Pitching Batting Practice using L-Screen

Good questions. I am pretty sure at our high school, kids pitch to kids behind L-Screens and I have always been concerned about that.

I like the helmet idea. That is not fullproof however. One of our members here is dead because he was hit in the neck by a pitch - ironically and tragically by his own son.

Why do you ask?

We do not permit our kids to throw BP, with or without an L Screen---many time the L Screens at cages are useless

My coworker's nephew was pitching BP last year at his high school and was hit in the head. I believe he was using an L-screen but was not wearing a helmet. The ball hit him on the temple and he was in intensive care for several days. There was some concern that he might not survive or may have permanent vision loss. Luckily, he made a full recovery. I don't think his school allows students to throw BP anymore.

I do allow my players to throw bp... 1. safety issue 2) they are lousy at it.
I do let them feed the machine (behind an L-shape) if we are using a machine that day; both hitter and feeder must wear helmets while in the cage.

When I coached HS baseball I threw all the BP. Kids really are not very good at it as a rule and I was always fearful of the line drive that clips them. Now when I throw to my sons I wear a helmet.

I would never consider it with my guys. It's just a disaster (and potential lawsuit) waiting to happen. I make sure my own arm is tuned up enough by February to throw a lot.....a-lot-a-lot. I can see what the hitter is doing from front view, and my asst has the side view. Between us, we can see what might need adjustment.

quote:

Originally posted by Krakatoa:
I would never consider it with my guys. It's just a disaster (and potential lawsuit) waiting to happen. I make sure my own arm is tuned up enough by February to throw a lot.....a-lot-a-lot. I can see what the hitter is doing from front view, and my asst has the side view. Between us, we can see what might need adjustment.

I agree that it is a opportunity to see your hitter from a different perspective. You're also able to challenge them with certain pitches they may not see in a game.

Stu

I would much rather watch while they take bp. Yes you can evaluate to a certain degree when your throwing the bp but nowhere near as good when you are 100% focused on watching.

I have never allowed players to throw bp to each other. First of all I dont trust them to get behind the L screen properly. Many will hang out after a pitch is thrown and its very dangerous. The bp is usually so bad they dont get anything out of it anyway. I have been hit three or four times over the years twice in the side and a couple of times on the right shoulder area. If anyone is going to get hurt I would rather it be me or another coach.

If your son is in a program that requires them to throw bp to each other teach him how to protect himself. Tell him to wear a helmet. And show him how to properly throw from an L screen. And then tell him to be really bad at it and no one will want him to throw.

Just curious....when your kids go and hit with a friend how do they hit if they don't throw to each other?

quote:

. And then tell him to be really bad at it and no one will want him to throw.

LOL.

I used to throw batting practice when I was in high school. We had a coach who would throw BP for hours, but doing that 3-4 days in a row is taxing. He'd have me get in there and throw to a few guys near the end when his arm was done. Very seldom would any other player throw BP unless it was a pitcher throwing simulated games.

Wearing a helmet seemed to vary. I can recall wearing one some, but not all the time..