Average Speed for a 12U pitcher?? and Off season prep to get ready for Season,,,,

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Aug 17, 2015
19
1
My 12 yo DD took up Pitching this past August and has slowly been ramping up lessons and throwing more to get ready for her season that starts in May.

I took a ramping up approach as i want her to like pitching... and I am not expecting the next Jenny Finch here.
Started with PC Session every 3rd week until December and throwing on our own the off weeks
Then in December we went to every other week with PC and throwing on our own the off week
February we kept every other week with PC but were also throwing an additional day ( so 2 days a week)

Now we are at the point of every week with PC 1 time and 2 additional times a week on our own with no days in a row.
First game is April 28

She throws for about 45-60 minutes per session.
In August she was at around 40 mph now she is in low 50's now and seems to gain a little speed every week
Accuracy is coming along more every session as she learns about her body and why pitches miss and correcting herself.

So that is a little background and I know she has a long way to go yet.,, and now my questions

Is there a chart on average speed for her age that is up to date ( found a few but those were pretty old). just want to know if she is average or just a but under average.

Also was wondering if this ramping up approach I took was a good thing as I am wondering next off season if we do it the same way or change it somewhat.

Thanks in advance


Any comments,suggestions, criticisms are welcomed....
 
Aug 17, 2015
19
1
Eric thanks for the info. good to know.

She plays travel Ball... not top level but one down.
Her control is getting better but a good amount of room to improve.

Her pitches rarely go down the middle as they have movement.

FB most of the time tends to tail away late from RHB
Throws a split finger drop ( best way I can explain it).... PC had her try several different ones but she is most comfortable and accurate with this one. Plus depending on which finger she adds pressure to and how she releases she can make it also move a bit in or out to the corners or just off the plate. As I catch for her it looks like a baseball slider( was a catcher for many years playing baseball and caught many of them).

Change ups a work in progress as she has a tough time with it so far... it will get there eventually just by far her worst pitch at the moment.
 
Apr 12, 2015
792
93
Low 50s at B or C level in travel ball is going to be above average for 12s.

Eric is dead on. Increase the accuracy and develop a great change up to go along with that speed.

That said, don't fall in love with speed. It is great to have but accuracy is much more important. One of the best pitchers in our area at 14u cruises at 50 on a good day. But she can thread a needle with the ball on command.
 
Jan 22, 2011
1,610
113
What I saw last summer and a couple tournaments this spring in Northern California-

Average B- 45-47 mph. Good B teams have someone throwing 49-52.

Average A have someone throwing 49-52. I've only seen two girls who could throw 55/56.

You have to have movement and good control. Good hitters have the reflexes to hit 52/53 if there isn't much movement.
 
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
My 12 yo DD took up Pitching this past August and has slowly been ramping up lessons and throwing more to get ready for her season that starts in May.

I took a ramping up approach as i want her to like pitching... and I am not expecting the next Jenny Finch here.
Started with PC Session every 3rd week until December and throwing on our own the off weeks
Then in December we went to every other week with PC and throwing on our own the off week
February we kept every other week with PC but were also throwing an additional day ( so 2 days a week)

Now we are at the point of every week with PC 1 time and 2 additional times a week on our own with no days in a row.
First game is April 28

She throws for about 45-60 minutes per session.
In August she was at around 40 mph now she is in low 50's now and seems to gain a little speed every week
Accuracy is coming along more every session as she learns about her body and why pitches miss and correcting herself.

So that is a little background and I know she has a long way to go yet.,, and now my questions

Is there a chart on average speed for her age that is up to date ( found a few but those were pretty old). just want to know if she is average or just a but under average.

Also was wondering if this ramping up approach I took was a good thing as I am wondering next off season if we do it the same way or change it somewhat.

Thanks in advance


Any comments,suggestions, criticisms are welcomed....

Here is one of the "internet" averages you may have already found:


Age Average Pitching Speed Top Pitching Speed
10u 37-41 MPH 43-46 MPH
12u 44-47 MPH 50-53 MPH
14u 46-49 MPH 52-55 MPH
16u 50-53 MPH 54-57 MPH
18u 53-56 MPH 58-61 MPH
College 59-64 MPH 65-72 MPH

I think it can be argued both ways as there are a tremendous amount of 12 and 13 year olds throwing 60 plus already.....LOL. Just google it and you will find out. LOL.

Below is another KnightSB posted a few years back:

11-years old - High 30's to Mid 40's
12-years old - Low 40's to Upper 40's
13-years old - Mid 40's to Low-50's
14-years old - 50+
Average high school pitcher - 53-57 mph


10-Under Typical 37-41 MPH Top Pitchers 43-46
12-Under Typical 44-47 MPH Top Pitchers 50-53
14-Under Typical 46-49 MPH Top Pitchers 52-55
16-Under Typical 50-53 MPH Top Pitchers 54-57
18-Under Typical 53-56 MPH Top Pitchers 58-61
College Typical 59-64 MPH Top Pitchers 65-72


Jenny Finch's top pitching speed by age
Age / Top Speed
8 / 49
9 / 51
10 / 53
11 / 55
12 / 59
13 / 62
14 / 63
15 / 66
16 / 68
17 / 68
18 / 67
19 / 67
20 / 69
21 / 70
22 / 71
23 / 71

Hope this helps but many factors involved and really hard to determine what is truthful or not. You hear stories of 11-13 year olds throwing 60 and wonder what you are doing wrong. I am positive there are a few freaks out there that can do it but not as many as the internet claims. I also say "freaks" in a very good way and wish my DD was a freak but she is not, however, she is above the curve on these charts which is all we strive for.

Also, if anyone watched the Sunday game of South Carolina and Tennessee you would have noticed much lower pitching speeds than typical for SEC teams. I was shocked how many pitches by both teams were in the high 50's. Kelsey Oh and Gabby Sprang both were averaging around 58 mph the first inning. Yes, a few jumped into the low 60's but they were consistently cruising high 50's pitch after pitch. Both are freshman I believe but it was one of those games where I was maybe my DD is on track? Who knows, the radar could have been off and I know both can throw much faster but they were not cruising there during the game. Of course, it was a Sunday game and probably tired after a game or two but it was interesting to see.

Again, hope this helps and as many will tell you......speed is not everything!!!! However, you want to be in-line with your age group and hopefully a bit above as well as spin, speed change, etc. It is a fun world and I will leave you with this youtube video....Things that make you go hmmmmm!!!

 
Jan 7, 2014
972
0
Western New York
Don't get me started...

I have over 45 students...all throw I\R

Top end by age:
7YO: 34
8YO: 35
9YO: 39
10U: 48
11u: 47 (note move to 12" ball)
12U: 54 (I have 2 that throw this)
13U: 56
14U: 63 (LSU commit at my place throws 65 but she is Java's not mine)


Stop lying people...

If you think your kid is throwing "X" go rent a cage, set the machine at "X" and put yourself behind the plate 5' closer than her normal pitching distance...

CP
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
12U, low-50's will...

...dominate rec ball, as long as it's in the strike zone.
...be average to above average in travel ball, as long as it's not down the middle.

Focus on control. And a reliable change up.

I don't dispute this at all, but the crazy thing: If I had a low-50s high school pitcher who could throw strikes at will (and not just right down the middle), I probably wouldn't need any fielders other than a catcher. Maybe a first baseman just in case someone laid down a bunt by accident or something.

The different levels of play at different ages are quite remarkable.
 
Mar 4, 2018
126
28
Don't get me started...

I have over 45 students...all throw I\R

Top end by age:
7YO: 34
8YO: 35
9YO: 39
10U: 48
11u: 47 (note move to 12" ball)
12U: 54 (I have 2 that throw this)
13U: 56
14U: 63 (LSU commit at my place throws 65 but she is Java's not mine)


Stop lying people...

If you think your kid is throwing "X" go rent a cage, set the machine at "X" and put yourself behind the plate 5' closer than her normal pitching distance...

CP

I don't think people are lying when they say there are girls that throw quite a bit harder than what you posted at those ages. We played the Beverly Bandits 10u team last fall. They have a girl that was throwing a consistent 52-54 mph and another that is throwing 50-51 mph. When you get to big tournaments like PGF Nationals it will be pretty common to see 50 mph pitchers at the 10u level.

If I remember correctly last year at 10u PGF Nationals there was a girl throwing high 50's and may have been hitting 60 mph. Not saying it is common but there are some very hard throwing girls at 10u here and there.

To the O.P. I believe you daughter is doing pretty darn well in terms of speed, especially considering she has only been pitching 8 months. From what you stated she is really gaining speed quickly. Keep up the hard work, and good luck.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
I don't dispute this at all, but the crazy thing: If I had a low-50s high school pitcher who could throw strikes at will (and not just right down the middle), I probably wouldn't need any fielders other than a catcher. Maybe a first baseman just in case someone laid down a bunt by accident or something.

The different levels of play at different ages are quite remarkable.

HS ball varies ridiculously. A couple of teams in our area are stacked with good TB players, including some committed to D1 schools. Low-50's anywhere in the strike zone gets hammered. Other schools in our area will have just a player - maybe two - that can hit a 52mph FB down the middle.
 

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