First Time Pitcher Advice

[mrluchini]

I’m looking for a little advice from those that know more about pitching than I do. I have a left handed 11 year old that is a pretty good ball player. This season he made the switch from catcher to 1st base and has had a great season defensively. After a few years of asking him if he would like to pitch, he has become interested. We have worked some, but my knowledge of pitching mechanics is zero. I am his head coach and feel I have good deal of knowledge in the other facets of the game, but not pitching. In about a week and a half we have some games against the two weakest teams in our league and it will be a great opportunity to give him an inning or game experience. My question is, does anyone have any recommendations about working with pitching novice? Anything you would suggest I read or websites to visit? Any help would be appreciated.

[songtitle]

Keep it simple. It's almost identical to rotational hitting.

Turn in as you go forward (hips, shoulders). Don't just kick your leg without closing your hips.

Do your best to keep your hips closed (or at least even) until your foot touches.

Keep your arm back as long as possible.

Stride your height (or work toward that). This will ensure that you rotate, among other things.

[DukeK]

Chris O'Leary has put togehter a lot of resources for your perusal here:

http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseball/Pitching/index.html

Check some of that out and do a search for some pitching threads on this board for a start.

[skipper5]

As a coach, I've placed many 9-13 yr.-old boys on the mound for the first time over the years.

In all honesty, I wouldn't give him any advice other than "here's the ball."

I can't imagine clouding a first-time pitcher's mind with any thoughts.

Let him use whatever native athletic ingenuity he has to try to throw a strike.

Decide ahead of time how many walks before you pull him. If you have to pull him, do it with a smile and a promise for another inning real soon, and hopefully have a calm proven strikethrower to come in and get out of the inning with just a few runs scored, no big deal.

No matter how idiosyncratic his pitching motion is, refrain from advice until he's experienced enough success (only 2 walks per inning?) to have fallen in love with pitching. If he's aiming the ball, let him aim, etc.

My only reservation is if he's throwing wildly from sidearm, and knocking kids down. Forgot something: some novice pitchers do better from the set position instead of wind-up.

[rkbenn]

There are musts in pitching. NPA with Tom House does a pretty good job going over the basics and provides a few good drills, although some stink.

Alan Jaeger has a nice long toss program to help him in using his body and not his arm to throw.

Mike Marshall h as SOME very good ideas on arm care.

Lastly, Videotape. Chris has done a very good job breaking down pro pitchers.


Just like you try to get a hitter to emulate the pro pattern. Same goes for pitching. Kids can learn this early.

[All-StarLF1713]

if he starts doing bad he shouldnt overthrow

[AgentX]

In all honesty, I wouldn't give him any advice other than "here's the ball."

I can't imagine clouding a first-time pitcher's mind with any thoughts.

Let him use whatever native athletic ingenuity he has to try to throw a strike.



Definitely.

At 11yo, the kid needs to start with instinct and whatever skill he's amassed at throwing the ball at a target. If he enjoys pitching, then let him dig deeper, and start building upon whatever mechanics he has to begin with.

Just keep him from getting all fancy with his windup. A lot of kids think they have to be Dontrelle Willis when they first start pitching. If they can't keep it simple, then have them go from the stretch.

[songtitle]

I forgot the most important thing. Pitching is nothing like throwing.

[RodCarew]

As a coach, I've placed many 9-13 yr.-old boys on the mound for the first time over the years.

In all honesty, I wouldn't give him any advice other than "here's the ball."

I can't imagine clouding a first-time pitcher's mind with any thoughts.

Let him use whatever native athletic ingenuity he has to try to throw a strike.

Decide ahead of time how many walks before you pull him. If you have to pull him, do it with a smile and a promise for another inning real soon, and hopefully have a calm proven strikethrower to come in and get out of the inning with just a few runs scored, no big deal.

No matter how idiosyncratic his pitching motion is, refrain from advice until he's experienced enough success (only 2 walks per inning?) to have fallen in love with pitching. If he's aiming the ball, let him aim, etc.

My only reservation is if he's throwing wildly from sidearm, and knocking kids down. Forgot something: some novice pitchers do better from the set position instead of wind-up.


I got a kick out of this...

I've seen 6 year olds swings broken down and analysed for weeks in here.. yet with pitching - it's "just let him throw"


Why not teach a kid how to pitch correctly from the start?

[rkbenn]

I got a kick out of this...

I've seen 6 year olds swings broken down and analysed for weeks in here.. yet with pitching - it's "just let him throw"


Why not teach a kid how to pitch correctly from the start?

Everyone has their opinion. I, like you, feel it's never too early to learn proper pitching mechanics, like we do with the hitting. I would be willing to bet of all the MLB players, a majority of them started learning proper mechanics before 12.

I see timing issues all the time and straight arm only throws, with kids complaining, " my arm hurts."

[LAball]

I forgot the most important thing. Pitching is nothing like throwing.

Agree, which is why you should get a few lessons and have to coach teach how to Pitch with the body. before that you can focus on hand grips for 2-4 seam and making sure the ball comes off with back spin. Get the grips down and get a coach. Once he learns the basics of what is a pitch and what is a throw , then you can take over. Get your prospect pitchers and see if the parents are willing to do group pitching lessons.

But if you want internet advise.. start from the stretch, feet shoulder with. Bring the glove side foot back and up. Hold the knee up position for 2 seconds. bring the foot down and then glide forward while swinging the glove out. Glove turn. and release da ball

[songtitle]

Hold the knee up position for 2 seconds.

After watching Lincecum, I changed my mind on this.

[scorekeeper]

…After a few years of asking him if he would like to pitch, he has become interested. …

Have you wondered whether he’s become interested because you kept asking him about it?

I’m not saying this is true of you, but it sure sounds a lot like someone who thinks pitching is very prestigious, and therefore wants that acclaim for their son.

Just a thought. ;)

[DukeK]

I've seen 6 year olds swings broken down and analysed for weeks in here.. yet with pitching - it's "just let him throw"


Why not teach a kid how to pitch correctly from the start?


I agree, at least teach some basics.

[shake-n-bake]

I agree with just giving him some basic instruction.

First thing I'd do is see what his windup looks like. If it were something that appeared to need a lot of work (you shouldn't need help from anyone to see that), I'd have him pitch from the stretch. Actually, I'd have him give it a try anyway and see if it feels good to him.

Get any mechanics type advice out of the way in practice. I'm not even a proponent of giving kids with pitching experience and are conversive in pitching terminology game time advice from the dugout to the mound.

Let him see some live batters in practice.

Relieve some pressure. Make it a nothing to lose situation going in. I tell stories (some true, some embelished a bit). Tell him the first time you pitched in LL, you walked 6 of the first 10 batters you faced and hit 2 of the other 4. In the end it all worked out somehow though. Something like that.

The best basic mechanics video that I've seen (and my 11 y/o held a high opinion of it as well) posted here was from Clubhouse Gas Videos. If it helps the search, I believe the player demonstrating was a minor league pitcher in the Mets org.

[LAball]

After watching Lincecum, I changed my mind on this.

Thats an elite pitcher who has very good accuracy and can sacrifice mechanical accuracy for velocity. But teaching LL, Id rather have mechanics that favor accuracy over velocity.

[songtitle]

Thats an elite pitcher who has very good accuracy and can sacrifice mechanical accuracy for velocity. But teaching LL, Id rather have mechanics that favor accuracy over velocity.

So... balancing on the rubber for 2 seconds improves accuracy?

[DukeK]

Never mind....

[scorekeeper]

So... balancing on the rubber for 2 seconds improves accuracy?

No, it improves balance, and improving balance will improve accuracy!

The pitching coach in this area who has sent more players to college ball, pro ball, and ML ball, has had his P’s doing even more than 2 seconds. He puts them in the push away position on the rubber, then has them drop their pitching hand with a ball in it straight down. Then they have to raise their knee to its highest position and balance there before bending at the knee to start the delivery.

By the time the pitchers get to the end of their careers, they’ve changed lots of things, but they never lose that balance. Right now JP Howell and Manny Parra are examples of his students.

[rkbenn]

So... balancing on the rubber for 2 seconds improves accuracy?

This position is the most important IMO. When teaching pitching holding 2 seconds or longer does more than just improve balence. Helps in positioning, staying tall, and strength. This position has to be perfected before moving on.

[songtitle]

This position is the most important IMO. When teaching pitching holding 2 seconds or longer does more than just improve balence. Helps in positioning, staying tall, and strength. This position has to be perfected before moving on.

I know, this is exactly what we were taught. That's exactly how I initially taught my son. I am just not so sure any more.

[Drill]

When you have trouble with control, take a deep breath and focus to a spot on the catcher mitt.


IMHO,

drill

[rkbenn]

I know, this is exactly what we were taught. That's exactly how I initially taught my son. I am just not so sure any more.

I don't have kids do it in the game though and always instruct out of the stretch..

[LAball]

This is the first year my son is pitching, and I never drilled or instructed him to pause at the top. But in his second game, I could tell he was focusing on throwing strikes, and low and behold, he would pause at the top. He did this naturally to be more accurate. Then I finally understood all the hoopla about balance. I havent seen a lot of Japanese pitching, but I see the pause more so with the Japanese even with older adult pitchers.