Slapping the leg

I am being asked how to explain whether slapping the leg with the glove is really necessary or not. I never did it when I pitched growing up and thru high school. I am trying to get an 8U softball team onto the right track in starting proper mechanics and some parents are asking me about this slapping the leg... I watched a lot of the college world series and never noticed them doing it... How can I explain to these parents why some teach it and some don't... I don't want to give them the wrong explanation, nor be teaching the girls the incorrect mechanics.... Can anyone help?

You've already explained it! Elite pitchers DON'T do it.

My DD plays 12U...we see 100's of pitchers in a season between our opponents and watching older girls play. I've never seen a GOOD pitcher slap her leg and I almost never see it outside the 10U age level.

Keith

I hate it. A college girl came to me when I coached and she hit her thigh, hard. There was a constant bruise there, that was the size of her glove. That can't be good, health wise.

I don't know any pitching coaches that teach that - and my DD and I know or have seen a lot of them.

You will be told that Cat O. does it, I think she may touch her thigh with the glove - but not what I am seeing these young ladies do. Some even hit the back of the thigh.

I tell the parents that slapping the leg it is too much movement in this AZ. heat and it is unnecessary to work the left arm and shoulder like that. I tell them if the motion doesn't help your pitch, don't do it.

Personally, I teach glove up after the hands separate, to help the girls protect their face. The glove can actually punch forward to help the drive off the pitching rubber.

Why worry about minor things like grip, arm motion and leg movement at 8U when we have to worry about the all important "leg slap"? Next, they'll want to know how to throw a "back door rise change". But, I digress...

Which "leg slap" are you talking about? Before the pitch at the beginning of the windup or after release of the ball?

Finch and Osterman *LIGHTLY* slap their left leg after they release the ball.

Osterman Pitch

Finch Pitch

This could be a reminder to bring the glove hand down when a pitch is thrown or to make sure the pitcher is and stays open.

I've seen girls slap the right leg vigorously when they take the arm back. That is pure insanity.

JRW

Amy in AZ. said:

Personally, I teach glove up after the hands separate, to help the girls protect their face. .

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And heart. This is a big bingo! Both hands moving down versus the glove hand doing something different I don't see as an important issue...till that smoking hot shot is coming right back at DD's face or heart. Then I want that glove/shield up near her head and heart so it doesn't have to move so far to save her life.

Yes, Mark. I know what you mean. I have always been taught that I can move my glove down, faster than I can move my glove up. So, I keep it up and it protects me. But, if the ball is coming back towards my leg, I can easily move the glove down.

It is not as easy to bring the glove up, from my thigh to protect my face.

Thanks

This is what I needed to hear... Thanks so much!

Sluggers, It's both actually. We have seen girls do it when they bring their arm back to begin their wind-up and more after the release, when the right arm is ready to release or releasing the ball the right arm slaps the left thigh...

I do not teach it, because I did notsee the benefit. Now I have some more info to provide to those inquiring parents...
Thanks again!

My dd does not slap the leg, but I asked her what that was about. The "dugout dirt" is that some players (pitchers) believe that the sound of the slap throws off the batter.

Just heresy...

Ang

There is another thought. That you can time the pitcher better, if you are the batter.

Amy in AZ. said:

Yes, Mark. I know what you mean. I have always been taught that I can move my glove down, faster than I can move my glove up. So, I keep it up and it protects me. But, if the ball is coming back towards my leg, I can easily move the glove down.

It is not as easy to bring the glove up, from my thigh to protect my face.

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And I'm not as worried about your thigh as I am your face anyway. Actually I'm not worried about the ball catching your thigh at all. Even if it catches your knee that's a far cry from it catching your head or heart.