Pitching Coach Question
I was chatting with fellow parents at the last tournament and one said that her DD's pitching coach prefers not to work with a catcher; she teaches her students to pitch to a target instead. Is this a common teaching method? Is there any advantage or disadvantage to working with a catcher? (The daughter in question is 16U)
Last edited by Indiana; 04-23-2012 at 04:08 PM.
No, that is not a common teaching method.
I like having beginners throw to a wall or net when they are first learning. I find that if they have a catcher their goal is to get the ball to the catcher any way, any how rather than focusing on their motion. Double that if the catcher is Dad. But once they have their mechanics down the wall/net is done and they throw to a catcher.
I have seen the baseball guys where I teach use a target, though, so maybe it comes from there.
Ken Krause
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Throwing hard into something 20’ away is valuable, throwing at a target is valuable but throwing to a C is the most valuable and is the game we play.
DD is working with her various catchers on what her target is when she is throwing the ball. Some it is one of their knees, some it is their glove, sometime IDK what she is throwing at but she seems to be figuring it out. She is not pitching into space.
One of DD’s responsibilities pitching is to talk to the C were they are both comfortable.
Thanks for the feedback guys. This pitcher is re-working her mechanics to get to the bottom of some shoulder issues, so I can see where a target would make sense.
I also like my students to throw into a wall or fence. Beginners and those working on mechanical adjustments.
You mentioned a shoulder issue, so working close to a fence or wall is a great way for her work on her shoulder issue and not being concerned with where she is aiming the ball. Lots of repetition so she can get used to what it feels like to do it correctly.
DD's PC has her pitch into a net when working on increasing velocity. PC says the girl will throw harder not worrying about catcher missing, or hurting dad. That however always seems to make my DD smirk! He wants her concentrating on only pitching faster at those times in practice, makes sense to me.
If I had a catcher come in to our facility, we had to pay them. If Mom or Dad caught, they were required to AT LEAST wear a mask because of insurance liabilty. That stopped many parents from catching right there.
If you have a catcher the target is the glove. You can have a glove hanging on a wall or net. There always has to be a target. A catcher with a glove is the most realistic to a game situation. Glove on the wall, maybe the 2nd closest.
At any rate, throwing to a target and NOT to a catcher IS very common and there could be a number of reasons why.
I know this guy who gives pitching lessons and according to him his insurance will only allow him, or an employee covered under insurance to catch. He does all the catching.
He also uses a big cut out piece of rubber with lines drawn on it for zones and he has his students pitch into it a lot. He advised the rubber makes a loud pop when hit with a ball; kids according to him like making it pop.
I guess I just like to keep my lessons as game like as possible. I have never had anyone throw to a target. In my opinion, that encourages aiming the ball.
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