Who should I start?

[MikeJ]

I have 2 pitchers on my 10U rec team. One is about a 65-75% strikes at 40-45 mph, and the other is about 15% strikes around 25-30 mph.

We have a 3 inning or 9 out pitching limit per game and 6 inning games.

Who do I start?

 

[Captain_Thunder]

I think you start the quality pitcher & let the RF have a crack at pitching in the 4th!

 

[MikeJ]

I think you start the quality pitcher & let the RF have a crack at pitching in the 4th!

might not be a bad idea, and pray that the hitters can bring in 15+ runs!

 

[jayflyer98]

I have 2 pitchers on my 10U rec team. One is about a 65-75% strikes at 40-45 mph, and the other is about 15% strikes around 25-30 mph.

We have a 3 inning or 9 out pitching limit per game and 6 inning games.

Who do I start?

I would start pitcher one so she pitches to the top of the line up. Can you re-enter pitchers? Meaning throw your #1 in inning one and your #2 in inning two and bring back your #1 in inning 3?
And a 10U pitcher throwing 75% strikes at 40-45 mph probably should be playing some travel ball and not just rec. Maybe she is. That is pretty decent for that age.

 

[MikeJ]

I would start pitcher one so she pitches to the top of the line up. Can you re-enter pitchers? Meaning throw your #1 in inning one and your #2 in inning two and bring back your #1 in inning 3?
And a 10U pitcher throwing 75% strikes at 40-45 mph probably should be playing some travel ball and not just rec. Maybe she is. That is pretty decent for that age.

Yes, pitchers can re-enter. She has been approached by a few travel teams this season.

 

[lewam3]

The second pitcher shouldn't be pitching in a game. DD's pitching instructor stated years ago when DD was 12 that she had no business pitching in a game unless she could deliver 8/10 pitches strikes in practice. That would translate into maybe 6/10 in a game situation.
but honestly 15% at 35? practice some more...there is nothing good that will come from this situation. Long innings, bored teammates, parents...parents... girl with lost confidence...

 

[CARDS]

Sounds like the team needs to continue to play Rec./ B/C level. Let them all play and get better..after all its 10u...
Play at the level of your team and coach up the ladies to get better.... The Ws now mean little down the road...

 

[daboss]

I sense you have been questioned by some parents, probably the pitcher's parents, about the amount of time and rotation plans for an upcoming event. Being 10u, you may be new to this and your underlying question is "How do I convince a pitcher and her family that she's not the team's #1 and get them to understand without hurting anybody's feelings?"

First let me say at some point we have all been there. There is no magical answer. If you continue to coach you will at times not be in agreement with everyone. Just as an argument can be made "Who is the best player of all time" you will inevitably be faced with parents questioning everything about your choices, especially at the 8-10u level. You will be the first to grow thick skin or you'll not succeed. Hone your people skills and try to be tactful but always tell the truth. It may be hard to hear but you'll never get caught fabricating justification of your choices. People can agree to disagree but as a coach your assessment of a player's worth should be the final say for your team.

 

[MikeJ]

I sense you have been questioned by some parents, probably the pitcher's parents, about the amount of time and rotation plans for an upcoming event. Being 10u, you may be new to this and your underlying question is "How do I convince a pitcher and her family that she's not the team's #1 and get them to understand without hurting anybody's feelings?"

First let me say at some point we have all been there. There is no magical answer. If you continue to coach you will at times not be in agreement with everyone. Just as an argument can be made "Who is the best player of all time" you will inevitably be faced with parents questioning everything about your choices, especially at the 8-10u level. You will be the first to grow thick skin or you'll not succeed. Hone your people skills and try to be tactful but always tell the truth. It may be hard to hear but you'll never get caught fabricating justification of your choices. People can agree to disagree but as a coach your assessment of a player's worth should be the final say for your team.

Yes, questioned by the pitchers parents constantly. I tell them the same thing everytime, she needs to practice more, she's not ready yet. Pitching coach says the same thing, she shouldn't be pitching this season, that she should wait until fall. To the parents it's just me playing daddy ball because I keep starting my DD. The pitchers parents have had the "my kid is better" syndrome since before CP. Doesn't seem anthing will change that. I do have another girl taking lessons, but her parents are doing it right. They don't want her to pitch just yet, she's still very new to the pitching world, but she's looking better everytime i see her pitching.

So you're senses were correct. At the same time though, I think I found the solution for that now, #1 pitches the 1st, #2 pitches 2,3, maybe 4 (depending on the time left in the game) and #1 finishes. so far it's been working. Infielders are getting the work they need and the parents aren't complaining as much. Everyone is learning.

I guess my question was more to see how a more experienced coach would handle the game with such a big difference between his/her pitchers.

 

[Paul huntzinger]

I like the idea of rotating pitchers. Let the inexperienced pitch the bottom of the lineup.

 

[Run26]

Yes, questioned by the pitchers parents constantly. I tell them the same thing everytime, she needs to practice more, she's not ready yet. Pitching coach says the same thing, she shouldn't be pitching this season, that she should wait until fall. To the parents it's just me playing daddy ball because I keep starting my DD. The pitchers parents have had the "my kid is better" syndrome since before CP. Doesn't seem anthing will change that. I do have another girl taking lessons, but her parents are doing it right. They don't want her to pitch just yet, she's still very new to the pitching world, but she's looking better everytime i see her pitching.

So you're senses were correct. At the same time though, I think I found the solution for that now, #1 pitches the 1st, #2 pitches 2,3, maybe 4 (depending on the time left in the game) and #1 finishes. so far it's been working. Infielders are getting the work they need and the parents aren't complaining as much. Everyone is learning.

I guess my question was more to see how a more experienced coach would handle the game with such a big difference between his/her pitchers.

Sounds to me like you have 1 pitcher and unfortunately it's also your daughter. You'll never be able to solve this issue until you actually prove it to the parents that their daughter isn't ready. Take a chance and put her in the starting role. After she walks or hits 6-7 batters in one inning then you make the change. If her dad asks why - give him a gift certificate to Pearl Vision and suggest he make an appointment.

 

[CARDS]

As a new coach there are several resources I would suggest to help you navigate the issues coaches face today. This forum and several others are a good start.

Should you decide coaching is for you I would recommend becoming a member of some coaching networks.

NFCA, ASA/ACE, NFHS all provide some good training resources. (The earlier you start the easier it is).

Here are some links you can check out.
NFCA Has a good free training video on problem parents and how to handle them at this link. https://nfhslearn.com/courses/61154/engaging-effectively-with-parents
https://nfca.org
https://nfhslearn.com/home/coaches

 

[SOFTBALLS14]

NO right or wrong answer ...... Its 10u time to get the mound experience they both need.
A simple way rotate them every other inning using the DP- flex ..... and or if the one starts getting hit cause they time them up switch ....
or just go with the faster to the slower one after one time through the line up then switch back again....
.... it will throw the other teams hitting off..... No stress here!!
Its 10u the Development stage ! GOOD LUCK!