7 Things EVERY Pitcher Parent Should Know

Hey There, Friend!

So… your daughter just announced she wants to be a pitcher. You're excited for her—but let’s be real, that excitement quickly turns into questions...

How involved should I be?
When do I push?
When do I step back?
How do I support her without taking over?

You’re not alone in those thoughts. I’ve coached hundreds of young pitchers over the years, and I’ve seen firsthand how parents try to walk that line. And while every family’s journey is different, the most successful pitcher-parent partnerships tend to share a few key habits.

Yes—your daughter should absolutely be in the driver’s seat of her pitching journey... But YOU play a big role in helping her navigate it!

So today I’m sharing 7 of the most important things you can do to help your daughter develop both her skills and her confidence:

1. Learn the basic fundamentals with her

Pitching mechanics don’t have to be super complicated. If they’re explained well, both you and your daughter should be able to understand them.
Be open to learning alongside her so you can actually help during her at-home practices—without confusing her!

👉 Here’s a video from my YouTube channel that walks through basic mechanics step-by-step if you want to get started right now!

2. Help her find time to practice regularly

Let’s be honest—your family calendar is probably a hot mess most days. You’re running kids from school to basketball, then to volleyball, then to hitting lessons… and somewhere in there, people need to eat. I get it!

Finding time for consistent pitching practice can feel like one more thing. But here’s the deal:
If she doesn’t make time to practice, it’s really hard to grow her skills OR her confidence.

Even 5 minutes a day can make a difference. Could she practice first thing in the morning? Or right before brushing her teeth at night?

✨ Try anchoring practice to something she already does every day. When it happens at the same time, it becomes a habit—not a hassle.

3. Praise the effort, not just the outcome

Want to keep her motivated to do the work? Celebrate the fact that she shows up—especially when no one’s watching.

Say things like:

• “I’m proud of how hard you’re working.”

• “You’ve gotten so much better at _____ because of the time you’ve put in.”

• “I love that you chose to practice instead of ______.”

• “If you keep working like this, who knows how far you’ll go!”

A pitching coach can show her what to work on—but progress comes from what she does at home.

I tell my pitchers all the time:

There’s no “magic dust” I can sprinkle on you in class to make you great. You’ve got to do the work.

And when they do the work...? THAT'S when the real growth happens!

4. Remind her that struggle = growth

If your daughter is in 8U or 10U, chances are half the team wants to be “the pitcher,” right? It looks fun—every play starts with the ball in her hand!
But what most girls don’t realize is how hard it is to actually be successful.

Every pitcher fails.
And I know—it’s painful to watch your daughter struggle, especially when you feel like you could shield her from it.

But if you:

• Change teams mid-season because she’s not pitching enough…

• Pull her from games as soon as things get hard…

• Make excuses for her when stuff doesn’t go her way…

You’re accidentally robbing her of the chance to learn that she can do hard things.

The only way to build resilience… is to go through things that require it.
Normalize the struggle. Help her expect it. When she understands that bumps in the road are part of the journey, she’ll be way more equipped to handle them.

5. Encourage her to talk with her coaches herself

I get it—it’s easier to just text the coach yourself. But every time you do that for her, she misses out on a chance to grow.

Let her ask about rescheduling a lesson.
Let her tell the coach she’s running late.
Let her ask what she needs to do to earn more playing time.

If you want her to own her pitching journey… give her the opportunity to practice ownership.

It might feel uncomfortable at first, but she’ll get better—and that skill will serve her in so many areas of life.

6. INSIST that she’s a great teammate

When she’s in the circle, your daughter becomes a leader—whether she wants to or not.
Her energy is contagious. It spreads to her teammates, coaches, umpires, opponents, and even fans in the stands.

She needs to understand that how she looks and acts, especially when things get tough, affects everyone around her.

Body language matters. Words matter.
Being a great teammate is non-negotiable.

7. After games? Say less.

Before the game, tell her to have fun and work hard.
After the game, let her know how much you loved watching her compete.

Then… let her take the lead.

I’ve worked with pitchers who’ve quit because of the conversations they were forced to have with a parent after every game.

Please don’t let that be your daughter.
The quieter you are after games, the more likely she is to come back to the sport tomorrow.

Quick Recap: Your 7-Point Pitching Parent Game Plan

1. Learn together – Know the basics so you can support her

2. Make practice doable – Build it into her daily rhythm

3. Celebrate the work – Effort > outcome

4. Normalize struggle – She’s not failing, she’s learning

5. Encourage communication – Let her lead with coaches

6. Build leadership – Her energy sets the tone

7. Say less after games – Love her. Watch her. Let her talk first

A Quick Note From Me to YOU My Friend...

I just want you to know—you’re doing something really special by walking this road with your daughter.

Every year, I get the privilege of training nearly 300 pitchers through my 6-month Pitcher’s Training Programs. I’ve worked with athletes from 27 states and 3 countries—and I’ve seen hundreds of BreakThrew Fastpitch pitchers go on to play in college across 100+ programs.

But none of it happens without support at home!

So thank you for being that support. I’m in your corner, and I’m always here to help!

Want More Support?

You don’t have to figure this all out on your own.

Here are a few ways I can help you:

• 👉 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for free pitching tips & drills

• 👉 Join us at a Summer Camp to work on physical skills and mindset

• 👉 Reach out anytime—I’m happy to answer questions and cheer you on!

All My Best,
Myndie