- Sep 3, 2009
- 261
- 18
My daughter started pitching for the first time this past fall at 9 years old with our 10U Fallball rec team. She just decided that she wanted to pitch and the only instruction that she had had to that point was from a local rec. coach who does free pitching clinics in our community. He's a real nice guy who works well with the kids and he does say that if your daughter wants to pursue this that you should consider getting her a coach if it can be afforded. Since that time I have spent quite a bit of time looking at video online and reading at websites like this one about the proper ways to pitch.
I spent a little time trying to find a local coach to no avail. So far this winter I have driven my daughter almost 90 minutes each way to a 4 week clinic in CT that was offered by a well regarded pitching coach in the area, another clinic held in a baseball/softball training center that is about a half an hour from where we live in NY and to several individual pitching lessons at the same place. For the most part she has been instructed to do the same types of things including pitching from a knee (windmills?), starting in a K position and throwing, and lots and lots of wristsnaps, both with a ball and with a spinner. One place had her doing wrist snaps from an open position and another has her doing them in a closed position. Another coach has her doing them by snapping the ball under her bent leg while kneeling. Also, one place has her follow through to the point where her palm is in front of her face (they literally draw smiley faces on the kids' palms to say hi) and another says to just let the follow through come naturally. There are other differences, some quite subtle but I think you get my point. Recently I've read somewhere that wrist snaps are a waste of time and also that a follow through should always be across the body, like it is in an overhanded motion.
My problem here is that everyone says to get a coach, yet every coach I speak with or meet wants to teach my daughter different things? After attending clinics, catching my daughter and doing my own research I can see the things that these coaches point out that I feel more comfortable working with my daughter that I won't really mess her up. But the thing is I don't know what is right, wrong, or even just best. My daughter wants to pitch so I'm willing to invest the time and some money but what's the point if we aren't doing things properly. $75 an hour is expensive enough even when the training is good.
I'm curious to hear what some of you experts feel that my daughter should be working on. Some instructions for drills would be appreciated. For all intents and purposes she is still a beginner. She had a few decent outings in the circle back in the fall but for the most part she still has very very little control. Not looking to produce a college standout. Frankly, she's just 9 nine years old, likes softball, and wants to pitch so I'd like to see her do well and build some confidence in her life. Any and all help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks...Tom
I spent a little time trying to find a local coach to no avail. So far this winter I have driven my daughter almost 90 minutes each way to a 4 week clinic in CT that was offered by a well regarded pitching coach in the area, another clinic held in a baseball/softball training center that is about a half an hour from where we live in NY and to several individual pitching lessons at the same place. For the most part she has been instructed to do the same types of things including pitching from a knee (windmills?), starting in a K position and throwing, and lots and lots of wristsnaps, both with a ball and with a spinner. One place had her doing wrist snaps from an open position and another has her doing them in a closed position. Another coach has her doing them by snapping the ball under her bent leg while kneeling. Also, one place has her follow through to the point where her palm is in front of her face (they literally draw smiley faces on the kids' palms to say hi) and another says to just let the follow through come naturally. There are other differences, some quite subtle but I think you get my point. Recently I've read somewhere that wrist snaps are a waste of time and also that a follow through should always be across the body, like it is in an overhanded motion.
My problem here is that everyone says to get a coach, yet every coach I speak with or meet wants to teach my daughter different things? After attending clinics, catching my daughter and doing my own research I can see the things that these coaches point out that I feel more comfortable working with my daughter that I won't really mess her up. But the thing is I don't know what is right, wrong, or even just best. My daughter wants to pitch so I'm willing to invest the time and some money but what's the point if we aren't doing things properly. $75 an hour is expensive enough even when the training is good.
I'm curious to hear what some of you experts feel that my daughter should be working on. Some instructions for drills would be appreciated. For all intents and purposes she is still a beginner. She had a few decent outings in the circle back in the fall but for the most part she still has very very little control. Not looking to produce a college standout. Frankly, she's just 9 nine years old, likes softball, and wants to pitch so I'd like to see her do well and build some confidence in her life. Any and all help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks...Tom