Maybe if you grew up watching the X-Files, you'll recognize the title of this blog. I did not, technically. I watched it from behind my father's chair because it scared the living daylights out of me.
Anyway, I'm browsing around this morning and stumble upon a Softball group on LinkedIn. I'm reading through some of the discussions (one in particular about pitchers calling their own pitches, which is outrageous) and I see a post from Kelly Jackson (as in the 1992 USA Gold Medalist) with a link to her website: CoachingAFemaleAthlete.com. So, with nothing better to do than look and apply to jobs, I check out her website. It's pretty legit with some great blogs on it like separating parent vs. coach, teaching focus at a young age, etc. I'll give it that, but then it links to their sister site: the Technique Doctor, where you can choose your sport, a coach, and then submit your video to be critiqued by that coach. Strange, I thought: "That really takes the human out of the game." I'm sure it's really that coach giving you real feedback, but where's the face-to-face interaction, the prior knowledge of the player to know how to really speak to them so that they'll LISTEN (and not just hear)?
Then, I'm going through their roster of softball coaches who will critique your film: head coach, pitcher, guy pitcher, defensive instructor, dad of a DI player and coach, pitcher, pitcher, infielder. The only place I expect that many pitchers is at a bar.
Now, I think about all the other personal instructors in Central Virginia and here's what I see: hitting coach, pitching coach, hitting coach, pitching coach, pitching coach, head coach, dad/coach, pitching coach. Why is it so difficult for catchers to come out and coach or instruct? And, no, that's not an invitation. I'm just saying.
It just leaves me wondering, am I the only real catching coach in Central Virginia? One that's played DI softball? I'm not talking about your baseball guys who work with girls. I'm talking about real fastpitch catchers giving back and giving lessons. Am I the only one? Hell, I'd be happy to be -- maybe my knees don't agree -- but where are these young catchers getting their instructions from? It hurts me to think that they're not getting the proper instruction (like I've seen lately)...falling down on pitches in the dirt, instead of kicking out their feet; not framing correctly; not approaching bunts correctly; not learning to call their own game; actually taking more than one step to make a throw-down. Catchers are tough gals, and tough finds in this day an age. But when you find one, make sure she gets the right instructions; otherwise, she's as worthless as a bat in the daylight.
So, yeah. That was one big rant. I guess I should apologize. But I'm open for discussion here, too. Who do you know that's played the game behind the plate and is coaching? What kind of instructions do you think your catchers need the most work on? How much are you willing to pay for catching lessons? Versus hitting instruction? Versus pitching lessons? Is it just that I'm taking crazy pills and there's no need for catching instructors in Central Virginia's fastpitch leagues?
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
The difference between 14s and 18s
As part of my job search, I worked with a 14U team last night to oversee their progress, help where I could and try to get their catchers stoked about individual lessons that I may offer in the future. During their practice, I was able to work with all FOUR of their catchers (man, am I jealous...four catchers!) and we did basic drills on catching (literally) and blocking. I'd love to take the time to get them working towards throwing, as well, but that will all just depend on whether or not the instructor position will fit in to my new job schedule -- whenever I do get a new job, that is. And it was fun. 14s is a fun age group. Difficult, but fun. While the five of us catchers worked together, I had one staring off into space and another uncontrollably laughing, which led another to laugh along, too.
Afterwards, a friend of mine asked, "So was it different--working with 14s instead of 18s?" I thought for a moment and laughed before I replied, "No. It's the same. They goof off and gab instead of stretching because they haven't seen each other in a whole week. They hear but don't listen. They've been taught a certain way and no matter how hard you try, you can't break the bad habit that's technically broken but still works...for now."
My friend laughed and understood. Her daughter is the youngest on my team; a girl who's seen two pitching instructors over the years, been coached by her dad, and is now working with me on pitching; so she knows exactly what I mean.
I thought about it after we talked, though. 14s are different from 18s. Sure I've got a few 16-year-olds on my team, which isn't a big/mature step up from 14, but I've also got 17- and 18-year-olds on my team. The difference there is big; and I think it's made my younger ones step up. My 18s (no matter how old they really are) are more focused, more intent on learning, more intent on becoming a better player; it's not a social activity for them, anymore; it's not just a way for their parents to keep them active, instead of Facebooking and playing video games after school. I thought about all those 14s and wondered how many of them were out there to keep playing, and how many were doing it just because it was something to do.
When I was 11, I played on a 14U travel team. Let me tell you now that the age difference between 14 and 11 is huge; those girls were going into high school and had boyfriends, while I was going into middle school and practicing my signature for when I got to the Olympics. My dad used to call 14 the peak point in softball. A lot of those girls from the 14U team played just a year or two more and then quit to live their social lives or focus on school. I didn't understand my dad's theory at 11, but when I was 14 and playing 16U, I understood. 14, for some reason, is that age where girls begin to realize what matters in life: boys, school, their futures. At that age, they make up their minds (subconsciously, I think) about how much softball really means to them; and if they decide it's a social activity or that it doesn't mean much to them, their skills peak and they never progress any further. In those cases, the girls usually play a year or two more and then move on, because they can't keep up or it's not fun anymore or whatever.
When I joined my organization to coach, we had two teams, a 16U (mine) and a 14U team. It's funny, I've lost a lot of those 16s in the last two years; they'd already hit their peak and moved on, mentally. I, of course, wish them all the best still. And I look at that 14U team; they've lost a few players, but the majority of girls they've lost have moved on to other organizations to continue playing. Just a different group of girls, I guess. Or maybe they had the motivation they needed through those troublesome 14U years to keep them focused and intent on playing and improving. I walked in fresh to 16U team that I'm not sure had that support.
Two years later, here we are in 18s. Sure, I've only got seven girls right now, but I've got seven focused and intent players. Sure they goof off and gab, but they get their jobs done. And, even as the sun is setting, they ask for more reps. So, as I think back to this past Sunday when we went 0-2 and I think about the to-do list, I know that we'll accomplish it...because the girls want to.
And there you have it: that's the difference between 18s and 14s. The want.
Afterwards, a friend of mine asked, "So was it different--working with 14s instead of 18s?" I thought for a moment and laughed before I replied, "No. It's the same. They goof off and gab instead of stretching because they haven't seen each other in a whole week. They hear but don't listen. They've been taught a certain way and no matter how hard you try, you can't break the bad habit that's technically broken but still works...for now."
My friend laughed and understood. Her daughter is the youngest on my team; a girl who's seen two pitching instructors over the years, been coached by her dad, and is now working with me on pitching; so she knows exactly what I mean.
I thought about it after we talked, though. 14s are different from 18s. Sure I've got a few 16-year-olds on my team, which isn't a big/mature step up from 14, but I've also got 17- and 18-year-olds on my team. The difference there is big; and I think it's made my younger ones step up. My 18s (no matter how old they really are) are more focused, more intent on learning, more intent on becoming a better player; it's not a social activity for them, anymore; it's not just a way for their parents to keep them active, instead of Facebooking and playing video games after school. I thought about all those 14s and wondered how many of them were out there to keep playing, and how many were doing it just because it was something to do.
When I was 11, I played on a 14U travel team. Let me tell you now that the age difference between 14 and 11 is huge; those girls were going into high school and had boyfriends, while I was going into middle school and practicing my signature for when I got to the Olympics. My dad used to call 14 the peak point in softball. A lot of those girls from the 14U team played just a year or two more and then quit to live their social lives or focus on school. I didn't understand my dad's theory at 11, but when I was 14 and playing 16U, I understood. 14, for some reason, is that age where girls begin to realize what matters in life: boys, school, their futures. At that age, they make up their minds (subconsciously, I think) about how much softball really means to them; and if they decide it's a social activity or that it doesn't mean much to them, their skills peak and they never progress any further. In those cases, the girls usually play a year or two more and then move on, because they can't keep up or it's not fun anymore or whatever.
When I joined my organization to coach, we had two teams, a 16U (mine) and a 14U team. It's funny, I've lost a lot of those 16s in the last two years; they'd already hit their peak and moved on, mentally. I, of course, wish them all the best still. And I look at that 14U team; they've lost a few players, but the majority of girls they've lost have moved on to other organizations to continue playing. Just a different group of girls, I guess. Or maybe they had the motivation they needed through those troublesome 14U years to keep them focused and intent on playing and improving. I walked in fresh to 16U team that I'm not sure had that support.
Two years later, here we are in 18s. Sure, I've only got seven girls right now, but I've got seven focused and intent players. Sure they goof off and gab, but they get their jobs done. And, even as the sun is setting, they ask for more reps. So, as I think back to this past Sunday when we went 0-2 and I think about the to-do list, I know that we'll accomplish it...because the girls want to.
And there you have it: that's the difference between 18s and 14s. The want.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The one weekend it HAS to rain...
Of course whenever you need it to be sunny or warm, it's not; instead, it's wet and cold. We got rained out on Saturday this past weekend and switched to a three-game format on Sunday. I figured, "Hell, we'll play all three games and two of my pitchers haven't had game-time mound-time since August (or longer), so I'll just play all three games safely, let my pitchers do their thing and work in everybody into the spots they've been working at." Wrong. Right after game 2, they decided to cut our 3rd game because they were so behind in another bracket and had to eliminate fields...god forbid the Men's League had to wait that evening.
Anyway, so we didn't get all three games. Came out 0-2. But no one was unhappy in the end. There was no drama, no stress and the girls played comfortably, happily. I think most of them were just excited to be back in the game. So, maybe that was our trouble. Girls were too comfortable. We also had to use a good amount of guest players to fill the field, so that adds up to some of it--new faces, new thoughts on the game, etc., etc.--and we didn't get Saturday to find that good rhythm with the whole team, guests included. But I will give a BIG shout out to a few of my girls who played spectacularly, especially the ones who had been doubting themselves. They came out with gusto and poise and made some huge plays. I couldn't be more proud of them for that; and they should know who they are.
So, we're pretty much done now for the Fall, unless we want to travel. But right now, I think we got a good taste of what we're up against and what we need to become. There's a lot, now, on our to-do list. And we'll use the rest of the Fall and Winter to work on that list. #1 on that list? Find more girls. And I'm being patient. I know they'll surface, sometime. The rest on that list? Well, that's for me, my assistant coaches and girls to worry about.
But I'll keep you updated.
Anyway, so we didn't get all three games. Came out 0-2. But no one was unhappy in the end. There was no drama, no stress and the girls played comfortably, happily. I think most of them were just excited to be back in the game. So, maybe that was our trouble. Girls were too comfortable. We also had to use a good amount of guest players to fill the field, so that adds up to some of it--new faces, new thoughts on the game, etc., etc.--and we didn't get Saturday to find that good rhythm with the whole team, guests included. But I will give a BIG shout out to a few of my girls who played spectacularly, especially the ones who had been doubting themselves. They came out with gusto and poise and made some huge plays. I couldn't be more proud of them for that; and they should know who they are.
So, we're pretty much done now for the Fall, unless we want to travel. But right now, I think we got a good taste of what we're up against and what we need to become. There's a lot, now, on our to-do list. And we'll use the rest of the Fall and Winter to work on that list. #1 on that list? Find more girls. And I'm being patient. I know they'll surface, sometime. The rest on that list? Well, that's for me, my assistant coaches and girls to worry about.
But I'll keep you updated.
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