Her Worst Nightmare About Softball Come to Life

Here is a short story that I'm sure you can relate to, especially if it's after the end of your first season as a softball parent/coach. If you read through to the end of this story you will find out how to avoid some big mistakes in the future.

It's your daughters first kid-pitch game. She's seen her friends pitch a few times and has maybe tried it with you in the backyard once. Today is a big game with the rival team: Reliable Auto vs. Rose Salon.  The inning starts and she nervously creeps out of the dugout and dawdles up to the mound.  All eyes are on her as she feels small out there on the big field.  She throws her first pitch - a grounder. Then comes wild pitch after wild pitch and her teammates are screaming "come on!" The coaches are yelling out mechanical corrections.  To no avail the pattern repeats: walk...walk...walk. Coach Bob has to relieve her as she finishes the game discouraged and embarrassed. "I don't think pitching is for me."  

Even worse, this happens to all the girls on her team when given the chance. By the time they are 11 years old there are nearly no girls who are formally trained in pitching in the entire league. The hitters rarely see a good pitch so the fielders don’t see many grounders or fly balls. Play just isn’t very fun in your organization.

It doesn't have to be like this!!!  Your daughter can build up the skills and confidence BEFORE she steps into her first game. Give her a chance to learn the motion and game strategy.  Show her how to learn from a bad game, recover, and continue on. Pitching is one of the most fun positions in all of sports! 

Even if your daughter has already had a few tough experiences there is a still a chance for her to learn to throw properly, especially if she's with her friends in a fun learning environment.  If you take the initiative early in her career and build a foundation, ensure that her mechanics are safe and minimize a risk of injury, softball will be many times more rewarding growing up. After all, kids like doing things they are good at.

Learn how to pitch months before the season starts next April. Consider taking lessons or reading up on the skill 3 to 6 months before her first game. Here’s a great idea: come to Practice Pro pitching school in October. Start at age seven. Eight is too late. You will both be happy to did it!