catchman

I have seen this before, usualy when a parent controls their child life, their life was controled by someone in their child hood, so its a way of life for them. Or could be religous thing. There is nothing you can do until this player comes to you and ask for help. There is ways of getting her help, with out starting something so big that it gets out of hand, But if its a religous thing, your hands are tied. I think the best thing for her is to get her team mates behind her for mental support, even at thimes she seem so distance from them. Remember this is a team and this girl needs that support at a bad time in her life. Her team mates may need help of this kind in their life also. As a coach tell her that you will listen to her at any time, and take that special time to listen only, like i said , until she ask for help all you can do is listen and give moral support. Remember this type life was put on her, she did not chose it. As leader we are to teach by examlpe and understanding

First off, pup u must have had some of these things happen to you. Thanks for your comments, It just seems like every time i take the players side, i get jumped on. I go to alot of games all over the south, so i see more of these thing happen more than some people. If you dont do these things iam talking about you should not be offened, If you are a good and careing coach you should be offened by the coaches that do these things. Because it gives the good coaches a bad name in general. We talk about alot, IF you see 5 or more at a tourney do these things , thats a lot when you think how many girls sees this kinda stuff. The girls tell me about this more than i see it. If your daughter has never been put through this, thank the BIG man up stairs for putting her in the right place. I did have a daughter that played fast pitch for 5 years but quit after a very rude remark from the high school coach, of which i didnt found out about it until two months later. It worked out for the best, she got a great scholarship on her grades. Graduates from MYSU this year with a 3.4.gpa I started coaching in 1992 because my daughter wanted to play ball. I also played the sport in the 1960s. When the men threw in the 80s and 90s. I had a very good teacher by the name of buster bogusgie. he is the icon of fast pitch soft ball in middle tenn. If you dont know this man, you havent been around this sport but just a few years. I think gary knows of him. I have been certifed through doyle base ball for 9 years now. Iam also a trainer. I am lucky person to have at lest 3or4 students on a high school that has won the state twice. Also this school has been there 5 years on a row. I have also had few of my students go on to play college ball. I only teach one on one, I think you can take them futher quicker this way. WE talk about a coach changing the way a players has been trained before he sees what she can do, ever have a student cry on your shoulder over it. Like take a power hitter , all at once you tell her to hit it into the ground. Then sit her because she cant. Just give her a shot at doing it the way she was taught. If it dont work, now change it, even the trainer Dont feel sorry for me, because iam the luckys man in here. At 59 i still enjoy this sport and can hit a fast ball. I BELIVE THIS, this game is all for the girls and we need to show them all the respect we can, If you show respect you will get it back, But we need to set examples by showing them how to respect, us and themselfs If you want to get mad at me, thats ok, just dont make the girls suffer over it. Iam sure there are some i will not please no matter how i word this, But girls iam always on your side.

I teach catching. the first thing i teach a catcher is their job is to make the pitcher look good no matter what, even if you dont like her, To be a team player, this is a must. If you want to pitch take lessons and take off the catching gear.

Thanks ERA we try to take pride in our park

Parents you send your daughter to a trainer for 2 or more years,which is not cheap. Then comes high school, all of a sudden the coach tells her everything she is doing is wrong. Just because its not done his way or the way his favorite training school teaches or starts making adjustments with out ever seeing how your daughter can perform with what she has been taught. He lets your daughter know this with word that a english teacher could never get away with in class. O yes parent, never go to pratice you might get your daughter in trouble or removed from the team. Think it might be they dont want you to se the way they treat the players,or you might hear the four letter words or see the coach adjusting himself, or the personial remarks from the lady coach. { NOT ALL COACHES PRATICE THIS, but there is a large amount of them that do.] Is this what you want you daughter to think how life is. High school is suppose to be the best time of your life not a nightmare. O yes the pressure within the team is a real treat also, with all the help from the coach, If you try get help from the coach with this your are a trouble maker. O yes parent, iam proud of you sitting back and watch your daughter subjected to this, just so she can play ball or MIGHT get a scholarship at some school. If you let daughter be put through this , your are treating your daughter just like the coach, I know for a fact the high school level is different with boy friends ,cars,social pressure. and you as a coach need to get into their head so they will keep there head in the game. But to use these kind of teaching skills would never work in the class room. You would in most cases loose your job. I guess iam just to old fashion been on the girls side of this. This is an opinion from what i see and hear. If i offend you , just say the old man is crazy.

Does anyone know anything about the new catcher at beech. i hear she is very good and hits the ball very well.

No one knows what its takes to be the ideal coach, we all have our own opinion of coaches, You get that opinion from watching or playing for that person. I think a serious coach needs to know what it takes to help a player through her slumps, if its batting, throwing, pitching, or catchers.It would help the player and team if he[ or she] had some idea on how to help her. Coaches clinics are good, but i think there sould be 2 kind of clinics, one on how to handle your players and another on how to fix mechanics of whatever problem she is having. I also think it would help your players if the coaches had some idea on how to pitch, throw. batt. and field a ball. It takes more than standing at a base , just to tell a girl to run or not, Iam not saying that a coach needs to be an instructor, but have an idea on how toos. Why dont we ask the girls what they think it takes to be a good coach, You know we might learn something. Most players that has played travel ball can give us a better idea on this subject if we will listen. There is always some that has had a bad experence no matter where they have played. Remember this game is for the GIRLS, not for MOM and DAD or COACHES with egos.

I hear this at a lot of games and pratices,starting in the 12u. Parents telling their daughters, you got to get a scholarship so it will help us send you to college. If this is what a parent is after; Take all the money you spent on lessons, traveling, gas,motels, t shirts, equiptment,time off from work and put it the bank, This with intrest will almost put your child through college. Why at 12 would put this on a child. This is her growing up years, let her be 12. Dont make her think like an adult. These coaches are here to help you with your daughters growing years and what life has to hold, Life is all about winning and losing. If a coach can teach you daughter how to be good at both, give him credit fot it, [ pat on the back or hand shake]. If you have ever coached you know it is a thankless job. Parents dont be like mules with blinders on. there are more girls out there on the field than yours. Make a mule outa yourself and that is what these girls think you are. If you dont like whats going on with the line up or playing time, maybe you need to move on or get your daughter to work harder. Just because she is not getting the time you expect, dont mean you have a bad coach. Take off the blinders and look at the whole picture. Mule parents embarass there daughters to tears just because they are not playing ball as good as they wish they could have been in their younger years. Quit living your life through your daughter and let her have her own life. My thanks to all the good coaches that help these girls in the hardest times of their lives. The girls will never forget you. This should start some talk, just my feelings [Edited by catchman on 1-19-03 10:26A]

Humble i saw chelsea clem and ashley norton working out sunday, they both could be very good catchers, i think both took off a half year, ashley plays basket ball for beech, O yes i know emliy dixon, know her dad and grand dad, good girl, what talent, Emliy will go places. I guess i need to go to work and get more catchers comming. It takes a tough girl to play this position. You really need to watch to see who really wants to be one, there a lot that want to try, every now and then one will emerge from the group. Bingo you got her. Thats about all the young ones that i know of here close. I need to check this out. Thank for bringing this up

You can be a bad coach and win state titles, as well as a good coach, Only thing the players leave the bad ones and have no respect for their coach ever, The good ones keep the players respect the rest of their lives, I know a few of these bad ones, all they need to do is stand at third base and watch the show, They have so much talent on their team that there no need for them to open their mouth, But they want to take all the credit, You know i, me and my coaches. Some couldnt [ or wouldnt] help their players through bad slumps because the lack of knowledge on the how to,s of pitching, batting, or what ever. Just wants the win so they can bragg on them self. What have you taught these girls about life, let someone else do the job , then you take credit fot it,, These kinda of people[coaches] are the first ones to condem the younger people when they get in trouble. Look at your self coach , just what did you teach anyway. Some of my students have told me this time and time again. This is not hear say, this comes from the players. Eever had a very good player cry on your shoulder because of this kinda treatment. but they are scared to say anything. because they wont to get to play where the college scouts may see them, A lot of these girls need help in college, but what price to pay. To the good coaches, I hope you the best in life and what it has to offer. iam sure your life will be rewarding. My best to all the girls this year ,hope it is your best ever. My thoughts and views, hope i didnt hurt anyone.

I would like to give 3 catchers credit, erica duke 12u outa coffee county, nikki birdsell 14u outa white house, coty garett outa joelton,, I will place these girl with some the best. I have seen all of them play ball, They all 3 have heart and work ethics that is above average. We all know catchers are a breed of their own, because they are mudd slinging, sweat drinking, heads up players. if you think this isnt so , put on the gear for a while. But all of the girls that play fastpitch are in a very high league of their own, I enjot every second of the games i get to watch, All these girls are special people, [Edited by catchman on 1-16-03 8:50P]

When we talk about catchers it is always about high school catchers. So lets talk about younger catchers in the 12u and 14u, So we will know who is coming to the high schools. The younger ones is the building block for all schools. Lets get some names out there so people will watch these girls, they work so hard for so little glory. Also the high school coaches will know whos coming and who to watch. Lets give the young ones their due credit.

Strikethree i agree with you, i think the problem is that we as coaches have taken each game to such a level, that a girl has to almost pratice year round at one sport just to compete. Some girls can do both, but they have no life other than sports, I think when they spend so much time at 2 or more sports they are most likley to get burn out. I belive that a girl should be able to play as many sports as she wants to and quit worring so much about getting a scholarship. Worring about getting a scholarship takes a lot of fun out of it for most players, This is the time in their life when they sould be having the time of their life. I think we just need to let them enjoy their teen age years and try not to make adults out of them so quick.Life is hard enough with out this kind of pressure. Just my thought , for what it is worth.

Strikethree sounds like you have brained washed by the [jw]purple and they have a purple shirt over your eyes, you talk about the big league, have you ever played fast pitch. I have never seen strikethree on a bill board anywhere or seen you with the king and his court, Talk about the pond, did you ever have one. If you did you know it is about teaching these girls how to win and lose not just win at any cost, that is what is suppose to be taught any way. O yes roster change, you are right about that, the purple has done so many times that the girls think it is the was it is done reguard less what team they are on. You are right about no guranteed spots on a team. but if you have player that has been with you all year and helped a team get to the big games, Then she needs a shot at playing, I know of at least 4 players on a purple team that got a big surprize when they got to florida one year, they all had been replaced, you play on a team for two years and this is the thanks ??? Now explain to them how much their coach really cares for them, and look at their faces, If that dont rip you heart out you dont have one. No/ my daughter never played in purple, because i had more respect for her than to put her through that, One more thing i did play fastpitch in shelby park in the late 50s and early 60s, does the name buster ring a bell, he is the one that taught me to hit and play the game. Maybe iam the only one who has had this experence of this size with the purple. NOT ALL COACHES THAT WEAR PURPLE ARE BAD. they have some great ones also. [Edited by catchman on 12-22-02 12:56A] [Edited by catchman on 12-22-02 12:58A]

The nighthawk teams should have the best teams in the south, because they dont have a problem with begg, buy borrow, or steal any player on any team with out any reguards to the coach of the other teams, they paint a pretty picture until they find a player better than your daugther. Then your daughter gets to sit until your daughter has had enough of this kinda of punishment. they want ask you to leave / just hope you leave on your own in mean time their pockets are fat and their trailers are full of equiptment. When you run a team like this you can afford to go every where in the states to play ball. Because parents have put up big money just to wear purple bird. And if your daughter dont perform, have a seat for about 4 tourmants or until they can replace you. They have your money and you have no place to play. I have several friends that have been through this. This kinda of experence has made many good player just give up the game because of the treatment they have received from the un greatful coaches. If i steped on any toes maybe you need to change your shoes to some other color. O yes the reason most player dont say anything is they show more respect than they got, and that is a true softball player, iam proud of these girls.... [Edited by catchman on 12-19-02 5:24P] [Edited by catchman on 12-19-02 5:28P]

I would like to get some opinions on who you think are some of the best instructional coaches of travel and high school teams in middle tennessee.

One catcher to look out for is nikki birdsell out of white house, tenn. Had 14 throw outs in one tourmant and caught 7 games in a day and half. batted about 480 for the week end. Is this average for a 13 year old. Another to look for is kelley louden at hendersonville high school [a jr]. has a very high on base average, hitts junk ball very well. so just watch for whats comming. o yes kelley has one of the best attiudes and work ethics that is a coaches dream. [Edited by catchman on 12-7-02 7:44P]

Has anyone ever heard of amanda richards, been at goodpasture for 4 years. Can kill the ball. has to be the starter, if not she has been cheated. U go girl?

Has any of you guys ever watched the barr sisters , from franklin. if not you have missed a treat. they also play for the extreme edge 18u. I hope you guys have the best season of your life next summer. These are two very good girls, also have some the best parents, who back them in everything in ever way. I am proud to know these two girls and their parents. Very good people, and family, the dad has the coaching skills of a pro. KEEP IT UP FOR THE GIRLS

Sounds like a ego trip to me. must be the only team your daughter can play for. if they are so good , why do they have so many players to quit ever year. and these two teams havta to start over with half a roster ever year. Talk to some of the blues.[ umpires]. they will tell you that the nighthawks have some of the most rude coaches . Al they want to do is win reguardless of the efect it has on the girls. If they go to big tourmant they think it is ok to pick up another player and sit the ones that got you there. Maybe that is the reason they have so many to quit. I have hear about the guy that started the nighthawk organization. Aso have watched him coach, The way he did some of his players, well iam glad my daughter was not playing for him. I taught her more respect than that. O yes i was playing this sport when most of the parents of the girls were 2nd grade. This is addressed to strikthree on your comment about the nighthawks, also firebirds [Edited by catchman on 12-4-02 5:10P] [Edited by catchman on 12-4-02 5:12P]

You are right about travel ball being so expensive and 1 to 3 players on the high school team. That 1-3 players most of the time have parents that can afford the cost of lessons for 4-6 years, so usually that 1-3 players are playing travel ball. Now the bad part is that there are just as good players ,either on that team or another team or teams that are just as good as that 1-3 group, But cant afford the cost of all the lessons or travel ball. So sad that there is a bunch of very good ball players that are getting left behind because of cost. SO it is down to this most of the time , those who have get, to travel,lessons,up to date bats, all the good gear, those who cant afford get left behind, what ashame. I feel sorry for that bunch of gifted players. that cant afford what it takes to give them equal chance as others

i know both girls. cristen has more experence. both girls are good. any position on that tean is hard to fill. good luck to both

i belive that the firebirds had a lot of players quit also. wonder why that is. can anyone answer this for me??????????????

mchsballer, this is what the college coaches was talking about. belive me you are not the only with this problem, that is sad, I WISH YOU THE BEST

I have been to alot of fast pitch ball games in alot of states. I have talked to alot of coaches of high school and college, also have gotten to know a few colege coaches. They tell me that it is different in every state. In tennessee they are starting to look more at travel ball players. because they are the pick of the best from the high schools teams in most cases. If they are stand outs in travel ball, most of the time they are above the average player. Not that all of them are not good, they got to be good just to play at this level. Another reason is because a lot of high school coaches are just coaches of the team not the player. They dont know how to correct a player when they are in a slump. That is when a player really need a coach that can fix their problem right there. or help them through it. Travel ball coaches, coach for 2 reasons. their daughter or the love of the game. the ones with the love of the game seem to be better coaches and are able to help a player through their ups and downs. I get this from talking to all kinds of coaches. Not my own opinion. Lately i am starting to agree with them. In Tennessee anyway, I myself love to watch fastpitch at any level or age. I think it is one of the best sports out there. U can get hooked on it very easy if you like sports of any kind.