Question I couldn't answer

Does your son like to win?

There are not too many teams that can win ball games if they put their best pitching arm at 3rd base.

I realize this sounds a bit harsh, but the reality is that sometimes we have to make tough decisions, and sometimes we have to make sacrifices in one area to attain our goal in another.

If he still doesn't want to pitch he may as well speak up. But he may want to define what an emergecny is ahead of time. Is it an emergency to win a specific conference game or if someone is injured, or what?

What is it about pitching that your son doesn't like? Just curious to know what his feelings are. If it were my son then my response to him would be based upon what his reasons were...

As a coach I would never want a kid on the mound who didn't want to be there.

The kid may not want to play if he is not having fun. If you really do not want him to throw, my suggestion would be tht when he gets on the mound, throw a bull pen, and tell the coach the following. "Hey coach, whenever I pitch it hurts really bad....(point to the inside of your elbow) right here." Then don't let him pitch any more. JK It works though.

Kids won't play if they are not having fun. A pitcher will not be that good if his heart is not in it. Either he needs to love playing so much that he will play any position or he has a decision to make.

just throw like Mitch Williams and never throw a strike, that will kill any reason to pitch you.

I saw a HS coach want to pitch a player that went in a 1st round as a 1B. Coach had him throw in the bull pen. The coaches idea of pitching him ended when the player threw the ball to the wrong catcher in the pen. Might have been intentional too

If he doesn't want to be on the mound, he shouldn't pitch. He will not be able to exhibit the mental toughness and fire required to be a truly successful pitcher if his heart is not in it.

And why should he play a position he does not like? {And at his age, he is old enough to know that he isn't comfortable on the mound.} If he isn't having some fun, he shouldn't be out there.

I think you be honest and upfront with the coach and tell the coach you would rather not be a pitcher.

I don't think you tell him your arm hurts if it doesn't.

I would never want a kid on the mound that does not want to be there, and over the years I 've had several players who had good arms tell me that they did not want to be a pitcher.

CV

" except in an emergency situation "

If the kid can get it done, there's going to be a lot of "emergencies"!

My opinion differs from most of the others. At your son's age, he may not like pitching now, but if he is a competitor then he should do whatever it takes to help the team and change his attitude about pitching. Nobody knows right now, but it is possible that pitching could be the best spot for him in the future. Pitching is where much of the college scholarship goes to, etc. Some coaches might even sit him on the bench if the coach thinks the kid wants to dictate the positions he plays.