I wish I could tell you I made up the title of this blog. This is one of the best descriptions about what often happens to what would otherwise be normal and rational people. Unfortunately, these usually sane people often fall into the trap of what we are going to be calling PPS for the duration of this blog.
We all know and respect the fact that all parents want what is best for their kids. There’s no arguing with the overwhelming desire to see our kids succeed. There’s nothing wrong with the idea of want our kids to be great. There’s nothing wrong with wanting our kid to the the star. There’s nothing wrong with investing your time and money into helping your child chase their dreams!
But there is something really wrong with thinking that your kid can fulfill all those hopes and dreams and aspirations and goals and … as a fastpitch softball pitcher.
Pitching is without a doubt the single toughest thing to excel at in our game. Yes, I know I am the hitting guy who always talks about how hard hitting is, and it is. But every hitter gets lucky sometimes and gets a dink or blooper to drop in. There are no bloopers, dinks or good hops for pitchers.
So what are the things that can go wrong for the pitcher? Well, here is just a start to a list that could be never-ending.
Walks, wild pitches, passed balls, strikes that the ump misses, great pitches that the hitter barely touches that drop in for a big hit, defense that lets you down when you make a great pitch, giving up a two-strike bomb that forces your coach to lose their mind, too hot, too cold, drizzle tat makes the ball slippery, a brand new ball that gets put in the game at the most inopportune time, and so on.
So what is the moral to the story?
Pitching isn’t for everyone! At some point there is a day of reckoning where the pitcher, and her parents, has to decide if they really have what it takes to excel at this very difficult position.
Working hard doesn’t guarantee success, working with a great pitching coach doesn’t guarantee success, learning new pitches doesn’t guarantee success, getting on a new team doesn’t guarantee success.. There really are no guarantees except that your heart will be broken again and again. How many times are you willing to pick up the pieces?
That is the real question for the parent of the aspiring pitcher.
So you want your kid to be the star pitcher?
