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Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
No worries and no need to change a thing if this 11 year old is going to play infield the rest of her career. I've seen many sb and bb players that just throw sidearm, not so many do so accurately and effectively, and none can do so consistently from the outfield. Far easier to teach proper overhand mechanics from the get go and then add sidearm as an option than vice versa.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Someone brought up a different Issue, DD has an arm.

She has to control her throws depending who is defending base, even from OF she needs to be careful sometimes.

We are both OK with it but does lead to slopy mechanics.
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
I heard some know it all coaches tell my kid not to throw side arm playing 3rd. I think they are thinking baseball where it can be a 125 foot throw. Crap most balls our third base gets are about 40 feet from the batter. When several start getting on base, tell me what to do. When no one gets on, sthu! As far as high throws, PULL DOWN is a que that girls seem to feel and understand. Wasserman stuff is great, but I have yet to have a girl read it and understand. PULL DOWN feeling... With bands, then a heavy ball, then regular ball. The feeling of resistance is what we want. Like pulling a ball through a big jar of honey.
 
Apr 8, 2013
192
0
....
I hate when coaches feel one mold fits all and apply it in their teaching.

Exactly. And how many coaches today would tell Alex Hugo she can't bat like that? Or tell Ryan Iamurri she's too small? If it works, it works.

Softball, football, lacrosse, basketball, hockey, etc...it's all about one thing - what can you do to help the team? Throw a girl out with a side arm motion? Works for me. Then again, I'm in the minority nowadays regarding form, mechanics and build. As a coach I would care about one thing and one thing only regarding on the field abilities. Can this player help my team win games?
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
I've just about decided that it's a mistake for team coaches to coach mechanics of any sort. It rarely works out well. Either the coach doesn't know what he/she is talking about, or the player isn't going to put in the work (or have the faith) to change it anyway. Obviously, there are exceptional team coaches who are qualified to teach mechanics, but every coach believes himself to be one.
 
May 13, 2012
599
18
I've just about decided that it's a mistake for team coaches to coach mechanics of any sort. It rarely works out well. Either the coach doesn't know what he/she is talking about, or the player isn't going to put in the work (or have the faith) to change it anyway. Obviously, there are exceptional team coaches who are qualified to teach mechanics, but every coach believes himself to be one.

I belive there is some truth here. I don't think coaches shouldn't teach mechanics but they should refrain from it until there is a need to. Someone recommends Sue for my team saying she's batting .600. I blindly take her and she shows for practice. BP she grabs the bat both hands thumbs pointing down. Of course I'm thinking WTH. Now do I say no we hold the bat like this and swing like this and immediately start changing mechanics or do I say ok let's see what u got. I pitch and she rips line drive base hit after hit but that's all they are is singels. Now at 6'8" and built like a linebacker Im thinking if she turns her hands thumbs up she will be an extra base HR machine. Do I change it, I was already wrong thinking she would never touch a ball thumbs down but she did and dang well at that. While this fictional sue is extreme I do belive to many coaches are to quick to want to change the player to thier mechanics when they don't think it thru.
1. Will my mechanics work for her build, size, base teaching.
2. Will I have enough time to change her for the season.
3. Will she understand my mechanics to practice them on her own.
4. Will her parents or nxt coach enforce or even understand my mechanics enough to help her away from team practice.
I coached a tb team this summer comprise of several HS players from multiple schools. One pitcher was HE, several had DBSF when hitting. I did not try to change them because I knew we would not practice enough for the change to sink in, and in very short order they would be back in school fall work outs where they would be taught HE etc. I just tried to adress the hand drop, head coming out type fundementals that worked into both styles.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Not to muddy the waters, but a lot of the high level TB teams in CA are now teaching their infielders to stay down on the ball and throw sidearm, especially MIF. If your DD does not have accuracy issues throwing side arm, I would not fix it. Most coaches teach over the top throwing motions because up/down throwing issues are more easily corrected than left/right, but staying down on the ball and throwing side arm saves time when you are facing fast slappers and bunters.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Side arm in IF is Ok, can be brutal from OF though.

Think you should start with over hand throw from everywhere, once they have that down they can do what they want in IF.
 
May 13, 2012
599
18
Not to muddy the waters, but a lot of the high level TB teams in CA are now teaching their infielders to stay down on the ball and throw sidearm, especially MIF. If your DD does not have accuracy issues throwing side arm, I would not fix it. Most coaches teach over the top throwing motions because up/down throwing issues are more easily corrected than left/right, but staying down on the ball and throwing side arm saves time when you are facing fast slappers and bunters.

Did the exact thing with team this summer. We played well up in tournaments as far as quality of compentition. The time is simply not.there with some speedsters to field, set feet, and throw overhand. Only way to stand a chance to get out is field the ball, stay low and throw 3/4 or side arm on the run.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
IDK, need to study it a little bit or pay attention to responses.

3rd throws at different angles, not sure about rest of IF. Short throws they just toss the ball but not sure about a full throw for different angles.
 

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