Focus on improving her drive mechanics along with her arm-whip, which includes hand orientation going into release.
No Progression With Pitch Speed
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- Oct 22, 2009
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I've noticed that my Freshmen are they ones that start getting really serious about speed and add a few more days pitching a week.
As they get older they start realizing their place in high school, what is their competition, are they going to play varsity, stay in JV?
They may continue to work hard or may start letting up a bit.
Juniors through seniors always start letting up a bit, unless they are in a highly competitive environment.
Most high schoolers I notice generally peak around the Sophomore/Junior years. Once seniors sign they generally let up a bit. If they aren't planning on college ball they may also slack off a bit more.
Early teaching of work ethics plays a big part in high school.
I think a speed gain of a mph every few months in high school is not typical.
Here is Jenny Finch's speed by age.--Even Jenny went a year or years with no progression or even a drop.
13 / 62
14 / 63
15 / 66
16 / 68
17 / 68
18 / 67
19 / 67
20 / 69
21 / 70
22 / 71
23 / 71
I wouldn't put too much focus on lack of speed gain over a few months time. I think a good speed gain for high schoolers is around 1-2mphs a year. I think a speed gain of 4-5mphs over their high school career is a good goal. But not to freak out if they're not on target.
Continue to work on mechanics and conditioning, watch the work ethics--make sure they are there and constant.
Do not neglect breaking pitches over speed.
As they get older they start realizing their place in high school, what is their competition, are they going to play varsity, stay in JV?
They may continue to work hard or may start letting up a bit.
Juniors through seniors always start letting up a bit, unless they are in a highly competitive environment.
Most high schoolers I notice generally peak around the Sophomore/Junior years. Once seniors sign they generally let up a bit. If they aren't planning on college ball they may also slack off a bit more.
Early teaching of work ethics plays a big part in high school.
I think a speed gain of a mph every few months in high school is not typical.
Here is Jenny Finch's speed by age.--Even Jenny went a year or years with no progression or even a drop.
13 / 62
14 / 63
15 / 66
16 / 68
17 / 68
18 / 67
19 / 67
20 / 69
21 / 70
22 / 71
23 / 71
I wouldn't put too much focus on lack of speed gain over a few months time. I think a good speed gain for high schoolers is around 1-2mphs a year. I think a speed gain of 4-5mphs over their high school career is a good goal. But not to freak out if they're not on target.
Continue to work on mechanics and conditioning, watch the work ethics--make sure they are there and constant.
Do not neglect breaking pitches over speed.
- Oct 22, 2009
- 1,779
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Where I am, most softballers are not allowed in the weight room.
I have 7 high schoolers right now from 5 different schools and only one of those schools allows softballers in the weight room.
- Jun 19, 2013
- 753
- 28
Do you know what the reasoning for this is? Because there is too much competition for the space??
Same poster below...
I was just wanting to get the pitcher off the negative path with the pitching related items, and most pitchers today will not engage in weight training (my actual recommendation) if truth be told. It was more popular in the 90s.
We don't let our pitchers slack off. Right now trying to get the pitchers and catcher and hitters into weight training room.
I was just wanting to get the pitcher off the negative path with the pitching related items, and most pitchers today will not engage in weight training (my actual recommendation) if truth be told. It was more popular in the 90s.
We don't let our pitchers slack off. Right now trying to get the pitchers and catcher and hitters into weight training room.
- Oct 22, 2009
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Insurance and the football players need it.
- Aug 9, 2013
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I'm no fitness expert but I would assume you can do most work that benefit softball players without the use of a weight room.
Using things like resistance bands, medicine balls, body weight exercises, agility ladders, exercise balls, bosus you can get a great core workout and still target other muscles like shoulders, rotator cuff and work on speed/agility
Using things like resistance bands, medicine balls, body weight exercises, agility ladders, exercise balls, bosus you can get a great core workout and still target other muscles like shoulders, rotator cuff and work on speed/agility
- Oct 22, 2009
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As far as I know, they never use the weight room.
Off season is outdoor conditioning. Basically running and bleacher running. ---This is Texas, so there really isn't a time when you'd have to be indoors.
One parent has signed his daughter up to a fitness gym in order to allow her some weight training with a professional since she's not allowed to use the weight room at school.
- Mar 24, 2014
- 450
- 18
We normally pitch about 2-3 times a week, about 75-80 minutes each. Try to give a day rest in between pitching, ice arm after pitching as well. Is this about normal? If not please comment on your weekly pitching routine. Thanks.
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