So I have to share a story that happened to me this past weekend. Every Sunday we run our TB practices, and at the end of the practice we also allow for pitchers and catchers to throw for about an hour. During this time we have our pitching coaches work with our pitchers. It was my turn to work with our 12u pitchers as we rotate teams from week to week. All of us on the coaching staff or MAJOR I/R teachers.
As I begin to walk around and watch mechanics, I see a pitcher of ours who is throwing HE style. So I move over and start to talk to her about mechanics. (Great kid, listens, totally coachable!) I ask her who her pitching instructor is, and she mentions that she takes lessons from player from our area who went on last year to get a D1 scholarship in the PAC12 and was actually PAC12 Freshman pitcher of the week last year at one point.
At that moment I had to stop and collect my thoughts, because I know this pitcher (D1) does not pitch HE, she pitches with I/R and pitches really well! I began to talk to our 12u player about I/R and how we want the ball facing third, almost palm up closer to release, to whip it across our body. (Again coachable, so she starts working on it) (went straight to Lock it in drill)
I worked with our 12u kid the rest of the hour, and told her I wanted to talk to her mom. Mom was there, listening, and very receptive. I spoke to her about how the best most elite pitchers pitch with I/R, and why they pitch this way. We then looked up, on YouTube how her pitching coach pitches, and she is complete I/R.
It was interesting to see her face when I showed her the mechanics. Needless to say, Mom and player both see how she should be pitching, and they are ready to make the change to I/R.
Later that night I sent them videos of the best pitchers, I even sent them pictures and video of the PC they use... Yup... Ball facing third, beautiful I/R mechanics
It just floors me that even pitchers both former and current are not teaching the best mechanics out there..... or even better, not teaching them the mechanics THEY use when pitching....
So is HE just a money grab? Hey I want my daughter throwing strikes, and I don't care how? So PC just lines them up and makes them fire away.....
So crazy! Any way, thought I would share this story, as I was shocked!
As I begin to walk around and watch mechanics, I see a pitcher of ours who is throwing HE style. So I move over and start to talk to her about mechanics. (Great kid, listens, totally coachable!) I ask her who her pitching instructor is, and she mentions that she takes lessons from player from our area who went on last year to get a D1 scholarship in the PAC12 and was actually PAC12 Freshman pitcher of the week last year at one point.
At that moment I had to stop and collect my thoughts, because I know this pitcher (D1) does not pitch HE, she pitches with I/R and pitches really well! I began to talk to our 12u player about I/R and how we want the ball facing third, almost palm up closer to release, to whip it across our body. (Again coachable, so she starts working on it) (went straight to Lock it in drill)
I worked with our 12u kid the rest of the hour, and told her I wanted to talk to her mom. Mom was there, listening, and very receptive. I spoke to her about how the best most elite pitchers pitch with I/R, and why they pitch this way. We then looked up, on YouTube how her pitching coach pitches, and she is complete I/R.
It was interesting to see her face when I showed her the mechanics. Needless to say, Mom and player both see how she should be pitching, and they are ready to make the change to I/R.
Later that night I sent them videos of the best pitchers, I even sent them pictures and video of the PC they use... Yup... Ball facing third, beautiful I/R mechanics
It just floors me that even pitchers both former and current are not teaching the best mechanics out there..... or even better, not teaching them the mechanics THEY use when pitching....
So is HE just a money grab? Hey I want my daughter throwing strikes, and I don't care how? So PC just lines them up and makes them fire away.....
So crazy! Any way, thought I would share this story, as I was shocked!