I think most here are essentially on the same page.
-Form is the foundation.
-Speed is a result of good form.
-Control comes from practicing good form.
I don't believe anyone advocates telling kids to throw hard and the rest will follow. Of course we have to slow things down from time to time to isolate or emphasize something, but when the full motion is in place, we can't ask our kids to slow it down or the sequence and form will break down as well. The speed will be determined by the mechanics. The bottom line is that we can teach one form that will get us slow strikes. Or we can focus on the mechanics, which just so happens to give us speed, then practice to get control. Am I on track?
In our area, there are two clear schools of thought from the many pitching coaches:
- Form then speed
- Speed then control
Most kids are going with the second option (speed first). My DD started with coaches that had the first philosophy (form first). She has terrific control, but now we are playing catch-up on the speed.