I am a coach of a 10U travel team and wanted to get some feedback. Our coaches opinions are split on how to develop our pitchers. We have 3 pitchers currently that all do lessons once a week with a college coach, and throw multiple times week. We have one pitcher who is very good and throws consistent strikes. The other two are coming along but still struggle with consistency. Two of our coaches think the answer is to do live practices as much as possible and the other two lean more to bullpens and occasional live (once a week). In my opinion, both serve their purpose but if a kid is throwing 30-40, or even 50% strikes in a bullpen/lesson without the elements of a game, throwing live isn't going to be the difference maker. Curious to hear the thoughts from this board.
Live pitching practices VS bullpens/lessons
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No one replied. That is awful.
Both are important, however... The live pitching reps is not going to make the other two pitchers more accurate faster. Mechanics fall apart during live pitching, because the player is more concerned with throwing strikes/hitting their spots than proper mechanics. Also, live pitching with the entire team on the field is one of the least productive drills you can do. Be friendly with other teams, and have as many scrimmages as possible instead of live practice. Try to be as productive as possible during practice, and challenge yourself as a coaching staff to get the players more reps in than you did last practice.
Both are important, however... The live pitching reps is not going to make the other two pitchers more accurate faster. Mechanics fall apart during live pitching, because the player is more concerned with throwing strikes/hitting their spots than proper mechanics. Also, live pitching with the entire team on the field is one of the least productive drills you can do. Be friendly with other teams, and have as many scrimmages as possible instead of live practice. Try to be as productive as possible during practice, and challenge yourself as a coaching staff to get the players more reps in than you did last practice.
- Jan 22, 2011
- 1,633
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OP posted this thread twice and he got 74 replies here:
Live pitching practices VS bullpens/lessons
I am a coach of a 10U travel team and wanted to get some feedback. Our coaches opinions are split on how to develop our pitchers. We have 3 pitchers currently that all do lessons once a week with a college coach, and throw multiple times week. We have one pitcher who is very good and throws...
Young pitchers develop control through reps. At age 10 it is way more important to practice hitting the spots provided by the catcher's mit rather than throwing to live hitters. Having young pitchers throw to live hitters burns a lot of time and is considered to be the least effective way to develop pitching (and hitting) skill. With that said, there is value in having them occasionally throw to live hitters in practice. Such sessions should be heavily controlled with the number of reps being limited. A good starting drill for both young pitchers and hitters is to simply have batters stand in the box and "take" pitches. As the pitcher gains control, advance to live hitting with 4-5 batters, perhaps starting the plate appearance with a 1-1 count. If you are spending more than 15-20 minutes with live hitting with a 10-year-old pitcher, you are overdoing it. As they get older, game experience grows and the need to pitch to live hitters in practice diminishes. We do have our middle school pitchers throw to live hitters during pre-season. Our high school pitchers never throw to live hitters in practice. It is critical that you do everything possible to keep your pitchers' arms healthy. The only way to do this is by tracking game pitch counts and adjusting weekly practice routines accordingly.
- Feb 24, 2024
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Live batting practice is the absolute best and only way for your hitters to learn. Soft toss and tee work is only a feel good session. Difference between block training and random training or performance versus learning.
Terrible for the pitchers.
If you want live batting practice, have a coach learn how to pitch. It isn't hard to learn how to throw the ball over the middle of the plate. Put a net in front of the coach, and have him pitch from 35 feet.
- Feb 24, 2024
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There’s a pitching machine on the market that throws random pitches. The batter nor the instructor knows what pitch is coming. Game balls and excellent movement. Expensive!
there are two discussions here.
1) what exactly is live BP? I consider live BP full blown at bats. Balls and strikes, pitcher trying to get the batter out with their full arsenal. Not just the pitcher throwing fastballs down the middle. I feel that type of work is essential to both pitchers and hitters. the longer the lay off between Tourneys, the more important it becomes.
2) live BP at 10U is terrible. There are not enough strikes at 10U to make the time worth it.
1) what exactly is live BP? I consider live BP full blown at bats. Balls and strikes, pitcher trying to get the batter out with their full arsenal. Not just the pitcher throwing fastballs down the middle. I feel that type of work is essential to both pitchers and hitters. the longer the lay off between Tourneys, the more important it becomes.
2) live BP at 10U is terrible. There are not enough strikes at 10U to make the time worth it.
- Feb 24, 2024
- 34
- 8
I consider live batting practice a pitcher or machine throwing random pitches without the batter knowing what is coming. Hopefully, one day all hitting and pitching instructors will believe the neuroscientist that study motor skills when they say “you can never change a motor skill only create a new one”.
- May 13, 2023
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Considering pitchers have to throw to live batters in games, No it's not terrible for pitchers to throw to live hitters in practice situation.
~They are either already used to it.
~Or they have to get used to it!
~ It gives pitchers practice.
~ It gives the hitters practice.
~ It gives both the pitchers and hitters opportunity to *try *new *things in a practice environment that will not destroy the possibility of winning.
Dial in new things to see how they work!
Definitely there are teams that utilize their own pitchers for batting practice. Definitely there are pitchers on rosters in colleges that are mainly used for batting practice.
That may be one of the advantages that colleges utilize that a lot of other teams in softball should be.
Over the years have spoken with pitchers from multiple colleges said they were used to throw specific combination of pitches to batters in practice.
In preparation for teams they were going to play...great opportunity to use resources!
~They are either already used to it.
~Or they have to get used to it!
~ It gives pitchers practice.
~ It gives the hitters practice.
~ It gives both the pitchers and hitters opportunity to *try *new *things in a practice environment that will not destroy the possibility of winning.
Dial in new things to see how they work!
Definitely there are teams that utilize their own pitchers for batting practice. Definitely there are pitchers on rosters in colleges that are mainly used for batting practice.
That may be one of the advantages that colleges utilize that a lot of other teams in softball should be.
Over the years have spoken with pitchers from multiple colleges said they were used to throw specific combination of pitches to batters in practice.
In preparation for teams they were going to play...great opportunity to use resources!
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