Finding High School Programs That Embrace The NPA

I forgot to mention ... Millbrook High School in Winchester, VA. As long as Bo Bundrick is their Head coach, you will have a super pitching coach who is rooted in NPA mechanics and methods.

Did you ask this on the NPA's forums?

You might find an NPA-certified instructor in your area here and they might know of high schools in your area that follow the NPA model.

Very good suggestion. I have posted a request for help on the NPA forum, but answers have been slow in returing. I thought we might find a larger audience of people who could add to this discussion on this site. I'll be happy to share any answers I get from the NPA forum as well.

Poor wording on my part. I wasn't suggesting that you post over on the NPA forums. Rather, I am a member on the NPA website and I saw the same question posted over there so I was wondering if that was you. Sorry for the confusion.

One reasonable way to start looking for a HS program, college program, or private instruction, that incorporates NPA training/conditioning methods is to look on the listings on the NPA certified coaches page:

http://www.nationalpitching.net/certified.asp?

There are something like 200 coaches with current NPA certification. They are located throughout the country and many of them are HS coaches.

Thanks for the link. I looked it up and found my sons future HS coach is a member. Now I will spend some time reading up on the program.
Thanks again.

D-man,

That's very cool for your son. His future coach has been trained well--you can count on that. Any chance his future coach might be Joe McDonald? If "yes" your son is lucky indeed...Joe's high school program in AZ is excellent.

Five years ago, after studying the vast and often contradictory pitching literature for a year or so, I got hooked on the NPA by reading "The Picture Perfect Pitcher" by House and Reddick. Like the name implies, this book relies heavily on analytical pictures of elite pitchers to illustrate the NPA's central points about mechanics. It is written simply and clearly, and is a great introduction to the NPA's core ideas.

For recent information with lots of detail, "The Art and Science of Pitching" is a very good book out of the NPA.

quote:

Originally posted by laflippin:
Any chance his future coach might be Joe McDonald? If "yes" your son is lucky indeed...Joe's high school program in AZ is excellent.

The entire coaching staff at Joe's school (Boulder Creek High School) is trained, I believe. Other possibilities would include Cactus High and Kellis High. Not sure beyond that.

This is great ... this is excatly the type of conversation I was hoping to spark. You guys out West have an advantage over us in the East, in that you have more NPA-centric Coaches. The tough part is finding the High School programs that have embraced the NPA mechanics, mindset, and training. Keeping the good information coming. There are a lot of young Pitchers out here who can benefit from your knowledge. Thank You!

USC Trojans website just posted an interview with their pitching coach, Tom House, as well as Orel Herhiser and his son Jordan.

http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/usc-m-basebl-body.html

If the link doesn't work properly, just google "USC Baseball" and you can find their website easily.

quote:

The entire coaching staff at Joe's school (Boulder Creek High School) is trained, I believe. Other possibilities would include Cactus High and Kellis High. Not sure beyond that.

Rich Warnol, head coach at Pinnacle is also a member. Go Pioneers.

rugger5- I am so excited to hear that your son uses the NPA method/mechanics of pitching. My son wants to start pitching for his high school program, however, my husband is apprehensive about our son pitching because of possible injury. I found the NPA website, but I did not know of anyone in my area who was familiar with NPA. Your comments make me confident that our son should get training from the NPA. Did you send your son to a NPA camp or did you find a NPA certified coach in your area?

Calsportsmom -- To answer your questio -- Both. When my son got interested in Pitching, we found a local coach (Bo Bundrick in Winchester, VA) who had a great reputation for training young pitchers. We came to find out that Bo has been a collegiate coach, who chose to return to HS coaching, and he is a great teacher.

Bo started teaching my son the NPA mechanics, and instructing us both in some of the research that backs it up. From there, we joined the NPA to learn more; bought the books and DVD's; read the great research reports; and kept training with Bo.

In '06 & '07 Coach House (NPA Founder) brought his NPA Camp to metro Washington, and WE went. The camps are terrific. We have taken the online course on the NPA website (also great), and my son continues to train with Bo.

The results ... He has become a top pitcher on every team he has played for in recent years. He even performed well as a young freshman on his Varsity team this spring (without a blazing fastball). Most important, he is having fun, building a great deal of self-confidence, and has shown no signs of arm trouble.

My advice to you, or any parent of an aspiring pitcher:

-- Join the NPA, and begin reading

-- Take the NPA online course with your player, it is a terrific primer

-- Find an NPA Coach in your area for camps and private instruction (see their website)

-- Attend NPA camps when they come to your area (by the way, the NPA is in San Diego, and Coach House is on the USC staff, so check out USC camps as well)

-- Caution: you will learn a great deal about why many of the conventional wisdoms on Pitching are not correct, and can contribute to injury. 99% of the Coaches out there are rooted in these conventional wisdoms. Both you and your player need to be ready to defend what he is learning.

I know I sound like a pitch man for the NPA (pun intended). That is not the case. It has just been something that has worked well for my son, and the kids I have coached. All the best.

rugger5- Thanks so much for the info. I showed my husband the NPA website and he was impressed with what he saw. I have already sent an email to NPA. They will find an a NPA certified coach in my area We will also order the online course and look into the USC camps

Good luck to you and your player! Check out LAFlippin's note above, for a link to the NPA certified coaches. If your player runs into a southpaw from Virginia at a USC camp, tell him to say hello. He could be my son, who is hoping to get out there this year or next.