Proper Relationship Between Pitching & Team Coaches

PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
PITCHING COACH AND TEAM COACH

by Lou Gareis & Darlene Gareis Truesdale

THIS CAN BE A VERY CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT THAT CAN TEAR YOUNG PITCHERS APART. IT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE HEAD COACH AND THE PARENTS. YOUNG PITCHERS CAN HAVE TREMENDOUS LOYALTY TO THEIR PITCHING COACHES BECAUSE THEY WORK WITH THEM ALL YEAR AROUND. BECAUSE FASTPITCH PITCHING HAS DEVELOPED SO FAST MANY TEAM COACHES HAVE BEEN CAUGHT WITHOUT FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SKILL. AN OVERBEARING PITCHING COACH MAY TRY TO INFLUENCE THE TEAM COACH. I HAVE SEEN SOME PITCHING COACHES TRY TO TELL TEAM COACHES WHO TO PITCH, USUALLY THEIR STUDENTS, CAUSING DISSENTION ON THE TEAM. THIS IS WRONG, AND A GOOD PITCHING COACH SHOULD NEVER INTERFERE WITH A TEAM. THE HEAD COACH SHOULD HAVE COMPLETE CHARGE OF THE TEAM, ESPECIALLY THE PITCHERS. A PITCHING COACH MAY WORK WITH MANY PITCHERS. WHERE IS THEIR LOYALTY?

THIS BEING SAID, HOW CAN A TEAM COACH TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A PITCHING COACH?

1. LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT PITCHING

2. GO TO WATCH YOUR PITCHER AT HER LESSONS AND CLINICS (COACHES AND PARENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME)

3. GO TO PITCHING CLINICS FOR "COACHES"

4. IF YOU ARE WEAK IN PITCHING KNOWLEDGE AND STRATEGY HIRE AN ASSISTANT COACH WHO KNOWS MORE THAN YOU ABOUT PITCHING. IF IT IS A PARENT OF A PITCHER, BE SURE TO CONSIDER THE REACTION OF THE TEAM MEMBERS.

5. CALL YOUR PITCHERS PITCHING COACH AND TALK TO THEM.

6. USE YOU PITCHER TO HER MAXIMUM BY FINDING OUT WHAT PITCHES SHE CAN THROW, AND WORK WITH THEM!!!