need advice

[dadoftheyear]

Ok so here is the back story. My daughter has been a catcher for years in rec ball. She made the move to Travel this year, and was put in the outfield. She was told she was the backup catcher but really never saw any time until there was no other option. so she was begining to start but the coach did not lift up the players. Now we have landed on a fantastic team with great coaching staff. We advised them of our issue. Now this team has 2 catchers already but we have been told no one is a lock for any position. They could lose the spot any time. My daughter is back in the outfield and doing great but no catching time. We pay for catching lessons weekly for her to keep her skills improving. I have been told not be surprised when she is put in but I don’t see it happen. Now she has not been there that long (on the team that is), I am very patient. I am going to stay with this team for the long haul because I think it is good for her. My question is what do I do about the catching? Do I call off the lessons? Do I talk to the coach again? I don’t want to seem like a demanding dad.

[Hitmechanic]

DOTY...how lucky can ya get! Save the DD's knees for a while and let her enjoy the OF! If she's smashing the ball...then all is well. Keep up the catching skills, because as they get older, catchers (even average ones) become harder to find. She'll be well sought after in the long run.

[OCHAWKS]

DOTY:

Don't know the age of your DD. My DD was a catcher for 10 years and also played some OF/2b. Thank goodness she did. When she got to high school there were 4 catchers, not inlcuding my DD and one was the coach's DD.

She made the transition to centerfield and hasn't looked back since. So the answer may be an honest assessment of her talents as a catcher. Does she have the potential to be a dominate #1 or #2? Is there a team that is willing to go along with her development plan? If not, learning another position is a plus.

Good luck.

[2bucketdad]

DOTY, when you talk to the coach again, only tell him that you/your daughter are willing to catch for any of the pitchers extra pitching practices and or pitching lessons, and it will be welcome by the pitchers parents. Continue the pitching lessons if it is what she wants to do, and you can afford them. The more she catches for them or anybody that they talk to (pitchers parents, pitching coaches, etc) and the less you say about it the better her chances of moving up in the order. Play where they play her and show that she wants to catch and is willing to do it at the times I mentioned and they will notice in a much better way than dad just demanding or constantly reminding them...

[smmartin]

I am a catchers dad also and for the first time my daughter is with a team that has another dominate catcher. For years she caught every bracket game that she played. And that is a bad thing. The more positions that she can learn the better it will be when it comes to college recruiting. All girls are going to have that one position that they are trully suited for but it can never be a bad thing to be good at others. Its a sticky situation about approaching the coach because like you said you dont want to be "that guy" but you do want to do whats best for your dd. My suggestion is to continue to do the lessons but also be supportive of her other position and explain to her that it is a good thing learning new positions and make sure she gives every position her very best and it will work out for her in the end.

[Sam]

Can the catching lessons and spend that time working on her OF play.

[DaMann]

I agree with Sam, can the lessons and spend that money on hitting lessons. If she can bang the ball college coaches will find a position for her to play. Also every kid should be able to play 2 positions effectively.

[dadoftheyear]

Thank you for all your suggestions it is helping with my decision. I do want her to learn other positions cause I know it will help her. The coach does eventually want her in the infield (3rd or 2nd). I just don’t want to waist time and money on something that isn’t going to happen. Her catching coach tells us that lessons aren’t enough she needs game time experience too. I don’t expect her to be #1 or even #2 catcher on a new team but even a couple innings in a friendly would be nice. My dd is still young but from things I see here on Heybucket getting a scholarship is less likely for a center fielder than a catcher and that’s the ultimate goal.

[Intel]

My DD was on a team last year with 2 catchers, but was needed at first base. Taking the year off, especially after she grew 3 inches has really saved her knees. This year she is back catching and after dusting off the rust she is right back in the grove of catching.

Don't stop the lessons if your DD really wants to catch. Tell her as I told my DD that the team needs you to be the best first baseman or your case outfielder. When the time comes for her to catch, she will be ready if she keep working her skills.

[ballguy]

The more skills she can learn at other positions the more valuable she is as a player. As she gets older there will all ways be some one better at her position. If she can hit and play multiple positions she is a valuable player for any team.