- Jul 26, 2010
- 3,567
- 0
I just got back from the 3 day ASA National coaching school in Livermore, CA. The Team USA softball coaching staff gave 2 days of instruction on hitting, fielding, catching, and pitching. Coach Mike Candrea taught the hitting and infielding sections, and it was really cool to be 15 feet away from him while he held a bat and broke down the swing for 2 hours (holding a bat and showing, not just talking about it).
Mike White (University of Oregon and former mens Team USA pitcher) is the current pitching coach for USA softball and gave several different presentations on pitching, again, breaking down the motion and using examples from the top men and women pitchers. It was really nice to see that he is teaching the exact same thing that many of us here have come to expect, basically mimicking what Bill Hillhouse teaches. Sure, some of the descriptive words were different, but the motion is the same. Everything from hiding the grip in the glove, to using a sprinter start without turning the foot out, to keeping sideways and making sure the ball is pulled down through the circle with the elbow leading to produce good arm whip (he spent 20 minutes on this without once having to use the "IR" buzzword, even though it's the same thing), to a natural follow through (no hello elbow) and a calf to calf finish with the feet.
I'd actually went into the conference expecting to hear all the oldschool nonsense, given what the current (younger) Team USA pitchers actually do, but Mike was humble and explained that at the level they play at, he works with what he is given and doesn't try to change everyone. The reason that they're out there teaching coaches who teach young kids how to pitch is the way he hopes what he teaches will effect the players that will hopefully be in the next (2020) olympics.
Just thought I'd share, it was a great conference and I learned a great deal. For the price (about $200) and the small audience (about 200 coaches) it was a great event and the staff spent a lot of time on Q&A.
-W
Mike White (University of Oregon and former mens Team USA pitcher) is the current pitching coach for USA softball and gave several different presentations on pitching, again, breaking down the motion and using examples from the top men and women pitchers. It was really nice to see that he is teaching the exact same thing that many of us here have come to expect, basically mimicking what Bill Hillhouse teaches. Sure, some of the descriptive words were different, but the motion is the same. Everything from hiding the grip in the glove, to using a sprinter start without turning the foot out, to keeping sideways and making sure the ball is pulled down through the circle with the elbow leading to produce good arm whip (he spent 20 minutes on this without once having to use the "IR" buzzword, even though it's the same thing), to a natural follow through (no hello elbow) and a calf to calf finish with the feet.
I'd actually went into the conference expecting to hear all the oldschool nonsense, given what the current (younger) Team USA pitchers actually do, but Mike was humble and explained that at the level they play at, he works with what he is given and doesn't try to change everyone. The reason that they're out there teaching coaches who teach young kids how to pitch is the way he hopes what he teaches will effect the players that will hopefully be in the next (2020) olympics.
Just thought I'd share, it was a great conference and I learned a great deal. For the price (about $200) and the small audience (about 200 coaches) it was a great event and the staff spent a lot of time on Q&A.
-W