Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitchers and volleyball.

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I am just curious what everybody (girls, parents, coaches) on what you have seen or experienced with pitchers that play volleyball. Does volleyball hurt pitchers, give them setbacks, or does it not matter, and if so in what way? Thanks in advance for all input.

 

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My DD played for the first time as a 7th grader and I was pleased with the results. I know that it helped with getting her involved as a direct team player, instead of someone that got involved in every play.

I honestly think that it helped with her strength, conditioning, and footwork too.

As an athlete, I like volleyball because it generally doesn't involve the collisions and strong lateral motion on the knee that basketball brings. (Although that is where DD is going next.) Volleyball is a nice straight up-and-down game on the knees, and teaches good hand-eye coordination and footwork.

 

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I would say it depends on how serious the girl is about pitching.
The pitching coach we use for our club frowns on pitchers playing other sports.

Parents are making a sizeable investment in private pitching instruction and usually coaches want their pitchers to concentrate on strength,conditioning and developing new pitches during the months they are not playing regular games.

However; my feeling is, if the girl is not playing serious ball, or she is unsure of what sport she wants to play, go out and play what she wants. (You could have the next basketball, volleyball or soccer star.)

On a side note: We had one of our pitchers injure her elbow last year in a vollyball game causing her to miss most of our early summer travel season and put her behind our other pitchers.

 

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My DD does both and I think it has been beneficial for her. ?The conditioning has been good for her and the type of exercises have strengthened her legs. ?We also are paying a sizable amount for pitching lessons and she has continued to throw throughout the volleyball season. ?It takes a lot of dedication on her part but she is very commited. ?I believe it can be done and having another team experience is good for her too.

I think kids should be forced into one sport if they have the drive to do more..just my opinion

 

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My dd played volleyball for her school. The conditioning alone was GREAT for her. I feel that anything a girl can get into that is going to strengthen her physical skills....GO FOR IT! Playing volleyball does not mean a girl is not serious about softball. participating in volleyball was like my dd doing pilates at the gym each evening. I have absolutely NO problem with any of my players being put through the rigorous training and practices my daughter was put through with volleyball.

 

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I am one to believe that in High School a Kid should be able to play the sports they want to without being pressured into playing just one. My DD does both Volleyball and Softball and seem to do well in both sports.The time lost is valuable, but to see her enjoy a different sport other than the one she will play in college is rewarding. She is a pitcher and has most of September and October off from softball to enjoy volleyball. Then it is back to the grindstone for 10 months. Let them play because it builds memories.(Though it does pose a problem when her team plays fall tourneys and she can't contribute or show-case herself)

 

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I believe that if I had a pitching coach that would frown on my daughter doing any other sports then he or she would have to go. Especially in the young ages.

I have found that if a player wants to pitch (seriously pitch) then they discover soon enough that it requires a significant amount of practice and dedication. They normally find a way.

With regards to volleyball both of my DD's played volleyball and I thought that it was a great addtional sport because it came at a time of year when the main summer season just wrapped up. It allows them to stay in good condition, and gives them a mental break from the grind of the season.

At most small and medium sized schools across the state the best athletes are playing multiple sports. This is a fact of life. I think that when given a choice, volleyball is a great second sport for serious softball players.

 

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If your daugther wants to play volleyball, let her play. It is a great sport that will help improve her agility, conditioning, and she just might enjoy being with some friends, too. Volleyball comes at a time that most girls need a mental break from softball, right after nationals and a long summer of ball. For most kids, the mental and physical break away from softball for awhile will be benefical.

If a pitching instructor doesn't think 10 months out of a year is enough to work on pitching, find another instructor.

 

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fpdad---let me think!!!!!! I think that your daughter should do whatever she wants!!!!!!!! Plus volleyball isn't back to back with softball. Knowing how hard she works on pitching, she should be fine! Hope all is well

 

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We had one of our pitchers start high school VB practice at the end of our season and started having alot of pain in her arm so we had to pull her. Her arm is still sore and may need a break to let it heal up.
Gary

 

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Thanks for all the replys....especially from you herbie . I am feeling a lot better about her playing volleyball next year, if that is what she wants.

Herbie, do you think you used enough !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in your post. All is well, thanks for asking.

 

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I have no issues either with girls doing multiple sports, and volleyball may be the best one in terms of not conflicting seasons. I will add two things though. When my daughter did both, she complained about some arm soreness when pitching and hitting overhand volleyballs in the same week. Secondly, if a girl wants to excel in volleyball at least here in NEO, most of them play JO volleyball and that does conflict some with the spring season.

 

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To clear one thing up I am not concerned about my daughter playing multiple sports at all. ?My main concern was is all the forward hitting motion in volleyball going to hurt pitchers. ?I probably should have clarified it a bit more. ?My DD's pitching coach told us that volleyball players usually will lose 3-5 mph on pitches durning volleyball season, then have to work that much harder to get it back. ? My daughter has not lost any speed, but has lost some control. ? Sorry, I should have added this in my original post. ?Again thanks for all the input.

 

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My DD loves to play volleyball because it is a break from fastpitch, but she has developed shoulder pain somewhere in each season. I am always concerned about the pitching shoulder but there is no way she will come off the floor. She rests the shoulder for a while after volleyball season and hits nightly open gyms preparing for THE season.
I feel kids should play another sport so fastpitch does'nt become a job and they stays mentally fresh.
With DD being a Senior, I enjoy watching any organized sport she plays with HS parent memories slowly coming to an end, a decison to not let her play volleyball would be a mistake as I look back.

 

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I also heard that volleyball affects a pitcher's velocity. But I like the conditioning. Her coaches really work on leg, ankle, and ab strength. And she's a good hitter and server because of her arm strength.

 

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The topic of playing multiple sports comes up every year. Bottom line is if the girl is athletic, uses proper mechanics in each sport and keeps herself in excellent shape using a quality strength & conditioning program, there's no reason she can't play every high school sport available to her - such as volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter, then softball in the spring.

I've heard endless excuses, but none of them really have any merit. IMO, most injuries can be traced to improper mechanics, improper warm-up, lack of conditioning/stretching, etc. Also, not every kid is going to have the strength and stamina to "do it all". Unfortunately, thats due to genetic traits handed down from mom and dad.

Think about it - would you want YOUR parents preventing YOU from playing a high school sport you have a passion for? Of course, assuming your grades are acceptable. And shame on the coaches who are selfish enough to just want a kid to play one sport - theirs. That one REALLY gripes me!

Keep the grades up - stay in shape - and play everything you're capable of! You only get one shot at high school sports!

 

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Wow, that without a doubt came from someone with very little skelatal muscular function knowledge. Think positive, work hard, enjoy life, and disregard all the expert advice. (your only a kid for awhile work hard at the sports you enjoy and regret nothing)

 

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"skelatal muscular function knowledge".......thats interesting....is that a medical term???? ;D

 

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she will be fine, got alot of time to get that control back . Hang in there Dad. lol

 

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Yep - I'll be the first to admit that I have absolutely no "skelatal muscular function knowledge", but when I find out what that is, I'll post it on here! I have no degree in PT/OT, nor would I ever claim to be an expert in kinesiology.

The original poster asked if playing volleyball would harm a softball pitcher in any way. As far as harming pitching mechanics, it depends on the athlete. A recently graduated Ohio State softball pitcher told me that after playing golf in the summer, she had a tendency to swing under the ball when batting. But she quickly overcame that problem with some good quality reps. If your daughter is working hard at her pitching, I don't think overhand hitting during a season of volleyball is going to harm pitching mechanics.

As for injury, pain is natures way of waking up your common sense to tell you something's wrong. As I said before, proper mechanics, warm-up etc. goes a long way towards preventing injuries. It doesn't take an expert to tell anyone that. Until medical proof show otherwise, I stick to the last statement in my first post!