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I have a girl that has somehow picked up throwing side-arm. I was wondering if anyone had any drills for me to help break her of this. Thanks.
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In my opinion girls have more carrying angle than the males in general and have a tendency to to keep the elbow lower than the shoulder.
They need to see what it is you define as side arm throwing. I have two big mirrors 36 x 72 inches. I use a pair of socks and have them throw into the mirror so they can see what I see.
Then I show them with the glove in the gathered position or socks in the glove with their hand on the socks as if it were a ball with the glove in the middle of the chest.
We bring the socks down with the the ball hand so the elbow is above the hands and then bring the hand up slowly until it arcs up just above shoulder level and they can see the back of the sock/ ball hand.
We pause and repeat many times!
Then we advance further up and the sock/ ball hand will naturally rotate and we throw the sock/ ball into the mirror slowly so they can see and feel the action. Point out the location of the elbow is even or slightly above the shoulder.
We pull or tuck in the glove hand to assist the throwing shoulder movement so it (the glove hand) passes rib cage.
Using the mirror gives them an idea what they are feeling and seeing as they progress.
Go outside and I have had them throw short bats and hammers to over compensate for the arm action so they get the point.
Boys at 4 to 6 years old figure it out from watching other boys throwing rocks at cans and bottles and the girls unless allowed get a little behind.
The huge point is stepping on a flexed front knee with the foot pointed at about 40 t 45 degrees on a the ball of the foot on a flexed front knee so the weight can shift and the back foot will release and come around.
If this does not work let me know and I have another method to try.
Howard
They need to see what it is you define as side arm throwing. I have two big mirrors 36 x 72 inches. I use a pair of socks and have them throw into the mirror so they can see what I see.
Then I show them with the glove in the gathered position or socks in the glove with their hand on the socks as if it were a ball with the glove in the middle of the chest.
We bring the socks down with the the ball hand so the elbow is above the hands and then bring the hand up slowly until it arcs up just above shoulder level and they can see the back of the sock/ ball hand.
We pause and repeat many times!
Then we advance further up and the sock/ ball hand will naturally rotate and we throw the sock/ ball into the mirror slowly so they can see and feel the action. Point out the location of the elbow is even or slightly above the shoulder.
We pull or tuck in the glove hand to assist the throwing shoulder movement so it (the glove hand) passes rib cage.
Using the mirror gives them an idea what they are feeling and seeing as they progress.
Go outside and I have had them throw short bats and hammers to over compensate for the arm action so they get the point.
Boys at 4 to 6 years old figure it out from watching other boys throwing rocks at cans and bottles and the girls unless allowed get a little behind.
The huge point is stepping on a flexed front knee with the foot pointed at about 40 t 45 degrees on a the ball of the foot on a flexed front knee so the weight can shift and the back foot will release and come around.
If this does not work let me know and I have another method to try.
Howard
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My dd brings her arm up to about the right height, but finishes with her throwing hand moving more or less horizontally, ending up only slightly below her left shoulder. I'm having a difficult time trying to figure out how to help her correct it.
We've recently begun working with a wet towel, having her go through her throwing motion until the towel smacks the ground. I'm not experienced enough to know how effective or advisable the drill is, so I'd be open to any suggestions.
We've recently begun working with a wet towel, having her go through her throwing motion until the towel smacks the ground. I'm not experienced enough to know how effective or advisable the drill is, so I'd be open to any suggestions.
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I have read 80% of the arm injuries come from the release of the ball and not the actual throwing. So we encourage our girls to finish with the ball hand to the glove side thigh and allow the body to slow the arm down naturally.
This gives them a visual to finish. The snapping of the arm is usually when they feel the pain in the elbow and shoulder.
The towel drill is usually used by the baseball pitchers to encourage finishing or what they termed picking grass.
Kneel down on one knee and knot up and old T shirt and she holds the knot end and slaps your out stretched hand.
Getting the girls to see them self in a mirror really helps get the point across as to body parts or check points.
Howard
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Another drill we do is too have the player lay flat on their back.
Take the throw arm and get the elbow down on the ground even or slightly above the shoulder and lay the hand on the ground so the back of the hand is laying on the ground also.
Put a ball in their hand and ask them to throw the ball straight up.
IF the ball is too far in the palm of the hand they will throw it towards their feet.
IF the ball is too far towards the finger tips the ball will go behind their head.
IF they lead with their elbow the ball will go straight up and they will be able to catch it them self. You are working with release angles and leading with the elbow and grip. I usually start with a tennis ball and then a regular softball.
When we do this as a group any ball that hits the floor the player stands up and goes to the wall until there is only one person left on the floor.
Howard
Take the throw arm and get the elbow down on the ground even or slightly above the shoulder and lay the hand on the ground so the back of the hand is laying on the ground also.
Put a ball in their hand and ask them to throw the ball straight up.
IF the ball is too far in the palm of the hand they will throw it towards their feet.
IF the ball is too far towards the finger tips the ball will go behind their head.
IF they lead with their elbow the ball will go straight up and they will be able to catch it them self. You are working with release angles and leading with the elbow and grip. I usually start with a tennis ball and then a regular softball.
When we do this as a group any ball that hits the floor the player stands up and goes to the wall until there is only one person left on the floor.
Howard
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That sounds like a great little drill that can be fun, done alone, and done anywhere! Thanks!
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I like this drill. Have had good results.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m71hUmU42mA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m71hUmU42mA
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Very good stuff. Thanks for all the ideas. The lay down drill sounds fun for the girls.
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This is a short arm drill and if the player brought the hand back further I would like it more and this is just my opinion.
Howard
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I like that drill too. We used to use a drill when the girls were little and called it "knock, knock". Arm extended with their hand facing "backward" pretending to "knock, knock" on a wall behind them. It taught them to raise their arm turning their hand until it faced behind her. Stepping forward to throw she naturally had to turn her wrist and throw from the top. It worked great for a young lady that was 14 and now plays for Ohio Dominican. Don't forget, it takes the will to practice and want to get it right as well.
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