Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitchers v. Fielders and Playing Time

[default]

That's a brave approach!! Yes, your players get complete experience at 1 position and can get very good at it as opposed to dividing the experience between 2-3 players. It also makes for easy line-ups before the games. BUT, you need to have about 6 sets of EXCELLENT parents who aren't going to mind paying $400-$1000 for their kid to NEVER get a shot at the infield. You also have to pray to the good lord above that you never have an injury. By the sound of it, your infield does NOT adjust well if you don't have all the "starting infield" in, so you may be in big trouble if one of your infielders gets hurt. Players get hurt all the time at home, school, or the ball fields. They have weddings, funerals, graduations, or the Chicken Pox. There will come a time when all your players are not available, and if you don't prepare for it, it will bite you hard!! Not to mention you are left with a team of 1 dimensional players. If those players move onto a different team for whatever reason, they will only have learned 1 position the whole year. I know as a coach, I like my players to be more versitile. I want to know that they are capable of learning and playing more than 1 position. It makes them more rounded and they can understand the game better if they see it from more than one point of view. Our job as coaches is to develop well-rounded players, not win every game.

Right on Klump, I told my parents if I only teach their daughter one spot and they get to high school and there is an all-state performer there who is only a year older her chances of playing that position is just 0% until they become a senior. Why is it that coaches think that they have to play their best nine all of the time? People pay good money for their daughters to play on travel teams.

This is my second time around and I still haven't seen a team where everyone on it goes to college to play softball.

Winning is nice but it's about teaching the kids to love and respect the game. If you're fortunate enough to have kids go on to play ball in college, then as a coach you have done your job.

 

[default]

They have to Learn More than one position as they get older Period..... If they have college aspirations, 50% won't play the spot they think they will...

 

[default]

""""however travel ball u are playing your best 9"""
Then you should only have 9 players.

I agree- if those other players are not good enough to play, why are they on the team? With 5+ games every weekend you should play everyone some and let everyone get some rest so when you get to the big games on Sunday your best 9 are well rested to play. Of course it may not be equal but in pool play you should be able to get everyone enough time. Most girls who are really good can play competently at more than one position. If you are only giving the last 3 players some scraps both they and their parents are going to be unhappy and chirping all the time. They are paying a lot of money and investing a lot of their time.

 

[default]

In travel ball, you play your best nine players. We were 3 deep and all three played every game whether pitching, first , third , left or second. Forget about the heat and stay in the shade when needed and drink a lot of water. The best play hands down

 

[default]

only 9 players? give me a break

seems the more watered down the teams get, the more of these threads about playing time & positioning pop up

why is the focus always what someone else should be doing? if you want to own your position, go out and work for it. competition for positions will only get tougher as they age and expecting the coach to just give it to you because the other girl is also a pitcher will lead to lots of disappointment. pitchers that can hit & play other positions are the most valuable, especially when playing ASA.

 

[default]

only 9 players? give me a break

seems the more watered down the teams get, the more of these threads about playing time & positioning pop up

why is the focus always what someone else should be doing? if you want to own your position, go out and work for it. competition for positions will only get tougher as they age and expecting the coach to just give it to you because the other girl is also a pitcher will lead to lots of disappointment. pitchers that can hit & play other positions are the most valuable, especially when playing ASA.

Well said.

 

[default]

I just always told coaches not to "punish" my DD by sticking her in the outfield! Everyone knows that's where you put all the bad kids! Just ask any parent... most teams consist of 7 pitchers and 7 shortstops!

 

[default]

I like to keep the same infield together as much as possible. I believe this builds continuity and you will have less mistakes. Look at the HS Playoffs how dominate pitchers lose games because the other team beat their defense. One team #1 pitcher played third base when not pitching, got into playoffs pitches every game and the other third baseman commits 4 errors and loses game 3-1. Another team moves SS to right field and puts #1 pitcher at SS. In the playoffs the now starting SS and #1 pitcher allow a pop-up to hit the ground just outside the pitching circle run scores and the now starting right fielder misplays a ground ball three runs score lose game 5-4. In travel ball there should not be a great drop off in talent pitchers pitch catchers catch and everyone else hits.

How many people play one position their entire career? Take a high school team where girls have played on different travel teams- you can only have one SS, what if 3 girls have only played SS every summer. Versatility is good. My DD played 2B/3B this year for the HS, but next year will move behind the plate as starting catcher. If she hadn't played multiple positions in travel she wouldn't be able to do this. If you are only playing people in one position you are not helping them out

 

[default]

The best 9 play is the worst advice you could give to any parent or coach. Just carry 9 if thats your attitude, the reason you dont just carry 9 is the exact same reason the best 9 play is outdated thinking. Develop your players if your a coach and dont mistake my line of thinking as equal playing time.

Pitchers resting between starts if she's your ACE, is not uncommon and not a bad idea on a hot saturday in June or July, Bracket play you might need your ACE back to back games.

As hit on by a few people heat and ab. Not teaching kids multiple positions is a mistake. They learn to play mulitple postions by playing them, if your a coach that wants a set infield, encourage your players to play for their community teams on the side and learn another position or two.

My oldest plays for the SGS-Magic 18U team that finished 3rd in the Undefeated bracket at the Colorado Sparkler, they have 7 signed D1 College players, 2 D2 signed, and a kid going to a NAIA school. (2 kids are unsigned) Only the NAIA kid plays 1 position and she's a pitcher. All the other kids are talented in mulitple postions, and play them on this team. Through all our games the past week, 17 total in colorado including quite a few in bracket play, other then our pitchers every kid played in every game.

Now my middle DD is 10U and when I go to tournaments and watch the 10's play, I see on most teams the same kids game in game out sitting on the bench. Something has gone wrong IMO, to me putting winning above developing players at that age is backwards thinking. Everybody plays to win, that goes without saying, but play to win with your team, all 11 or 12. Be a coach, coach these kids up, 1 through 12.

I respect all the time, effort and different opinions coaches, players, former players and parents put into the sport we all love. But at 10-13U ish we have no idea how a kid is going to develop is she maxed out, is she a late bloomer etc. At later 14's-18's the players for the most part have sorted themselves out, the dedicated, talented are still playing. As a coach of 10-12's IMO your attitude should be to have all 12 of your kids playing as seniors in high school. Teach them to love the game.

/rant off :lmao:

 

[default]

Of course it takes more than 9 quality players to compete at a higher level. There are so many travel teams that the talent and coaching skills are spread thin. The softball world has changed a lot over the years. Tournaments were mostly double elimination. If you got into the losers bracket you were going to play six or seven games back to back. There was 1st and second seed in State going to 1 National tournament with about 70 teams there. and no national qualifiers till I turned 17. Big states were broken up so they had more attendance. Our top two pitchers would pitch 3 games a day in 100 degee heat and still played every game if not pitching. Pitchers who also had killer bats. We all survived and all played Division I or II in College. Endurance. But watch those pitching arms!!!! Jackets were still worn in between innings even with scorching temps.

 

[default]

Of course it takes more than 9 quality players to compete at a higher level. There are so many travel teams that the talent and coaching skills are spread thin. The softball world has changed a lot over the years. Tournaments were mostly double elimination. If you got into the losers bracket you were going to play six or seven games back to back. There was 1st and second seed in State going to 1 National tournament with about 70 teams there. and no national qualifiers till I turned 17. Big states were broken up so they had more attendance. Our top two pitchers would pitch 3 games a day in 100 degee heat and still played every game if not pitching. Pitchers who also had killer bats. We all survived and all played Division I or II in College. Endurance. But watch those pitching arms!!!! Jackets were still worn in between innings even with scorching temps.

You guys were tough back then, it was from walking uphill 10 miles, in a 1' of snow, barefoot to and from school.

 

[default]

Of course it takes more than 9 quality players to compete at a higher level. There are so many travel teams that the talent and coaching skills are spread thin. The softball world has changed a lot over the years. Tournaments were mostly double elimination. If you got into the losers bracket you were going to play six or seven games back to back. There was 1st and second seed in State going to 1 National tournament with about 70 teams there. and no national qualifiers till I turned 17. Big states were broken up so they had more attendance. Our top two pitchers would pitch 3 games a day in 100 degee heat and still played every game if not pitching. Pitchers who also had killer bats. We all survived and all played Division I or II in College. Endurance. But watch those pitching arms!!!! Jackets were still worn in between innings even with scorching temps.

Ok, pool play let everyone play and let them battle it out for starting positions. Every player should at least get a chance to prove their abilities. I sometimes stay in my old school softball mind. It just isn't like it used to be. but I still love the game, but like to see girls competing strongly against each other.

 

[default]

You guys were tough back then, it was from walking uphill 10 miles, in a 1' of snow, barefoot to and from school.

Ok, is that another dig on me?

 

[default]

Ok, is that another dig on me?

Um no it was a joke, and another dig?

 

[default]

Yes a pitcher should be allowed to take another position on the field as long as they playing at a higher skill level. And yes my dd is a pitcher, (was a shortstop) however our new coaches feel that she should rest. Why does she work out all year at hitting,pitching and fielding, to sit and rest. Sorry to rant on however if you would happen to catch a look at our team u would understand.(12u) If you are playing rec-ball i could see coaches trying to even everyone's playing time, however travel ball u are playing your best 9

Well said!!!!!

 

[default]

Um no it was a joke, and another dig?

It was funny and I did laugh. but coaches are to develop players off the field and let them battle for their positions. Have you ever played womens fastpitch.

 

[default]

Ok, pool play let everyone play and let them battle it out for starting positions. Every player should at least get a chance to prove their abilities. I sometimes stay in my old school softball mind. It just isn't like it used to be. but I still love the game, but like to see girls competing strongly against each other.

Yea your comment about pool play is the way to go IMO, teaches the kids to compete game in game out also encourages kids to work on their own.

 

[default]

It was funny and I did laugh. but coaches are to develop players off the field and let them battle for their positions. Have you ever played womens fastpitch.

Nope and it doesn't matter, I've played hockey at a high (travel hockey is very similar in the demands as travel softball), basketball and Baseball. Coached travel Hockey, school basketball and now that I have 3 daughters in range of 18 to 5, I coach both rec and travel softball. One thing has never changed for me, its player development and making sure everybody was part of the team. I pretty much agree with everything you've said LOL.

 

[default]

Of course it takes more than 9 quality players to compete at a higher level. There are so many travel teams that the talent and coaching skills are spread thin. The softball world has changed a lot over the years. Tournaments were mostly double elimination. If you got into the losers bracket you were going to play six or seven games back to back. There was 1st and second seed in State going to 1 National tournament with about 70 teams there. and no national qualifiers till I turned 17. Big states were broken up so they had more attendance. Our top two pitchers would pitch 3 games a day in 100 degee heat and still played every game if not pitching. Pitchers who also had killer bats. We all survived and all played Division I or II in College. Endurance. But watch those pitching arms!!!! Jackets were still worn in between innings even with scorching temps.

That's how it was when I played too......ahhh the good old days . Remember when they had 1 state tournment for the whole state and you had to come in 1st or 2nd to go to nationals. You couldn't just buy your way in, you had to win your way in!!

 

[default]

That's how it was when I played too......ahhh the good old days . Remember when they had 1 state tournment for the whole state and you had to come in 1st or 2nd to go to nationals. You couldn't just buy your way in, you had to win your way in!!

No doubt, who did you play for? I played for Buckeye Babes out of AKron from 9 to 18? We might have played against each other.