Problem

1) Don't worry about the coaches job. Just focus on your job.
2) Just relax when you throw, think to yourself, "fly it across" .. try to hit your target in the chest... bounced balls are bad throws. (I'm assuming you're an IF)
3)Get your feet under you and have a solid base... If it takes an extra second to throw it that's much better than rattling it over in the bullpen.
4) smile and have fun out there!!! If you make a good throw, pat yourself on the back. If you make a bad throw, learn, adjust and move on.

ripit08,

First of all welcome to the HSBBWEB.

Just some food for thought......Sometimes when we want something so bad we try to hard and instead of our athletic ability taking over our "mind" takes over and prevents us from reaching the level of play we are expecting.

Basically it boils down to....you just want to make the team so bad. I say, take a different approach. Do not let your mind interfere with what it is you are trying to accomplish. Which is make a team whether it be Varsity or JV.

Go out relaxed, confident and knowing that you belong out there. You have been playing baseball a long time like most kids you age, so go play. The rest will take care of itself.

O42

Not that this will help you right now, but . . . . is this the first time you've thrown all winter - here at practice/tryouts? If so, then you might want to prepare yourself better next time. Just going out there cold and firing the ball around will result in bad throws, and could cause arm trouble as well. Not to mention not giving yourself the best chance to make the team.

Go play catch with a friend, work up to it and then practice the same throws you'll be doing at practice.

Ripit

Stay late after practice with a friend and teammate and work on your throws. They will get better. Coaches love nothing more than to see a kid that recognizes his problems and then works extra hard to correct them.

quote:

At practice I keep making these awful throws and I can't belive myself. Last year I played very well and had no problem throwing a ball. I just have troubles this year. Any tips? Also, do you think that the coach would cut me just for making some bad throws?

It sounds to me like you may be thinking when you are throwing, which is the worst possible thing you can do. Your body knows how to throw the ball, but your brain doesn't (but it thinks it does), so you have to get your brain out of the way.

Some suggestions I would have...

1. Do not think. Especially, don't think about HOW you are throwing. At most, just think about WHERE you want the ball to go.

2. Absolutely focus on the target. The ball will tend to go where you eyes go.

Also, make sure you don't have a basic mechanical problem. For instance, make sure you are sideways to the target before throwing (so that a line drawn through both your heels, hips, and shoulders will point to the target).

It could be that you are trying to throw while facing the target.

I agree that you may be thinking about it too much. Last year you did fine. Unless you dramatically changed your mechanics (why would you) then you are probably fine. One thing that I always stress to my players. If you are going to make a throwing error, make it a big one! Don't make an error because you are nervous about letting it go and try to aim it in. Come up get in a good position, find the target, and let it fly. You will find that most of the time your throws will be right on the money.

My experience is most people don't "know" their arm.

Being a catcher, it's easy to learn your arm. A very high percentage of your throws are the same....home to second and back to the pitcher. You do it often enough that you learn it. The trajectory you have to give to make it to secondbase becomes a "benchmark" for you to compare other throws to. The effort you need to give a very crisp throw back to the pitcher at his left ear is readily learned.

My first move with my infielders in preseason practice is to teach them their arm.

How?

Put your ss and 3B in their "standard" positions. Have them make numerous throws from the same spot until they can "benchmark" it. In other words, they know with max effort it takes X trajectory to hit the firstbaseman in the chest. If it is properly "benchmarked" it will be memorized and all other throws can now be compared to it. Key is they have to be max effort throws. Inconsistent effort will not teach a "benchmark".

If you're farther away, raise the trajectory a little. If you're closer, lower it a little. But almost always throw with the same effort.

After a while of this you'll be amazed at how you can judge what each throw needs.

You'll be surprised how your infielders improve once they have a benchmark to use for guidance.

Great tip Linear.

Overlooked, but so important to have that baseline.

Thanks guys. I guess I just want this really bad and I am thinking about it a lot. I will try to relax and not worry about it. Thanks again.

good post linear.

Guys, I had practice today and jsut went out there and threw. I cant tell you how much improvment there was. It was like day and night. I just really let my body do the throwing. I didnt think about it at all.

quote:

Guys, I had practice today and jsut went out there and threw. I cant tell you how much improvment there was. It was like day and night. I just really let my body do the throwing. I didnt think about it at all.

Awesome.

If you're old enough, you might want to rent the movie Bull Durham.

"Don't think, meat. Just throw."