught. To hear her on the phone last night reminded me of why we do this some times. That is a special moment for any coach when a student calls and says thanks coach!

Tim's daughter is another that works hard and wants it and Tim has taken the time over the years to become educated in the process. That does not mean he has been brained washed or tortured and we have not agreed on all facets of the swing and WE are better coaches for having the debates and hitters who believe in the process.

If you can get a coach to come to the clinic Sunday it might just help you and your daughter communicate better with their coach in my opinion.

Howard

 

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amen ... I told her last night that I got all the credit for her HR - why? because I was not there to distract her .. yea, I missed it - we had Hawks practice .. as a note - yesterday three girls on the Madison team - all Hawks players - had HR's - I have worked with both the other girls all last summer and winter on the same methods you have shown me and Alli....

It is a slow process - 10,000 swings is a long time to get too ... Alli has been working on it going on 2 years - just last month at her session with you - I saw for the first time she 'understood' the swing concepts and mentally was in tune with you .... even her dialog with you was different - much more engaged than the past... the light buld has come on!

 

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amen ... I told her last night that I got all the credit for her HR - why? because I was not there to distract her .. yea, I missed it - we had Hawks practice .. as a note - yesterday three girls on the Madison team - all Hawks players - had HR's - I have worked with both the other girls all last summer and winter on the same methods you have shown me and Alli....

It is a slow process - 10,000 swings is a long time to get too ... Alli has been working on it going on 2 years - just last month at her session with you - I saw for the first time she 'understood' the swing concepts and mentally was in tune with you .... even her dialog with you was different - much more engaged than the past... the light buld has come on!

That is why reading the book, The Talent Code, ought to be mandatory reading by players, parents and coaches as it offers an insight to what it takes to be the best at anything....sports, music, playing in a band, business, singing, chess and yes it even gives examples how criminals must practice and that made me laugh!

I am not sure if it is on an audio tape, however since Chris and Tim are challenged, maybe you can get a few of the girls to read it to them.

Deep practice is not a new concept as it has been in martial arts for over 1,100 years. Maybe how we approach learning has to change.

Allowing the body to feel it from the toes to the head or possibly from the head to the toes is where it all begins to come together.

The process is working....Howard

 

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I know I am repeating myself on some of what I am about to post....information is powerful and sometimes when you can get a coach to feel it and that is any coach, high school, travel or college the ego shield can be lowered. Crystl and I get this all the time which is why we opened up the coaches clinic to parents/ coaches clinics as Crystl heard what you were saying and it was her idea! Why are these coaches not understanding what you and Howard are teaching?

Some of the parents have used it as a way to begin dialogue with the coaches as to why they teach hitting down on the ball and rolling the wrist at contact. Most coaches can not even teach how to get balanced and yet force a particular stance on a hitter without considering how it effects vision, tracking, timing or rhythm. They move them up in the box without any regards to the hitters hours of training to establish a window to hit in.

I know who the kids are that practice on their own as they are performing and usually these are the same kids who have good grades. I do not see a kid every week as we have a hitting process that we encourage them too follow and if they choose not to do it then I choose not to work with them as there are many more wanting to learn and advance.

Doug's daughter wanted to learn and I think I know him and his daughter well enough to say she was frustrated with what and how she was being taught. To hear her on the phone last night reminded me of why we do this some times. That is a special moment for any coach when a student calls and says thanks coach!

Tim's daughter is another that works hard and wants it and Tim has taken the time over the years to become educated in the process. That does not mean he has been brained washed or tortured and we have not agreed on all facets of the swing and WE are better coaches for having the debates and hitters who believe in the process.

If you can get a coach to come to the clinic Sunday it might just help you and your daughter communicate better with their coach in my opinion.

Howard

Im not easily brainwashed. Nor am I easily sold a bill of goods, If I have mine do something I want proof that it works. why, how and what are the opposite effect if a certain move is made during a swing. I also would not put my name on anything that i felt diddnt do as I promised a child or their parents that it would.

H and I have had many a discussion, And its been a great learning experience and more than rewarding for Britt as well as myself over the last 7 years or so.

As far as torture........ You have tortured me since we first met way back when and you have enjoyed every second of it lol.

Talk to me nice between now and Saturday and I will let you set at the table with my name on it.... Who loves ya Brother

 

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Im not easily brainwashed. Nor am I easily sold a bill of goods, If I have mine do something I want proof that it works. why, how and what are the opposite effect if a certain move is made during a swing. I also would not put my name on anything that i felt diddnt do as I promised a child or their parents that it would.

H and I have had many a discussion, And its been a great learning experience and more than rewarding for Britt as well as myself over the last 7 years or so.

As far as torture........ You have tortured me since we first met way back when and you have enjoyed every second of it lol.

Talk to me nice between now and Saturday and I will let you set at the table with my name on it.... Who loves ya Brother

Will you give me an autograph ball or sign my tee shirt?

Talk to our brother Chris and make sure ALL our tables are near each other PLEASE!

Our pony tailed friend may be with us!

 

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Rumor is he is getting a neat Tattoo !

 

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Just have her ask the coach why they do things that way. Each time the coach tries to change the way she is doing somothing have her ask the coach why. Each time I try to explain something to my girls I want them to ask questions. I want them think about the way they play and the way they do things more critically rather than just going through the motions of making a play. I want them to understand why they make each move they make and what effect it has on the whole field. If the coach actually knows what they are talking about they will be able to explain why they are having the girls do things a certain way. Your DD doesn't have to give the coach attitude, she just needs to be inquisitive. A good coach will appreciate a player wanting to learn more about the game and how to play it.

Good Luck

 

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This is what I invision

Volkswagen Commercial - Father Son Baseball/Catch - YouTube

 

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This is what I invision

Volkswagen Commercial - Father Son Baseball/Catch - YouTube

I kid you not, but I was at an indoor training facility over the weekend and saw a young boy throwing like that to his dad. I did not stay long enough to see if he threw it back the same way...