u/YesCapGSF

Every year our town association does “try outs” for the next seasons’s teams. The teams are basically travel teams disguised as rec because we don’t really have rec teams, but all rec rules apply so even playing times, development first, etc…which I totally agree with. I was assigned to coach the newest team because I was a pitcher and can coach the newest players on pitching. But that also means I got the “lowest tier” team as far as skill/experience and they didn’t give our team even one kid who had any experience in pitching, while the other 4 teams got all the league’s most experienced pitchers. The pitchers on the other teams (who I have coached the last 2 seasons) are unhappy because they’re not getting a lot of playing time since their teams have 3 to 4 decent pitchers, while our team has no experienced pitchers. It takes time to build this skill, and it just feels unfair to our team because they are really excellent in every other way. But it’s a walk fest and runs on passed balls at home at 10U without pitchers who can consistently pitch well. I don’t see why they couldn’t spread out this skill a little more evenly across the teams and give each team a better chance at wins during the season. I know it’s not about winning, but when it comes down to it, our girls are a winning team is every way but pitching right now, and it’s just not a skill that develops overnight! I’m working with our pitchers a ton and they are all improving, but that just means they are going to move to better teams next year and there will always be a bottom tier with no pitchers. Even the parents of my pitchers from last year would rather see their kid get more time in the position on a lower tier team than have them be the 4th string pitcher on a better team. I’m just frustrated I guess, because it helps everyone develop more when the pitching is better. More plays in the field, the catchers aren’t clobbered with passed balls at the plate, etc… I don’t have any power over it but I’d like to approach the league about it before they form teams again for next year. I would like to see my team get some wins because they are excellent in the field and they are all really decent hitters, but the pitching improvement is slow and we end up losing from stolen bases on passed balls. My pitchers will be excellent by the end of the season, just in time for new teams to form! Anyone else dealing with this kind of thing?

I’d love some thoughts on introducing signs to an entry level 10U team. Other coaches on our league drill it a lot and seem to have 12 to 15 signs, but I’m coaching a team that is still really trying to learn the game and work on basic skills. We are still learning to bunt and steal, so trying to memorize signs seems like adding another layer of complexity that may seem overwhelming. I also want to teach them to trust themselves and to know when they should swing based on recognizing pitches, versus looking at me to tell them when to take a pitch. Id love some feedback though! These girls are 4th and 5th graders. thanks!