Hitting and Hitters Discussion roll your hands....huh?

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As I posted earlier, this "helper" is NOT one of her coaches shes just that a helper. Thanks for the input though, I do appreciate the views of everyone here.

Yes, good point. With just a helper, then there is no obligation to follow her advice. I guess I'm just thinking of the more general situation when this type of thing happens with a coach of a team.

 

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There is another side to this that I have seen. Now and then kids get a little big for their britches. I was coaching rec ball last summer, a girl on the team had some cousins who were on a local team that won some state titles a few years back, they wanted to help out so I had them on the field with us any time they could make it.

One of them was doing soft toss before a game and a girl stepped up a little too close to her, she almost hit her with her first swing. She asked the player to move her feet so that she didn't get hit in the side of the head. I saw the whole thing happen and could tell the player was annoyed. The coach tossed her 8 or 10 more balls and didn't get her head caved in, the player got to swing her bat. Win/win, right?

Nope. The player walked directly to the dug out and told everyone how much she hated the coach. She was telling HER how to swing her bat. She is a travel ball player, she knows what she's doing, etc, etc.

 

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Joe ... while I agree on the surface with what you're saying, I just honestly don't think most mid-teen girls (or boys for that matter) have the maturity to handle that kind of discussion. Many are afraid to speak up to a coach, and others won't be able to do it and be respectful, not roll the eyes, etc. If that's the case, then I agree with the others about just nodding the head and going about their business. Certainly by the time they get to college, they need to be at a point where they are respectful to their coaches and can handle this.

 

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JWB: A kid absolutely better be able to be respectful and mature enough by mid-teens then to not roll eyes, or exhibit poor body language when instructed by an adult. There will always be the exception an I've had the occasional one that soon finds out its won't be tolerated. Kids should be able to by the time the are 9 & 10 able to exhibit proper behavior. Those that don't usually have parents who don't teach it. Most colleges won't recruit a player who doesn't have proper behavioral skills, most recruiters have a keen eye for this.

 

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Joe ... while I agree on the surface with what you're saying, I just honestly don't think most mid-teen girls (or boys for that matter) have the maturity to handle that kind of discussion. Many are afraid to speak up to a coach, and others won't be able to do it and be respectful, not roll the eyes, etc. If that's the case, then I agree with the others about just nodding the head and going about their business. Certainly by the time they get to college, they need to be at a point where they are respectful to their coaches and can handle this.

coach, you beat me to it.

 

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JWB: A kid absolutely better be able to be respectful and mature enough by mid-teens then to not roll eyes, or exhibit poor body language when instructed by an adult. There will always be the exception an I've had the occasional one that soon finds out its won't be tolerated. Kids should be able to by the time the are 9 & 10 able to exhibit proper behavior. Those that don't usually have parents who don't teach it. Most colleges won't recruit a player who doesn't have proper behavioral skills, most recruiters have a keen eye for this.

i have 4 very respectful kids and they are self confident kids but I don't think they would of approached a coach at age 14, 15 and 16. In college it's a whole different story...

 

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My 14U and 16U daughters could discuss swing mechanics with anyone. They both are big tee work kids and know their swings inside and out. So they would have no issue dealing with any coach. Since my wife and I both have coached them they have learned to be respectful and to also listen. As I tell them all the time, even if the advise does not make sense take a listen because it may be part a a bigger message that will help you. And additionally, their are a ton of ways to skin the cat. So learning a new concept will on;y make you better.

I must admit that when it comes to a swing our family is a bit maniacal. Palm up/Palm down is swing 101. So that is very scary but not the first time I have heard of coaches teaching that. I can not understand it but there it is.

My 14U daughter has team hitting once a week and her coach does not coach a swing but positions. All good hitters look the same at toe tap, impact, and after impact. So he works on those positions. HE has drills and punching bags we use to get make sure the girls have all their parts in the right place at these positions. What he works on does not interfere with a paid swing coach. My DD has been crushing the ball and she has been with him for 2 years. We actually stopped going to a swing coach because his hitting practice actually does all she needs.

 

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Joe I would normally agree with you, but if this is college ball and the kid knows more than the coach, it can back fire! You are stuck with it and have to decide if you want to stay or not.

 

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There is another situational aspect to this. If the coach just makes a casual comment, letting it go is wiser than confronting it. If the coach says the same thing again or in the middle of a drill, the player needs to make sure they understand exactly what the coach wants, give it a try and if unsure about it, run it by another coach and/or their private instructor.

There is not a set way of resolving this conflict other than the player needs to realize their performance in games will usually dictate how the coach pursues it.

 

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Joe ... while I agree on the surface with what you're saying, I just honestly don't think most mid-teen girls (or boys for that matter) have the maturity to handle that kind of discussion. Many are afraid to speak up to a coach, and others won't be able to do it and be respectful, not roll the eyes, etc. If that's the case, then I agree with the others about just nodding the head and going about their business. Certainly by the time they get to college, they need to be at a point where they are respectful to their coaches and can handle this.

coachjwb and Blue Ice, I agree with you guys that most teen girls are going to have a tough time doing what I suggested. I think maybe I'm saying this is the ideal. I think my advice, though, is maybe for the parents in the situation and I don't think they should be advising their kids to kind of lie to a coach. This is a tough and interesting situation. I'm not sure there are any great answers.

 

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My kids can carry on a intelligent dialogue... Most 14 - 16 year olds will not want the headache of perceived knowledge by most coaches in high school ball. My older daughter respectfully did her own thing and started from day 1 ( younger daughter also). We had a coach who asked my daughter if she meant to move (slap) and are you sure you want to bat left when you are right handed?

 

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Some great advice on here about how to handle the situation. A more direct way to handle it would be to hand this "helper" an Insider Bat hitting tool and ask her to make contact with a wiffle ball off a tee or the wiffle being front tossed while she rolls her wrists. Just be ready for a long day and some laughs while waiting for her to make any good contact......lol. It would make for a good YouTube video though....lol

 

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My comments were only pertaining to the eye's rolling, body language part of JWB's post. I totally agree that most kids in HS would have a hard or uncomfortable time discussing regarding why it isn't right to roll wrist or something similar with an adult coach or helper. My contention is that kids of any age who play competitive sports should know what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior when it comes to player coach interaction.

 

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I think the way to handle it is to be honest and simply tell the coach that you're having a hard time buying into this style of hitting and why. And that you are willing to try anything, but would like to be sold on this method of hitting. I know at this point it could go one of two ways, but if the coach has an open mind at all, then he/she will respond favorably. If the coach doesn't have an open mind and it's just his/her way or the highway, then you're stuck and have to make a decision. Stay and deal with it or leave the team.

DD had to make these tough choices early on.

We had a new HS coach DDs freshman year. She was placed on varsity and started the first 10 games 2 pre 8 reg season.
The Coach decided to change her swing and DD politely asked her why?
At the time she was leading the team in slugging%, OB%, RBI and 3rd in BA. My DD has no speed but over the years has lead her teams in extra base hits so ground balls are not her friend.
The Coach said she wanted to see less fly balls and more ground balls because it will help her teammates (that she is turning into slappers) to have hard hit grounders at the infielders to loosen them up?

She was benched the next 5 games as the team went 1-4 and the ladies and parents became frustrated so, DD asked to be put on JV to play.
Coach allowed her to go to JV where she had fun and a lot of success the rest of the season.

The next year after tryouts the coach told her if she did not change her swing she would be put on JV. DD told her she would think about it and came home and told mom and dad what had happened.
I set up a meeting to try to find out her logic.
I soon found she had none. She said she wanted at least half the team to be slapper/bunters from the left side and if my DD could fake bunt and swing through or hit hard ground balls it would fit better into her offence. She had no idea of what the team had done during her time as head coach in our league or even the players that were at the school that were not playing.
DD decided to sit her sophmore year out as did two others. The year did not go good for the coach or the team and she was relieved of her duties at the end of the season...
The new coach that came in remembered several of the ladies from the previous seasons and pulled them in and got the athletes out resulting in back to back sweet 16 runs her JR/SR years.
Yeah she missed a year of HS ball but got to experience playing another sport *** and the experiance made her a better player in the long run.

 

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DD asked the helper last night what exactly she meant by turning hands over on contact. Helper replied that if you meet the ball with palm up/down you will do nothing but pop out. I left her a message to call me so we could discuss the situation. When she called me I asked her myself what her logic was, she said times are changing in the fastpitch world and I need to get caught up? I politely told her, yes some things have changed over the years but this is not one of them. I asked her if she would ask a hitting instructor what he or she thinks, and I was told she doesnt need to ask anyone because she knows shes right? So I told her not so politely shes out of her damn mind, and if she teaches hitting this way its going to mess up alot of girls swings. Ive heard theres alot more parents ticked at this person for her attitude and it needs adjusted badly. Pretty sure shes on her way out the door. I held my tounge for the most part as did my dd, but I cant keep quiet forever. My dd is going to swing the way shes been taught her hitting coaches, thats it. Put on a smile

 

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DD decided to sit her sophmore year out as did two others. The year did not go good for the coach or the team and she was relieved of her duties at the end of the season...
The new coach that came in remembered several of the ladies from the previous seasons and pulled them in

Bold move.

I'm glad it worked out for you. Many players in similar situations wouldn't be so lucky. Because the coach is "always right" and the A.D. doesn't have the stones to make a personnel change.

 

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Bold move.

I'm glad it worked out for you. Many players in similar situations wouldn't be so lucky. Because the coach is "always right" and the A.D. doesn't have the stones to make a personnel change.

My DD was ready and planning to just not play HS ball.So, I stepped in and contacted the AD and made sure he was in the meeting I had with the coach.
He was surprised she did not know past team stats under her. She did not even know their league and over all records from the previous two years.As well as players avaliable in the school not playing and some of the other answers to my questions about game planning, prtactice routines and how it contributed to the fielding and hitting issues. She could not defend her decisions and that was her downfall.
It did not hurt that she was also a track style coach that would run over 50% of the practices. More punishment for play rather than instruct proper play.
Looking back it worked out great for all involved. (Except the coach) The school team got more ladies out for softball, had more succcess and the new coach brought in new ideas and actually built community with the Varsity, JV Fresh teams. As a young coach she related to the ladies well.
Not saying there were things I may have done different but overall the new coach has done a good job considering most of the ladies just play local rec ball.This year she has returning one A level travel player and only a couple that play in a couple local summer tournaments outside of our local rec. league so her coaching skills will be tested.

 

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Times are changing in the fastpitch world? are times also changing in the world of physics and biomechanics? Because otherwise you still don't roll your wrist at contact.

 

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Times are changing in the fastpitch world? are times also changing in the world of physics and biomechanics? Because otherwise you still don't roll your wrist at contact.

:lmao:;&....well said!

 

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... Ive heard theres alot more parents ticked at this person for her attitude and it needs adjusted badly. Pretty sure shes on her way out the door. I held my tounge for the most part as did my dd, but I cant keep quiet forever. My dd is going to swing the way shes been taught her hitting coaches, thats it. Put on a smile

Count your blessings she's just a temporary volunteer and not the head coach. Has anyone brought this up to the real coaches? Seems to me they would resolve this quickly.