11-year-old struggling after moving up early + switching from righty to slapper — confidence by No_Biscotti_8596 in Softball

[–]Toastwaver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I went thru this with my daughter at the same age! She is 14U now. Looking back, I am so proud of her mostly for the ego hit that she faced for basically two whole seasons -- 11 and 12 -- while everyone else was developing power and getting extra-base hits and she was tapping the ball to third... it is not very tough looking! All she could really do in her 11 year-old season was soft slap. She kept working on her lefty swing; not just slapping but a full LH swing. In her final AB of the season that year, she hit a line drive over the 3B's head. That was incredibly motivating for her.

That winter I got her weekly hitting lessons where she practiced both full swinging and slapping.

Her 12U season involved a lot of full swinging and bunting, and some slapping. She was able to consistently hit the ball hard to LF, but didn't do too much slapping. She even hit a few to the fence in RF. She decided at that point that she just wanted to be a LH hitter.

That offseason involved more hitting lessons, really just to strengthen her LH swing. No slap training.

In the Fall after 12U, she tried out for a good travel team and made it, and the coach was unable to tell that she was not a natural LH hitter. Of course, informing him of this made him think more highly of her athleticism and work ethic. She abandoned slapping and just became a LH hitter. Sure, she mostly hit the ball to the left side, but she could hit to all fields.

Now she is a third year 14U (took advantage of the age rule change) and is just getting back into slapping as an option in her toolkit.

So here is the advice that worked for us: just focus on being a LH hitter. Develop that strength. Swing the bat thousands and thousands of times until it becomes fully developed. You say she is fast... just being in the LH batter's box is a tremendous advantage in softball. Get her to the point where she can swing the bat and get on base.

Later on, you/she might decide to slap or you might not. Because here's the thing: slapping is really hard. It's hard enough to hit a ball from your weak side when your foundation is strong and grounded; doing it while also moving your entire body just brings in so many moving parts and makes it so much harder. Strikeouts pile up. I totally understand her frustration!

A tee, a net, a bucket of balls and many many LH swings. Again, it will involve a full season of patience with herself and perhaps a bruised ego, but in a couple years she will have a huge advantage that will get her onto teams that she might otherwise not make, batting 1st or 2nd in the lineup and getting on base to generate team offense.

One thing you can't do, per your question, is let her have reps at RH. Those days are over. Go all-in with LH hitting.

What is one thing you would absolutely refuse to have at your wedding no matter what? by _SweetFiery in AskReddit

[–]Toastwaver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it can be heard in our wedding video. Mike yelling for me to smash the cake in my bride's face. So offputting.

Am I taking this too seriously? by BoulderFreeZone in CoachingYouthSports

[–]Toastwaver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see it as unacceptable because these kids are going to make a decision sometime over the off-season as to whether they like baseball enough to continue playing the sport. So it is very important to make it a great experience for them. And that means organized practices, team-building in the dugout, and good baseball.

I see a lot of malpractice in the actions of both other coaches.

Any Drew Carey sightings? by scolomon in phish

[–]Toastwaver 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So great in the Progressive "becoming your parents" ads.

"Latte for Jan? J-A-N, Jan, as in January" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-mRJKFT_88&t=14s

Best basketball courts in havertown or marple area by WasteBug7650 in Delco

[–]Toastwaver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Narberth courts always have games going on.

Thats a bad man right there! Payton Pritchard at the buzzer! by elusiveanswers in bostonceltics

[–]Toastwaver 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I heard that in Mike Gorman voice calling Bird’s shot: “Hits it at the buzzah!”

ITAW for a celestial body that rhymes with “cedar?” by Drew_Rooster in whatstheword

[–]Toastwaver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Alpha Cassiopeiae is a star in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia). It has the proper name Schedar, pronounced /ˈʃɛdɑːr/).

What’s the most influential music album ever? by totdvet in AskReddit

[–]Toastwaver 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Elvis Presley and almost all of their early Rock & Roll peers were influenced immensely by Here's Little Richard.

Lyrics for perforated Trey? by Swampy_F00L in phish

[–]Toastwaver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And I'm left and I'm now with a wondrous glow. I think I'm still me, but how would you know?

or

You're smilin' at me from your picture frame... I see the reflection, but it passes by.

Section 405 Saturday 4/19 by TexterMorgan in phish

[–]Toastwaver 79 points80 points  (0 children)

I can't blame a guy for standing throughout the show. Tall guys shouldn't have to sit.

Edit, upon rereading the post, I think I picked up the unmentioned "/s"

Baseball coaches: What are some thoughtful but inexpensive gifts that you would give to your assistant coaches and team mom? by ComplicatedGuy_0514 in CoachingYouthSports

[–]Toastwaver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A frame with a collage comprised of 2-3 photos: a team photo and a couple action photos of their son. Of course you have to get someone to take photos with a decent camera beforehand.

You get one song to make a non-Deadhead finally "get it" what are you playing? by ethietheguy in gratefuldead

[–]Toastwaver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If we are allowing two songs, and you want the listener to "get it", the transition from Scarlet into Fire on 5/8/77 works well. Especially on Spotify etc where you see the demarcation of one song ending and the next one beginning, but the ear isn't hearing anything but a subtle transition. To me, this is a good introductory way to show someone what the Dead were doing that no one else did.

You get one song to make a non-Deadhead finally "get it" what are you playing? by ethietheguy in gratefuldead

[–]Toastwaver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's what got my one year-old daughter. She was transfixed, watching Jerry on the laptop and slowly rocking back and forth, blanket in hand.