Drive Mechanics

[3DD'sDAD]

OILF
I believe that Java is layering a base coat of information before he moves on to the final layer so that all of us "doughheads" (read regular folk) can better understand the end product. Another regular poster on here spoke of gradual steps and building along the way. What java is doing here, in my opinion, is help build a foundation of knowledge so that the laymen of the world wrt softball pitching can better understand the biomechanics behind the pitching motion to allow their DD or student to get the most out of what God gave them.

Keep up the great work Javasource.

 

[javasource]

Like many other fine people on this site – I have children that participate in many sports. My DD plays soccer, basketball, and softball regularly (not to mention an interest in track, tennis, volleyball and dance).

Regarding OILF’s comments… Similar to a few people on here that I have the utmost respect for, I wasted so much time (earlier in life) trying to ‘bring out the best’ in people like her… complimenting them, challenging them, and outright asking them to not be negative. Personalities like this will never change, despite our creative efforts. They dissuade others with extensive knowledge and experiences from sharing, dampen our spirits, and provide nothing of value. Their problems are much more deeply rooted than we could ever understand.

Identifying athletes that have neuromuscular imbalances/deficits and providing positive intervention will impact every sport they play - as well as positively impact their general wellness. As it relates to female athletes, the identification and intervention that the next two posts will provide, will reduce the incidence of upper & lower extremity injury by as much as 80%. In addition, you’ll have a great set of meaningful exercises that strengthen the core and target the muscles that our DD’s must use in softball and other sports.

If, as a coach, you do not see the value in understanding biomechanics… or the importance of injury prevention… or the health, safety, and general wellness of student athletes… or the value in learned discussions amongst other coaches/peers… or the value in establishing a positive self-awareness with athletes… or the value in providing athletes the tools that will help them and your organization succeed and become more competitive… or the value in an education… or the value in becoming a better coach, mentor, and role model… or the value in becoming more efficient… or the value in self-improvement… and on and on… then why do you coach? By incessantly rejecting opportunity for growth, you will become – and likely are - a liability to those that ask you for advice and/or depend on you to guide them or their children.

I welcome challenges and debates. If you disagree with a post, thought, or idea… you’ll see that I encourage you to speak up - and am more than willing to discuss the matter. Conversely, if you’re just going to crap on the posts of others… understand that with every word you speak… your deficiencies, inadequacies, and ignorance are on full display. Commenting negatively on a subject that you know absolutely nothing about is just absurd… and doing a quick web search about it, doesn’t fool anyone into thinking you actually know something on the matter. You’re not gathering an army (despite behind-the-scenes PM attempts) - you’re isolating yourself further… and confirming in others… what many of us have suspected/known all along.

Halftime is over… back to the game…

 

[Spartans21]

Nice reply java. Many, many people are grateful for all of the knowledge you choose to share with us.......keep it up!

 

[jasonacer]

OILF seems to want to derail this. Perhaps jealousy is rearing it's ugly head? How about we just let JS do his thing? I'm lovin' it and learning a ton. Keep it coming Java!

 

[Doug Romrell]

Yo, Java.....

 

[jstanley]

J.S. this is great info. keep it coming !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[javasource]

Differences – Identification

Knowledge of the four Dominance Patterns in female athletes is one thing… but identifying them in the athlete you’re working with is more important. Clinical analysis is an option, albeit not practical. The costs, time, and impracticality of clinical identification requires that a simple “home screening test” or field identification method be available. Although the huge breakthroughs on the subject arose out of the 1980’s and 90’s (Doug's musical genre...), it wasn’t until 2006 (that I am aware of) that any diagnostic screening test was agreed upon and published in the medical community.

There are four key components that a female athlete should be taught in training neuromuscular control: trunk proprioception - by eliminating excessive motion, preventing knee valgus or hyperextension, activation of the posterior chain musculature (needs to be ‘turned on’), and the balance and equalization of the lower extremities (no left/right deficits). In doing so, injury risk is reduced on average by 50% - and as much as 80%. By utilizing these four concepts, the identification of neuromuscular deficiency is possible through a single exercise. Just think… if a pre-season testing method could identify an athlete at high risk of injury…

The Tuck Jump Assessment

Not only will this handy plyometric exercise help you assess an issue, it will help you track progress, and teach athletes proper neuromuscular sequencing.

Here’s what a proper form Tuck Jump should look like:

In order to perform the assessment properly, you’ll need to perform it in 2 sets of 10 second repeated jumps… three times. This should be done during a full workout. At the beginning of the workout, you do it. In the middle of a workout, you do it… and you guessed it… at the end of the workout.

You’ll need a camera – and each set is filmed at a different angle. The first is with the athlete facing the camera; the second is from the side. In review… 10 second jumps from the front, 10 second jumps from the side… 3 times (pre-workout, mid, and post).

How To:

1. Begin in Athletic Position, feet shoulder width apart
2. Begin with slight crouch downwards while extending arms behind you
3. Simultaneously swing arms forward while jumping upward... PULLING KNEES UP AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE.
4. At peak of jump, knees should be perpendicular to ground
5. Immediately begin next jump upon landing
6. Encourage landing in same footprint and landing quietly

After filming them, here is the assessment checklist, with instructions:

Using video review, tally-up all the deficiencies for each set of jumps you see according to the chart. In doing so, you’ll know where deficits reside, and in the next post, I’ll give you some exercises to perform. If you’re athlete scores 6 or more in one of the tests… they REALLY need to focus on training… as they are in a very high-risk pool.

Remember… performing and ‘passing’ this assessment does not mean you stop doing it!!! Hopefully, by now – you understand that as female athletes mature, they may undergo changes that put them in a higher-risk pool… as their neuromuscular ‘engines’ lag behind their physical development. If you notice your DD growing... this is a handy time to do it...

Lastly, for the deficiencies you do find, here they are as related to the four Dominance Patterns…

Performing a total of 60 seconds of Tuck Jumps is not exciting… and chances are that your DD is going to make all types of faces… as they are not as easy as they may look on paper. They do not require practice before videotaping them – as many of the deficiencies are more easily recognized in the first set. That said… a 60-second evaluation/assessment is a small price to pay for the dividends in can yield your DD and your family. ~JS

 

[Jojo]

Java, how often should pitchers perform this exercise?

 

[javasource]

Jojo,

It's really a wonderful plyo... and the goal is to execute it with perfect form. I would encourage any student that already has a plyometric routine to add this one in... and if they don't have a routine... build one with this in it. The next post will have pattern specific exercises... so I'd add those in, too... just need to type it...

So... I'd say as regular as they workout... 3-5 times per week.

 

[jasonacer]

Good info! This gives me a good idea where to focus training in order to prevent injuries that could pop up from pitching. I am assuming that focused training will also help make it easier to correct/improve areas of her motion that are less than stellar by strengthening the areas that are weaker.
Keep it coming JS! This is great info on a portion of pitching that I have not even considered as being anywhere near that important. . . Until I started realizing how much drive mechanics can screw up a pitching motion if she's doing it wrong. It's like the pitch almost doesn't have a chance to be great if its coming from a bad start. Looking forward to more!
And thanks for the info.