Do your pitcher's practice pitching?

Your pitchers should be throwing bullpens on their days to throw them to keep the arm healthy and to work on their pitching. Our pitchers always throw bullpens and workout on their off days. They get some instruction but for the most part they do it on their own- the coach tells them to go throw a bullpen and they do it. Each one along with the catchers know what they need to work on in their bullpens.

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Wednesday startes throw bullpens on Monday as well as any relievers. If we did not need a reliever on Wednesday they can throw an optional light bullpen on Thursday Fridays pitchers throw bullpens on Tuesdays. Every day Pitchers will work on Mechanics of pitching. The older I have gotten I have realized that pitchers are our best athletes and it makes more sense to have them focus on pitching that fielding fly/ground balls and making throws. They do get defensive work but as the season progresses, at least with our top 3, we gear back on the amount of balls they throw in practice.

We play Tue-Fri-(some)Sat once the tournaments are over with. In addition to bullpens, I always try to have the guys that didn't throw Tuesday (and are not slated to start Friday) throw live "scrimmage" action on Wednesday. Unfortunately this year, the weather has not cooperated. Today will be the first time in over a month that we can do that.

As far as being with them during the bullpens, I am with them and let my assistants run everything else while I am. The pitchers may miss whatever we are doing on the field during their bullpen (BP or individual defense is when I schedule them), but they have to get it in!

The next side bullpen one of our team's pitchers throws will be the first.

That is the number one reason for most arm injuries in High School. No real pre season throwing program and No consistent In season program. Lack of strength and conditioning. Especially in cold weather States It is amazing to me that there isn't more arm injuries on top of what is already to many. There is no excuse for not getting in focused bullpens along with proper rest and recovery. There is enough information and programs out there that there is no reason that any High School Coach in America can't get info on how to set up a rotation and throwing program.

My sons school JV/Varsity practice together....they might work pitchers once and its unsupervised...so really not good instruction...I think its the cause of his elbow injury right now...He pitched every single JV game....throwing 3 complete games and 2 games coming in with 1 or 2 outs in the 1st inning and finishing the game...he rarely threw on off days...his last JV game he threw a complete game and afterwards his elbow hurt and was called up to varsity and hasnt been able to do anything since he was called up...He tells me they call 2 or 3 curveballs per batter...He is a lefty with great movement so I see no real need for all the curves...He isnt over powering with the fastball but throws outs and strikes...sadly another pitcher who was used the same as him pitched JV and varsity steadily lost velocity as the season went on, complained of arm pain, they kept pitching him, finally he goes to Dr after a month of pain and has torn ligaments in shoulder...I am gonna have a herd time letting my kid play for them next year...thankfully he is on a great showcase team, with former major league pitcher as coach