How Does Curtis Pride Do It?
Tuesday June 27, 2006
BeausMomma writes on the forum:
...if the coach hollers out "choke up on the bat" or "take a step back", Beau doesn't do anything because he didn't hear a word the coach said. Then, when he hits the ball and runs, if he doesn't happen to be looking right at the coach when the coach is telling him to go to second or not, he has no idea what to do because he can't hear the coach's instructions. I feel so badly for him because he loves to play and he wants to do so well...but as soon as he puts that helmet on, he is in a silent world...
...if the coach hollers out "choke up on the bat" or "take a step back", Beau doesn't do anything because he didn't hear a word the coach said. Then, when he hits the ball and runs, if he doesn't happen to be looking right at the coach when the coach is telling him to go to second or not, he has no idea what to do because he can't hear the coach's instructions. I feel so badly for him because he loves to play and he wants to do so well...but as soon as he puts that helmet on, he is in a silent world...
Does anyone know if there are helmets made for hearing impaired players? SURELY there has been a hearing impaired baseball player at some point in time that dealt with this issue!! ...
Comments
I played baseball for 2 years at Gallaudet University. When we all get in the batter’s box. We always look at our 1st and 3rd base coaches between pitches for coaching tips on hitting and what to do. This is what all other hearing players do too. Your son and his coach will need to work on this and as for communication, although we have deaf coaches at Gallaudet, we don’t sign much on the field, instead we use baseball “secret” cues. This is something that the coach has to work with not only with your son but with all the players.
I’ve actually seen Curtis play spring training in Florida around 2004 or so. The coach doesnt really yell anything (and coaches rarely do anyways), but usually the game plan would be done while they’re in the dugout. I am deaf myself and I played wrestling in high scvhool for 5 years in a deaf school and in a regular public school with hearing peers.
My hearing coach doesnt really say much, and like I said, the game plan is right before the match. I’ve had as much experience as Curtis Pride with his baseball (he played in Minor and Major Leagues for years switching teams every couple of years or so), so no one has to tell us anything. The only time if I get stuck or if I can’t see something that someone else can, there’s always hints, or hand signals.
Hand signals, like sign language is often used in many sports. The reason for this is two-fold, it will be a private communication between the coach and the pitcher/catcher/batter, and in big events like the World Series, where the stadiums are packed and it’s too loud to yell out instructions yards away.
Hopefully that can answer your question, because it’s simpler than you’d think.