Life in the Fastpitch Lane: Recent Comments

Comment on Girls throw like their fathers

Ken Krause — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:32:11 GMT

Good question, Shira. I think it's a matter of how much time the girls spend with their fathers working on their games. In most cases Moms are more substitutes than leads in their daughters' softball educations, although I certainly know some excellent exceptions.

Maybe you'll be the start of a new trend! Teach her right and give her a real leg up in the softball world.

Comment on Girls throw like their fathers

Shira — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:24:37 GMT

"duck+rock=throwing practice"
This made me laugh!

One question though. Why don't girls throw like their mothers? When I have a daughter I sure hope she throws like me because if she throws like my husband her softball career won't last very long.

Comment on It's not what you know or did, it's what you can teach

Ken Krause — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:10:08 GMT

Well, check out the new and improved Discuss Fastpitch Forum. It's cleaned up a lot in the last week, and there is a real spirit of learning there. It's funny how much information you can get when everyone is trying to be helpful instead of trying to one-up each other.

For us coaches, it's also important to keep that in mind with our students. It's not enough if you know. You have to be sure your players know it too. One good technique is to ask them questions instead of giving them answers. Ask them how they would fix a problem, or what they would do differently. It's a real good way to check out how much they actually know.

Comment on It's not what you know or did, it's what you can teach

Rick Cartwright — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:43:33 GMT

I feel the same way. I feel bad for those who want to find an answer and get technical mumbo jumbo or the barbed answers which seems to be some attempt at humor. I do admit, I have my interests, but it doesn't solve the problem of how to swing a bat or catch a ball. It makes reading the boards hard, and even more difficult to respond.

Comment on The numbers are down for baseball and softball sign-ups

Robert — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:23:54 GMT

Teams all around me have been struggling to fill their spots, myself included. I have taken a girl I wouldn't normally take just so I could get to 9!! I have ads up everywhere and so do my coaching friends but there just aren't any girls available and most of the ones that are just want to play rec ball and not put in the time for select. I may have to fold my team after this year if things don't turn around. This is at the 10U level in the St. Louis area.

Comment on The numbers are down for baseball and softball sign-ups

Mike Hanscom — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:21:48 GMT

Wow - I think you have been bugging my car. My 7yr old joined wrestling this past November. He has been kicking butt and taking numbers later. He is 17-2, we moved him up against more experienced kids and he is stil doing great. He has 6 trophies and 2 medals on his shelf of which 5 are 1st place and the remainder 2nd place. Sorry, I'm not trying to brag, but rather show you how well he has been doing and of course with this he has been getting a lot of praise - his ego couldn't be larger. AND YET, just today I asked him if he will wrestle again next year -- - - and he said no. I thought my question was simply a formality. He has had a blast and is always talking about it and practices on me at home. He said NO!! I was shocked, so I asked him why. His answer was that it is a waste of his time. What? What do you mean? He said he could be home playing Wii or Nintendo DS. My jaw dropped. This kid loves to be outside and is always moving. I just couldn't believe it. I had some words for him. In not so short words I told him he'll be playing something, some real sport whether it be wrestling or something else. My initial thought about the Wii was to sell it, and I still haven't given up on that thought. We just bought the kids a gaming system for the first time for Christmas and I'm already wishing I hadn't. I was always the uncool dad for not letting them have something like that and now that I did, I'm regretful of being...cooler to my kids. So if video games can twist a kid who is extremely successful, can you imagine what it can do to a kid who is struggling, or plays a sport where a 30% success rate (.300 ave) is good?

Comment on A feelgood week

Rick Cartwright — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:40:54 GMT

Bryan,
Wiith our practices, I use Tuesdays to introduce techniques and concepts, drils to work through them. Sundays I try to find game like drills that focus on those techniques but allow the girls to play in competition. It "makes up" for the drills and the girls enjoy the practice much more. Be creative, you can make a game out of almost anything. Just like the scrimmage, they will learn what they need to do to win.

Comment on A feelgood week

Ken Krause — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:14:26 GMT

Bryan, that is one of those things we forget sometimes. We as adults are so focused on getting the girls prepared to play that sometimes we forget to, well, let them play.

Sounds like you had a great practice. Nice that they figured out the bunting thing. I'm guessing they bunted toward you, figuring you'd be too old and/or slow to get it!

Comment on A feelgood week

Ken Krause — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:12:10 GMT

Good for you Rick! Make her earn it! :-)

She is awfully close. All she needs is a good day -- or a little tailwind.

Comment on A feelgood week

Coach Bryan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:48:43 GMT

Ken,

I coach a very young 12U team. I feel we have a very long way to go moving up from 10U last fall & getting a taste of the tough competition we can expect in the spring.

I have been strictly business at practices up until last night. Before practice, my daughter told me practices are getting to be no fun. I believe she spoke for the team as I remember some of the faces from the previous session...Somber to say the least.

So, I scrapped part of my plan for practice and did about 45min of drills and then we had an indoor scrimmage the last 45 min. I pitched to both teams & they had a blast! We use a somewhat small gym for practice so we had to make playground rules about playing the ball off the wall, etc. I used Softies, but they still hit the ball hard. What really impressed me is that many soon figured a bunt was the best way to get on & the kids were laying down some nice ones towards the end of hte game. Once in a while you have to remember these are just kids and they need to have fun...