Throwing a football

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Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
So, DD is getting ready for the powder puff game. She fashions herself as a QB, and I must say that the softball girls are generally the school's best throwers. (Too bad that powder puff is ruled by the run game, especially end sweeps and reverses, but I digress).

So DD has spent some time throwing the football, and suddenly yesterday, she figured it out and started getting much more distance and spiral than ever before. Guess it was just trial and error. Best thing I did was offer the tip that she take the ball back as she strode forward, sorta stretch-and-fire for throwers.

But what I noticed is that she might actually throw the football better, mechanically speaking, than she does the softball. She pushes a softball a little bit, lacks sufficient whip. Arm remains straight too long. But with the football, she just naturally has more whip. She somehow learned she can't push the football.

Which leads me to believe - Throwing a heavier object has forced her to be more mechanically sound.

What do you think? Is throwing a football much like training w/ a heavy bat?
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I will tell you it doesn’t take long in gym class to let the little girl play QB. :)

As you know they have weighed balls which I do not know enough about so am not a fan of. I think it is more the size then the weight. There are some, IMO, football throwing drills that are good for SB players.
 
Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
I think the shape of the football also requires more sound mechanics. You can clearly see a poorly thrown football, but a round softball is a bit more forgiving with spin etc...
 
Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
I will tell you it doesn’t take long in gym class to let the little girl play QB. :)

As you know they have weighed balls which I do not know enough about so am not a fan of. I think it is more the size then the weight. There are some, IMO, football throwing drills that are good for SB players.
Austin Wasserman suggests having very sound mechanics before throwing weighted balls.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
We sometimes do pitching practice inside with a Nerf football when it's raining outside. When she does it right she has a really nice spin on the football that, for a novice like me, is way easier to see than the right softball spin.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
I think the shape of the football also requires more sound mechanics. You can clearly see a poorly thrown football, but a round softball is a bit more forgiving with spin etc...

This. DD (15yoa) is very proud of the fact that she can throw a tighter spiral with a football than I can. Proud to the point that she gladly points it out. In any event, I utilize our football throwing time as a teaching opportunity for softball throwing and hitting.

Added - I am also not a fan of weighted balls.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
In any event, I utilize our football throwing time as a teaching opportunity for softball throwing and hitting.

Another thing I like about footballs is that it's a fun way to train an outfielder that breaks the monotony of fly balls. She loves going out for passes. I think it's made her more confident catching softballs over either shoulder.
 
Jan 4, 2012
3,852
38
OH-IO
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I knew I couldn't hit that camera.... tried 100 times... :cool:
 
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Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
I know from personal experience that it definitely helps. My younger dd (1st yr 12u) had a less than stellar arm. I was constantly trying to improve her mechanics through different softball drills. She would always huff and puff and after a couple eye rolls, she'd come outside and throw with me. One day she was in the garage and picked up a youth sized football, (it was one that I use with pitchers when working on the rise and screw). She and I went out back and just played pass. She loved it, because it wasn't a softball drill.... we passed it for about 15 min. approx every other night for a couple weeks. All of a sudden we started noticing on the ball diamond her throws were getting harder. She's learning better trunk rotation and arm whip with the football without any coaching. The footballs dead duck wabble will self correct her throwing mechanics as she strives to throw a tighter spiral.
I recommend that all dad's take their dd's out side and pass the pigskin. You'll be amazed how much better her arm will get.
 
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