DD is a 13YO pitcher who throws hard. At last week's lesson her instructor was clocking her speed and saying the numbers out loud. There were a few other parents in the area watching along and as we were leaving, I heard one mumble something like, "that's all great until she gets hurt". For some reason this comment is really bugging me.
I'm just the mom of a pitcher who follows along closely enough to know that DD has decent mechanics and goes to an instructor who stresses throwing as hard as possible while staying injury-free. One lesson, DD came in with KT tape on her thigh for something minor like a muscle strain and he sent her home saying that it wasn't worth further injury or creating a new injury because she was favoring that leg. Point being, I believe the instructor has DD's health in mind and coaches her properly. DD ices after throwing, takes 1 or 2 days off from pitching per week, works out regularly with a program designed for softball pitchers, and generally (I think) does things the right way.
Am I somehow missing something that I am putting DD at risk of injury by having her throw for her top velocity on a fairly regular basis? Some lessons instructor tells her to throw at 75% while she works on something mechanical. Most lessons she throws at full speed with no gun. About once a month, the gun comes out and he checks her speed. She is super-competitive and admittedly gets really dialed up for these sessions, but this always seems like a natural part of the process and motivation for her to keep working hard. Now I'm obsessively reading the DFP threads on arm care and worried that I'm putting her long-term career at risk.
Sorry, maybe more of a rant than anything, but I'm curious if anyone has thoughts on DDs going all-out for speed during lessons and whether this is setting them up for being hurt.
Thanks! JF
I'm just the mom of a pitcher who follows along closely enough to know that DD has decent mechanics and goes to an instructor who stresses throwing as hard as possible while staying injury-free. One lesson, DD came in with KT tape on her thigh for something minor like a muscle strain and he sent her home saying that it wasn't worth further injury or creating a new injury because she was favoring that leg. Point being, I believe the instructor has DD's health in mind and coaches her properly. DD ices after throwing, takes 1 or 2 days off from pitching per week, works out regularly with a program designed for softball pitchers, and generally (I think) does things the right way.
Am I somehow missing something that I am putting DD at risk of injury by having her throw for her top velocity on a fairly regular basis? Some lessons instructor tells her to throw at 75% while she works on something mechanical. Most lessons she throws at full speed with no gun. About once a month, the gun comes out and he checks her speed. She is super-competitive and admittedly gets really dialed up for these sessions, but this always seems like a natural part of the process and motivation for her to keep working hard. Now I'm obsessively reading the DFP threads on arm care and worried that I'm putting her long-term career at risk.
Sorry, maybe more of a rant than anything, but I'm curious if anyone has thoughts on DDs going all-out for speed during lessons and whether this is setting them up for being hurt.
Thanks! JF