High School Freshman

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My concern is for how long it takes them to break all the bad habits that come from facing the slower, non-moving pitching that characterizes so many JV teams. These girls only have a week or two to retool for travel ball.

I don't think this should be a concern. Good and well trained hitters should not be changing their mechanics because they are facing slower pitchers. I think as long as they continue to work on their mechanics at home or with their instructor they will be fine. It's all about muscle memory.

 

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... My concern is for how long it takes them to break all the bad habits that come from facing the slower, non-moving pitching that characterizes so many JV teams. ...

I second BCG's post. After all, MLB teams throw BP pitches much slower than game speed and players work on their mechanics by hitting off a tee and/or soft-toss.

Players will have to re-acclimate themselves to better pitching, but it's their fault if they develop bad habits from facing subpar pitching.

 

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Better quit practicing off those pitching machines . They will develop bad habits hitting pitches with the same speed and a ball with no movement. Aww the arrogance !!!!! Everyone says good habits are developed with tee work. I am thinking that ball never moves HAHA.
Softball is great sport quit trying to make it fit into a box and find the good in all of it. Enjoy the sport as the girls play it regardless of the level.

 

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DaBoss, always great to read your stuff but I think you missed my point. I'm SURE that young players can hit slower pitching. My concern is for how long it takes them to break all the bad habits that come from facing the slower, non-moving pitching that characterizes so many JV teams. These girls only have a week or two to retool for travel ball. I'm pretty sure that most of us agree that travel ball is where college coaches will see these players. I know we have four freshman on Buckeye Heat '95 who will almost assuredly be watched by colleges during the first three weekends in June. It's looking as though all four will make HS varsity, which is a relief because it avoids to a significant degree this problem of developing bad habits in HS ball.

so, the concern is that the freshmen won't be able to get the their skills back up to par in a short time before college exposure time? What about the sophs and juniors on the high school teams? they are facing the same circumstance?

Should a thread be started for upperclassmen like there is for the freshmen?

 

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Should a thread be started for upperclassmen like there is for the freshmen?

Yes please. I need something to completely put me to sleep. :lmao:

I think this post was started to get peoples experiences with either situation.....it's turned into "bad pitching creates bad habits" to "it's your fault if you develope bad habits" to " bad pitching doesn't create bad habits". Fact of the matter is, they aren't MLB hitters, bad pitching will screw with some of them and some will adjust. How many top tier teams have you seen stumped by a sub par #3 pitcher. It usually catches them offguard for an at-bat or two......but when they adjust, watch out. If you've never seen it happen, stick around, it happens all the time.

Back on topic. Has anyone's DD been adversely effected from sitting a lot at the varsity level? Or by playing mediocre JV?

 

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@woolfman:

I was specifically addressing the drop-off in quality of play when varsity is compared to junior varsity. Sophomores and juniors who are playing varsity generally face decent enough competition that there isn't a big retooling problem.

@catalyst: thanks for the glimmer of support. I was about to cry "uncle" to those who contend that there is no bad effect from playing JV ball right up until the travel ball season. But I think I'll just agree to disagree. BTW, it's not just about batting skills. Infielders with guns for arms, for example, may have to back off the speed if the rest of the infield can't handle her throws, and there are lots of other similar situations. But I understand that many people disagree with my opinion and have presented reasonable arguments why playing on the JV squad shouldn't affect the travel ball player's skills in the short term. I certainly agree that we are talking only about the short term and not the long term.

 

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Just my 2 cents. I kept a freshman on varsity thinking I would use her tremendous speed to run for pitcher/catcher. I saw some ability /skill during tryouts that helped me put her on varsity. I know that her only experience that I know of is Jr. High, but everyday she shows me moreand more...tracks the ball very well in the outfield, moved to the left side and really has picked up slapping and bunting, things she never did before. Coachable, will do anything....now if we could get a couple of our seniors to do this. :yahoo:

 

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I know this is a little off topic but if your DD is on varsity how is she going to play for her club team on May 15th. Her high school team more than likely will still be playing games after that date. She can't play high school ball and club ball at the same time

Here in Az the tourney starts at the end of April, beginning of May. Tournament is over Mid May or 3rd week at the latest.

 

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^^^ cgs. i should have done a cut and paste. it wasn't really directed at you, but the continuing thought process of how sitting and bad pitching effects freshmen. My question was really directed at anyone. would it not then effect others on the team, no matter what class they are in?

 

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How many Kids play some kind of slow pitch that also play fastpitch, different speed angle of pitch and mind set right?. I used to be of the opinion theres no way a kid should play both. The longer I have been into softball the more that mindset changes.

I dont see much difference between jv in alot of cases and slowpitch as far as skill set goes. The reason im making the comparison is I want my kids to hit a ball every chance they get. No matter what it is. As long as their hitting form stays intact what diff does it make what the speed of the pitch is.

In most cases Im willing to bet if a kid can hit a ball in jv the coach is so darn tickeld he wouldent dare touch her to begin with , he most likely has alot bigger problems to deal with like 50% of the kids on the team struggle with basic throwing and catching skills.

I liked the post I read earlier. they hit off a tee and the ball dosent move at all. You do soft toss and its super slow. You do front toss and its not much faster than soft toss .What good does it do to do tee work repeatedly. work on your form and then not use it. It dosent matter how crappy the pitching is, if the hitting form stays together the pitching is a mute point.

Tim

 

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It dosent matter how crappy the pitching is, if the hitting form stays together the pitching is a mute point.

Tim

SAY WHAT!!!!!!.....:lmao:.......JK buddie

 

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A big concern for me is that after 6+ years of travel ball, all of a sudden, they're telling the jv kids, that "we're here to have fun and learn, not necessarily to win games". It's a little like going back to house league.