- Jul 31, 2019
- 495
- 43
Overhand Throwing:
At 14, throwing 60+ overhand puts you in that top 5% but is doable. I coach a 14U team, and 10 of 12 throw 60+ with three throwing 64 (two are catchers) and two throwing 65+. Getting there did not happen by accident. Foremost I'm anal about throwing mechanics, and it all starts there. Then at 11U, they started an arm care program that included J-bands, long toss, and under/overloading. I got the program from a former MLB pitcher, then with the help of a PT changed it to fit their age group. We do it during the "off-season", for 9 weeks. My SS is 5'1", 110 lbs and throws 61. The hardest thrower is my 3B/RF (65 mph) and she is 5'5", 120 lbs. The two that don't throw 60 have flaws in their mechanics.
60 mph throwing velocity is college level
65+ mph is D1 level velocity
Here are a few things that reference college player levels and goals:
Exceptional 64-78 mph (Crystal Bustos throws 78 mph)
Softball Throwing Speeds by Age
NOTE: The following velocities are for travel-level players who are serious about softball. To include casual players and recreational players would skew averages too much. It’s safe to assume that recreational players will throw 3+ mph slower than the speeds shown below.
Age 17-18
As a throwing coach, it’s my goal that every player reaches at least 55+mph by her junior year in high school. This is attainable if a player puts in the work. BUT…my goal for every player is 60mph or more.
•Goal Throwing Speed: 60-65
•Average Throwing Speed: 54-57
Ages 15-16
When a softball player begins high school, the game speeds up dramatically. What this means is that players are all faster, beating out ground balls and turning more singles into doubles, scoring more often on singles from second base. Base stealers are better, and every position on the field requires more arm strength. It’s time to get serious.
•Goal Throwing Speed: 57-60
•Average Throwing Speed: 50-54
Ages 13-14
At this age, most players are still barely breaking 50mph if they haven’t devoted significant time and effort to throwing instruction and/or strength training. This is where players with naturally good arms separate themselves significantly from the pack.
•Goal Throwing Speed: 54-57
•Average Throwing Speed: 46-50
Ages 11-12
Most players I work with throw in the mid-40s at this age and need a lot of help. Fortunately, the game is also very slow and so many can still get by with loopy throws. But this will change drastically at 14U.
•Goal Throwing Speed: 52+
•Average Throwing Speed: 42-46
Ages 10 and under
•Goal Throwing Speed:
•Average Throwing Speed: 38-44
Pitching:
In my years, I have only seen a few 14U kids throwing mid 60's, and a handful of 12U throwing low 60's. It is incredibly rare. I find that most people have no idea what 60 mph is much less 65. Radar guns are improperly used, pitching coaches inflate numbers, and parents inflate them again.
Here is some of the info I've collected. I try to keep it current:
~Keep in mind that a 74 MPH pitch at 43 feet is well over the equivalent of a 100 MPH baseball pitch that’s thrown from 60 feet away.
Average pitching speed in competitive college conferences, by Division:
D1) 60 – 68 MPH
D2) 58 – 65 MPH
D3) 55 – 62 MPH
Average College Softball Pitch Speed
The average pitching speed for college players is 58 – 65MPH, or 66 – 74 MPH for higher-end averages.
Division 1: 63 MPH or faster.
Division 2: 58 MPH or faster.
Division 3 and NAIA: 55 MPH or faster.
Junior College: 54 MPH or faster.
At 14, throwing 60+ overhand puts you in that top 5% but is doable. I coach a 14U team, and 10 of 12 throw 60+ with three throwing 64 (two are catchers) and two throwing 65+. Getting there did not happen by accident. Foremost I'm anal about throwing mechanics, and it all starts there. Then at 11U, they started an arm care program that included J-bands, long toss, and under/overloading. I got the program from a former MLB pitcher, then with the help of a PT changed it to fit their age group. We do it during the "off-season", for 9 weeks. My SS is 5'1", 110 lbs and throws 61. The hardest thrower is my 3B/RF (65 mph) and she is 5'5", 120 lbs. The two that don't throw 60 have flaws in their mechanics.
60 mph throwing velocity is college level
65+ mph is D1 level velocity
Here are a few things that reference college player levels and goals:
Exceptional 64-78 mph (Crystal Bustos throws 78 mph)
Softball Throwing Speeds by Age
NOTE: The following velocities are for travel-level players who are serious about softball. To include casual players and recreational players would skew averages too much. It’s safe to assume that recreational players will throw 3+ mph slower than the speeds shown below.
Age 17-18
As a throwing coach, it’s my goal that every player reaches at least 55+mph by her junior year in high school. This is attainable if a player puts in the work. BUT…my goal for every player is 60mph or more.
•Goal Throwing Speed: 60-65
•Average Throwing Speed: 54-57
Ages 15-16
When a softball player begins high school, the game speeds up dramatically. What this means is that players are all faster, beating out ground balls and turning more singles into doubles, scoring more often on singles from second base. Base stealers are better, and every position on the field requires more arm strength. It’s time to get serious.
•Goal Throwing Speed: 57-60
•Average Throwing Speed: 50-54
Ages 13-14
At this age, most players are still barely breaking 50mph if they haven’t devoted significant time and effort to throwing instruction and/or strength training. This is where players with naturally good arms separate themselves significantly from the pack.
•Goal Throwing Speed: 54-57
•Average Throwing Speed: 46-50
Ages 11-12
Most players I work with throw in the mid-40s at this age and need a lot of help. Fortunately, the game is also very slow and so many can still get by with loopy throws. But this will change drastically at 14U.
•Goal Throwing Speed: 52+
•Average Throwing Speed: 42-46
Ages 10 and under
•Goal Throwing Speed:
•Average Throwing Speed: 38-44
Pitching:
In my years, I have only seen a few 14U kids throwing mid 60's, and a handful of 12U throwing low 60's. It is incredibly rare. I find that most people have no idea what 60 mph is much less 65. Radar guns are improperly used, pitching coaches inflate numbers, and parents inflate them again.
Here is some of the info I've collected. I try to keep it current:
| Age | Average Pitching Speeds | High-end Averages |
| 10 | 35 – 39 MPH | 40 – 43 MPH |
| 11 | 38 – 42 MPH | 43 – 46 MPH |
| 12 | 41 – 48 MPH | 49 – 53 MPH |
| 13 | 45 – 53 MPH | 54 – 56 MPH |
| 14 | 46 – 54 MPH | 55 – 58 MPH |
| 15 | 49 – 54 MPH | 55 – 60 MPH |
| 16 | 51 – 55 MPH | 56 – 62 MPH |
| 17 | 52 – 56 MPH | 57 – 65 MPH |
| 18 | 55 – 59 MPH | 60 – 68 MPH |
| College+ | 58 – 65 MPH | 66 – 74 MPH |
~Keep in mind that a 74 MPH pitch at 43 feet is well over the equivalent of a 100 MPH baseball pitch that’s thrown from 60 feet away.
Average pitching speed in competitive college conferences, by Division:
D1) 60 – 68 MPH
D2) 58 – 65 MPH
D3) 55 – 62 MPH
Average College Softball Pitch Speed
The average pitching speed for college players is 58 – 65MPH, or 66 – 74 MPH for higher-end averages.
Division 1: 63 MPH or faster.
Division 2: 58 MPH or faster.
Division 3 and NAIA: 55 MPH or faster.
Junior College: 54 MPH or faster.
