CHESTERFIELD, Mich. — Michael Hale is used to training some of the best throwers in Michigan.
"I always would coach kids on the side and help them out. I never thought it would turn into a full-fledged business," Hale said.
Soon enough it did become a business: Kaizen Throws. He's coached athletes like Brian Williams into state titles, Olympic trials and other high places in the sport.
"It's benefited a lot of kids. A lot of kids have scholarships," Hale said. "...Kids every other year, [go to] states and they place and it's great."
About a year ago, Hale started training someone who lives right in his household: his 5-year-old daughter Danica.
"I did not want to do it. I fought it for a long time," Hale said.
Danica, along with her older sister who also throws, has always been around the sport. Her father constructed a throwing setup right in their home, making a way for her to see her dad train others up close.
From her father's throwers to her babysitters who were throwers, Danica has been around the sport "seven days a week, 365 days a year."
"It's really funny because sometimes he acts like a silly person," Danica said as she described her dad as a coach.
Danica became one of the youngest athletes to participate in the 2023 and 2024 Meijer State Games.
Ever since she started formally training, she's been a social media star on Instagram and Facebook. So much so that she caught the eye of notable throwers.
"...It's probably 600, 700,000 views right now. And most of my other ones are around a couple 1,000, like no normal amount," Hale said.
"They have Michelle Carter reaching out to them, who is a gold medalist, Darrell Hill, tons of professional former world record holders saying they love what they see."
Danica mainly enjoys the grind that goes into throwing.
"You work hard, you do your best and sometimes you get [personal records]," said Danica.
Michael said he's had to make some changes to his coaching style when he's working with his daughter.
"It's been a big adjustment for myself, compared to like high school kids and working with college kids," Michael said. "Sarcasm doesn't work as little kids."
At five years old, the sport is more recreational than largely competitive for Danica. Her father simply wants her to enjoy being a kid.
"They're kids once so once they start on that path, it's not like you're going to back off," Michael said.
"I'd liken it to if a dad and a son were throwing a baseball back and forth. I don't play baseball, so this is what I do," Michael continued. "And you know, we do that, or if we do art, or whatever we do, we do that together."
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