Another thing about throwing to start practices.... Throwing is way more controlled than hitting. The visual cortex isn't responding to an oncoming ball, there is no timing factor, so the player can be more deliberate. Plus, the movement pattern is a very close match to hitting so once it is understood and felt, it can be easily duplicated across both skills.
There is a hs baseball player from another forum who has been working mostly on hitting and saw his velocity jump significantly because the movement pattern was recruited to his throwing. (A significant jump for 86-88 to 91-94 and topping out at 96.) This issue is not isolated to softball. Some kids just get it. I have a girl at my facility who throws 68. Another girl in town throws harder. These are the players who coaches have the "natural" ability.... But that can be taught. It is a movement pattern. A sequence of movements and mental processes that add up to high level performance and no pain!
There is a hs baseball player from another forum who has been working mostly on hitting and saw his velocity jump significantly because the movement pattern was recruited to his throwing. (A significant jump for 86-88 to 91-94 and topping out at 96.) This issue is not isolated to softball. Some kids just get it. I have a girl at my facility who throws 68. Another girl in town throws harder. These are the players who coaches have the "natural" ability.... But that can be taught. It is a movement pattern. A sequence of movements and mental processes that add up to high level performance and no pain!