Pitching Practice vs. Parent Patience: How to Win Both Battles

Hey There, Friend!

One of the most common frustrations I hear from pitching parents happens during at-home practice.

See if any of these sound familiar:

✅ “She won’t listen to me—even though I’m saying the same thing you are!”
✅ “I can’t say anything without her snapping, ‘I know, Mom/Dad!’”
✅ “She gets mad the second I try to correct something.”
✅ “Our practices usually end early because we’re both so frustrated!”

If you’ve nodded along to any of those… you’re definitely not alone.

While I can’t promise to make every at-home session smooth sailing, I can share these five strategies that will help you both stay more focused, work together more effectively, and enjoy the process a whole lot more!

1. Have a PLAN—and let your daughter have INPUT on it

Knowing what you’re working on before practice starts is key to staying focused. Even better? Let your daughter help decide what goes on that plan.

• Ask her what she wants to focus on
• Help her connect those goals to her bigger dreams
• Give her buy-in and ownership of the session

This is her journey, and when she feels involved in the process, she’ll show up with more motivation and less resistance.

2. Keep it SHORT and keep it MOVING

Most workouts I design for my pitchers take 30 minutes or less.

• If you’re getting stuck on one thing for too long, frustration tends to build
• Try shorter practices—just 5 to 10 minutes a day—focused on one specific skill
• Once she sees that practice can be quick, fun, and productive, she’ll be more willing to do it consistently

Short and sweet can lead to BIG progress if you do it regularly!

3. Use VIDEO to spark discovery (not debate!)

If you’ve ever heard your daughter say, “I AM doing that!”—you know how quickly feedback can turn into a standoff.

Instead of telling her what’s wrong, show her.

Use your phone to film a few reps --- then watch it together and ask, “What do you notice?”

Letting her see what’s happening helps her take ownership and make adjustments without feeling called out. It becomes a conversation—not a confrontation.

4. Talk LESS, listen MORE

It’s tempting to coach every single rep. But when you do all the talking, one of two things usually happens:

1. She tunes you out

2. She becomes completely dependent on your feedback

Neither leads to long-term success.

Instead, let her lead. Watch. Listen. And give her space to fail, adjust, and learn. That’s where the real growth happens.

If she wants your help, encourage her to ask for it on her terms:

➡️ “Hey, can you watch this next one and let me know what you see?”

That small shift—letting her initiate the feedback—puts her in control of the learning process. And that’s where real growth begins.

5. Reflect + Plan for Next Time

Before you pack up, take a minute to reflect together.

Ask: “What went well today?” and “What do you want to work on next time?” Or better yet, have her write it down in a practice journal.

I ask all my pitchers to log their workouts, what they accomplished, how they felt, and what they’re aiming for next. That reflection builds self-awareness—and shows progress over time.

If at-home workouts have been a struggle, give these tips a try! I can’t guarantee they’ll eliminate every bump in the road, but they will absolutely help.

Above all, remember this: Your daughter’s pitching journey should be filled with joy, learning, and lots of fun.

Keep it in perspective—and do your best to enjoy that special time together.

All My BEST,
Myndie