The bottom line is at 12, kids should be learning to be versatile and learn to play mulitple positions. A smart coach who knows how to coach 12 year olds and one who can recognize young talent will help players to start developing their true potential early on. That's where it begins.
Here in FL, many of our players can play multiple positions as well as pitch and hit.
Maybe that's why our state turns out so many to the draft each year and many of our kids attend top D1 schools. On my son's college team, many position players were former pitchers and many are recrutied because they have TALENT, not because they play a particular position well. Our centerfielder did a great job on the mound this fall, position players have been turned into pitchers, one of them being named a top prospect by BA this year. Last year a catcher was drafted in the 4th round as a pitcher, he pitched 28 innings the year he was drafted.
Smart parents and coaches don't force, they encourage. There is a difference.
TPM
You didnt respond to the aspect of turning kids off
We now deal with a different 12 year old , the kid who will call 911 if you, as a parent, raise your hand to them, they want to do want they want--
This is why I no longer coach LL age kids--think about it
You didnt respond to the aspect of turning kids off
We now deal with a different 12 year old , the kid who will call 911 if you, as a parent, raise your hand to them, they want to do want they want--
This is why I no longer coach LL age kids--think about it
TR,
Sorry, here is my response to the aspect of turning off a 12 year old.
Say bah bye and find another 12 year old for your team, maybe a 12 going on 13, more mature.
If you are talking rec ball, you might be in a situation but one of the reasons why so many prefer hand picked travel teams with no rec affiliation.
Let's not forget the whole purpose of youth organized sports. It's not to make future Major League stars, but future better citizens.
Sorry, here is my response to the aspect of turning off a 12 year old.
Say bah bye and find another 12 year old for your team, maybe a 12 going on 13, more mature.
If you are talking rec ball, you might be in a situation but one of the reasons why so many prefer hand picked travel teams with no rec affiliation.
Let's not forget the whole purpose of youth organized sports. It's not to make future Major League stars, but future better citizens.
quote:Say bah bye and find another 12 year old for your team
I think that's a bit extreme of a statement when we're talking about 12 year old kids and pitching. Some kids, I believe, just aren't going to be pitchers no matter how hard we try to mold them into it. It seems to me that pitching, and to a lesser extent catching, takes a certain special talent that not all kids have. Now if I tell a 1st baseman that I need him to play outfield and he gives me lip about it you can bet he's going to be spending a lot of time with me in the dugout during the game.
This kid I'm talking about is a super catcher (as well as middle infielder). He has a 'killer instinct' behind the plate and can't wait for that bang bang play so he can chalk up another 'kill'. Not to mention the great job he does framing pitches and all the little things a catcher has to do to help his pitcher. It just seems that he's lost his confidence on the mound. The more I read everyone's posts and the more I think about this, it seems the best course of action is to have him keep practicing with the pitchers this winter before spring ball starts to see if he can regain his 'stuff', and leave it at that.
Another aspect I was thinking about when I made the original post that I haven't seen too much discussion on is how much of a toll it takes on a kid to both pitch and catch, especially as they transition into high school ball. In this players case it is my belief that his future is as a catcher (although he's able and willing to go anywhere on the field).
Thanks for all the posts, I appreciate the opportunity to gain insight from more experienced coaches and parents whose kids have played at the high school level and beyond.
Style,
Sorry, I didn't mean it to be extreme. What I was implying is if you have a down right ornary 12 year old who refuses to be part of a team, listne to coach then find another player who will appreciate and add more to the team.
The conversation got a little bit out of focus. My posts were more reflective of others comments than of your dilemma.
I am a firm believer of giving talented young players every opportunity to explore every position. I think pitchers and catchers are of the same makeup, they love having control of the game, the killer instinct, the great arm.
If he feels more comfortable behind the plate than on the mound, by all means he shouldn't be where he doesn't belong. At 12, I just don't always see where you have to "decide", but that is JMO.
Sooner or later he may have to choose, as I think on some it takes a toll on the arm. A starting pitcher shouldn't be catching in HS, but I have seen many catchers pitch in relief for a few short innings and done well, not in the same game. Except for a few that I know of, most that did both didn't go onto play ball after HS or if they did it was as a catcher only.
I think alot depends on the individual, his ability to hit, his framework. Mine was a pretty good catcher, but he definetly looked more like a pitcher.
If you see his future as a catcher, then that's most probably where he will be going.
Good pitchers are always given good opportunities but so are good catchers.
Good luck.
Sorry, I didn't mean it to be extreme. What I was implying is if you have a down right ornary 12 year old who refuses to be part of a team, listne to coach then find another player who will appreciate and add more to the team.
The conversation got a little bit out of focus. My posts were more reflective of others comments than of your dilemma.
I am a firm believer of giving talented young players every opportunity to explore every position. I think pitchers and catchers are of the same makeup, they love having control of the game, the killer instinct, the great arm.
If he feels more comfortable behind the plate than on the mound, by all means he shouldn't be where he doesn't belong. At 12, I just don't always see where you have to "decide", but that is JMO.
Sooner or later he may have to choose, as I think on some it takes a toll on the arm. A starting pitcher shouldn't be catching in HS, but I have seen many catchers pitch in relief for a few short innings and done well, not in the same game. Except for a few that I know of, most that did both didn't go onto play ball after HS or if they did it was as a catcher only.
I think alot depends on the individual, his ability to hit, his framework. Mine was a pretty good catcher, but he definetly looked more like a pitcher.
If you see his future as a catcher, then that's most probably where he will be going.
Good pitchers are always given good opportunities but so are good catchers.
Good luck.
Thanks TPM.
Good luck to your son and the Tigers next spring (except when they're playing Tech
).
Good luck to your son and the Tigers next spring (except when they're playing Tech
).quote:Originally posted by StyleMismatch:
Thanks TPM.
Good luck to your son and the Tigers next spring (except when they're playing Tech
Thank you!
I have kind of the opposite story to tell. My son was a brilliant defensive player at 12. He was so good that he was the only player stuck at his position for years and never got a chance to play anywhere else. At 13 he moved to a different park where nobody knew him and the coach there announced that he was to be the main pitcher for the team. Being a team player he voiced no objection. I was amazed that he did a really good job at it even though he'd never done it before. As the season went on, however, kids that had never played before were put on our team. They couldn't catch or throw or anything else. My son grew increasingly frustrated as routine outs at first were turned into triples. The next season he pitched well for another coach and played 1B. Now he's on a middle school team that finally shifted him back to SS and pitcher. I see that he's still an excellent SS but is not as sharp as he once was. However, the head coach from the high school seems very excited at the prospect of having him as a pitcher in high school. Nothing could have been more frustrating than to watch the first pitching season he did. Sometimes good defense make a pitcher even better than he is. At 12 I can understand that maybe your son was let down by his team not backing him up. But there are always other teams and other situations. Having pitching skills down the road, even as a back up pitcher are a valuable addition to his arsenal. However, at that age let him try as many positions as possible.
i was in the same position not to long ago.....i hated pitchin when i was younger...when i got to hs i almost decided to not pitch at all....cuz i loved hitting and playin field....but i decided to keep pitchin and now im pitchin at a d2 college...so i would keep pitchin u never know what could get u somewhere....maybe with alittle instruction he could get more consistent with his pitching
I have been in similar situations, and generally I take the pressure off of the kid.
1) You can't make him (want to) pitch well.
2) I don't want to permanently damage him (his psyche) by giving him a complex about pitching.
3) He can always come back and be a pitcher, and given his age you might be doing him a favor by reducing the risk he will injure himself.
I would back off and let it go. Maybe he'll get back into it if he realizes he's the best pitcher on the team. However, it's best if he is the one who makes the decision.
1) You can't make him (want to) pitch well.
2) I don't want to permanently damage him (his psyche) by giving him a complex about pitching.
3) He can always come back and be a pitcher, and given his age you might be doing him a favor by reducing the risk he will injure himself.
I would back off and let it go. Maybe he'll get back into it if he realizes he's the best pitcher on the team. However, it's best if he is the one who makes the decision.
well i'm a freshman in highschool and i love to pitch i just don't have the skills the fastball the sharp curveball and i'm also a ss i can hit for contact but no power i have great speed thats my best quatily i want to picth but if i don't do good my freshman yr then i'll prob change to ss