Velocity or Accuracy?

As Ken said, the real answer is you want her to do both. Best to teach her proper mechanics by throwing hard. Once the mechanics are sound, the strikes will come. Problem is, you may have to find a team where the coach is less concerned about winning and more concerned about development.

Don't trade velocity for accuracy, you'll end up with neither. Velocity first an accuracy will follow. This assumes proper mechanics.

Snotbubbles said:

Problem is, you may have to find a team where the coach is less concerned about winning and more concerned about development.

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So true! The pressure to have control is huge. It takes understanding parents and coaches for sure. I tell my kids to trust their form and let the coaches do their job when it's time to put in another pitcher. Then go back to work off the field to be that much better for the next outing. I think the best thing a kid can do is get someone to shoot game video to self-assess and send to her PC.

In the past, you could get away with sacrificing some speed if it made you more productive (which would = more innings). The thought being you can rebuild in the off-season with speed and accuracy. Today's sport is a different beast. Zero off-season, never a good time to rebuild.

In today's situation, I say throw hard all the time, work on mechanics continually, and accuracy will follow. If you stay fast, there will always be a roster spot for a #2 or #3. If her accuracy comes around mid-season, she could easily bump to #1.

As my moniker implies, I am a Sooner fan. The Sooners had both kinds this year: a spinner with accuracy and a flame thrower. As much as I liked watching Paige Lowry pitch (as a fan), I really prefer the finesse pitcher. (Keilani Ricketts was a finesse pitcher). A coach has his preference as to what he wants his team to be. The PC usually goes the route the HC wants to go, so there is a little more involved actually than what an individual Dad is trying to do for DD (or Mom) on a particular team. And you're more or less confined to what opportunities DD is afforded.

IMO, accuracy and spin can out-duel velocity. There are many more nuances as well for the spin pitcher: differing speeds. As a catcher in my previous life, I loved when my pitcher could throw every ball by a batter. More often than not, they weren't strikes. If the batters of the opposing team were disciplined, we were in trouble. A spinner always had the edge as she could adjust to the strike zone more.

I have two boys. My Sis had a daughter that played ss, so I was able to follow the girls game pretty well, as she was a hitter (her Dad was her coach). She had more problems hitting a pitcher with accuracy and control than a hard thrower.

I don't think there is really a wrong way to go. It really depends on the type of kid DD is. Enhance the natural traits of DD. And above all, teach her the correct mechanics, or make sure she is taught that. That is the most important thing by far.

We played a P, I think we're target practice.

I have no interest in player throwing fast,and no idea where ball is going.

Good for her, I have 12 that need to survive to play next game.

I think you'll find that the same mechanical flaws that prevent accuracy when throwing hard will still be present when you throw slow, just not as amplified. A slower pitcher needs precision as a few inches are all the difference between an infield popfly and a rope to a gap. Mechanical issues also make it difficult to get your junk ball spin axis correct and effective.