Group CATCHING Lessons - Waste of time - YES?

[fastpitchdad05]

Jerk check your PMs.

Do you mean softballjerk or are you talking to me again?

[Battle]

Jerk check your PMs.

Do you mean softballjerk or are you talking to me again?

That depends...Do you have PMS?

If not, I think he was talking to Opie...

[Cannonball]

Went and read the rest of this thread after my last post. Man, there is some real hatred here. I don't know this "Jen" and so, can't really comment. However, it is painfully discussed on a level very personal.

IMO, no one like to have to give group lessons unless they are about money. So, I agree that there are unscrupulous instructors out there that do overbook and do concentrate on only the best. However, parents are responsible for how they spend their money and whether they think that their child is getting adequate instruction. When dd was young, we sent to several pitching coaches. One was a group lesson where the instructor talked/instructed dd for maybe 4 minutes. At the end, we were asked if dd was coming back. Heck no. Is this instructor in some type of academy where she does have control over things like recruitment? I would find that hard to believe. Players get recruited on their merits.

I'll wrap this up by saying that this evening, I gave pitching lessons to two young ladies. No, I'm not some pitching guru. My dd turned out to be a pretty good pitcher. I was her instructor when we figured out I could do a better job than those around. These two ladies were in for me to look at and give some recommendations. I charged my usual fee of nothing. It seems like some of you have a lot of knowledge, why not help some of these kids who have parents that can't pay for some of these lessons? I promise you that when you hear a heartfelt "thanks," you'll think your efforts worthwhile.

Take care,

[fastpitchdad05]

Jerk check your pms.

Do you mean softballjerk or are you talking to me again?

That depends...Do you have PMS?

If not, I think he was talking to Opie...

No, I have PBS...Putting up with Battle's Sh*t!

[as the world turns]

It's been a while since we sent someone to the corn field. SBJerk is paving his way

I have been real busy and haven't had time to go through all this but I will say, I have seen many of Jen's lessons over the years in fact I have seen many catching lessons over the last 30 years. Jens lessons are awesome and second to none, high energy all positive and she does an amazing job. Sorry Jen for this yahoo who comes on here hiding behind his computer screen acting like he's someone.

Keep up the great work Jen u are amazing and great for the sport

Couple of things....

Whether this is a young lady or a crotchety old man (Bruder), is irrelevant. Instructors are subject to public comment, as any business is....look at the reviews of products on websites or Yelp or etc. If she's gonna take the money, she has to take the heat.

Secondly, I was the one who mentioned Kubata in a post. His fielding/throwing techniques are fine. He is an A$$hole. He hires A$$holes to work with him. He approves of the mentally abusive techniques of people working for him. If you like that stuff....fine. I personally don't.

In the end, you get what you pay for....or less.

1) Your interactions with Kubota are a little dated. People change, as you have noted about yourself. They learn from past behavior. In coaching in particular when you are first doing it, you tend to be a bit more over the top and pushy about things.
2) There are numerous people that have had positive results from working with Kubota. They come here requrlarly, you meet them at the park, on the bigger D1 teams.
3) You have equally railed on Rico/Bruder in the past, yet both of those coaches have very extensive in raising girls recruiting stock. Just because they charge, and not every single person gets a scholarship does not mean it is all bad.
4) Real stretch from some of your negative experiences with Bruder/Kubota to assume they apply to Jenn, Jumping in the boat with loosely connected to reality softballjerk to help him grind his ax seems an odd approach.

I have seen way more free coaches teaching kids harmful/dangerous/incorrect mechanics than these paid guys.

Kubota has had success with the kids he likes. As I said, he teaches solid fielding/throwing techniques.
My comments regarding Rico/Bruder were related to charging at a private lesson rate while "instructing" two students at a time. I never had a problem with Phil, personally....I actually like him. My point was to make it clear that anybody who gets paid to do something in life is subject to scrutiny/criticism. Being young and pretty doesn't shield one from professional analysis.

It never worked for me....

And did your DD's play in college?

My most physically talented DD found boys at 15 and quit softball. I blew out my youngest DD's shoulder before she got a chance to be recruited. Why do you ask?

Just trying to understand your viewpoint on your strong opinions on these coaches, almost like they wronged you or something. I guess I can see where your frustration is coming from.

[as the world turns]

Jerk check your pms.

Do you mean softballjerk or are you talking to me again?

That depends...Do you have PMS?

If not, I think he was talking to Opie...

No, I have PBS...Putting up with Battle's Sh*t!

When I saw PBS, I thought you were offering Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches - My bad!

I hope you don't mind, but jerk is now my new sandwich maker. But, I still like you

[fastpitchdad05]

Jerk check your pms.

Do you mean softballjerk or are you talking to me again?

That depends...Do you have PMS?

If not, I think he was talking to Opie...

No, I have PBS...Putting up with Battle's Sh*t!

When I saw PBS, I thought you were offering Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches - My bad!

I hope you don't mind, but jerk is now my new sandwich maker. But, I still like you

You'll be back!

[Battle]

No, I have PBS...Putting up with Battle's Sh*t!

LOL...Well look at it this way...If I'm bothering you then I'm leaving someone else alone. PDad thanks you.

[as the world turns]

No, I have PBS...Putting up with Battle's Sh*t!

LOL...Well look at it this way...If I'm bothering you then I'm leaving someone else alone. PDad thanks you.

Battlebot, season is about a month away, can't wait!!

[NumeroUno]

This was emailed to me and I was asked to post it:

Jerk,



Being the all-knowing egotistical and judgmental bully that you are I am sure that you’ve considered the following as possible facts:


These girls in yoga pants actually understand the game. They played the game at the highest level. They have thought about what they wish they had when they were kids, and have implemented those ideas. They grow everyday in ways to connect with these girls and in how they can better communicate mechanics, team culture, life lessons, and personal experience to girls that come to them for help.
Jen Schroeder (I'll cut through the game of dancing around her name since it is clear you have the most hatred for her, specifically) has made it her life’s work to encourage and develop better catchers and, more importantly, better people. Her intention isn't a plot to get money and it until recent years, you would never have noticed her if she hadn't grown in popularity. You bash her character and her experience like it’s not worthy of anyone listening to a word she says. That perspective alone would mark you as ignorant in my book.
Before The Packaged Deal (as it seems you also hate due to your hatred for Jen) and this time of digital mass marketing as an alternative way to coach and reach more people, baseball AND softball were dying breeds. The sport needed to be shaken up, not changed from its honest and competitive roots- but GROWN to match our changing society and the attention spans of kids in current times.
The Packaged Deal gives out hundred of FREE videos during all of their events. Between their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels, let alone the channels of their individual coaches, there’s over 2000 free videos ready and waiting for those people who just want to follow along and use the drills however they see fit or not at all. The channels aren’t being shoved down anyone’s throats. Facebook and all the other channels are “follow”or “like”-based. If you don’t want to see it, you don’t have to.
Jen was not a catcher growing up. She was the top recruit in her class as a third baseman. She moved to the catching position because he was asked to do so by her head-coach late in her career. Her knowledge is based on hard-earned research, case study, and years of trial and error. I would take that knowledge of the game over lab-coat science any day of the week, especially if I had a daughter wanting a role-model and coach.
The girls get more out of the group lessons than just mechanical skill.
When asked if the girls feel more confident as women and as softball players after a group lesson versus a private lesson, most would pick the group lesson. They believe they benefit in more than you could possibly understand.
In arenas where women have ALWAYS made less money than men: athletics and coaching- Jen has found a niche market and the people in the tribe actually understand that this is a HUGE thing for women, in general.
The amount of money you speak of these group lesson coaches making: did you ever stop to consider the cost on them to get to different states and put themselves up around the country? Consider the wear and tear on their bodies and lives at home when they travel so much to spread passion and love for the game? You have no idea of the business model and the poison that you're spreading about how these girls are evil for making money at all could keep some parents from giving their daughter the chance to experience things for themselves.
Anyone can see you are either 1. An angry parent whose daughter couldn’t hack it in Jen’s lessons 2. An angry parent who feels it is their right and obligation to spout how parents should behave and how they should parent their own children 3. An angry and sexist coach that just can’t take it that a woman does her job better than you ever could 4. An angry ex-player who is still stewing because she didn’t think of The Packaged Deal idea first.




In your posts (sorry, I haven't read every one), you sink back into your theory that contains multiple points: a) one-on-one training is better than group training b) Jen can’t possibly see all flaws and correct all of them while teaching so many at the same time c) none of the elite athletes of the past trained like this, so why should these girls? d) Jen’s experience doesn’t qualify her to make that money


While anyone can see you’re in a blind rage and all of this is a clear attack on Jen (for what ever reason you’ve blown up in your mind), you have valid thoughts that really just come down to opinion.


Some people disagree with your points. And they act based on their belief. It’s really quite funny that you’re so angry that people won’t see your side. You keep calling them names and insulting them with how dull and unaware they are, but maybe these are the types of people that believe that teamwork matters, that chemistry creates championships. I don’t know, all of the things that a champion talks about when interviewed after raising her huge trophy with her teammates.


To go back to your theory and your points: I guess I’ll placate to your redundancy and your plea for attention:


You stated that flaws should be pointed out, throws broken down into slow-motion frames, one-on-one attention should be given with no more than 2 other people taking turns to provide same amount of reps. There is a place for this, sure. Of course. But to go back to your point of elite level athletes not training this way- the girls before didn’t have smart phones to slow-mo and they certainly didn’t have catching coaches that were as readily available to them. I am really not sure how long you’ve been in the game for- I am truly hoping not that long so you haven’t been able to infect too many young and impressionable minds- but, before recently, catching lessons were not something softball parents knew about. If they did know about them, they knew about Jen.
You have no idea how Jen runs her lessons, so I won’t give you more hints so you can turn around and copy her format. God knows that this is half jealousy and half hatred of someone you don’t know.
As athletes, we train fast. Games are fast. If someone continually trains not to make a mistake, or trains like they think someone is going to critique every single thing that they do- they become slower, by nature, less-confident, and ultimately, unfit to play. You have one definition of what YOU think the lessons are. You’re just wrong. Sorry.


Since I know you have considered all of these- and I know you’re smart- with your education that is so much better than UCLA’s and experience that, of course, one-ups Jen’s in every way and fashion, I, then, have to conclude that you are one of the most selfish and mean people I have responded to. It is evident that you do not understand the culture behind the game, the support each one of its true fans and tribe-members feel.


If you were trying to help anyone, in any way, I would try to get through your posts objectively. It's just impossible to see anything you say as objective. Your hatred has actually inspired me to speak up. So I thank you for that. I’m sure you’ve been sucking the life out of anyone that will give you the time of day- by displaying your undying need to tear others down, you have given me the push I need to say something back.


Your lack of empathy is astounding. To say that a coach is unethical in her need to be paid for services is the same theory that gets teachers paid less that actors every single day. You want it to look a certain way. You want the perceived nature of a coach to be that he or she does everything out of the goodness of their hearts. When that person chooses to make coaching her full time activity; when that person doesn’t have time for your 9-5 desk job playing solitaire and eating Doritios because she’s too busy molding young minds and impacting girls on a deep and profound level- I believe that person deserves to find a way to be compensated.


With my whole heart, I think those that have trained with Jen from travel until their graduation from college have seen their transformation come full circle. Their parents would pay double whatever price tag was put on lessons. They would do it all again and more because of their overall benefit and because of the genuine relationships achieved.


If you are a coach, ex-player, parent— I truly feel sorry for you. You are blind to changing times and blind to a good, strong person when you see one. One who is doing what she can to positively impact as many people as possible each and every day. I doubt that goal has ever entered into your tiny mind.


So when you're sitting there behind your keyboard, twiddling your thumbs thinking- "Oh, I'm really gonna let this sucker have it." You know you've got nothing to lose- no one knows who you are or why you're doing this. I hope you really like yourself for sitting there and typing insults. I hope it makes you feel good inside. And I'm sorry if that's actually self-hate. I'm not sure what I would do if I had that much hate inside of me.


I'm proud of Jen. I'm proud she is doing things people notice. You notice she's making money- people that know the real her see she is adding value to our sport, she is creating conversation, and she is elevating the training of catchers.


I'll give you a head start on your response and a hint on research to do: go ahead and chat with some college coaches on what they think about Jen Schroeder. Heck, go ahead and chat with Team USA and professional league coaches. Be sure to not just report the ones with the feedback that fits your theory. Go ahead. I'm interested.


Also, to add drama to this thread that doesn't need the help- my name is Morgan Stuart. Jen is a close friend. And you, whoever you are, are a very hateful person. I haven't read every post you've written. I've followed his thread enough to know that you're not budging in how angry you are. I won't respond to you again. I did just want to add my 2 cents and do some creative writing. Feel free to turn some of your rage on me. I'm pretty indifferent to how you view the game, life, and women who are pioneering new ways to positively impact young girls.


I was taught that if you never disagree with anyone then you stand for nothing. I'm disagreeing with you and I'm sure you disagree with me. I think I've made it clear that I stand for what my friend is doing, teaching, and how she is living. I value myself for the friend, the coach, and the person I am. So who are you? What do you stand for?