New to Board Need pitching Help

quote:

Originally posted by ASUFan:
My son is 15 and a freshman in HS. He starting working out this week with the HS coach for his JV team. He has NEVER had arm issues. When we threw tonight he said he has soreness in his tricep muscle but no shoulder pain and elbow pain. Am I to be alarmed? (Another friend who pitches has the same)

Soreness isn't necessarily bad, especially if you're just starting up. However, pain is bad.

Where exactly is the soreness? Down by the elbow or in the middle of the muscle?

quote:

Originally posted by ASUFan:
I have heard rumors about the HS coach and pitcher problems so I spoke with him on Sunday and he insists that the last years pitching problems has been the result of the kids also playing football and there injuries.

I would watch this guy. He could be over-using his pitchers or teaching them problematic mechanics.

quote:

Originally posted by ASUFan:
1Am I to be alarmed about the soreness?

Only if it doesn't go away.

quote:

Originally posted by ASUFan:
2 His only strength training was this http://www.asmi.org/sportsmed/throwing/thrower10.pdf

Is this good for a 15 year old and what about his lower body?

This is a good, safe program.

quote:

Originally posted by ASUFan:
Can someone recommend something that is easy to follow.

I would have him do something that works the muscles of his abdomen, particularly the muscles that rotate the abdomen. That can range from sit-ups to crunches to Pilates.

The idea is to build core strength.

sounds like he just started lifting weights. his body will probably be sore the day after lifting weights but in a week or two the soreness should go down.

Approaching the coach about his dubious past based on rumours because your son has a sore tricept is a questionable move. Hope your son has an understanding coach. This is the result of the pitching paranoia that parents have acquired over miss information.

They have not lifted at all. It has only been two practices on his pitching philosophy. Which he stated "we are a curveball team"

ASUfan coach

quote:

"we are a curveball team"

Does the coach have a big red nose, a red fro, and size 35 shoes?

not sure what you mean ?

I just mean the guy is a clown. IMO a coach should never take a group of 14-15 yr olds and declare them a "curveball team." Pitchers need to be taught to work off of thier fastball, especially at young ages.

quote:

Which he [coach]stated "we are a curveball team"

I'm shaking my head about that comment, too. Most HS coaches don't allow their pitchers, especially youngsters, to rely on curves. As I just posted on another thread here, curves can be very ineffective against top varsity hitters.

Note too that about 70+% of major league pitches are fastballs. Maybe 10% are curves.

ASUfan,

I face a similar problem. Everything that I have been told about my tricep hurting is that it's not really a big deal. What it means is that his tricep is an area that he needs to strengthen. You stated that you would like him to start strengthening his core. I would reccomend a plyometrics program if you can find one. If not you can visit www.pitchingcentral.com. I used this program and gained 10mph. AS for the coach declaring the team a "curveball team", I agree with micdsguy. A curveball is an outstanding pitch if thrown correctly, but sooner or later, somebody is going to catch onto it and start getting hits. The only thing I would do is vary what order you throw your pitches (first pitch fastball, first pitch curveball, etc.).

TSP4

TSP4

Did you actual buy the dvd from pitchingcentral.com and follow the program? And you said it worked?

MICDSGUY

I do not understand why a HS coach would rely so much on a curveball. My son has always been told it is an out pitch. If you can not throuw a FB or Change + locate your pitched then they should find another position. We may have a battle with the coach this summer.

ASU your coach has been pulling your leg.

what do you mean as in a joke? I have an article from our local newspaper during districts and he was qouted with that line about his pitching staff.

I did watch a varsity game last year and the first 7 of 9 pitched where curve balls. 5 days later that same picther blew his arm out and was done for the season.

ASU my son threw CBs since 9yo and many others have. 20 yrs old and soph D1 pitcher and never had an arm problem. Knock on wood. I can tell you CBs are not the cause of arm problems if thrown properly. My son has maintained his arm is stressed more by FBs. The problem is most pitchers are not in great shape to the level they should be. Most arm injuries I have seen have been to catchers and a few young hard throwers. Most HS coaches do not know enough about arms and pitching .
I might add that one of my son's former teammates who also threw CBs just tore his rotator cuff. He is a JR at a D1 program and did it throwing FBs. I watched his team play today and he said his coach has been pushing him to get his velo up and he felt it tear after throwing an all out FB. He has gained a few miles per hour over the last 2 years but now is waiting to see if he needs an operation.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
ASU my son threw CBs since 9yo and many others have. 20 yrs old and soph D1 pitcher and never had an arm problem. Knock on wood.

Surely you did more than just "knock on wood" to make sure your son threw the curveball correctly. So what did you do to ensure he threw it correctly?

The knock on wood is about the future in college as he developes his velocity.
He used a LL CB which one poster called a slip CB untill he was 15-16 and then was taught the MLB CB which is the one with the tomahawk motion. He uses both now.
The key to arm health is proper mechanics and conditioning. I have posted a small video of him throwing the LL CB a few times and you can see there is no stress on his arm.

ASUFan IMO your son is throwing more now than he has in the past. Its not uncommon for freshman to experience this there first year in high school. He throws a baseball everyday (5to6 times a week). He probably didn't throw that often before this year. Alot of freshman show up the first of high school season having not thrown enough prior to strating the season. So there arm might be sore at first.