3 Ways to Get Through to Your Softball Pitcher
/Is one of your biggest struggles getting your daughter to practice? Are you having trouble getting yourself to practice with her? Do you want to teach her to be independent and take initiative on working hard? Would it be better if she could sacrifice her current comfort for her future success?
If so, I understand! I was lucky enough to have people who tried to teach me these concepts growing up. I find that I have to keep adding to what I know as an adult, too.
Recently I attended the 2021 Softball Excellence Virtual Pitching Summit. This was part of my ongoing journey to bring more information back to you. Softball Excellence is a company headed by one of my favorite pitching coaches, Cindy Bristow. You know those little zip balls your daughters love so much? That’s her.
Doc Meg Brown, Cindy's former student and current head coach of Longwood College, showed us three ways to keep pitchers engaged. And I loved each of them!
Our goal is to get them to buy-in, become excited, and collaborate with her parents and her team. Here are Doc's three tips with my added twist.
Adjust for Big Quick Improvements FIRST
The easiest way to show improvement is with a radar gun. Once a young pitcher learns the main mechanics, her speeds pops up. This happens within the first two year, regardless of age. Nothing gets athletes excited more than throwing faster.
Another way we do this is increasing her knowledge of the game. We teach girls cool stuff like calling pitches and spot numbers. We help them understand game strategy and sports psychology. This huge improvement in game IQ is much more engaging than “just throw strikes!”
Not that if you want to encourage her, avoid measuring accuracy first, or at least as the main factor. When learning new mechanics, accuracy goes down the tubes. It can get discouraging.
2. Bullpens Should Be FUN
I know I said to avoid measuring accuracy. But just because it’s not the first thing you should do, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it at all. The key is to make sure when you do measure command it's engaging and fun.
“Bullpens” are practices in which you try to hit targets and track your success. Since pitchers need a ridiculous amount of reps to develop command, the tendency is for players is to get bored and lose focus.
I try to mix up bullpens by making some kind of game out of everything. We do pyramids and compete against other pitchers. I ask them try to beat your last score or not to move on until you hit a certain number of spots. sometimes I make up games on the spot.
You can also do mechanic-focused bullpens. You'd get points for executing a mechanic instead of a location. These are great for when you have to pitch to a close net indoors in the winter.
3. Teach Her to Collaborate With Coaches.
Your daughter might not be able to control her accuracy, but she can control how she relates to her coaches.
I let a pitcher have a part in the process so she can have some ownership. If there is something I want her to do that she doesn't want to do, we compromise with a little of both.
You’ll teach her to collaborate with coaches if you collaborate with her. Then she will know how and when to speak up.
I try to talk with my student, not at her. I want to know how she feels today, what pitches she wants to practice, and what drills would be best.
If you and I teach her to make practice engaging fun, eventually she'll get the motivation to toss balls in the backyard herself.
