HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to do?

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Just wondering how others have handled this situation in the past as I am sure it has come up before. My DD is a Freshman this year and has been working out with her D1 HS varsity team this summer & with conditioning . She is also on a very competitive Travel 16U team. I am just concerned about the different styles and how my DD will handle it. Example: One teaches & practices rotation, the other teaches & practices linear hitting. The differences carry over to fielding as well. I know what my DD thinks she should do... What are your thoughts. How do you discuss with the coaches?

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

One is right and one is wrong. High school ball won't get you a shot at college like travel ball will but as far as style and hitting form goes if you think your DD has a legitimate chance at playing in college then the form that a college coach wants to see is the right one. First and most critical a college coach wants to see flawless hitting form and if a girl is taught to do something other than that then it may well be strike 1,2, and 3 for her as a prospect.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

I tell ours to listen to the coach she is playing for at that time. So far it has worked well for her and this will be her third year doing it between two systems.

Buckeye -- what is right and what is wrong? I've seen both ways where some of the kids can't hit either style. I have seen unconventional hitters hit the ball regularly and you say how the heck can she do that and don't mess with it as it will mess her up.

Who's to say what is right or wrong? The hitter needs to be comfortable hitting the ball and as long as they get it into play regularly and on base regularly, either is the right way. But that's a whole another topic beaten to death.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

I say listen to the coach your playing for at the time. Once the High school season starts its 6 days a week with that coach. You will also be teaching your DD some valuable life lessons, like respecting authority and being part of a team.

I havent met too many good coaches that will change something a player is doing if that player is having alot of success. I had a friend that coached Hard Core travel baseball, he would tell the parents before the season, if your kid is hitting well he can go up there with a 2x4 and I'll leave him alone. If he is struggling at the plate then that becomes my problem and I am going to teach him what I know.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

be respectful to her coach and listen to what he is teaching. With that being said, theory on hitting changes often. Where the elbow should be, how should the knuckles line up, rotation of the wrist, your stride length, the length of your stance, the stance for bunting. With all these things along with the alignment the planets once thing is for certain take your hands to the ball. I have seen many college and pro players stance, swing and other things go against with is being taught yet they are being successful. I would say to any coach that is a girl is hitting the ball well why change her. Maybe a few small changes here and there but a total makeover NO WAY.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

I have coached both. But I have seen good college coaches change what they thought was the correct way to hit in the last year. So who is to say what is correct. Good coaches will not change unless they see something wrong or better and they should explain it. I always tell my players to ask and talk to me if they have something like this . Open communication solves many problems.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

I'm not saying which coach is wrong or right, what I am saying is if this girl isn't looking to play in college then stick with the style that works for her. A good coach shouldn't complain if she hits better and more consistantly hitting one way as opposed to the other's method. If she is looking to some day have the chance to play in college there are certain things all college coaches consistantly look for in one's form and if they don't see it you won't be high on anybodys list. If you want proof then look at Bigtrains DD. She's going to Northwestern and the Drohan's recruited her because her batting form is perfect, everything else is secondary after hitting technique.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

I always told my DD to listen to what every one of her coaches had to say and try it. Every good coach has a slightly different way to get to get to the same place. Take from each coach what works for you, use that and throw the rest away. Please note I said "good" coach. A good coach is one that knows the absolutes in technique and form for each skill. Bill Hillhouse says the same thing, there are many styles but only a few absolutes.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

If Bill said it you can take it to the bank.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

I agree with hockeybuckeye on this. If college ball is in the plans, forget the PC stuff, and do what is right for your DD. This may be what your high school coach teaches, or it may not. If she's on a truly competitive travel team playing at Compuware, Stingrays, Sluggerfest, etc., AND she's hitting well, she's figured it out. If you KNOW the teaching is wrong, why even try it? Just have her do what she knows is right, and things will fall into place. The icing on the cake is letting the high school coach THINK he taught her how to hit, field and throw.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

My daughter is also in the same situation, but it is more a difference in fielding. I don't think she will have a problem switching from one way to the other.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

If it is fielding then I would ask the coach if he uses Howard Kobata's Style? The response will tell you if they are teaching the correct Style..

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

It is not related to positions that Howard Kobata teaches, and it is not related to a style. It is more a coaching preference based on a game situation. My daughter has no problem switching based on what the coaches want.

 

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Re: HS vs. Travel Coach Different Styles What to d

I would encourage being respectful, listen but do what works or is correct for you personally. ?Most typical high school coaches won't mess with a travel player that is doing well for them. ?Some don't know what to teach or how when it comes to hitting. ?If that coach has successful travel experience as well, then that is a bonus.

As for the defense position options, as a travel coach and former high school coach, my defense coverages varied based on the strength and weakness of my players in those positions. ?I would not want a slower 1st baseman covering a bunt situation when I know the batter/runner has speed, nor would I want to have a late reacting 2nd baseman attempting to cover 1st in the same situation (or cheating so much to open the middle) ?Same is the case on the opposite side of the field. ?You have to play the game with what you have to work with at the time and adjust to make it work for everyone.

Nothing is cookie cutter method of doing things hitting or fielding, other then Kobata mechanics in fielding. ?Alot of good information to use as a base of mechanics, but each player is an individual and adjustments have to be made.

 

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Good post Ramsftbl: My travel teams I could pick my players and how I played the game was totally different then the cards you are dealt in high school.

 

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I agree RamSftbl, good post.

 

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I coach college players and speak to several colleges coaches. I don't know any of them that recruit a kid based on their "style." What gets their attention, besides GPA and degree major, is the numbers that are put up against the best competition.

 

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I would say let's not confuse style with proper technique. I talk with college coaches all the time and know quite a few and if they see things like dipping the shoulder, coming up under the ball instead of keeping the bat on plane, rolling the wrists too early, these are all things that get graded when being scouted.