Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Where to start when teaching 9u to pitch?

[Softballfamily]

Start getting her to a pitching coach as soon as possible. It is worth the time and money as you don't want incorrect habits to develop.

 

[CARDS]

I have to disagree with you there.

As in real estate; location,location,location... Get the ball over the plate first. Then "paint the corners". Then 70 MPH.

All the speed won't do you any good if you can't control it. Throw strikes - even if they hit it, you have 8 other girls trying to get the runner out.

Lou you are 100% correct..
It does not help the lady who is just learning how to pitch to bother with the corners...Hitting batters, throwing pitches in the dirt or over the hitters heads is not pitching use your D!!!. This will also reduce the amout of game time the lady sees if she is keeping th D on the field while she is learning to throw a strike...

At the younger ages work on release and final destination the catchers mitt... As they grow they will be able to hit their spots, up, Down, in, out "if" they are coached.

These ladies can start working their way out to the corners as they develop spin and leg/arm strength...lets give them the time to do it...

I am amazed on how many "so called pitching coaches" do not have the ladies doing core workouts or even jumping rope at the younger ages as a first step... Several posters stated wrist flicks and that is GREAT..but also make or get a squeeze ball so these wrist flicks have more pop...

Seems like they are just expecting little Suzie to step up and be the next Jenny Finch..BTW that is $75 per hour...LOL

 

[frenchy101010]

Great first lesson tonight. Thanks go out to krrcoach. She learned a lot today, we even went out to a field and threw some more to practice what he taught her.

 

[CARDS]

That is good news. Hope she enjoyed it.
If you have a play it again sports in your area. You can get a new or used pitching buddy and a bucket of balls. This way she can practice on her own or with limited supervision pitching from 20 feet and then moving back once she masters that distance.

It took my DD about two/three weeks at 9 to get consistent at throwing strikes by throwing a bucket or two of balls most evenings and her pitching coach once a week.

Be on the lookout for a used power line pitching mat and pitchers plate. Buy used at play it again sports and Craig?s list for about $100. New will run you $400+...
As se develops these are tools she will not understand now but will help her over the next year maybe two depending on how fast she develops.

One thing you can set up for her now is a pitchers/players tool kit. You will need the following.
1. 5gallon bucket with a good handle.
1 quality jump rope
2 squeeze balls (one for school the other for the bucket)
1 medicine ball (weight appropriate) most will use 8lb balls but if she weighs over 100 pounds she could use the 12lb ball.
1 stretch tube set
If you are not comfortable with showing DD how to use this equipment her pitching instructor should be able to demonstrate and set her up on a core strength and conditioning program. It is never too early to start this including PROPER warm up and stretching this is the area many players at all ages struggle with and has the most impact on performance and health.
Most of your better pitching coaches will want to assess training and game info so, get use to recording a pitching log of innings pitched, pitches thrown for balls and strikes and as she develops more pitches location along with result.

Know where you want to go. Do not dream about it plan for it. Set goals and Make It Happen!

 

[longball00]

Start with pitching coach ASAP once you get the wrong muscle memory it can take years to correct it
no point in starting bad habits

Best advice in here. My DD started the I want to pitch at 6-7. Instantly found a great instructor and got started. This way, she had no bad habits to fix first, and could learn right away.

 

[Scott_K]

Some very good advice on here. I would recommend seeing a pitching instructor asap. The 1st steps in learning the proper mechanics is very important.
Find one that your daughter enjoys learning from. This will help as it requires a lot of hard work! We go to Chelsea Baker at "Make-The-Team" in Groveport.

 

[travelmom1127]

Please please go to someone who knows what they are doing
1. So there are no injuries!!
2. So they are not getting the wrong muscle memory
3. So there are no injuries!!

 

[Fairman]

Please please go to someone who knows what they are doing
1. So there are no injuries!!
2. So they are not getting the wrong muscle memory
3. So there are no injuries!!

Travelmom has given you the best advice on this thread.

Do not allow her to get hurt. The only treatment for most repetitive stress injuries is rest and a a lot of it. Seasons are lost while that ankle, knee, hip, back, shoulder, elbow (pick one) recovers. Learn the difference between soreness and pain and for Pete's sake pay attention to your dd. If she can't lift her arm above her head to comb her hair its time to back-off. Never, ever let a coach throw her for 4 or 5 games in a weekend even if it means losing the trophy. You will have a worn out arm in your hands and the the coach will be drinking beer with his buddies. If your dd gets bit by the bug she want to throw even if she is a cast and will not tell you she is in pain. Look for clues and be the adult. Just because she can doesn't mean she should.

 

[Fairman]

PS Did I mention getting her a face mask and making her wear it.....

 

[Ron]

forum,
What is good coaching... what are the things a pitcher must do... what is '' style '' and what is an '' absolute ''... What does a good pitcher look like ... how do we get there...What are good mechanics...
Ron

 

[TOOFLY1]

You are getting opinions from all over the place. From my personal experience, my daughter started throwing around age 7. You want speed first, fast arm circle at bottom. Then you want to learn how to throw placement. I know as age 8, my DD will try at times to throw strikes, and loses her speed and placement, and this is no good. So just from my experience with her, throw hard, quick circles, then learn how to place and move.

 

[frenchy101010]

PS Did I mention getting her a face mask and making her wear it.....

Trust me has been wearing once since Rec All-stars last season. And playing TB this year, I know it was 8u but she had to wear it. You would be surprised the shots down 3B even by an 8u player.

 

[FastBat]

In 10u you will get those line drive shots directly to your pitcher, its just as scary, if not more!

 

[CARDS]

forum,
What is good coaching... what are the things a pitcher must do... what is '' style '' and what is an '' absolute ''... What does a good pitcher look like ... how do we get there...What are good mechanics...
Ron

Ron these are good questions and I am sure some of the pitching gurus will "pitch in" suggestions and answers.
I by no means claim to be a pitching instructor but I have been around the game long enough to have the following observations.

What is good coaching... There are a lot of Pitching coaches out there. Just go to your local batting cage or sportspark and you can generally find a flyer or card. My answer to your question on what makes one better than others would be experience...Not to say you cannot find good first or second year instructors because they are out there but in my mind a good coach has vested the time to not only understand the safety, warm up and injury prevention aspects of the position they also understand how to model and deliver the mechanical instruction along with quality drills that will enhance the players abilities, They have a means of assessing growth or charting progress and can communicate in a fashion the ladies and parents can understand. More experienced coaches advise the parents/player on needed strength training and drills that are as big as a part as the pitching mechanics. They have learned from their early mistakes and have recent student success. A lot of the more established coaches have a "wall of fame" with letters/photos of their current and past students and where they are now.

What is "style"From what I have seen over the years there are really only two styles of softball pitching; Step style and Leap and Drag. There are many variations of both those styles. Some coaches teach the hip angle to stay open while others close the hip. Either style can be thrown with either an open or closed finish and there are a ton of videos to be found on both styles at all levels of Fastpitch mens or womens. The type of windup used is also often referred to as a separate 'Style' slide step etc. Many instructors refer 'Signature pitch' that they specialize in as their own 'Style'. Some coaches hitting and pitching instructors teach their signature first that may be a pre delivery movement, post delivery movement with the finish, Grunt double grunt, glove slap etc.

What is an absolute? ?How do we get there??
One absolute that come to mind is do your homework and make sure the instructor is a good fit with style etc. Sometimes finding the right instructor is like finding the right team and I will say the ladies I have had over the years all ended up with different instructors from the ones that built the foundations by the time they were in high school. Sometimes seeing another instruction perspective can get a few more revs/mph. It does not mean the coach that built the foundation is bad just that the player maxed out under that instruction happens with hitting etc.

What does a good pitcher look like (mechanics)
The good ones I have seen over the years are fluent and makes pitching look effortless. Their mechanics are in time and they have great balance and confidence in the circle. The good ones do not work from behind and pitch to the outer third of the plate. They understand grip and how it can add pitches by changing velocity/spin without slowing down any motion.Most by the time they are 16 become team leaders and do not get upset over calls, errors etc.

 

[Fairman]

Cards; Excellent overview.

I believe that the best way to find a good pitching coach is to talk to the successful pitchers (or their parents) in your area and find out who they have been training with. The proof is in the pudding. An 18U stud just didn't drop from heaven, she started as an 10U that couldn't hit the broadside of a barn and became a truly elite pitcher.

There will be likely a list of pitching coaches, your dd will likely outgrow her original coach and will move around as her skill increases and she focuses on specific skills. By talking to successful pitchers you may be able to avoid a hiring mistake and streamline your dd's learning.

 

[FastBat]

Ron these are good questions and I am sure some of the pitching gurus will "pitch in" suggestions and answers.
I by no means claim to be a pitching instructor but I have been around the game long enough to have the following observations.

What is good coaching... There are a lot of Pitching coaches out there. Just go to your local batting cage or sportspark and you can generally find a flyer or card. My answer to your question on what makes one better than others would be experience...Not to say you cannot find good first or second year instructors because they are out there but in my mind a good coach has vested the time to not only understand the safety, warm up and injury prevention aspects of the position they also understand how to model and deliver the mechanical instruction along with quality drills that will enhance the players abilities, They have a means of assessing growth or charting progress and can communicate in a fashion the ladies and parents can understand. More experienced coaches advise the parents/player on needed strength training and drills that are as big as a part as the pitching mechanics. They have learned from their early mistakes and have recent student success. A lot of the more established coaches have a "wall of fame" with letters/photos of their current and past students and where they are now.

What is "style"From what I have seen over the years there are really only two styles of softball pitching; Step style and Leap and Drag. There are many variations of both those styles. Some coaches teach the hip angle to stay open while others close the hip. Either style can be thrown with either an open or closed finish and there are a ton of videos to be found on both styles at all levels of Fastpitch mens or womens. The type of windup used is also often referred to as a separate 'Style' slide step etc. Many instructors refer 'Signature pitch' that they specialize in as their own 'Style'. Some coaches hitting and pitching instructors teach their signature first that may be a pre delivery movement, post delivery movement with the finish, Grunt double grunt, glove slap etc.

What is an absolute? ?How do we get there??
One absolute that come to mind is do your homework and make sure the instructor is a good fit with style etc. Sometimes finding the right instructor is like finding the right team and I will say the ladies I have had over the years all ended up with different instructors from the ones that built the foundations by the time they were in high school. Sometimes seeing another instruction perspective can get a few more revs/mph. It does not mean the coach that built the foundation is bad just that the player maxed out under that instruction happens with hitting etc.

What does a good pitcher look like (mechanics)
The good ones I have seen over the years are fluent and makes pitching look effortless. Their mechanics are in time and they have great balance and confidence in the circle. The good ones do not work from behind and pitch to the outer third of the plate. They understand grip and how it can add pitches by changing velocity/spin without slowing down any motion.Most by the time they are 16 become team leaders and do not get upset over calls, errors etc.

Very well explained! Thanks!

 

[FastBat]

An 18U stud just didn't drop from heaven, she started as an 10U that couldn't hit the broadside of a barn and became a truly elite pitcher.

Made me chuckle! We can wish, although I think the fun is in the journey not the destination, with pitching and softball!