Tips from all you coaches out there

[2001-2dad]

Any feed back will be appreciated! I would like to see my daughter develop a more competitive drive and a hunger to get better. She does practice extra with me outside her team practices but sometimes she gives me only half her effort which could lead to developing bad habits I fear so we end up getting frustrated at each other. I would like us to enjoy the
time spent together and get her to try harder. Any ideas?

[Dugout Dad]

She sounds 14.
Drive comes from within, it will come out in time, or it may not, but you can't force it out.
I would suggest an outside coach for hitting or fielding, will be worth the money. Time is too short to be getting frustrated at each other.
Is she frustrated at you for being frustrated at her, if so, back off. Don't drive her away from the game forever.

[slapperdad]

Something for you to ponder:
Boys need to play well to feel good, girls need to feel good to play well.

[jesh7552]

Something for you to ponder:
Boys need to play well to feel good, girls need to feel good to play well.

Amen to that!

[2001-2dad]

She does have a hitting, pitching, and fielding coach. I am just trying to help her get better and take advantage of this opportunity. If she dont stay ahead of the curve there are girls that r going to catch up and she will not get to pitch or start as often in the field. I would never want to drive her from the game. I Just want her to try hard that's all. Right now we are trying a award system and first two games we have a improvement batting.

[DLauck]

I would like to see my daughter develop a more competitive drive and a hunger to get better.

It will be very challenging to simply "develop a more competitive drive". Some kids just have that "hunger" to compete, and others could care less.

If she's a a half decent athlete, she should be playing multiple sports at her age. Learning how to win and lose at her age could help develop the drive you're looking for. Sending her to pitching, hitting, and fielding coaches at her age, is not the answer.

[Battle]

It will be very challenging to simply "develop a more competitive drive". Some kids just have that "hunger" to compete, and others could care less.

If she's a a half decent athlete, she should be playing multiple sports at her age. Learning how to win and lose at her age could help develop the drive you're looking for. Sending her to pitching, hitting, and fielding coaches at her age, is not the answer.

I disagree. DD learned how to compete at a young age in softball. That has carried over to her other sports. If not for softball, I don't feel that she would have learned that drive you are talking about. Other sports simply breaks the monotony.
Also, sending her to specialized coaches is the answer. It gives them confidence. If the girl doesn't feel like she is good, there will be less drive to compete for most. JMO

[Battle]

She does have a hitting, pitching, and fielding coach. I am just trying to help her get better and take advantage of this opportunity. If she dont stay ahead of the curve there are girls that r going to catch up and she will not get to pitch or start as often in the field. I would never want to drive her from the game. I Just want her to try hard that's all. Right now we are trying a award system and first two games we have a improvement batting.

You seem to be on the right track IMO. There is a balance between pushing productively and pushing to the point of break and no one knows your dd like you do.
I would try to keep it fun at that age but regardless of what some people might tell you, losing is not fun. DD having a bad outing isn't fun either and that has everything to do with how competitive she is.

[DLauck]

Battle - I think loading up on softball (or any sport) with hitting, pitching, and fielding coaches at 10 years old is rather risky. It's a different story once a kid gets to HS age and they've narrowed down what sport they want to focus on. Your DD would be an exception - good for her and you.

If in fact 2001-2 dad is loading up with softball and all the "specialists", its no wonder why his DD is half assing it in the backyard.

Done with this thread.

[illini 1]

Sounds a little like, Dad wants, Dad wants, Dad wants, but what does she really want, IMHO I would ask her what she wants, and if it is softball, her competitve edge will eventually come through (dont force it, or she will begin to hate it). But if dad wants her to play softball and she wants to be a cheerleader the drive will never come