Hi all,
My daughter is a Aug 09, but is playing up at 14UB this season with the rest of her team (combo of 08/09) She is doing well at 43 ft and has mastered the flip change pretty well. Not perfect and sometimes she releases too late and it rainbows. Most of the time it is pretty deadly, especially now that they moved up to 43. I would say since turning 12 and moving back to 43ft last month, her average speed is around 46mph.
Last lesson her pitching coach wanted to start incorporating spin and practice starting the curve ball mechanics She sees that she tends to cross over a bit and has natural spin to her ball and thinks that is the best pitch for her to learning next. The other pitcher is just starting to learn a drop with a different pitching coach. 3rd pitcher is still mastering the CU with another coach as well.
We are not looking for D1 college or even possibly playing in college right now. The goal is to pitch in high school and continue on with this team at the B level, eventually getting to A level maybe. But she isn't the 24/7 fanatic of softball that some kids are and that is okay. My oldest had D2/3 offers and decided to go to a D1 college for astro engineering and only play club softball. She is extremely happy. So we have been pretty laid back with this one too.
So this 12yr old loves being a P/1B and a power hitter. She is usually in one of those positions so she can be in the batting line-up Anyway, not sure if she has the strength/speed for a curve yet, or if it is even needed, but I don't want to overstep the pitching coach. It seems most coaches teach drop first. Of course my 12yr old was thrilled, so I guess if it motivates her, I let her try it a few weeks and see?
Thoughts on if I am going about this right or wrong?
My daughter is a Aug 09, but is playing up at 14UB this season with the rest of her team (combo of 08/09) She is doing well at 43 ft and has mastered the flip change pretty well. Not perfect and sometimes she releases too late and it rainbows. Most of the time it is pretty deadly, especially now that they moved up to 43. I would say since turning 12 and moving back to 43ft last month, her average speed is around 46mph.
Last lesson her pitching coach wanted to start incorporating spin and practice starting the curve ball mechanics She sees that she tends to cross over a bit and has natural spin to her ball and thinks that is the best pitch for her to learning next. The other pitcher is just starting to learn a drop with a different pitching coach. 3rd pitcher is still mastering the CU with another coach as well.
We are not looking for D1 college or even possibly playing in college right now. The goal is to pitch in high school and continue on with this team at the B level, eventually getting to A level maybe. But she isn't the 24/7 fanatic of softball that some kids are and that is okay. My oldest had D2/3 offers and decided to go to a D1 college for astro engineering and only play club softball. She is extremely happy. So we have been pretty laid back with this one too.
So this 12yr old loves being a P/1B and a power hitter. She is usually in one of those positions so she can be in the batting line-up Anyway, not sure if she has the strength/speed for a curve yet, or if it is even needed, but I don't want to overstep the pitching coach. It seems most coaches teach drop first. Of course my 12yr old was thrilled, so I guess if it motivates her, I let her try it a few weeks and see?
Thoughts on if I am going about this right or wrong?