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Reply to "How often should a HS freshman throw"

It is difficult to handle pitchers in HS, especially at the freshman level where players usually haven't been singled out as pure pitchers yet.

The key for coaches is a throwing plan that balances bullpens with infield throwing, and with games. Too often in HS a pitcher will throw significant innings one day and then be making 50 or more full effort throws across the infield the next day in practice when the most he should be doing is playing light catch.

If a player wants to pitch there has to be some willingness to sacrifice practice time at a position and along with that the possibility that someone else will earn the position.

The other thing that is important for coaches at at levels of HS ball is to establish as regular a rotation as possible (easier said than done) so that pitchers can plan their throwing, bullpens, pitching lessons, etc. in advance. Of course pitchers have to realize that their first responsibility is to the team and that scheduling a pitching lesson or throwing a long pen the day before a game where there's any chance they'll be needed to pitch is irresponsible.

As a former pitcher my approach is to schedule everything the pitchers do around their pitching and bullpens at the expense of their throwing time at their other position(s). That doesn't mean they can't still take grounders without making the long throws, etc.
Last edited by CADad
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