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How often do pitchers practice during the off season and regular season?
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A lot would depend on their goals and their age. If a pitcher is 12 or older and looking to become a college player she should be practicing, in the off season, at least 4-6X's a week for approximately an hour per session. If she is a 10 and under I would say more like 3-4X's a week for about 30-45 minutes per session. Even at younger ages they need to learn good work ethics and they need to work on reps and more reps of good basic mechanics.
During the season it would depend on the number of games she is playing. They absolutely need some practice time during the season so they are going to be either playing or practicing almost daily. They need a day off somewhere in there, but they do need to practice a couple times per week to work out the problems that might creep up in the games. Games can create problems with mechanics so a good practice once or twice a week will help alleviate the mechanical break downs.
During the season it would depend on the number of games she is playing. They absolutely need some practice time during the season so they are going to be either playing or practicing almost daily. They need a day off somewhere in there, but they do need to practice a couple times per week to work out the problems that might creep up in the games. Games can create problems with mechanics so a good practice once or twice a week will help alleviate the mechanical break downs.
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Thanks for your response. I'm trying to get a 14U pitcher to get more consistent. She has been pitching about 7yrs, throws hard, but cant throw a strike when she needs to. I ask her to work on it everyday. Parents think I'm crazy! I just trying to get her where she and they want her to be.
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Rone, my dd started pitching last fall, she was 12. We practiced with her 6 days a week until school ball started. Once she started school and was practicing there, her pitching coach told us to lay off at home, so we did. When she was pitching this past summer with the travel team, she pitched a lot on the weekends and once per week in our league, so we didn't drill her too much. After tournament ball was over, we gave her a little time off and are now starting up again at 6 days per week. It takes a lot of dedication and desire on the pitcher's part.
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Rone,
It sounds like she does not have good mechanics. If after 7 years she is not throwing fairly consistent strikes then she needs to work on her basic mechanics. Even working 2 days a week for a couple years she should be able to hit her targets regularly.
Kids do not like to practice if they are not comfortable with their workouts and they can't see improvement. Kids are instinctive and they know when they are not getting better. Might check with her and just ask her why she doesn't want to practice daily. The major reasons are: not enough passion, lazy, or they don't feel comfortable with their mechanics. There are other reasons, but these are the most common.
It sounds like she does not have good mechanics. If after 7 years she is not throwing fairly consistent strikes then she needs to work on her basic mechanics. Even working 2 days a week for a couple years she should be able to hit her targets regularly.
Kids do not like to practice if they are not comfortable with their workouts and they can't see improvement. Kids are instinctive and they know when they are not getting better. Might check with her and just ask her why she doesn't want to practice daily. The major reasons are: not enough passion, lazy, or they don't feel comfortable with their mechanics. There are other reasons, but these are the most common.
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DD practices twice a week, one day with her Coach, one day before batting practice. Then pitches on weekends in Fall Ball.
Off season they are on a field somewhere as many days as humanly possible.
Soon High School ball will take over & that is 5 days per week usually.
I'm not sure how much pitching time she will see. Since she is only a Freshman, but I know her Dad will have her out throwing anyways.
To keep her in shape for the Travel season.
Off season they are on a field somewhere as many days as humanly possible.
Soon High School ball will take over & that is 5 days per week usually.
I'm not sure how much pitching time she will see. Since she is only a Freshman, but I know her Dad will have her out throwing anyways.
To keep her in shape for the Travel season.
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I have to laugh at my comment..."off season" because I havent seen that season going on 3 years straight!
I did want to add, Someone once told us if our DD wanted to be any good. she needed to throw everyday for a minimal of 2 hours. (This was at age 11)
My reply was, she plays other positions and her arms get a good workout as it is. Besides, she might need that arm someday out in the real work to earn a living?!?!
One hour 4-6 times per week sounds much more like it.
I did want to add, Someone once told us if our DD wanted to be any good. she needed to throw everyday for a minimal of 2 hours. (This was at age 11)
My reply was, she plays other positions and her arms get a good workout as it is. Besides, she might need that arm someday out in the real work to earn a living?!?!
One hour 4-6 times per week sounds much more like it.
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My dd practices at least 5 days a week. we are on our way to a field now.
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Can I ask, how many hours? What age?
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One persons opinion...- (I've raised two pitchers...)
Quality is more important than quantity. In order to throw strikes, the stride foot needs to hit the same spot every time (for the same pitch). Also,, the circle needs to be the same every time. Work on these two skills and she should be able to throw strikes. (A balance drill would also help consistency)
30-40 minutes 3 days per week on the above.
60 minutes, 2-3 days per week on a full workout.
At least one day off
Quality is more important than quantity. In order to throw strikes, the stride foot needs to hit the same spot every time (for the same pitch). Also,, the circle needs to be the same every time. Work on these two skills and she should be able to throw strikes. (A balance drill would also help consistency)
30-40 minutes 3 days per week on the above.
60 minutes, 2-3 days per week on a full workout.
At least one day off
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My dd is 16yrs old, has been taking pitching lessons for about 4 yrs now.
She practices about 3 times/wk in the off-season.
I get uneasy about pushing for too much more practice time as she gets older because I see other girls her age saying they don't want to play anymore. They get burnt out, and want more time for other things.
I guess I'd rather her have fewer practices than quit altogether.
She practices about 3 times/wk in the off-season.
I get uneasy about pushing for too much more practice time as she gets older because I see other girls her age saying they don't want to play anymore. They get burnt out, and want more time for other things.
I guess I'd rather her have fewer practices than quit altogether.
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katjoebenmom:
It would depend on your daughter's goals. If she wants to pitch in college then she needs to be the one to step it up at this stage of the game. She should be going after her dream...you shouldn't have to push or drag her there. She should be practicing 5-6 days a week, if she wants to play in college, then she should be doing this without much prompting from parents.
I don't believe kids get burn out from the sport. I believe burn out is actually a lack of true passion for the game and/or parental push, push, push. They may have loved the game at one time, but when they get older they find other interests take the place of sports. This isn't necessarily "burn out", this is changing pathways and finding something that now interests them more.
The players with true passion are playing college ball and in the pros. You don't "burn out" from something you truly love.
It would depend on your daughter's goals. If she wants to pitch in college then she needs to be the one to step it up at this stage of the game. She should be going after her dream...you shouldn't have to push or drag her there. She should be practicing 5-6 days a week, if she wants to play in college, then she should be doing this without much prompting from parents.
I don't believe kids get burn out from the sport. I believe burn out is actually a lack of true passion for the game and/or parental push, push, push. They may have loved the game at one time, but when they get older they find other interests take the place of sports. This isn't necessarily "burn out", this is changing pathways and finding something that now interests them more.
The players with true passion are playing college ball and in the pros. You don't "burn out" from something you truly love.
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Dreamer/Chris:
No truer words have ever been spoken. haha. I agree 100% with you on this matter. I feel fortunate that my girl has never groaned at the thought of another pitching lesson, another hour at the batting cages, another 30 minutes of ground balls, etc. However, I do already see parents of girls on our team who will tell us their girl can't make practice because THEY feel their kid "needs some time off", "has been playing too much softball", or is "afraid their girl is going to burn out." To me, parents need to have a more open dialouge with their kids about their limits, their degree of passion and their desire to either stand still, or keep passing others who have been "taking time off" from the sport.
;-)
No truer words have ever been spoken. haha. I agree 100% with you on this matter. I feel fortunate that my girl has never groaned at the thought of another pitching lesson, another hour at the batting cages, another 30 minutes of ground balls, etc. However, I do already see parents of girls on our team who will tell us their girl can't make practice because THEY feel their kid "needs some time off", "has been playing too much softball", or is "afraid their girl is going to burn out." To me, parents need to have a more open dialouge with their kids about their limits, their degree of passion and their desire to either stand still, or keep passing others who have been "taking time off" from the sport.
;-)
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I would have to disagree. That statement is more what people who romanticise sport want to believe but the truth is people are different and even though the symptom may be an indicator they have lost their passion it may not be the actual case and you cant just make a wholesale statement like that.
There are some people that find it easy to go into a singular purpose mode and no regiment of mundane drills will distract them while others are more multi faceted requiring more variety in what they are doing. These are common personality traits.
Both types can be very passionate about it and in fact the latter is often more passionate than singular purpose types. They just have to fight their need for variety. It pays to understand these types and how to work with the situation. Constantly introducing variety or competitive games into will help if your player is getting bored of it all.
If you think college players are immune to moaning about practice you need to be around some of them more often. I have heard them whining about running up the baseline between innings. They do the work no doubt but they dont sit there thinking how passionate they are about doing it I can tell you that.
There are some people that find it easy to go into a singular purpose mode and no regiment of mundane drills will distract them while others are more multi faceted requiring more variety in what they are doing. These are common personality traits.
Both types can be very passionate about it and in fact the latter is often more passionate than singular purpose types. They just have to fight their need for variety. It pays to understand these types and how to work with the situation. Constantly introducing variety or competitive games into will help if your player is getting bored of it all.
If you think college players are immune to moaning about practice you need to be around some of them more often. I have heard them whining about running up the baseline between innings. They do the work no doubt but they dont sit there thinking how passionate they are about doing it I can tell you that.
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If anyone has a daughter that has NEVER complained about practicing or spending another hour at the batting cages, check and see if she is human. The real girl may have been abducted by aliens and replaced by a clone.
Mine throws 3-5 times per week and she is 12. We try and use comon sense, if her cousins or friends are over or planning something fun to do, she can decide to skip throwing that day. The last thing I want is for her to feel she is missing something because of softball because that will only make her resent it. We will, however throw a little longer the next practice to make up for it, and she never objects to that.
She sees the other girls practicing batting, pitching, and working hard. I just remind her when she gets a little lazy, that somewhere there are girls taking batting lessons to hit off her or throwing and practicing their pitches to take her position.
When she throws, she practices very hard and really gives 100%, so what we are doing is working. Next summer will be her fourth year pitching.
Mine throws 3-5 times per week and she is 12. We try and use comon sense, if her cousins or friends are over or planning something fun to do, she can decide to skip throwing that day. The last thing I want is for her to feel she is missing something because of softball because that will only make her resent it. We will, however throw a little longer the next practice to make up for it, and she never objects to that.
She sees the other girls practicing batting, pitching, and working hard. I just remind her when she gets a little lazy, that somewhere there are girls taking batting lessons to hit off her or throwing and practicing their pitches to take her position.
When she throws, she practices very hard and really gives 100%, so what we are doing is working. Next summer will be her fourth year pitching.
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My DD is 10 and we have her on a schedule. During the off-season it is basically 2 days of work then a day off. She sees anywhere from 4-5 days a week pitching. Her goal is quite large and it is making it to the Olympics. Of those 2 days of work, one is devoted to strength (an hour practice with her breaks) and the other is more location (aout an hour and a half). Both days we work on her mechanics, change, and peel drop. During the regular season, the strength day is not as stressed, and her practices are reduced by the number of days or games she pitches. Every so often I throw a ground/hard hit ball day instead of pitching because pitching is not just about pitching, but fielding.
If she has a friend over or we have plans, we skip. She gets upset when we don't pitch. She has tried to do an unsupervised practice on her own until I told her to stop. She is starting her second year of pitching.
If she has a friend over or we have plans, we skip. She gets upset when we don't pitch. She has tried to do an unsupervised practice on her own until I told her to stop. She is starting her second year of pitching.
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I agree with some of what you say and some I don't. I do believe kids don't get burned out, and agree with you that it is a lack of passion or involvement in other interests. However I don't agree that in order to get to college as a pitcher you have to pitch 5 to 6 days a week, although I do agree that any practice time should be done without prompting. I think that young pitchers just starting off need to throw 5 to 6 days per week for the first year or at least until they get their mechanics and muscle memory down. At that point I think that 3 to 4 times per week keeps them crisp. I also think that giving them a shutdown period of about a month after the season is a good idea. I also think that once you resume, throwing isn't enough. Pitchers need to throw along with extensive core and weight training. A pitcher with great mechanics doesn't get better simply by throwing pitches. They need to develope a rock solid core and turn their legs into tree trunks. My DD is an incoming freshman pitcher this year, she has been pitching for 2 yrs now and has a pitching coach. We have followed this formula and it works. She's on the vurge of busting the 60mph burrior and has a change-up that makes batters laugh at themselves, and she still has 3 months until the season starts. Her upside is huge. And the great thing about it is she needs no prompting to workout. She usually tells me when its time. Now......when we started out 2yrs ago I will tell you that we had some workouts that were like pulling teeth, so I just stopped them, reminded her that pitching was her choice not mine and put the gear away. Every time within an hour of that happening she would pull the gear back out and go at it with a different frame of mind.
I think that one of the most important parts of this whole process is to be honest with your pitcher. Whether you are a parent or a pitching coach, not everyone was meant to pitch. You can tell early on whether a girl has it or not. Parents are alot of times blind to their childs ability and sometimes pitching coaches are reluctant to break the news. But they owe it to them because have it or not, the life of a pitcher is consuming for them as well as their families.
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What would be considered good speed for a 9/10U pitcher and what types of pitches are normally used in this age bracket?
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Good speed 9yr old 35-40 probably around 40-45mph for 10yr old. Smaller ball at 35', reaction time would be approximately the same as 50-55mph at 40'. 9-10u don't get too fansy, main thing is getting girls that age to consistently throw strikes with just a fastball and change.
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During the off season pitchers should develop on conditioning and brushing up on the basics or learning a new pitch then as the season comes closer, pitcher focuses on consistency and pitch selection.
This means more days for training and practice in the off season. 5-6 days in a week of alternate pitching practice and strength training. As you go closer to the season you may have 3 days of pitching training and other days for practice games.
Coaching Softball
This means more days for training and practice in the off season. 5-6 days in a week of alternate pitching practice and strength training. As you go closer to the season you may have 3 days of pitching training and other days for practice games.
Coaching Softball
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