12 year old curveball

my opanion is that anyone under 14 shoukd not throw a curve, if your any younger you could wreck your arm throwing a curve

I totally agree, no earlier than 14. Do you want to be a great 12yo pithcer, or do you want to be a great HS or beyond pitcher. Why take the risk.

I have met 2 scouts that don't even scout pitchers, they scout outfielders with the strongest arms. They would rather teach them how to pitch themselves. Now I know this is the exception more than the rule, but still a thought provoker (if that is a word) .

Number One I do not believe in curveballs at that age

Number two when you learn to throw it at LL distance you then have to relearn when you get to the HS distance of 60-6

It seems strange to me how most coaches I talk to face-to-face are always able to justify 11 & 12 y/o throwing curveballs if thrown properly. Not only do they justify it, but almost require it to be thrown by these kids (albeit in "moderation").

Yet almost everyone that posts on the internet (not just here, either), are vehemently opposed to any kind of breaking ball before the age of 16 or so.

Not to imply that anyone here is that way, but I think there are a good percentage of folks who are NOT concerned with kids arms, but like people to think they are.

Irishdad

Talk to any ortho doc about 12 years olds and curveballs and arm stress and see what they tell you

You do not need ot be a rocket scientist to get the point


As for not being concerned with kids arms I think you are off base in you assumption

You misunderstand....
I agree that curveballs hurt kids arms, and I am all for some sort of league legislation to curtail their use (for whatever league kids participate in).

What I am saying is that there are coaches out there that practice one thing,m then preach another under the auspices of the internet's anonymity. Additionally I was not referring to anyone on this particular board. I have just been to many little league, pony, USSSA, triplecrown, etc.. events (that I am sure you and many others on this board have been to as well), and I was commenting on the contradiction that 90%+ of 11 & 12 y/o pitchers I have seen offer up a curveball or some variation thereof, while at the same time, I see virtually nobody posting or commenting on the internet that this practice is OK.