Youth Pitching Tricks

IMO a 12 year should not even be thinking "curveball" much less "rely" on it

TRHit, couldn't agree with you more but the reality is the younger kids want to do it and some coaches let them, so they can win. Hey, it isn't hard to strike out a decent 11-12 yr old hitter with a curve, if it is close to the plate. I used to see them all the time in AAU. We would sit back and abide by our team rule, fastballs and changeups only, and watch weaker pitchers get our guys out. Now many of those same pitchers no longer pitch. Talk to their parents and they tell you every time junior pitches his arm gets sore. Sometimes thats the reason but many times it'd more like "every time junior pitches he gets shelled because he never developed his arm strength and fastball accuracy because he relied on the curve as his out pitch".

I even had a friend of mine, coaching a team on which his son played and pitched against my sons team, and he let him throw 50% curve balls in the game(s throughout the season) in the quest for the win. Didn't help, about the third inning they started hanging and it was like a track meet. His son later developed some minor problems with his arm. Now he is back and doing well.

The young kids just need to learn to throw fastballs for strikes and develop their changeup so their delivery looks like a changeup. Then when they get older, start working the curve in.

Michaels Dad

What many forget, arm situations aside, is that when a kid learns to throw a curveball at 44 feet he has to relearn at 60'6 inches--- does that make sense ???

TR

You are right. My 11yo throws 46' in rec and 50' in AAU. Not much adjustment required for the FB.

The reality is that a curveball at 46', is not really a curveball. It is a changeup. It is a big loopy top spinning ball that doesn't have time to break. So, there isn't really much re-learning. If you compete at the higher levels, your kids throw curves at 12U. If they don't, you are not competing at the higher levels. Watch the LL play-off's and World Series. That will give you guys a better understanding of what's going on at 12U.

Savannah

If you have those kids throwing curveballs at that age-- I am sorry you are wrong--the fact you cite playing at higher levels tells me that you are playing to win win win--not properly teach

I am sorry but that is how I read it-- and I do not agree about the "changeup" aspect--that is pure excuse for what you are doing

I am sorry but in my book you are wrong

I was talking to a LL coach who was boasting about all the championships he had won. I decided to stop by the field and check out his team. I saw him sit on a bucket, proceed to give 2-handed signs on his face to the catcher, and what was it you think he called? CURVEBALL! The second pitch was a curveball, too!!!! I now was upset, and intrigued so I counted pitches and in 3 innings his pitcher threw 45 pitches, 30 were curveballs! Such a disgrace, the man gets to boost his ego at the expense of a young arm. This was the 2nd game of their season. I give private pitching lessons and parents ask me about curveballs. I know kids are going to throw them so I teach them the proper way for their arm slot. I then tell the athlete that they can only throw 1 per hitter, this teaches to get ahead with the FB. Anyway, all the parents say the coach wants them to throw it more. I give the parents my number and tell the coach to call me, they never call.

Funny thing when I hear people talk about the higher levels of youth baseball they talk about LL. LL is so far behind AAU at the 9 thru 12 ages. We left LL because the game rules and the lack of competition. A 200' hr for a good 10 11 12 year old? Thats a pop up. 46' for the pitchers at 11 12 year olds come on. No leads no holding runners no third strike plays etc etc etc. We finished in the top 5 twice and top 10 once in the Nation in three years. We never threw one curveball. And you know what the quality teams that we played didnt either. The only teams that threw curveballs were the teams that did not have anyone that could throw with any velocity or knew how to pitch. These teams got hammered on a routine basis. The better coached teams were the quality teams and they threw fb changeups exclusively. Coaches? That have kids use the curveball so they can have a chance at success are clueless about baseball. That includes the LL coaches that you see on TV. My AAU teams would have destroyed those teams. No comparison. So would numerous AAU USSSA teams that I have seen. Our state championship LL team had four of our AAU players on it. Those four were unhittable at the LL level. Two of those guys couldnt get on the hill at the AAU level. Our AAU team had 12 AAU players on it not four. I dont know about you others guys area but as far as LL vs AAU or USSSA in our area there is no comparison. We opted to play in the AAU nationals vs LL playoffs because our kids wanted to play the better competition and play baseball rules. Curveballs for kids. NO. Teach them how to properly throw the ball and locate the ball. Protect their arms at all cost. Tricks are not for kids!

why doesn't somebody do that?
look up all the LLWS picthing stars from years past and see if they're still pitching or are their 'arms shot"

I'm pretty sure I know what you'd find.

philly

That is your project for the weekend

Talk to us on Monday

I coach an 11U team. We have played against some of the best teams in our age group in the country. Some throw CBs, some don't. Our kids do not. Usually, we see them when we face a LL or Pony All-Star team. After they hang one against our hitters, they don't rely on it too much.

Now, with that being said, we have taught our kids how to properly throw one. I am not naive enough to think they will not experiment with it when I am not around. The best I can do is teach them how to properly throw it and not call it in games.

We focus on FB and CU. Hit your spots and change speeds. Out-execute the other team. I have told all of our pitchers (entire team) that I will break their arm if I see them throwing it. That way, they won't have to worry about a CB injuring their arm.

My job is not to win games or tournaments, but to teach them how to play the game properly.