SOFTBALL: Rodriguez earns player of the year honors

Its hard to let go.Fathers were their daughter's first coach. I have a daughter.It is tough. I know the best thing I ever did for my daughter in softball was put her in the hands of quality coaches then encourage and re-enforce what she learned. The other issue is that parents tend to be harder on their own kid when they are the head coach.Everyone is different. Some parents know their role as coaches; most of them don't. There have been many times I have had to keep my mouth shut when an incompentent coach was telling my daughter to do something totally wrong. It is tough. But to say parents should not be coaches as a general rule is to broad of a statement. Just to repeat I do not think that high school coaches develope pitchers. private pitching coaches do that.

To say Parents shouldn't coach their kids at the HS level is an overstatement.

I do think however that with the amount of time one must invest to become a good pitcher it would tax a parent(father)/ daughter relationship to do it at the HS/Travel ball level.

It's rare when a father/Daughter can work together at a high level taking into consideration the outside strife/stress that takes it's toll on the relationship!

Too many times an off the field issue can pop-up during game/practice time and interfere.

I think we both agree that coaches with multiple pitchers should get them all in games, but putting requirements on them would be a mistake.

I just do not think that a high school coach can develop a kid into a quality pitcher when they aren't trained outside of the high school program.

I feel like you are arguing for something you wish could happen and I am pointing out the realities.

Pitching limitations has nothing to do with training pitchers.As I said before pvt pitching lessons and practice is where a picture becomes good. Also keep in mind that the pitching limitations do not have to be as restrictive as baseball. Because pitchers are not developed, coaches are forced to throw girls that throw "meat" and risk injury. I think you've made my point.

I just think that most of the softball coaches in our area do not have the time or the ability to properly train pitchers from scratch, which some teams would have to do in order to fill a requirement. At best you would have two quality pitchers getting plenty time pitching but at worst you are risking injury with unqualified pitchers putting meat over the middle from 40 feet and catching a come backer in the face.

I understand the desire to give more kids pitching time, but if you require it I believe it will be detrimental to the game.

I do think it is important to win but I do not think it is important to win every game. If there are two or three quality pitchers on a team then I think it behooves a coach to find playing time for them all. Both for the kid and you never know when the team might need them. But to think that high school coaches can train pitchers is unrealistic.

I think I understood your entry. You do not believe rules should force a coach to use multiple pitchers.And you are absolutely right; there are not a lot of quality pitchers around. UofA won the national championship with one pitcher. However had Mowatt not been consistently effective and Arizona began losing, do you now bring in a pitcher who has sat all year and expect her to be as effective as your ace. I think not. You seem to be about winning and winning only with that one great dominant pitcher and rely on her to win the game for you.That is not coaching in my opinion. Most agree that in softball if you have the far superior pitcher and all else is equal, you will win the good majority of the time. A coach is suppose to win; however there is so much more to coaching than that. He has to develope other players and pitchers to beat the team with the superior pitching. I guess we have different perspectives about the game of softball. I do like reading your thoughts on the game.

Taryn Mowatt pitched every single game for Arizona this year and they won the Collegiate National Championship.

I am not saying that teams shouldn't have more than one pitcher, but they shouldn't be forced to play them by regulation. It does make sense to have more than one from a coaching standpoint.

If you forced teams to play multi-pitchers, I feel that you would then force coaches who are serious to recruit from rec and travel leagues, because most communities do not have several well trained pitchers. They just don't.

Plus, by your response, I do not think that you fully read my last entry.

anon-2:49

You are obviously involved with Arcadia Softball.As a long time fan I am plain nosy and curious.Do you know who the next varsity coach will be? any rumors?

Possible duplicate. High school coaches do more that develope stratagyl There are other skills and positions on a team that need coaching and teaching.Its a team game in case you haven't noticed.A good coach, travel or high school, will recognize this and try to help and coach all players. Most travel coaches find a dominant pitcher and just throw the ball onto the field. Research shows (look it up)that windmill does put a strain on the arm just from extended use not necessarily from pitching motion. To what extent is not yet known. Why do you think colleges rosters have more than one pitcher. It is not just in case of injury. It is for periodic rest throughout a long season to keep their ace fresh for the big I.E playoff games. Sounds like you are a travel ball fan and winning is the primary goal. I respect your opinion; however I disagree.

High School coaches do not develop pitchers; parents, pitching coaches, and pitchers themselves develop pitchers. High School coaches develop strategy, pitchers are developed by their work in the offseason. If you require high school coaches to use pitchers that they do not have, it will be embarassing for several programs. The reason that baseball teams are required to use multiple pitchers is protect the kids arms, softball doesn't have that problem.

Also pitching windmill style is not like baseball where you can put a kid on the mound who may not be good but can throw the ball. In softball you may not even be able to find a kid who can figure out the pitching motion.

anon 2:49
I'm sorry you misunderstood what I was saing ..My daughter is on Varsity and plays travel and is a starter but that wasn't the point. you are right about travel teams and every parent should really check it out before you try out for a spot, check to see what tourney they play and where they travel and how they have placed in the last 2 years.
the girl I heard about played varsity and travel and was very talented. but because of the politics decieded to stay with travel. I don't know her name not that it makes any difference.. I think the point of the blog was to say in most cases Parents should not be coaching at the varsity level I know there are some cases that it has worked but overall not a good idea.

Parents as coaches are not necessarily wrong. If they truly have something to offer they can definetly be an asset.However; I have seen parents appointed asst coaches for political reasons only and this usually leads to turmoil on the team. It is a very fine line and must be addressed by the head coach who should definetly not be a parent at the high school level. In re to travel ball. I agree. I have watched girls who have played travel ball for several years. I cannot believe that so many of them cannot execute or even understand basic fundamentals of the game. Do travel ball coaches coach the game or do they recruit the best players and claim greatness because they have the best talent?.Travel ball can also be harmful as I have heard travel ball coaches tell kids "forget everything your high school coach has taught you" There are good and bad travel ball coaches.I would urge colleges not to limit their recruiting to travel ball and give high school programs a look once in a while. I agree, parents assume that if their kid plays travel ball she should be able to make a high school varsity team. And why does this happen?; because some travel coaches fill the kids and their parents heads with unrealistic abilities and expectations about their kids.The parents and the kids take this as gospel.
Great idea. Limit softball pitchers to 10 innings a week, Saturday to Saturday. That way a coach has to manage and cannot depend on his one dominant pitcher to win all his games. You have some great perceptions of the game.

I've been reading about this girl or that that played "Travel" but not for her school...This does not mean that girl would have played for her HS team had she tried out...

"Travel" has a lot of mediocre teams in addition to the few elite teams. Even those elite teams fill their rosters with players who ride the bench.Just because your daughter played "Travel" doesn't mean she is a Varsity level starting player!

Sounds like some of you are crying sour grapes as your kid may not be good enough to play and that may or may not have anything to do with her HS coach?

I don't mean to bash anyone but a reality check is in order.

Why no parent coaches ??

Take a look at TC. Bob does a pretty good job as a coaching father? Monrovia had the Mihm dad essentially running the team the past 4 years and they did pretty well ? Alverno's pitcher had her dad helping out...Maybe if a few more dad's stepped up and helped out even as volunteers programs would benefit.

Sounds like you have experienced the bad apple somewhere down the line but no need to label all parents as bad coaches?

It just happens that a lot of Parents ( usually dads) get involved because they have daughters that are pretty good athletes and their daughters are pretty good athletes perhaps because their dads have been involved?

I wish you luck at Arcadia but don't Dis all parents who coach because you have had a bad experience.

The sport of softball has the unique problem of being so pitching dominant where usually one girl will handle most of the pitching chores.

Heres a topic for discussion:

HOW ABOUT PITCHING LIMITS LIKE THE BOYS HAVE?

This would require every program to develop at least 2 pitchers and you wouldn't/couldn't see one girl pitch every inning!

Hey anon. you and the other parents should speak up. Don't be afraid; a good coach will not take it out on a player if the parents speak up. Remember the kids and the program come first. You are 100% right colleges are looking for good students as well as good players. Stats are only a part of it.And hollow stats don't mean much. That is why discipline is a must. Colleges do not want to sign problems; its not worth it.Get your concerned parents together and SPEAK UP.Don't let the program regress to what it was 4 years ago. If you think the JV coach is a good choice let the athletic dept know. Good luck I wish you well

Observer
We agree, The JV coach would be perfect he knows his stuf and better yet the parents don't have a say a good coach will listen to concerns but not give in to pointless whinning. Every girl should be able to know that they can get better and earn a spot on the team. It was a sad day for me to see that score and watch this senior never get in. My daughter is a starter even she was upset. the parents were very upset but were afraid to say anything knowing it would only hurt your own child. When we keep hearing about the stats and how great they are some of us who play travel know that stats aren't everything and colleges look at the whole picture before signing anyone.When some of those teams never won a game in league you know where those high numbers came from. It also not a good feeling that if some thing happened to the pitcher like a illness or something our season would have been over. I sure would like to know why the other pitchers would not play for the high school and one of them played only travel. That tells me that something is really wrong with the program.

anon you are right. stats were a big part of the 3 year plan. i.e. college offers! Ironically I think it hurt AHS in the playoffs. Tired arms and burned out players.All girls should get a chance to play when winning or losing is obvious. The duo(again good coaches who had a lot to offer) on the field coached the team and the third coach acted as an administratior.However it was the admin-coach who made all the decisions. Didn't make much sense. New blood that wants to build the program is a nice idea. However most coaches are in for the quick fix then want to get out.Sound familiar? Parents need to be patient also. The best players should play period.This will deter players from quitting But they must earn that right which wasn't always the case this year. I noticed that discipline was not a big part of the varsity team The lower levels seemed neglected in the big picture. Re the new coach; the way Arcadia works, it will listen to the parents and the kids. Beg the previous JV coach to take the job before its to late. However from what I understand AHS Athletics has treated him like dirt. It might take some convincing. Good Luck

Most of the parents that are involved with sports feel that the school needs to look at the sports programs and see the need for some new blood that will stay and build the program the way it used be, In the last few years we have lost alot of talented girls to private schools, Arcadia has also had alot of girls quit the softball program these are girls that have played since T-ball but could see the writing on the wall..Parents should not be on the field....at least 6 girls quit the program that had talent,2 of them were pitchers one quit softball all together the other only played Travel..but would not play for the high school..I'd like to know why???? the parents are hoping that some of these girls that will be seniors next year decide to play again...

observer and BigA
both of you have it right about Arcadia, they are going to have to make some smart choices for all the sports at Arcadia.I still feel NO parents on the field at the high school level..that's what Little League is for. I also don't think trio is the exception .The girls on the team were just plain tired of watching the score go to 22-0 and not putting in the girls on the bench God forbid it would lower the stats..

observer and BigA
both of you have it right about Arcadia, they are going to have to make some smart choices for all the sports at Arcadia.I still feel NO parents on the field at the high school level..that's what Little League is for. I also don't think trio is the exception .The girls on the team were just plain tired of watching the score go to 22-0 and not putting in the girls on the bench God forbid it would lower the stats..

Big A you are right on the money. Politics;Politics and more Policticx. You are right. As long as they have someone to fill the spot; ability to coach is an afterthought. Sports is no longer a priority with the current administraton. Its sad. Especially in softball the program is on the upswing/ not for long

From what I heard, the Arcadia athletics department is foolish in the hiring of certain coaches. After hearing that the old basketball coach was disliked by many of his former students/players/and even fellow coaches, to hire someone who was a part of his unsuccessful coaching staff is ridiculous. I would've thought that an up and coming coach would be more promising with a lack of talent in the Arcadia basketball program.

Arcadia's AD needs to think a bit harder on the value or winning instead of the value of just filling in the spot.

Even the new softball position open, the AD needs to look at all info.

Any thoughts?

hey anon. good thought and you are correct about the 3 year plan, that has never been a secret. Normally I would agree with you re parents on the field; however I think this group was the exception as they had something to offer the team. In re to the new coach , the obvious and best choice is the current JV coach. Its a no brainer. He knows the girls, no personal ties and you know where you stand with him.He knows the program and has a staff ready to go. I understand Arcadia didn't even give him an interview. Go figure

Fred
no one surprised that Ed Anderson left when jenna graduated he had said from day one that he was on a 3 year plan. Will Arcadia finally hire a coach that doesn't have a tie with one of the players like this one did. anderson ,rodriquez and leahy all are best friends and have been for 20 years. they are good coaches but parents don't belong on the field at the varsity level. My daughter is on Varsity at Arcadia and now we have to deal with a new head coach. I hope Arcadia gets their act together and does the right thing.

Great pick well deserved. You will not find a tougher compettior

The last time I talked to Jenna, at the all-star game, she had not signed but was looking into New Mexico, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and another school.

Fred or someone ??
does anyone know where jenna is going to college, someone said she is going to a jc for a couple of years and then hopefully to a 4 year college, but no scholarships.
I hope she continues to play she is a talented player.

CIF, not All Area. Jenna was the only one named from Div. III

DIV III had two players chosen...Jenna & Shelby Gibbs

Fred, I have a question. How are all CIF teams picked? Why did DIV III only have one player represented?

Jenna,
Congrats on all the hard work and accolades. Well Done

correction, morgan barchan was a sophomore