Putting the stopwatches to this throw shows a .93 second ball handling time. This is very good for her age and usually will yield a sub-two second throw. The 2:16 pop time is due to the arched path the ball is taking. (As noted by PC) The high arched throw is necessary due to the velocity of the throw. This is still a very respectable time for a 13 year old girl.
[video=vimeo;53188537]https://vimeo.com/53188537[/video]
Everyone jumps on this issue not because we are thinking baseball, but because when young girls attempt this type of throw too early (age/body maturity-wise), they run the risk of shoulder, arm & elbow injury. I started with a 10U catcher two weeks ago and her coach wants her throwing from her knees by spring. She simply has not matured enough to make this type of throw. I have worked with a 10U catcher that you could mistake for 17, but this type of maturity is rare for a 10 year old. I typically ask that my catchers work on their throws, be able to demonstrate the proper technique for throwing coming out of their runner-on stance and be able to throw at a minimum velocity before we start working on throwing from the knees. This type of throw requires all the velocity to be generated from the torso, shoulders and arms. Taking the legs out of the throw puts added stress to the upper body.
With catchers it is important to think long term. I have 5 adult female friends who caught in H/S. They range in age from mid-20's to 50's. Four of them have already had at least one knee replaced. (Including the one in her mid-20's) Those like myself who work only with catchers teach multiple-stances, certain methods of coming up out of a block to throw, specific methods of receiving, tag plays and other techniques with an eye on our catcher's safety and overall health. One of the first things I discuss with new catchers is that we will work on taking care of his or her body, showing ways to reduce stress to knees in stance and arms while throwing. I don't want to see a one of them get hurt or use techniques that will damage or deteriorate their body over time. This position is hard enough on a catcher's body, and they will suffer wear and tear from it. But we care enough to make every attempt to reduce the wear and tear they endure.
Sorry to pull out the soap-box, throwing from the knees is a great tool to have in one's arsenal. The stopwatch shows that the vast majority of catchers will throw just as quick or quicker utilizing proper techniques (and their legs) coming up to throw....
[video=vimeo;53188537]https://vimeo.com/53188537[/video]
Everyone jumps on this issue not because we are thinking baseball, but because when young girls attempt this type of throw too early (age/body maturity-wise), they run the risk of shoulder, arm & elbow injury. I started with a 10U catcher two weeks ago and her coach wants her throwing from her knees by spring. She simply has not matured enough to make this type of throw. I have worked with a 10U catcher that you could mistake for 17, but this type of maturity is rare for a 10 year old. I typically ask that my catchers work on their throws, be able to demonstrate the proper technique for throwing coming out of their runner-on stance and be able to throw at a minimum velocity before we start working on throwing from the knees. This type of throw requires all the velocity to be generated from the torso, shoulders and arms. Taking the legs out of the throw puts added stress to the upper body.
With catchers it is important to think long term. I have 5 adult female friends who caught in H/S. They range in age from mid-20's to 50's. Four of them have already had at least one knee replaced. (Including the one in her mid-20's) Those like myself who work only with catchers teach multiple-stances, certain methods of coming up out of a block to throw, specific methods of receiving, tag plays and other techniques with an eye on our catcher's safety and overall health. One of the first things I discuss with new catchers is that we will work on taking care of his or her body, showing ways to reduce stress to knees in stance and arms while throwing. I don't want to see a one of them get hurt or use techniques that will damage or deteriorate their body over time. This position is hard enough on a catcher's body, and they will suffer wear and tear from it. But we care enough to make every attempt to reduce the wear and tear they endure.
Sorry to pull out the soap-box, throwing from the knees is a great tool to have in one's arsenal. The stopwatch shows that the vast majority of catchers will throw just as quick or quicker utilizing proper techniques (and their legs) coming up to throw....
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