Do your Pitchers play when not pitching...

[coolstuff]

I think this is part of the definition of Daddy Ball.

[Scoobydoo]

CoolStuff, I am not sure I understand your comment about Daddy Ball.

[Sftbll4ever]

My dd is a pitcher and currently, on her travel team she only pitches. The reason for that, is that there are better OF on the team then her. She would have to earn that position. In HS, if she keeps hitting well, she will get to play OF or DH when she is not pitching.

[bucketboy]

My 2 cents.

My dd and our other pitcher at 10u played 3rd base when they didn't pitch and after that one year only hit when they didn't pitch with the occasional first base in 12u. By 14u pitch and hit only for both of them and both of them are now signed D1.

I do let DD hit now that I am back coaching, but her college coach to be has stated she may DP when she is not pitching. Obviously that can change and there are several programs that let their pitchers hit in college and there are some that don't allow them to hit when they pitch regardless of how good a hitter they are. They make the rules cause they control the money plain and simple.

I agree with Gunshy in the fact college coaches for the most part don't care if a pitcher can hit or play another postion. If they can then it is an added bonus for sure, but not a dealbreaker to be recruited if they are not a good hitter or play another position.

Take the high road Scooby wish them well and watch what happens over the next 3 or 4 years as I am willing to bet a cold one or two she will go from team to team and be on the outside looking in when it really matters during the recruiting years.....................

[Shockamiller]

I hope I don't offend anyone but if your daughter is not tall or stocky, make sure she hits and plays other positions. I believe college coaches want to make sure they can get their money out of the girls. If your daughter doesn't advance as a pitcher, then the college coaches know they can get some use out of your daughter and she won't be wasted money.

[looking in]

Shock, What the H$#L did that mean????

[Stratos]

Shock, What the H$#L did that mean????

Translation: "If your dd is a pitcher, you better make darn sure she has what it takes or she better learn to play other positions. When she gets to college and has an 8.00 era as a freshman, her days on the mound are limited. So, she better be able to play another position, or she will be picking splinters...."

[Clean_up]

Our TB team has 4 pitchers in 14U, they all get some time at other positions and hit in friendlies. In tournaments, most have a DH. At this age (13-14 and especially younger) IMO they still need to develop their overall game and like many have stated here, you never know what can happen with their pitching career and it's important that they can play other positions and hit.

As they mature, decisions will be made by the teams they play for if they will hit, play first, outifeld, etc. Every coach is different, so we are working on all of it, hitting coach, fielding and pitching because we think it's too soon to make a decision to stop one thing or another. Luckily our TB coach sees the value in developing DD and the other pitchers in additional positions and at the plate to see what they can do.. I can say that I know the HS coach DD will play for does NOT allow pitchers to hit and we are okay with it.

[Shockamiller]

Thanks for the assist Stratos. I am also trying to address smaller pitchers. Even if the pitcher does have what it takes, colleges might be hesitant to invest in her if they don't think she has the size to handle the abuse of pitching D1 softball. All I am saying is that I think a smaller sized pitcher will be more marketable if she can show that she can contribute at the plate as a position player or DH if she doesn't turn out to be the number 1 pitcher.

[coolstuff]

CoolStuff, I am not sure I understand your comment about Daddy Ball.

When the coach's daughter either pitches or is in the OF for every single inning, that's part of the definition of Daddy Ball. I would grant an exemption if coach's DD is one of the better infielders and plays there when not pitching.

The better TB teams I have seen always have one pitcher on the bench ready to warm up if needed.