Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitching stress? You want pitching stress?

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My dd is a rookie pitcher. She has been working faithfully since the end of last season to learn to pitch. This spring she has started to pitch to her first batters. She immediately tries to kick everything into a higher gear when facing a batter. The result? You may guess, and you are correct.
The mechanics go out the window, and the ball goes nearly everywhere but across the plate. The girl is fast, but what to do? My only thought is that the more she pitches to batters, the more she will calm down and allow her mechanics to return. Her pitching coach is excited about her potential (she's 12), but does anyone have any ideas to help her cool her automatic desire to amp everything up when she's in the circle pitching to a batter?

 

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it's all about confidence. I had my DD pitch a year of rec ball to give he some. It really worked.

 

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You don't want here to slow her speed down. My dd was in the same boat last year as a rookie pitcher. She would be nervous and get rid of the ball as soon as she caught it and got on the rubber. Her pitching coach had pause for 2 counts after she steps on the mound. It gave her time to think about mechanics and seemed to help. But we were told never slow down the pitch to throw strikes. Just practice more. Besides the occasional ball over the head keeps the batters on their toes.

 

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They dont turn into Jenny Finch overnight. The first year is usually the worst you may even get one over the backstop.

 

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I know my daughter has told me that her pitcher has imagined the umpire in his underwear and protection gear on in a big game to help her settle down and smile. Have her try and think of other crazy and funny things while on the mound in games, i think you would be amazed as to how that will help her, just a thought.

 

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Philbob---every pitcher's parent knows just what you're going through.

You will die a thousand deaths in the first year alone. You will cringe when she walks the first 4 batters every inning. There will be snorts and belly laughs in the bleachers when she fails to keep the ball within the confines of the backstop. Totally been there.

That's just how it is the first year they start pitching. Up until about age 10 or so, few have considered pitching. They're still getting the hang of throwing in a straight line, keeping a caught ball in their mitt, or putting their bat on the ball.

So when a girl steps up and says "I'll take lessons and learn to pitch" and the coach doesn't have anyone else, she gets in that circle and starts throwing (even if she's only had three half-hour sessions with an instructor).

But I honestly believe it doesn't bother them nearly as much as it bothers us, as their parents.

If she keeps at it, you will be pleasantly surprised by her second year. The control gets much better, and you won't have to hold your breath every time she gets in the circle---I promise.

 

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Philbob, my suggestion is to just let her pitch. During the week when she is not playing have her pitch to you. The more she throws the better her control will get. My dd started pitching with a coach when she was 8 years old. Didn't start pitching to batters until she was 9. Believe me she was not very good. But with a lot of hard work ON HER OWN TIME she is much better today. Good luck and keep your chin up. It definately gets tons better!! :yahoo:

 

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...but does anyone have any ideas to help her cool her automatic desire to amp everything up when she's in the circle pitching to a batter?

If you have access to a radar gun measure her speed when she is throwing nice and relaxed, then ask her to muscle up and throw a couple as hard as she can. More than likely because she is too tense she will throw the ball slower. That demonstration is a good one to show the pitcher to just relax and be quick, not muscle up and be tense.

 

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Nine games into the season, I am just about out of fingernails watching DD pitch her first year of high school ball. She is a freshman, but carries the load of being the starting pitcher. Somewhere along the way, she had her blood replaced with ice water, because she can load up the bases with no outs, then pitch her way out of it by NOT doing anything different.

My point - they learn. Tell her the mechanics are everything. Never try to "fix" the last pitch - go back to the right way of doing it. Pitching is about consistency. She needs to understand that the best way to approach pitching is not to get batters out, but to throw each pitch where it is meant to go. The game is in her head. If a batter hits your best, give them a few claps and get back to work.

 

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DD's 1st couple years of pitching I would spend half of every game in the bathroom with a nervous stomach. Then I discovered alcohol(1-2 drinks before every game) although I wouldn't recommend this-other parents start to talk. I would also sit way out in the outfield so I wouldn't hear the other parents "OOO's" and "what was thats". Last weekend my DD pitched her 1st varsity game and I was able to sit in the stands with the other parents and actually enjoy the game-no alcohol and no bathroom. Funny thing is-my daughter never seemed nervous through all those years. Just give her time, it will all fall into place and you'll laugh about the 1st years.

 

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OMG, sball86, that was classic. It was pure LOL. Let me assure everyone, my dd will keep at it, because she wants to.
She's been talking about pitching since T-Ball. She wants to do so well when facing a batter, that she does muscle up, so we're going to keep pitching.

Her pitching coach told her last week to "just trust your arm," meaning as long as she keeps her mechanics smooth she'll be OK because her speed is there.

I love CShilt's idea about a speed gun, anybody know if you can rent one?

Oh, and Central's idea about thinking about funny stuff in the circle, I think I'll try that one too.

Please keep the tips and ideas and support coming. Thanks Kat, as well. I love your new avatar BTW.

 

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you can get them on Ebay or Craigslist from time-to-time for about 50-70 bucks...

 

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Les, thanks. Anything special to look for? I don't want to get one that's only good for the interestate. I look terrible in a smokey hat.

 

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Bushnell is affordable but not top of the line. I have one and it works for my needs. Ebay seach for radar guns and I'll bet a bunch pop-up.

 

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My dd is a rookie pitcher. She has been working faithfully since the end of last season to learn to pitch. This spring she has started to pitch to her first batters. She immediately tries to kick everything into a higher gear when facing a batter. The result? You may guess, and you are correct.
The mechanics go out the window, and the ball goes nearly everywhere but across the plate. The girl is fast, but what to do? My only thought is that the more she pitches to batters, the more she will calm down and allow her mechanics to return. Her pitching coach is excited about her potential (she's 12), but does anyone have any ideas to help her cool her automatic desire to amp everything up when she's in the circle pitching to a batter?

The only thing that I can suggest might cool her down somewhat is the have her pitch in a Walk-in Freezer!:lmao: No! Seriously it just takes time for her to learn to calm down and that comes with her having self confidence in her abilities.

FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing to SLOW!

 

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Nine games into the season, I am just about out of fingernails watching DD pitch her first year of high school ball. She is a freshman, but carries the load of being the starting pitcher. Somewhere along the way, she had her blood replaced with ice water, because she can load up the bases with no outs, then pitch her way out of it by NOT doing anything different.

My point - they learn. Tell her the mechanics are everything. Never try to "fix" the last pitch - go back to the right way of doing it. Pitching is about consistency. She needs to understand that the best way to approach pitching is not to get batters out, but to throw each pitch where it is meant to go. The game is in her head. If a batter hits your best, give them a few claps and get back to work.

Well said Sideliner and she does have ice in her veins. Got your PM will respond I promise.

 

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DD's 1st couple years of pitching I would spend half of every game in the bathroom with a nervous stomach. Then I discovered alcohol(1-2 drinks before every game) although I wouldn't recommend this-other parents start to talk. I would also sit way out in the outfield so I wouldn't hear the other parents "OOO's" and "what was thats". Last weekend my DD pitched her 1st varsity game and I was able to sit in the stands with the other parents and actually enjoy the game-no alcohol and no bathroom. Funny thing is-my daughter never seemed nervous through all those years. Just give her time, it will all fall into place and you'll laugh about the 1st years.

Terrific post, sball86---very funny!

 

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Philbob, Your DD pitching coach is right she has to trust her mechanics and be smooth with the delivery. Easier said than done though. The batter has an advantage since she can time her mechanics off the pitchers delivery. A sport skill like pitching fastpitch or baseball, hitting a golf ball or serving in tennis requires an internal clock that regulates the speed at which we perform the skill. As a golfer I know when I am uncomfortable with the shot I am about to hit I get very fast with mechanics, I just want to get it over with but when the shot fits my eye and I am feeling the shot, I become relaxed and the swing flows. I guess that is what the sports psychologists call visualization. If your DD can see the pitch see wants to throw and she can internally keep her timing so the mechanics she has practiced can flow she will have success. I have always told my hitters and pitchers it isn't how quick you are getting ready to pitch or hit, it is how you accelerate from the toe touch position in hitting to contact and toe touch position in pitching to release. Once the heel starts to drop in both skills that when the acceleration really needs to happen. How do the rest of you teach or keep that internal timing at the correct speed?

 

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Maybe that is not that big a problem for now. Alot of girls want to slow down when they 1st start pitching to batters. It is alot easier to slow them down than speed them up. My DD pitching coach tells her to take a couple steps toward the catcher to recieve the throw back and walk slowly to behind the rubber and take a deep breath.

 

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Anything special to look for? I don't want to get one that's only good for the interestate. I look terrible in a smokey hat.

Purchased about 6yrs years ago the "Sport Sensors Glove Radar" from http://www.softball.com runs about $70 plus shipping, but it comes within about 2mph from the $400 version of a radar. Witnessed that numerous times. May be looking to possibly sell...DD not needing it any longer after this season. PM if interested