Mechanics repair

Ken B said:

Take some time away from full pitching until she can build her way back to good posture and release.
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This weekend is our last tournament and we have 3 other pitchers. She's useful in the field so it's no big deal. Her pitching coach already told us the same thing. She's got a lesson tonight but I don't foresee her pitching this weekend.

Sore ankles at 12 most likely growing pains. We had older girls on our team that went to dr’s and ortho’s were told could not find any problems. Next year dd same problems all parents said save your money she’s just growing. Sure enough 3 months later no more pain and 2” taller.

Laphoneman said:

Sore ankles at 12 most likely growing pains. We had older girls on our team that went to dr’s and ortho’s were told could not find any problems. Next year dd same problems all parents said save your money she’s just growing. Sure enough 3 months later no more pain and 2” taller.

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She's grown a ton and is barely 12. She's got a little more to go for sure. My older one had the same thing, with the ankles. We did take her in for an x-ray just to be safe but after that we got her a good ankle brace and she's been fine. Even though her sister is only 2 years older apparently I'd already forgotten how drastically they change at this age. I see girls we played this time last year and barely recognize them.

Just a comment on the ankles...it looks like with her old/existing technique her front foot lands pretty closed (toes pointed towards 3B). The more her toes point towards home, the more leverage she has to resist forward motion after planting that foot. If she is getting stronger and working on driving harder...and resisting that drive forward to transfer energy into the ball...lot of pressure on that front foot and ankle if her foot is landing with her toes facing 3B.

shaker1 said:

Just want to highlight the release point differences. I would work on getting that arm in closer to her body. Relaxed arm, let the whip take the ball out of her hand.

Edit; check out Sarah's arm circle path, how she keeps the ball over her shoulder then down the backside. It may help your dd to work on a similar ball path, that way the ball isn't getting in behind her where she has to throw it around her hip.

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I noticed the same thing. Has anyone seen similar deliveries called as an illegal pitch? (USSSA “wrist not further from the body than the elbow”)


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Her lesson night before last went really well. She got some new exercises, and at practice yesterday she looked a lot better. Tonight we'll head to practice early, let her do the drills and exercises to get warmed up, then see how she looks from full pitch. Last weekend she looked good warming up but from full pitch it all fell apart. We shall see. It's only been a few days so I don't expect a big change yet. But if there's some progress we'll all be happy.

I keep trying to get some updated video but the weather in GA has been awful. It's either sunny and freezing, or decently warm and raining (though this weekend is freezing and raining). We've been working in the basement which is too dark for decent video. I need to drag another lamp down there. Anyway. She's still struggling along, still working, and she got some expert help last night.

You're in good hands there! ^^^

I have an update if anyone is interested in how it's going. Her pitching coach has broken everything down step by step. Her speed is still way down but her mechanics seem to be coming back in line. One thing at a time. Last weekend she pitched one inning in our indoor league and it was so hard to watch. Her location was all over the place, not just missing her spots but missing the zone entirely. Makes sense though, with all the tarp work and so little full pitch. She worked all week, had a great lesson, and her inning yesterday was one hitter on base (it's only one base - make it to 1B, score and go back to the dugout), 2 ground outs and a strike out. Much better, better mechanics, and she was so happy. It made my whole weekend, just watching her settle back in and regain some of her confidence. I think for me that's been the hardest thing about this, watching her slowly lose faith in herself in the circle.

grcsftbll said:

I think for me that's been the hardest thing about this, watching her slowly lose faith in herself in the circle.

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Take out 'in the circle', and I'd say it is the hardest thing as a parent. Period. I don't have a problem watching them struggle. It is part of life and they need to learn to fight through things. But seeing them deflated and the lost confidence ,especially in something they were once good at, is hard.

On the flip side, seeing them come out the other side better and stronger have been some of my proudest parent moments.