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78th
PRECINCT 
YOUTH
COUNCIL
PITCHING MANUAL
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Introduction: "Good pitching beats
good hitting"
This is not an
"easy-reading" instruction manual on how to develop a pitcher. This
book is a scientific approach to pitching, and as such, is much more of a
technical manual than a "How To" book. The information is invaluable
in the development of pitchers, however you should be sure you devote full
attention while reading. If you have any questions about the terminology I've
used, please contact me rather than guessing.
The information on the following
pages has been gathered from many sources. The pitching mechanics are directly
from the American Sports Medicine Institute. The pitching eligibility rules are
from the Little League rulebook. I created the chart and scenario to simplify
the rules. The information about coaching and catching are from Little League and
personal experience. There is probably very little here that you don't already
know, however you may wish to skim through it for additional points.
When it comes to winning
ballgames, that quote sums up the difference between winning teams and losing
teams. At every level of baseball, pitching plays a bigger role in a team's
success than any other factor. Many coaches dismiss theories as too complex for
Little League and scale down their expectations. The advice in this book works,
even in "B" Division.
There is no question that it is
harder than ever to find dominant pitchers. Kids don't play baseball anymore.
Nintendo, VCR, Cable TV and Shopping Malls have all combined to keep baseball
diamonds about as busy as the famous Maytag Repairman. For most kids, their
only baseball experiences are while wearing a uniform in front of coaches and
umpires. Fortunately for the pitchers, most hitters get a grand total of 30
plate appearances over a season, so they can get away with lobbing a fat one
over the plate without getting killed by the line-drive that should
follow.
The most important thing to
realize is that all the prodding in the world from coaches is not going to
change anything. Baseball skills are only gained from repetitive experience. We
can drill a pitcher until he drops, but if he doesn't throw a baseball outside
of a game or practice, he won't improve much. You must adopt a philosophy of
either having frequent team practices, or instilling their importance with
players so they will work on their own, or all the pitching knowledge in the
world won't help.
Ultimately, we must teach the
skills necessary to play the game, we must teach why the skills are important,
and we must try to instill a love of the game. If we fail in any of these three
areas, there will be very little improvement in the players and baseball skills
will continue declining. We are quickly approaching the day where the Major
Leagues will be more interesting in hoarding the limited number of work visas
than expensive free agents. With only 700 to go around for both the Minor and
Major Leagues, teams will find themselves shut out from the vastly improving
Prevention of Pitching Arm Injuries
The most common cause of
pitching arm injury in young pitchers is overuse-- pitching when fatigued. This
may be the result of: (1) throwing too many pitches during one outing, (2) not
having enough recovery time, or (3) not having a maintenance program between pitching
assignments. Coaches should be aware of these factors, and realize that
pitchers vary in arm stamina and need for recovery time. Make certain there is
a good in-season active recovery program available for and used by
pitchers.
The number of pitches a pitchers
should be allowed to throw depends on physical development, age, prior rest and
recovery time, pitching experience and the pitcher's arm stamina. I believe
pitch count as a measure is more effective and reliable than the number of
innings pitched.
In a competitive situation,
often a pitcher will not admit that he is fatigued, overly sore, or has a minor
arm injury. It is very important that a coach is able to recognize changes in a
pitcher's normal motion. Besides a loss of some velocity, and usually control,
a pitcher will often change his mechanics to compensate for the loss of arm
strength or to protect his arm from further pain. Look for changes such
as:
1. The pitcher rushes his
motion, trying to generate more force with his body and reduce the stress on
his arm. It will look like the pitcher is dragging his arm and he'll have a
loss of hand speed because he has disrupting his normal throwing
sequence.
2. The pitcher may shorten his
follow through (deceleration of the arm) and will not use his normal arm
extension upon and after ball release.
3. The pitcher may not get his
hand up into a normal high cocked position. It will appear that he has dropped
his elbow during the cocking and acceleration phases.
4. Between innings, the pitcher
may hold or massage his arm displaying pain. With muscle fatigue, a pitcher's
hand often trembles.
5. Between pitching assignments,
the pitcher may be reluctant to throw, or throw properly during drill work,
since he is attempting to protect his arm from further stress and pain.
I suggest that coaches work
closely and communicate with the parents. Often times a pitcher will confide in
his parents but will not tell his coach of the injury because he wants to pitch
and contribute to the team. A coach should keep the information from the parent
confidential, so the player continues to confide in his parents.
In addition to subtle mechanical
changes, there are often some noticeable physical signs which indicate tissue
damage about the shoulder, elbow or forearm which need to be recognized :
1. Redness or
discoloration.
2. Swelling or extreme
tightness.
3. Heat - a burning sensation in
the area.
4. Sharp pain versus a dull
ache.
5. Deformity - loss of
extension, flexion or range of motion.
When the coach observes these
signs, he should stop the pitcher from throwing, apply ice to the injured area,
and allow more recovery time between pitching assignments. If there is only
slight improvement after rest within a given time frame, the player should
consult a physician. After proper treatment, the pitcher should be
reconditioned via a modified throwing program before pitching
competitively.
A coach and help prevent arm
injuries by:
1. Making certain pitchers are
properly conditioned (total body) before throwing full velocity or pitching
competitively.
2. Making certain pitchers have
and use a proper stretching and warm-up program before throwing.
3. Having the pitcher throw at
reduced velocity and shorter distances when learning new mechanical techniques
or pitches, or when experimenting with different grips.
4. Making certain a pitcher uses
proper throwing mechanics. While each pitcher throws somewhat differently
within his own style, through the critical phase of throwing (from hand break
through deceleration phase), most successful injury-free pitchers use very
time-proven techniques.
5. Limiting the amount of
throwing the pitcher does during drills and practices at his other defensive
position(s). The defensive positions which would cause the least amount of stress
on the arm are first base or the outfield.
6. Making certain the pitcher
dresses properly for warmth during cold temperatures, or to prevent early heat
exhaustion during very hot weather. Also, be aware of proper intake of fluids
to prevent early dehydration and muscle fatigue.
Finally, while light weights,
full range of motion conditioning and strength all work, I sincerely believe
that the best method to build throwing arm strength and stamina is to throw a
baseball often, and throw it using correct mechanics.
The following exercises are
useful for all players, not just pitchers, and should be used before practices
and games, especially in cold weather. Exercises with an asterisk (*) should be
repeated for the opposite arm, leg, or direction. These exercises substantially
reduce the risk of non-impact injury.
(10 Repetitions each):
1. Arm swing (arms out, slowly
swing forward and return).
2. Arm rotation clockwise (arms
out, slowly rotate, change direction)
3. "Windmills" (feet
apart, arms out, reach down, touch opposite foot)
4. Trunk Flexion (both arms
overhead, lock fingers, reach up, reach down)
5. Trunk Twist (both arms over
head, lock fingers, reach up, rotate down and around)
6. Trunk Rotation (both arms
over head, lock fingers, slowly rotate half- way each direction)
(4 Repetitions each):
7. Hamstring Stretch (heel to
toe, slowly bend, touch ground, hold for 5 seconds)
8. Groin Stretch (feet apart,
slowly bend until chest touches thigh, hold for 5 seconds)
9. Achilles/Calf Stretch (Same
as groin stretch, hold 5 seconds, except keep back leg straight)
10. Wrist Extension (throwing
arm forward, use other arm to pull fingers and wrist back)
11. Arm extension (reach up as
high as possible, slowly extend to tip-toes)
12. "Hitch-hiker"
(hand on waist, keeping elbow high, rotate backwards, forwards, return)
(10 Repetitions each):
13. Rotator Cuff (arm out, elbow
flexed at 90 degrees, very slowly reach as far back only rotating arm)
14. Lunges (Feet together,
stride forward and reach until back knee touches ground)
15. Mimic Throws (« speed
only!!! Include crow-hop)
These exercises are geared for
pitchers and are designed to ease into game performance. Once pitchers accept
these as part of their ritual, they will often start without being reminded.
The first several times a pitcher uses these, a coach should supervise to
assure the player does not "rush" through the warm-up.
1. Jogging (one lap, final 60
feet backwards at slower speed)
2. Remove jackets, etc. to begin
throwing (all at 50% speed) :
a. Start 30
feet apart, 10 throws, throwing naturally.
b. Move to 45
feet apart, 5 throws, throwing naturally.
c.
Concentrate on pitching (catcher should crouch): Pitcher throws until
successful 5 times for each :
1. "Throw strikes" (aims
for chest protector)
2. "Hit the mitt" (aims
for catcher's mitt)
3. "Call your shot"
(announces corner, throws until hits)
4. "Groove" (pitcher
throws strikes, working up to 100%)
d. Pitch at
100% velocity (8 pitches) 3. Return to bench (unless weather is cold).
4. Go to the mound for final
warm-ups.
1. On hot days, give the pitcher
water, even if he isn't thirsty.
2. Always wear warm-up jacket
over pitching arm, even on hot days.
3. Stretch arm and shoulder
while walking to the mound (arm swing, full shoulder rotation)
4. Use first warm-up pitches to
locate strike zone.
5. Once strike zone is found,
increase speed to 100%.
Day before game:
Stretching, 5 or 6 minutes of throwing at 50% speed. No sprints.
Day after game
Full stretching. Sprints (Walk to first, run first to third, walk home, run
home to second, walk to third, run home). Defensive glovework (when fielding,
don't throw, just drop balls in a bucket). No throwing.
In between days
Full practice unless high pitch count in game.
The Fine Art of Pitching
(From the Coach's Perspective)
The following chapter is written
by coach Bill Thurston, the head baseball coach at
Bill Thurston has been a head
baseball coach for 28 years, has coached many international teams, and has
conducted pitching clinics throughout the
The sections within this chapter
are written in coaching terms and hopefully will be understandable and useful
for pitchers, coaches, trainers and interested parents.
Basic and Efficient Pitching Mechanics
Pitching is a very
individualized, highly skilled activity. Certainly, not all successful pitchers
throw exactly alike. A pitcher's motion will depend upon size, strength,
balance, flexibility, leverage and coordination. Therefore, when teaching
pitching mechanics, a coach should teach within a pitcher's own style, physical
abilities, potential and limitations. If a pitcher is successful, let him use
his natural delivery unless:
1. His mechanics create
unnecessary stress or fatigue on the arm and are likely to cause injury;
2. His motion causes
inconsistent control or performance;
3. His techniques limit his
pitching potential.
It is difficult, and perhaps
inadvisable, to attempt to change a pitcher's arm action once he has done a lot
of pitching, since he has ingrained various habits and developed specific
muscles for throwing. I personally believe that the best ages to teach pitching
and make adjustments, particularly in arm action, is under 18 years old. The
pitcher should be mature enough to understand, practice and feed the change,
yet he has not ingrained various faults over a long period of time that the
muscle development is permanently affected.
It has been previous stated that
not all successful pitchers pitch exactly the same way, but after studying many
professional and college pitchers via high speed video, I have discovered that
through the critical phase of pitching (ie, from the hand-break through the
deceleration), most successful pitchers use basically the same arm
action.
Some of the common traits I have
observed in successful pitchers are:
1. Proper balance, flexibility and
control of the body
2. Good body and arm
alignment
3. Proper weight transfer
4. A long, smooth arc of
deceleration of the pitching arm.
When analyzing the pitching
motion, most biomechanists divide it into 5 phases: the wind-up, arm-cocking,
arm acceleration, arm deceleration and follow-through. As a coach and teacher
of pitching, it is necessary to teach and be specific within each sequence of
the total throwing mechanism.
The following breakdown of the
pitching motion is meant to be a guide for a coach who is instructing a young
pitcher, or is attempting to make adjustments with a pitcher who is
experiencing specific problems within his motion. As a coach, the key element
is to be able to identify the specific fault which is causing the problem. The
pitching motion is sequential and often an original fault that leads to a
series of other faults or compensating actions.
It is not necessary that each
and every pitcher use these specific techniques. If the end result is that a
pitcher is successful with his own style and motion, do not change him. Use the
following breakdown as a guide and check-list.
A. Preliminary Stance.
* Pitcher should have good balance, be relaxed and squared
off to the plate.
* The pivot foot spikes should be in front of the rubber and
slightly open.
* The free foot should be slightly behind the pivot foot,
about shoulder width apart.
* The pitching hand and wrist should be held within the
glove, hiding the grip from others.
B. The Pump.
* The pitcher may use an overhead motion or compact
chest-high pump.
* If a pitcher has balance or coordination problems, use a
chest- high pump. There is less movement and fewer things to go wrong.
C. The Rocker Step.
* Take a soft, short step back with the free foot at about a
45 degree angle.
* For best balance, the head should stay over the pivot foot
and the center of the body.
D. The Pivot Foot.
* The pivot foot should be pivoted to a parallel position off
the front edge of the rubber.
* A RHP usually pitches from the right half of the rubber, a LHP from the left.
This helps the pitcher stride in a straight line to home plate and also
improves the angle of a breaking pitch from a RHP to a RHH and LHP to LHH in
the future.
E. Leg Lift.
* The lead leg knee should be lifted up, not kicked or swung
which puts many pitchers out of balance.
* Let the free foot hang straight down from the knee.
* Rotate the front hip closed. A RHP's knee should point to
3rd base, a LHP's to 1st.
* Keep the weight back over a straight, firm posting
leg to maintain balance.
* Do not allow the body to drift forward until the lead leg
reaches its maximum height and rotation (towards 1st or 3rd).
* A pitcher may lift his lead knee to his chest if he can
maintain good balance.
F. Hand Break.
* The hands should break between the letters and belt,
directly in the center of the chest, close to the body.
* The hands should break when the lead leg starts downward.
* The throwing hand should go down, back, the up in towards
the cocked position in a continuous motion, keeping the fingers on top of the
ball.
* The wrist is either in a neutral position (straight, with
forearm), or extended back slightly.
* The glove hand moves forward and upward toward the
hitter.
G. Lead-arm Action.
* Good lead-arm action helps proper shoulder alignment,
trunk arching, flexion and rotation.
* High glove action can be deceptive to the hitter.
* There are two basic methods of developing effective
lead-arm action:
1. Fire the glove and lead arm
toward the plate and following stride foot contract, violently whip the glove
and elbow down and back outside the lead hip. Do not allow the glove to go far
behind the lead hip.
2. Lead with the elbow right at the
plate and following stride foot contact, whip the elbow down and back outside
the lead hip.
* Both methods help to create trunk arching, horizontal
trunk rotation, and centrifugal forces of the upper body which generates arm
speed and ball velocity.
H. The Stride.
* As the stride leg lowers, the lead foot should move
downward (not swung out!) and slide just above the mound surface.
* The body should just glide forward.
* The pitcher should not push off until the stride foot has
landed, stabilizing the body.
* Technically, it is a pulling action of the hip flexors and
a pull of the back knee forward and inward rather that a push-off from the
rubber.
1. Stride Direction.
* Measure
from the ball of the pivot foot directly to home plate. The ball of the stride
foot should land within 1 or 2 inches across the midline. This position helps
keep the front side closed, yet does not prevent good hip and trunk rotation.
2. Stride Length.
* Measuring
from the front edge of the rubber to the toe of the stride foot, the length of
the stride should be the pitcher's height.
* A longer
stride is not a problem if the pitcher can get his head and shoulders over the
lead leg at the time of ball release.
3. Landing
Foot Position.
* The pitcher should land on the ball of the stride foot, or
flat footed.
* The toes should point slightly in a closed position (for a
RHP, 10 degrees towards the 3rd base foul line, or 1st base foul line for a
LHP).
* If the pitcher lands hard on the heel, the foot will
usually fly open which causes the hips and trunk to rotate too soon. It will
also cause the pitcher to get onto a stiff front leg too early which results in
a recoil action that puts him out of proper balance during the acceleration
phase. This negatively impacts control and velocity.
I. Transfer of Weight.
Nearly all pitchers have a problem with rushing their motion. Rushing means
that the body has moved forwards toward the plate too early, causing the arm
position to be too low at the time of stride foot contact and arm
acceleration.
* The weight is held back over the posting leg until the
lead leg starts downward (almost like "falling" forward).
* The lead foot comes downward a little more than shoulder
width apart and slides along the ground to the contact area.
* The upper body and head stays at the top center of the
widening triangle of the body.
* The body has only drifted, or "fallen" forward.
There is no major push or drive forward until the front foot has landed and
stabilized the body.
* Upon firm stride foot placement, the lead leg is flexed at
the knee at about a 135 degree angle.
* As the trunk is rotated to a squared off throwing
position, the lead leg starts to brace-up so there is a firm base, a firm front
side to rotate up against.
J. Rotational Forces of the Hips, Trunk and Shoulders.
* The bracing action of the lead leg stops the body from
continuing to move forward, allowing the hips, trunk and shoulders to generate
tremendous horizontal rotation and centrifugal forces which produce great arm
and hand speed, resulting in greater velocity.
* Many young pitchers, after foot contact, allow their lead
knee to stay flexed and actually continue to drift forward. This prevents good
rotational forces and causes a loss of power and velocity.
K. Trunk Extension to Flexion.
* As the high velocity pitcher moves to his maximum cocked
position, there is an arching of the spine. This becomes much more pronounced
as the trunk rotates, squaring off to the plate.
* The chest is thrust out and the spine arched back.
* Upon acceleration and release. the trunk springs from extension
to flexion and the head and shoulders come over a braced lead leg. This action
generates additional force, power and proper alignment.
L. Arm Action.
At this point in analyzing the pitching motion, let's focus only on the
throwing arm action. I sincerely believe this is one of the least studied and
discussed phases of pitching; yet is one of he most important aspects of
throwing a baseball. It is also a phase in which many improper techniques such
as wrist hooking, arm hooking, flailing behind the back, stiff arming, etc. can
occur and severely limit a pitcher's potential and performance. Again, through
the study of high speed video of professional, college and high school
pitchers, I have discovered common traits of high velocity successful pitchers,
and have seen common faults with pitchers who either cannot throw hard, have
control problems, or have experienced arm injuries.
In the following section, I will
cover only the techniques observed in high velocity successful pitchers. The
arm action begins with the hands breaking apart, so we must go back to that
point of the motion.
1. Hand Break.
* The hands should break between the letters and belt,
directly in the center of the chest, close to the body.
* The hands should break when the lead leg starts downward.
* The throwing hand should go down, back, then up in towards
the cocked position in a continuous motion, keeping the fingers on top of the
ball.
* The wrist is either in a neutral position (hand straight
with forearm), or extended back slightly.
* The glove hand moves forward and upward toward the
hitter.
2. Arm Path.
* The path of the throwing hand should go down, back, and up
in a continuous, controlled motion with the fingers staying on top of the ball.
* Some hard throwing pitchers "short-arm" the
backswing (never fully extend the arm). Most drop the hand to a near-full arm
extended position as it drops downward from the hand break. Both types of
pitchers flex the elbow early (reducing the arc of the cycle), allowing the
hand to get up into a high- cocked position quickly and efficiently.
* During the arm swing, the hand and arm should be generally
aligned with the body and shoulders (in a line between home plate and second
base).
* The arm should not flail behind the pitcher's back.
3. Early Cocking Position.
* Upon stride foot contact, the pitching hand should be
approximately cap high.
* The hand of a RHP will be slightly closer to third base
than the elbow.
* The hand and forearm should be extended back (towards
second base) slightly further than the elbow, with fingers on top of the ball.
4. Maximum Cocked
Position.
* At this point, the body is ready to rotate and square
off.
* The pitchers should have the ball cap high or higher, the
elbow at shoulder height, and the forearm nearly perpendicular to the ground
with the palm of a RHP facing the shortstop (a LHP's palm will face the second
baseman).
* The wrist is extended back slightly in a loaded
position.
==> Note: The flexibility of children's muscles will allow some to reach
more than 180 degrees backwards without pain. This is extremely dangerous when
repeated. Be sure your pitcher does not extend beyond 170 degrees when reaching
back.
5. Acceleration Phase.
* As the hips, trunk and shoulders rotate and square
off the plate, the shoulder externally rotates.
* The elbow leads forward.
* The forearm and hand then fires forward, coming outside of
the elbow (pointed away from the pitcher's head).
* The trunk goes from extension (arched back) to
flexion.
* The arm and hand accelerate to the release point.
6. Release Point.
* As the hand comes parallel to and crosses the trunk and
face, the wrist snaps from an extended back to a neutral position at
release.
* The fingers are behind and on top of the ball and angled
outward close to 45 degrees.
* The body flexes at the waist over a braced front
leg.
* Upon release, the hand will naturally pronate as the arm
starts to decelerate.
7. Deceleration of the
Arm.
* This is the time of great force and stress in the
posterior shoulder muscles. There should be a long, smooth continuous arc of
deceleration and a transfer of forces onto the major muscle groups of the trunk
and legs.
M. Follow Through (of the
body).
* The body weight is brought onto the braced lead leg and
the throwing shoulder should come down over the lead leg with the hand
finishing down outside the lead leg shin.
* Some pitchers may need to use a "jump-step" to
square off and control the body.
* The glove should be brought back in front of the body
quickly to protect the pitcher and help field his position.
N. Return Throw.
* To conserve energy and maintain a good visual perception
of the plate, a pitcher should back up on the mound while receiving the return
throw from the catcher.
* An accurate return throw allows the pitcher to maintain
his rhythm.
* A pitcher may not be on the rubber without the baseball,
or a balk may be called.
Faults and Techniques Common to Youth
Pitchers
(By Bill Thurston,
Pitching Consultant, ASMI)
Due to a lack of muscle and
skeletal strength, youth pitchers often use different throwing techniques than
a more mature (high school age) pitcher. It is important that coaches and
parents recognize and understand some of these differences and that they don't
expect or force the youth pitcher to attempt techniques and skills which is he
is physically incapable of performing. As he young pitcher gains strength, coordination
and balance, proper throwing techniques and skills should be taught and
practiced.
One of the major reasons that so
many high school and college players have major throwing problems and lack arm
strength and arm stamina is that they never threw enough during their formative
years, and never developed proper throwing mechanics. In the past, many young
pitchers learned proper techniques by trial and error. They learned what felt
good, learned which techniques were effective for them and just did a lot of
throwing on their own because it was fun to play catch. We have come to a point
now where throwing skills need to be taught and drilled because young players
don't do enough throwing on their own, or working on the game on their
own.
1. From the Wind-Up
Position:
A. Problems coordinating the legs and body with throwing arm
action.
1. Poor balance during the leg lift;
improper and early weight transfer forward (rushing).
2. Lead leg and hip doesn't close up
enough; therefore the front shoulder never closes properly.
B. Problems with the timing and action of the hands breaking
apart.
1. Hand breaks backward instead of
downward, causing the throwing arm to hesitate during the backswing and disrupt
the throwing sequence.
2. The pitching hand often stays
under (instead of on top) of the baseball.
3. Causes a short-arm (infielder's)
throwing action.
C. Stride Problems.
1. Short stride, landing on a stiff
leg.
2. Direction: Usually youth pitchers
stride open 2-3 inches since they don't have enough hip flexor and abdominal
muscle strength to properly rotate the trunk. This action adds a lot of stress
on the arm and shoulder.
D. Grip Problems.
1. Due to a lack of hand size,
finger length and grip strength.
E. Ball Release Problems.
1. Undercut the ball trying to
impart a side spin.
2. Throwing elbow and hand are too
low too far out to the side.
3. Lack of hand speed; they lead too
much with the elbow and shoulder, causing the hand to drag. This is probably
due to a lack of arm muscle strength as well as the front shoulder flying open
too early.
F. Follow-through Problems.
1. Recoil action of upper body and
arm due to: * Landing on a stiff leg. * Weak abdominal muscles preventing good
forward trunk flexion.
2. Short-arm follow-through
action.
3. Lack of balance throughout the
acceleration, release and follow-through phases.
G. Common Arm Injury Problems.
I personally believe that players
10-13 years old experience more elbow than shoulder injuries. At this age, the
bones have not fully developed and hardened and the ligaments are not as firmly
attached as they will be after puberty. Also, the arm muscles may not be
sufficiently developed to support and decelerate the throwing arm
properly.
Youth pitchers do not usually
generate enough force to cause injury to the larger shoulder muscles and
ligaments. Also, players at this age have great joint flexibility and range of
motion which may help to prevent injury.
Youth pitchers should not throw
breaking pitches because these pitches put more stress on the elbow joint than
the fastball or straight change. Encourage youth pitchers to develop their
fastball, control and change of speeds.
The earlier a pitcher can learn
proper mechanics and good throwing action, the better his chances are of
avoiding throwing arm injuries, plus he will be a more effective pitcher with
improved control and velocity.
The following specific technique
drills are useful as a reference guide for adjusting mechanical flaws. Each
drill isolates a specific technique within each phase of the pitching motion. A
pitcher with one or two flaws will benefit from careful attention with the
drill prescribed to correct the flaw.
Unusual techniques and
mechanical faults limit a pitcher's potential, performance, control, velocity,
and can lead to serious arm injury. You should try to identify the fault(s) and
what causes the problem(s). Once discovered, the fault(s) can be adjusted using
these drills.
These drills can also be used
when instructing first-year players. Since Farm League does not teach players
how to pitch, many of our first- year players enter Little League with no prior
pitching experience. They rely on the techniques they've learned for infielders
and outfielders (assuming they've learned anything there).
Each pitcher has his own set of
strengths and weakness. Generally speaking, pitchers tend to be weaker in some
areas, but rarely all. This is a convenience when developing pitchers, as they
don't need as much attention in all areas. Players should use all these drills,
but focus more on problem areas. For example, a player with good balance but
poor deceleration should do the balance drills once, but the deceleration
drills three or four times.
These drills are neither
time-consuming (about a minute each) or physically demanding (players can do
additional repetitions if needed unless otherwise noted). They are used to
develop "muscle memory" and to make the pitcher more conscious of his
delivery until it becomes second nature. This will only happen if the player
takes his time to do them correctly and if they are practiced daily. You may
encounter resistance, as the pitcher may feel "silly" doing these
pantomime motions off the field. Suggest he do these in a bedroom or another
private place. If your player does not do these drills every day, he will not
benefit from them! Your pitcher must be committed to these drills if he is to
make any significant progress.
After a couple of weeks of
drills, you should see definite improvement, however a great deal depends upon
where a pitcher started from. A player with poor mechanics will improve
greatly, while someone with good mechanics will be somewhat fine-tuned. These
drills take longer to correct an older player, as he has much more to
"unlearn" before he can pitch correctly. Be patient and reassuring to
avoid discouragement.
These drills are little more
than segmented portions of the pitching motion described earlier. Each drill is
designed to perfect that segment of the pitching motion. If you feel
comfortable in your understanding of the correct pitching motion, feel free to
add drills of your own within the context of what is being done. Remember,
however, that these drills are not strength and conditioning drills! It would
be dangerous to attempt strength and conditioning drills within these. If you
intend to use strength and conditioning drills, use an approved method
specifically designed for the muscle group, and be sure it has been approved
with children of Little League age. There are a great deal of weight-training
programs, however a child's muscular, skeletal and central nervous system vary
greatly from adults and even teens!
A. Wind-Up Balance Drill
Purpose: Teaches body control during rocker step, pivot and
leg lift. Helps prevent rushing the motion.
Drill:
1. Pitcher assumes his position
shortly before he pitches.
2. Pitcher takes a short, soft
rocker step.
3. Pitcher moves pivot foot to front
of rubber.
4. Pitcher continues into leg-lift
until thigh is parallel with ground (at belt height). 5. Pitcher balances on
posting leg for 5 seconds. Posting Leg must be firm and straight. Head must
stay right over pivot foot. Front hip should be closed (knee of lift leg
pointing to 3rd for RHP, 1st for LHP).
Repetitions: Repeat 10 times daily.
When done at home, pitcher should use mirror for front and side view.
B. Wall Drill Purpose:
Teaches pitcher to get balanced without moving forward
before lead leg starts downward. Helps prevent rushing the motion.
Drill:
1. Pitcher stands facing a wall or
fence about 1 foot away.
2. Pitcher assumes his position
shortly before he pitches.
3. Pitcher takes a short, soft
rocker step.
4. Pitcher moves pivot foot to front
of rubber.
5. Pitcher continues into leg-lift
until thigh is parallel with ground (at belt height).
6. Pitcher balances on posting leg
for 5 seconds. Posting Leg must be firm and straight. Head must stay right over
pivot foot. Front hip should be closed (knee of lift leg pointing to 3rd for
RHP, 1st for LHP).
7. If pitcher is in balance, he will
not move towards the wall or fence.
Repetitions: Repeat 10 times daily.
When done at home, pitcher should use mirror for front and side view.
C. Lead-Leg Action Drill
Purpose: To control forward weight shift with a
"drift" forward instead of a "lunge". To lead with a closed
foot instep, not an open foot.
Drill:
1. Work with a coach or
mirror.
Front
View:
a. Foot should lower while drifting towards home plate.
b. Should see the outside bottom of foot (opposite arch).
c. Only when foot makes contact does foot open (point towards plate, however it
should still stay closed 20 to 30 degrees).
d. Hip will open slightly on landing, but shoulder should remain closed.
Side
View:
a. Leg lowers with feet about shoulder-width apart. The foot should glide just
above the ground before making contact.
b. As the body drifts to a stabilized foot contact, the head should be centered
between lead and pivot feet.
c. The pivot foot rolls over with laces facing home plate.
d. Trunk rotation should begin at this point.
Repetitions: Repeat 10 times daily, more if necessary. After doing this drills,
do "Form Throw" (drill Q) while practicing technique.
D. Hand-Break and Lead-Arm
Action Drill
Purpose: Teaches timing and location of hand-break
(mid-body, between letters and belt). Teaches pitcher to break his throwing
hand downward with fingers on top of the baseball. Teaches pitcher to throw his
glove hand forward and whip it back and outside body to help trunk arching and
downward rotational momentum.
Drill:
1. Start in
hand-break position (hands together) with pivot foot parallel and in front of
rubber.
2. Break
pitching hand out of glove while throwing glove (or lead elbow) towards
hitter.
3. Get lead
arm and throwing arm in sequence (both upper arms parallel with shoulders).
4. Whip lead
elbow and glove down and back as trunk begins rotating.
Repetitions:
Repeat 10 times daily. Do not use baseball!
E. Arm Path Drill
Purpose: Teaches smooth down, back and up arm swing with
loose but controlled wrist and forearm. Teaches pitcher to keep his fingers on
top of baseball and get into high cocked position. Teaches keeping pitching
hand aligned with shoulders by flexing elbow while cocking arm.
Drill:
1. Put
pitcher in hand-break position, pivot foot parallel to rubber with a 3-4 foot
stride towards the plate.
2. Hands are
chest high, together in glove.
3. Coach
stands behind pitcher, taking his throwing hand by the wrist and breaks his
hand from the glove moving down, back and up to a high cocked position.
4. Check arm
path alignment, elbow flexion, fingers on top of baseball.
Repetitions:
Repeat 3 or 4 times with coach. Pitcher should 10 times daily.
F. Cocked Position to Acceleration
Phase Drill
Purpose: Teaches high hand position in the cocked position.
Teaches pitcher how to load up (extend) his wrist. Teaches how hip rotation
(angular velocity) is coordinated with the arm action.
Drill:
1. Start
pitcher in stride position, pivot foot on the rubber.
2. Hand
(with ball) is in a high cocked position with the palm of the hand facing the
SS.
3. Throw
from this cocked position by starting the wrist and moving through the
acceleration phase.
4. Rotate
the hips and shoulders to square off the body towards the plate. Work on trunk
extension.
5. Upon
release, work for good trunk extension to flexion and a long arc of
deceleration.
6. The
feeling of throwing "downward" is normal.
Repetitions:
Repeat 10 times daily, use as a warm-up throwing drill.
G. Kneeling Drill (Pivot Knee on
ground)
Purpose: Teaches feeling of trunk flexion over a flexed
front leg. Teaches good alignment with arm swing after ball release. Develops
forearm, wrist and hand speed. Develops correct arc of deceleration.
Drill:
1. Kneel on
pivot foot knee with stride foot in front, with knee flexed at 90 degree
angle.
2.
Square-off towards throwing partner, 20-30 feet away.
3. Start
with hands together, break normally and using pitching motion, throw
half-speed.
4. Use long
arc of deceleration so throwing arm swings outside bent knee
Repetitions:
Repeat for 10-15 throws after sufficiently warming-up. If necessary to repeat,
do other drills before repeating.
H. Back Fence Drill
Purpose: To check pitcher's arm path and alignment. To stop
pitcher from flailing arm behind his back.
Drill:
1. Place
pitcher's back facing wall, heels 6 inches from wall.
2. Pitcher
starts motion from centered hand-break position.
3. Throw
with normal arm action at half-speed.
4. If
pitcher has a proper arm path (down, back and up), the arm will move
freely.
5. If the
pitcher flails, his hand will hit the wall.
Repetitions:
Use this drill only with pitchers who flail their arm behind their back. Repeat
20 times.
Note: Pitcher may want to wear batting glove on throwing hand if against a
chain-link fence.
Purpose: To check the direction of pitcher's stride (should
be straight). To check length of stride (head and shoulders must be able to get
over front knee). To check stride leg knee flexion (approximately 135o
on landing). To check stride foot landing (slightly close, landing flat-
footed, not on heel).
Drill:
1. Mark a
straight line from the ball of the pitcher's pivot foot to the plate.
2. Have the
pitcher start in a wind-up or set position and go through his pitching
motion.
3. The
pitcher's stride foot should land on or within 2 inches of the line.
4. For
pitchers with a problem, put a towel over the improper landing spot, so pitcher
can concentrate on plate while "feeling" when he lands in the wrong
area.
Repetition:
Repeat 20 times. Can drill this during B.P.
J. Lead-Leg Bracing Drill
Purpose: To practice and feel lead leg from flexion to
extension. During acceleration and release phase, the lead knee should brace
the front side so the trunk may rotate against it.
Drill:
1. Starting
in kneeling position using proper arm action.
2. Pitcher
starts motion from centered hand-break position.
3. Throw
with normal arm action at half-speed.
4. As the
arm accelerates and nears the release point, brace (extend) the front leg and
bring the body up over the leg.
5. After
release, flex at the waist, bringing head and throwing shoulder down over the
braced front side.
Repetitions:
Repeat 5-10 times without baseball, 10-15 times throwing.
K. Pivot-Foot Rollover
Drill
Purpose: To teach pitchers to release the hips into the
pitch by rolling over their pivot foot. To teach pitchers that their pivot foot
comes forward even before releasing pitch.
Drill:
1. Put
pitcher in a stride position with pivot foot still parallel and in contact with
rubber.
2. Pitching
hand is in high cocked position.
3.
Coordinate the arm action with the roll-over of the pivot foot (without
releasing ball).
4. Pitcher
should feel the hips and shoulders rotate and square off. The lead leg should
stay flexed (instead of stiffening too early).
Repetitions:
Repeat 10-15 times daily.
L. Back Knee Drive Drill
Purpose: To teach pitcher to drive pivot leg knee forward
and inward after stride foot lands. This technique increases angular velocity
of hips (a major source of power in pitching). Proper hip rotation allows
pitcher to square off to plate which places arm path at the proper angle.
Drill:
1. Pitcher
throws one-third-speed with an easy motion.
2. As the
stride foot lands, the pitcher pulls pivot leg forward with hip flexors.
3. Note:
This will bring pitcher up on a straight stride leg with trunk flexion which is
not a good technique (which is why pitchers should never throw full or even
half speed!)
Repetitions:
Repeat 15-20 throws daily. Do other drills before repeating.
M. Hip Rotation Drill (Front
Pocket to Back Pocket)
Purpose: To teach proper hip rotation in leg lift position
(closing front side, hips and shoulders). To teach proper hip rotation during
pitching motion forward.
Drill:
1. Coach (or
mirror) in front of pitcher.
2. Pitcher
takes full wind-up and at leg lift, look to see front hip pocket.
3. Using
normal pitching motion, on follow through, look to see back hip pocket.
Repetition:
Repeat 10 times in front of mirror, 10 times throwing at half-speed.
N. Hand Speed Drill (Flat-foot
technique)
Purpose: To increase throwing hand speed (which will
increase velocity) To drill proper arm path To develop good wrist action
Drill:
1. Be sure
pitcher is warmed-up!
2. Have
pitcher face catcher with stride foot forward approx. 2-3 feet forward.
3. Pitcher
and catcher should be 30 feet apart.
4. Pitcher
starts with hands together in front of body.
5. Break the
hands properly while keeping feet in place.
6. Rotate
the hips and shoulders back as hand comes into high cocked position.
7. Come out
of high cocked position into the acceleration phase quickly and hard.
Repetitions:
Repeat 12-15 times every other day,or two days after last pitching assignment,
whichever is later.
O. Arm Deceleration Drill
Purpose: To develop proper arm extension and path during a
long smooth arc of deceleration. Practice bringing the throwing shoulder over
the lead leg. To regain good glove position to protect himself defensively.
Drill:
1. Use a
coach or mirror in front of pitcher.
2. Use
"slow motion" pitching motion (without a baseball).
3. With a
proper follow through, coach (or player looking into mirror) should be able to
see the top, back of the throwing shoulder.
4. The arm
should end up outside the lead leg.
5. 90% of
the pitcher's body weight should be on stride leg.
6. A pitcher
may bounce-step (crow how) with the stride foot to regain balance for
fielding.
Repetition:
Repeat 10-12 times daily.
P. Return to Rubber
Technique
Purpose: Teaches pitcher to conserve time and energy between
pitches. Teaches pitcher to maintain visual and mental focus of the
plate.
Drill:
1. After
throwing a pitch which has not been hit, start backing up (facing the
plate).
2. Catch the
return throw while backing up.
3. Relax,
take a deep breath, then toe the rubber and get sign.
4. With no
runners on base, 8-10 seconds between pitches is a comfortable rhythm.
5. With
runners on base, 12-15 seconds between pitches is a comfortable rhythm.
Note: In
youth leagues which do not allow leads, pitcher should stay in 8-10 second
rhythm.
Repetitions:
Practice this during BP, while warming up, or doing off- day throwing.
Q. Form Throwing Drill
Purpose: Teaches pitcher to focus on specific techniques
within his motion without worrying about control. Also, a pitcher can perform
many repetitions without fatigue.
Drill:
1. Throw
into fence or net from a 10-15 foot distance at half or quarter speed.
2.
Concentrate on one technique at a time (hand break, lead-arm action,
etc.)
Repetition:
Repeat 15-20 times while working on each technique, with a maximum or 50-60
throws.
R. Long-Toss Throwing
Program
Purpose: Stretch and strengthen throwing muscles of
shoulder, arm and back. Strengthen and increase stamina of arm and shoulder
muscles. To develop better hand and arm speed to increase velocity.
Drill:
1. Jog and
stretch. Throw short distances to warm-up.
2. Get into
outfielder's stance (to catch fly ball).
3. Use an
outfielder's crow-hop to gain momentum.
4. Throw
overhand or 3/4 (never sidearm!)
5. Use
proper lead-arm action (throw glove at target).
6. Get full
extension of the arm at target.
7. Flex at
waist during release.
8. Finish
with a long, full arc of deceleration of the throwing arm. Hand should end up
outside lead leg.
9. Throws
should be "line-drives", not upwards.
10. If
player cannot reach full distance, continue throwing straight and let the ball
bounce.
11. Follow
through with body. Transfer arm and shoulder forces into body and legs.
Repetitions:
1. Start throwing 45 feet apart.
2. After 4-5 accurate throws, back up to 50, 60, etc.
3. When pitcher reaches maximum distance, throw 5 at 3/4 effort 5 at 90%
effort, 5 at 100%.
4. Cool down by tossing easy at 30-40 feet.
Note: If a pitcher feels early fatigue, shoulder or back strain, stop him from
throwing. A pitcher may have to do a modified long-toss program at shorter
distances and fewer repetitions to build up arm strength and stamina before a
full long-toss program.
Teaching a curve or slider to a
Little League pitcher is an invitation to disaster. The stresses and injuries
have been documented, yet there are still many ignorant coaches who condone and
even encourage their use. The blame for the resulting injuries falls
exclusively on these individuals, as they have blatantly disregarded the trust
placed in them by children, parents and fellow coaches. I consider this act to
be a violation of the trust parents and children place in us as coaches to
watch out for the child's best interests.
The greatest irony to this is
that most children do not have large enough hands to make breaking pitches
truly effective. Using different grips, a pitcher can get almost as much
movement on his fastball without endangering his arm and without any
alterations to his delivery. Furthermore, since they are only minor variations
from the true fastball, pitchers will not struggle to gain control of the
pitches. If your pitcher can throw a fastball for a strike, he can learn these
variations without much difficulty.
1. Four-Seam
Fastball. The four-seam fastball has the highest velocity, but has less
movement, which makes it marginally easier to control. A RHP's four-seam
fastball will move slightly in to a RHH. It is especially effective against
hitters who swing late. This should be your "challenge" pitch when it
is power against power. The ball is gripped across the wide (horseshoe) seams
with the pointer and middle finger pads (the lower half of the fingertips, just
below the swirl in the fingerprint), not the fingertips. The RHP's middle
finger will be closer to the seam curve. If the pitcher's hand is too small,
you can move the ring finger to a 2 o'clock position for better grip. The top
fingers should be in the 11:00 and 1:00 position (approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of an
inch apart). To improve movement, move the fingers closer together, to improve
control, further apart. The thumb is placed directly underneath the baseball
(at the 6:00 position). The ring finger is bent towards the palm, the ball
rests on the second knuckle for balance. The ball is held shallow in the palm
(it should not touch the fleshy part of the palm). The grip should be firm but
not tight (approximately as tight as you would hold a tomato). The wrist and
forearm muscles must be loose and relaxed.
2. Two-Seam Fastball. The
two-seam fastball does not have the velocity of the four- seam, however it has
more movement. A RHP's two-seam fastball will move down and away from a RHH. It
is especially effective against pull hitters. Because of the downward motion,
it can lead to pitches in the dirt if underthrown. Your catcher should be ready
for this pitch. The ball is gripped parallel and on top of the narrow seams
with the pointer and middle finger pads (the lower half of the fingertips, just
below the swirl in the fingerprint). The top fingers should be in the 11:00 and
1:00 position (approximately 1/2" to 3/4" apart). To improve
movement, move the fingers closer together, to improve control, further apart.
The thumb is placed directly underneath the baseball (at the 6:00 position).
The ring finger is bent towards the palm, the ball rests on the second knuckle
for balance. The ball is held shallow in the palm (it should not touch the
fleshy part of the palm). The grip should be firm but not tight (approximately
as tight as you would hold a tomato). The wrist and forearm muscles must be
loose and relaxed.
3. "Cut" Fastball. The
"cut" fastball offers better horizontal motion, however is much
harder to control. It has less velocity than the two- seam fastball, but more
than the no-seam. The motion is determined by the thumb position, however there
is very little room for error. It is thrown exactly like the two-seam fastball,
however the thumb is moved in either direction. It should be used very
carefully if there are runners, because this fastball is most likely to skip to
the backstop. Move the thumb from the 6:00 position away from the side where
you want break (a pitcher moving his thumb to his right will make the ball
break to the left and vice versa). When you look at this grip, you will see a
"fat" side of the baseball. That is the direction the ball will move.
Note: Not many youngsters have hands large enough to throw the cut fastball
effectively. Velocity and control will decrease significantly when this pitch
is attempted by someone with smaller hands.
4. No-Seam Fastball. The no-seam
fastball (also known as a "Little League Sinker") has the least
velocity of the fastball family, however it has the greatest movement. A RHP's
no-seam fastball will move more down and slightly away from a RHH. It is
especially effective against power hitters, who will rarely be able to get
under the ball to drive it, and will instead ground it somewhere. Because of
the downward motion, it is the hardest to control and will often lead to
pitches in the dirt. It should only be used with an experienced catcher when
baserunners are not able to advance. The ball is gripped parallel and between
the narrow seams with the pointer and middle finger pads (the lower half of the
fingertips, just below the swirl in the fingerprint), not the fingertips. If
the pitcher's hand is too small, you can move the ring finger next to the other
two for better grip. The top fingers should be touching. The thumb is placed
directly underneath the baseball (at the 6:00 position). The ring finger is
bent towards the palm, the ball rests on the second knuckle for balance. The
ball is held shallow in the palm (it should not touch the fleshy part of the
palm). The grip should be firm but not tight (approximately as tight as you
would hold a tomato). The wrist and forearm muscles must be loose and
relaxed.
The change-up is perhaps the
most misunderstood and poorly used pitch. Ironically, it can be the most
effective pitch when used properly. A good change-up will also keep a hitter
from getting too aggressive, and when used by a pitcher with above-average
velocity, becomes a potent weapon.
The largest myth to dispel is
that the change-up is only effective when it is missed. While that is the best
case scenario, it is very effective to inducing weak contact when it catches
the hitter off guard. Furthermore, it prevents the hitter from "sitting on
the fastball".
The second largest myth to
dispel is that it is a good strike-out pitch. On the contrary, it is much more
effective as a setup pitch. The fastball sets up the change, and the change
sets up the fastball. This complimentary relationship is terribly
misunderstood.
This being said, the change-up
should not be thrown when:
* There is likely to be a steal attempt.
* On 3-2, 2 out situations.
* Generally on 2 strike situations (most hitters will
shorten up to make contact).
* On inside-out or controlled swingers.
* On weak hitters. Bury weak hitters, don't do them any
favors.
* Immediately after another change-up.
The best time to use a change-up
are when:
* Facing a big-swinging, aggressive hitter.
* When the batter is ahead in the count (1-0, 2-0 or
2-1) or anytime he is trying to "muscle up".
* Pull hitters or hitters swinging in front of
pitches.
* You want to setup another fastball.
The change-up is an easier pitch
to control, because you are throwing at 80% velocity. Furthermore, the ring
finger around the outside edge of the ball gives greater stability.
* Don't set the grip until the hand is hidden in the
glove!
* The ball is gripped across the wide (horseshoe) seams
(just like the four-seam fastball).
* The fingertips are raised slightly, and the finger
pressure is between the first and second joints (on players with smaller hands,
it may be difficult to raise the fingers, instead simply make sure they are not
gripping the ball with the fingertips or finger pads).
* The ball is held deeper in the palm, barely touching the
fleshy part of the palm.
* The top three fingers should be between 1/4 to 1/2"
apart.
* The thumb is placed directly underneath the baseball (at
the 6:00 position).
* The little finger is bent towards the palm, the ball rests
on the second knuckle for balance.
* The grip should be firm but not tight (approximately as
tight as you would hold a tomato).
* The wrist and forearm muscles must be loose and
relaxed.
* It is thrown exactly like a fastball, except as the ball
is released, raise the top three fingers.
* Instead of pulling forward in the stride, pull forward and
SLIGHTLY downward (this should take something off the pitch without tipping off
the batter).
The previous section was based
on information from the American Sports Medicine Institute. The information is
not merely opinion, but scientific fact. Deviating from these principles will
eventually catch up to a pitcher, whether it is an arm injury, or simply not
making the cut because of control or velocity difficulties. Teaching your
pitchers to throw properly (despite objections by players and in some cases
parents) benefits everyone in the long run.
The following section deals
specifically with Little League restrictions, coaching strategies and personal
observation. I firmly believe that these strategies have made a difference in
the development of my pitchers. Four of my former pitchers in "B"
have gone on to pitch in the "A" division All-Star game over the past
three years. Over the past two years, my "B" division team lost only
one game by more than four runs.
As I've stated before, coaching
is teaching. The following page contains information which should be taught to
a promising pitcher. This advice will give your pitcher a mental edge that should
result in greater confidence on the mound. Furthermore, it starts the pitcher
down the path towards the "inside" game. Remind your pitcher of it
before each game until he/she memorizes it. In the early stages of a season
(especially with a rookie pitcher), I have drilled these tips with my pitchers
between innings. As excessive as it sounds, the constant reminders reinforce
your practices.
You will also find advice for
devising a pitching rotation, the importance of monitoring pitchers, and ways
to spot a tiring pitcher an inning before giving up runs. While a pitching
rotation may seem too complicated a concept for Little League, it does your
players a service. Pitchers can rest on game day, they can invite parents and
friends to games, and most importantly, they will understand that their role on
the team.
Monitoring a pitcher is
exceptionally important, but unfortunately is the most often overlooked
coaching responsibility. It means additional work (pitch counts and close
scrutiny). As Clint Eastwood once said, "A man's got to know his
limitations." You cannot expect 10-year olds to figure this out on their
own.
Finally, spotting a tiring
pitcher before he/she gives up runs is often the difference between victory and
defeat. Earl Weaver had two very important philosophies which every baseball
coach should memorize :
ù The winning team usually scores more runs in one inning
than the opponent does in the entire game (the "big inning" theory).
If you can prevent your opponent's big inning, you'll win a lot more than
you'll lose.
ù Never leave a player in a position where he is more likely
to fail than succeed. (A tired pitcher is a prime candidate for giving up the
aforementioned "big inning"). A pitcher is far less embarrassed
leaving an inning too early than leaving an inning too late. To put it another
way, "When it doubt, take him out."
1. Pitching Inside
Pitchers (especially young
pitchers) are reluctant to throw inside to hitters out of fear that they will
hit them. They don't want to risk hurting them, and they also know that they'll
be standing in the batter's box soon. The only way to overcome this fear is to
help the pitcher develop confidence in his control so that he feels can throw
inside when he needs to. If a pitcher cannot pitch inside, his effectiveness is
very limited.
Teach the pitcher to focus on
the area between the knees and hips. There is a larger margin of error there. A
pitcher throwing higher can hit the arm, elbow or head.
A pitcher can not worry about
hitting the batter. The batter must watch out for himself.
A pitcher with a good fastball
will be far more effective inside than a pitcher with an average or
below-average fastball.
A good fastball pitcher should
throw inside about 25% of the time.
2. When to pitch Inside or
Outside
When ahead in the count, pitch
inside, since the batter is more defensive and may wait longer with an
inside-out swing.
When behind in the count,
pitching on the outside 1/3 of the plate. The hitter will probably be overswinging,
trying to pull the ball.
On an 0-2 count, pitch low and
away. There are far fewer mistakes made there.
If your pitcher doesn't throw
hard, don't pitch inside for strikes. Pitch inside to brush the hitter back and
to set up the outside edge.
3. Change Location
After throwing a strike, don't
repeat the same speed and same location. The hitter has just seen that one, and
will be able to recognize it sooner.
After throwing a ball, you can
repeat the same area for a strike. The hitter is likely to give up on the pitch
sooner.
4. Change Speeds
Change speeds on the best
hitters (big swingers). They gear themselves up for fastballs
Don't change speeds on weak
hitters. Bury them!
Make certain you get these
hitters out. The best hitters will get their share of hits anyway.
Don't change up with 2 strikes
on a hitter! They are using their protective swing and a change-up is easier to
hit with this type of swing.
Destroy a hitter's timing and
you destroy his effectiveness and usually his aggressiveness.
If your pitcher can keep the
opponent's top hitters off base, it will have a devastating psychological
effect on the remaining hitters.
5. Mental Process
Visualize your target.
Concentrate on hitting the target.
DON'T FEAR FAILURE! Think positive.
The pitcher is the boss.
Relax between pitches. Take a
deep breath, but stay focused on pitching.
Know the hitter. Does this
batter swing at the first pitch? Does he try to pull everything? Does he swing
for contact or power?
Know the game situation. Where
are the runners? Who is the tying and winning run? Which throw are you going to
back up on a single?
In a jam, use your pitcher's
best pitch. It's frustrating to lose with your best pitch, but it's even worse
to lose on your worst pitch.
Keep your pitcher in emotional
and mental control. Baseball is the most individualistic team sport, which
means more pressure. These are children who may not have the maturity to deal
with frustration and disappointment.
Pitchers should start learning
to throw inside to hitters as soon as possible. A pitcher's life expectancy
decreases as you move down the bat. This is especially useful for pitchers with
substandard velocity. Inside pitches, even if slower, result in fewer line
drives.
If your pitcher does not have
the confidence to throw consistent strikes, position a coach in each batter's
box and have the pitcher throw 20-30 pitches, working up to "game"
velocity. A young pitcher will be less nervous with adults standing in the
batter's boxes. As the pitcher improves, instruct the coaches to "
crowd" the plate on one side, then the other, and finally both. When you
get weak hitters on an 0-2 count, go right after them. Help yourself keep your
pitch count down.
When you get strong hitters on
an 0-2 count, throw "your" strike (the pitch you want them to hit)
that is off the plate, but not necessarily a ball.
A hitter in a low crouch usually
cannot reach a high fastball,but can handle low pitches.
A hitter with an upright stance
usually cannot hit a low fastball for power, but can handle pitches up in the
strike zone.
A pitcher should always be
prepared to handle bunts, especially against weak-hitting teams, or teams that
have been shut down for most of the game.
A batter taking "defensive
swings" can usually be struck out on high pitches.
Foot position for batter are a
tip-off for where a hitter is trying to hit, and what he is expecting:
* With two strikes, batters are more likely to use a
"contact swing".
* A batter trying to hit to the opposite field should be
pitched inside.
* A batter trying to pull the ball should be pitched
outside.
* Watch for a change in foot position between pitches!
A batter chasing a high pitch
will probably do so again, but not necessarily on the next pitch. If a batter
chases, throw another high one. If he/she doesn't go for it, return to the
strike zone, but remember that it could be an option later in the game,
especially if the pitcher is ahead 0-2 or 1-2 and it is a clutch
situation.
A pitcher who throws mostly
strikes can sometimes fall victim to hitters relying on him being around the
plate with pitches. Sometimes it is a good idea for this type of pitcher to
throw pitches "just outside". If the umpire calls it a strike, move a
little further away from the hitter until the limit is reached. If a batter
does manage to make contact, it is less likely going to be a hard shot.
Dominant pitchers should
practice fielding bunts. For weaker hitters, this may be their only way to
reach base.
Pitchers shouldn't be distracted
by runners bluffing a steal once the pitcher has the ball. Walk to the mound,
toe the rubber and make the runner commit. If the runner continues to dance,
ask the umpire for "time". Once the runners see this doesn't rattle
the pitcher, they'll usually stop. The pitcher does NOT have to pitch
immediately after the batter steps into the box. In a tight situation, have
your pitcher wait for the batter to get into his stance then pause an extra 2-3
seconds before starting his delivery. This slight break in tempo (providing it
isn't overused) can break the hitter's concentration.
The strike zone is what the
umpire says it is. Don't expect him to change it to suit your style. Find his
strike zone and pitch to it.
Little League Pitching Eligibility
To figure out a pitcher's
eligibility, look up the number of innings he/she has pitched down the left
column. Move across to the day of the week he/she pitched, and where the 2
points meet, that is the pitcher's next eligible date. This chart assumes the
player has innings of eligibility remaining in the current week! For example, a
10-year old pitching 3 innings on a Sunday would meet the rest requirements to
pitch Thursday, however he/she would have already used his/her eligibility up
for the week.
10 Year Olds
|
IP |
SUN |
MON |
TUE |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
SAT |
|
1-2 |
TUE |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
SAT |
SUN |
MON |
|
3 |
THU* |
FRI* |
SAT* |
SUN |
MON |
TUE |
WED |
* This pitcher has
depleted his/her eligibility for the week.
11 Year Olds
|
IP |
SUN |
MON |
TUE |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
SAT |
|
1-2 |
TUE |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
SAT |
SUN |
MON |
|
3 |
THU |
FRI |
SAT |
SUN |
MON |
TUE |
WED |
For the examples below, except
the following conditions:
Players #1 and #2 are 11 years old.
Players #3 and #4 are 10 years old.
Situation:
A Saturday game, player #1 pitches 4 innings, pl