Feeling anxious – looking for signs of improvement

I will record her this weekend. For now I have posted some still shots. I know you guys hate these. I am only hoping that these pics aren't huge. Better quality coming soon

The top right photo shows her right (push/pivot) foot is leading with the heel and is laid down. That usually results in loss of forward momentum and precludes open hips (= power loss).

I'll look forward to video.

Anyway, I am just curious if this is a normal process that developing young pitchers go through?? Is it normal to go through this frustrating phase that we seem to be stuck in?

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How much of a growth spurt? My DD#3 went from 5'6" to 6' in the space of about two years. She couldn't walk and chew bubble gum. When she started her first varsity basketball game, she actually fell on the way back to the bench after the lineups were announced.

Hey Sluggers. Your posts are my some of my favs! To answer your question....Last year this time she was 4 11 weighing 90 pounds now she stands at 5 3 weighing 118 pounds. She had a great pitching lesson over the weekend. She had began falling off to the side. She was able to correct this fairly easily believe or it or not.... and instantly gained some of her control back. And when everything fell into place her speed showed back up. Her whip looked great. During warm ups she would take the ball back to ten look and pulled down hard. Overall her lesson went well. She walked to the car all smiles. I know that I said that I would post a video for further review but I will record her once we have the falling off habit knocked out. Then we will decide what to tweak. You are guys are the best. I like this forum and am addicted!

Out in Left Field said:

This is from having my boys coached by others and my coaching girls who are not my DDs:

Please make sure you treat the growth spurt as a benefit. Often it gets translated as 'OMG, you will have to work really hard and it is so much more xxx to worry about. We/you have a lot of rework to do.' With boys, the coaching is: "That height/weight will help you do all of these things (xx, xx, and xx) better. I can't wait to work with you on this and see the results."

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That's because bone growth and muscle development are not concurrent with female athletes, but with boys it is. That's a fact.

Alternatively... you could take an active role with girls between the ages of 8-10, and get their muscle development ahead of their bone growth. Then... it's not as much of an issue.

Out in Left Field said:

Micromanaging the effort is the absolutely wrong thing to do with someone who has received negative feedback. When I watch coaches sometimes I think the only interactions are pointing out flaws, don'ts, and things that need to be fixed. Some things are better left alone without adult fixes. Let the player come to the fix by watching others, videos of others, games, or through trial and error, with the coach asking/prodding with simple questions. The player needs to know it is about an action they can craft and own, not that they entirely stink for who they are or what they are going through.

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Hey Suzy... need to fix that one on your own... good luck.

I'm just going to sit back and not help... as that involves effort, planning, and taking the time to think of someone other than yourself. You know... mentoring... coaching... being human.

When my DD moved from 10U to 12U she lost both accuracy & Speed. She actually lost about 6 mph. She was extremely frustrated. It took about 2 months of throwing about 5 times a week to really get back to where she was. Some ideas that might help:

1. Work on drive mechanics. When you are done, work on them some more.

2. Consider buying a 14" ball for her to throw a couple times. My DD uses one(and hates it). We only throw it into a net from about 15'. Otherwise she would get the same discouraged feeling that your's is getting from the 12" ball. Once she is warmed up have her pitch it 20+/- times. When she switches back to the 12" ball it feels more like an 11" to her.

3. Find a used 12" ball that has virtually no seems. Use it the first couple weeks. It will let her gradually get used to throwing a larger ball without the added circumference of the seams.

4. Go pick up an under weight ball as well. They have 5 oz 12" balls online. Let her throw the bigger ball with less weight and get used to the feel in her hand. I'm not sure that this will have a benefit of producing speed with the regular weight ball, but it sure will help her confidence. If she can hear the glove pop with the bigger ball maybe the transition will be helpful.

I hope one or some of these help you. My DD has done all of these. She is 14U now. What helped the most from 10U - 12U was the ball without seams(or beat down seams). From 12U-14U, the 14" ball really helped her get her speed back up after moving from 40'-43'. She also completed a underloading & overloading program recently. That seemed to help as well, but I haven't put her on the gun since she completed that program(last week).

I wish there was a transition season. Almost like an early fall season for 10U moving to 12U. It would be great if for 2-3 tournaments they either set the mounds at 40' with an 11" ball, or 35' with a 12" ball. It would just give everyone the opportunity to grow into the use of the 12" ball from further back.

Don't intend to divert or hijack this thread, but since 9 YO, my DD practiced with a 12 inch ball from 43 feet. She would also use it for long toss sessions 2 to 3 X/week. The transition from 11 inch ball to 12 inch ball and 35 feet to 40 feet was pretty seamless.

I've played golf for 25 years and have said 100 times during each of those years that golf is the hardest sport to master. IMO, learning to pitch will try your patience even more... Hang in there. There are a lot of bumps in the road.