Pitching and Pitchers Discussion 8u.... teaching the basics for pitching......ie "footwork"

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LOVE THIS SITE !!! have been reading forever so now I have a question for the "experts".... My 8u team (mostly 7 year olds) are in a Fall League that has the girls pitch from 30 feet with an 11 inch ball 4 times each batter... Then if the ball is not it... Coach Pitches 3.

My girls are all new at pitching (and doing really good actually)... but my questions is Foot Work?? We have a Coach come in and teach all the girls pitching foot forward on the rubber.... other foor back on rubber.... Good So far... But next step is the QUESTION... we have the girls raise ball up, glove out...... But then the back foot pivots so its parellel with the rubber.... then front foot is also parrellel with back foot..... So if you are right handed essentially both feet are facing 3rd base........then of course you throw....... back foot drags side ways off the front of the rubber... front foot ends up facing 3rd base........ Does this sound right?? Been looking at YOU TUBE, watching other pitchers, etc..... And really can not get a definiate Black & White Answer.... any help would be appreciated... Links, Videos, etc.......

 

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Get the book The Softball Pitching Edge.....well written by Cheri Kempf...

 

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The answer to this is find a pitching coach to work with your players in a clinic environment to start, get the basic fundamentals in a general way explained and then the ones that are interested and motivated will want private lessons down the road. To your question about footwork, if they are going to be "leap and drag" style pitchers I don't want them pivoting sideways on the pitching plate. Think push towards the catcher and then turn, not the other way around. A well known instructor has a good way of putting it: we want to show the catcher two shoulders and two hips as we push off the pitching rubber, then one shoulder and one hip, then the ball and then two shoulders and two hips to finish". But there is a lot more in between.

 

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The BEST is to find a college pitcher or catcher who would be willing to help out. My older DD's LOVE helping the younger little DD's!!