You don't have to throw those pitches between innings

I watched one of my long time students, Saturday night. Her catcher was pretty good, but as always happens, her catcher was the last batter, at least twice. So, out goes one of the subs, with just head gear and her fielders glove - and she can't catch. (This is LL.) My pitcher would struggle to slow down and throw across the plate. And THEN, throw balls to the next batter.

I just met with her mom and told her, "Either don't send the pitcher out there, until the catcher is ready - or don't have her throw any warm ups at all."

The mom (assistant coach) was surprised that her DD didn't have to throw those warm ups. Plus, I told her that it adds 30 pitches to her daughter's pitch count.

Little things, like this, can help your pitcher immensely.

Watching my students in games, taught me so much. First warm up of the day, the pitchers are sent off with their catchers, 10u & 12u rec. No parental supervision, just goof off throw the ball around. Half the warm up was spent chasing balls. They only warmed up for 15 minutes, never got full pitch. No throw down plates. No pitch calling in 12u, pitcher could move the ball around and throw a change and drop, but she had to do all that on her own calling so she just threw batting practice.
Also coaches saying just throw strikes and a coach telling one pitcher 10u beginner, every time you get a foul tip slow your body down and throw a slower pitch.

So I made it a point to go over a lot of things with my pitchers after that. A lot of things I was overlooking because I can't be at all their games.

"just throw strikes". I hear this all the time at 10u. You know, with nine year olds that have been throwing underhand for 7 months.

The last 2 years my dd only threw 1 pitch between innings. Just so the catcher could throw one down to second

Except in the 1st inning or with a pitching change my 18U team is always 1 and down. Not only does this move the game along and reduce the pitch count, the 1st batter is usually rushing to the plate and not prepared for the AB.

From the OP it sounds more like the ability to throw quality practice pitches then the # of practice pitches.

I also think most pitchers in our games throw way more then 6, I know it is the rule. I will count them for the pitchers our next game.

I do like the idea of throwing the catcher, one pitch. That sounds good.

My DD, 12U, only throws 2 pitches to her catcher between innings. If catcher is not ready in time, she'll just throw one when the catcher comes out.