i have a 14 yr old who fractured his elbow playing baseball last year,now afraid to throw the same way as b4?
345541
A better question is what therapist should you go to.  You are pushing your kid way too much.  Just let him have fun for God's sake.
447487
It can help kids who have never played before learn how to hold the bat, swing the bat, and hit a ball. If a kid already has these skills, a more helpful drill is to have them his soft-tosses into a fence. have them stand about 10 feet away from the backstop, facing the backstop (as if it was the pitcher's mound. Kneel off to the side about 5 feet away (as if you were in the other batters box) and gently lob balls to them underhand. I realize this sounds a bit confusing, but here is what it should look like:\n\nchild------backstop\n|\n| (softly thrown ball) \n|\nyou\n\nThis helps them learn how to hit a moving ball, and teaches them a more natural swing. This is also a good way to learn how to drive the ball with some power.
863379
I don't want to burst your bubble but as other children mature they will tend to catch up in talent.  I've seen it many times in baseball and other sports... you'll see a kid that is a great pitcher in little league baseball that by the time he reaches high school will be passed by others.  Just let your child play and learn as much as possible while he matures and maybe he'll stay one step a head of the rest.
211933
Hey, you wouldn't be pitching if your coach didn't think you were good.  Being nervous is normal.  Just hang out with friends.  They can take your mind off of it.  You'll be fine, just throw it in the strike zone :)
69281
well for the life isn't fair comment tell him he is lucky to learn that at a young age. As for his attitude. Thats a tuff one I have kids his age and I firmly believe in restricting the peers he/she hangs out with. Also if it is possible get him involved in activities after school. Baseball or whatever he is in to. If he is not interested, make him do it for one season or one whatever depending on what you choose. I did this and my daughter cried and stomped her feet. Now she plays softball every chance she gets, and I can tell her if she is not good she wont play. It's hard to give advice without knowing your exact situation but I hope this helps. Remember in a couple of yearsthere wont be much you can do about anything so stand your ground he will thank you in the end.
759404
yes  once when i was a teen i was getting out of the car and my brother was swinging the bat  back to hit the ball.. it got me could... i dont remember the year or my age(seriously)
453450
There is nothing you can do. You are going to fall behind your peers. Baseball is a team game. Just make sure that you maintain your arm strength.
566122
Get a "Gameface". It is a protective mask which some pitchers and first and third basemen use. That should remove some of the fear, and then you can stop using it if you wish. Best thing, use a tennis ball, or "rag ball" and catch grounders and flies untill you are sick of it! This will get you tracking the ball better. The reason you get hit is simple, you didn't catch the ball! Practice that until it is natural, and the fear should go away. \n\nTo practice throwing, first learn to do it correctly, you'll need a coach to help there. Then, set a bucket on it's side on top of home plate, and start on the pitching rubber throwing into the bucket. Work back to second base, short center, then deep center. It won't help to make a few throws one day, you will need to make thousands all year long. Even the pros continually practice. That is the only way to improve.
1079144
actually its all in your mechanics... after managing for 15 years the kids now adults that had the best mechanics threw with the highest velocity.... BUT EVERY PITCHER PLAYS LONG TOSS....THAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO BUILD ARM STRENGTH..... ESPECIALLY ON YOUR DAYS OFF plus your release and leg work is a big factor also.. but remember the best pitchers arent the fastest ones... they are the ones that can place the pitches where they need too.... IE Greg Maddux..... another word of advice.... hand work is important also dont forget to hide the ball as long as possible... this gives the batter less time to see what pitch your throwing... I could go on and on about weight training.... etc... but I think you get the idea...
720338
thank god for you, that poor kid what a rotton mother he has! i would try to support him best you can by talking to him often and praising him when he does good things tell him how proud you are and what a gift he has in baseball, if he doesnt want to purse it after that maybe he needs a summer off to find himself after such a tragedy, i think your doing all the right things!
936655
Don't break your wrists, my friend. Promotes consistent contact. Also, and this sounds stupid, make sure that you hit the ball first. Have confidence and practice a little and these two will help a lot.
892367
COMING FROM A FORMER PITCHER MYSELF...I WOULD SAY IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT U THROW..IT MATTERS THAT U HAVE CONTROL AND CAN VARY YOUR SPEEDS.  U HAVE TO BE ABLE TO THROW INSIDE AND OUTSIDE FOR STRIKES...KEEP BATTERS ON THEIR TOES.  AS FAR AS BEST PITCHES I CAN ONLY SAY WHAT WORKED FOR ME BECAUSE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO MASTER OTHER PITCHES, BUT I THREW A 4 AND 2 SEAM, CHANGEUP, AND A KNUCKLECURVE.
999709
As a coach I teach my kids to:\n1. grip the ball across all four laces.  \n2. Plant your throwing foot, step towards your target with your glove hand.\n3. Reach back with your throwing hand(stretching your arm all the way out) Keep your throwing elbow up\n4. Pull your body through with your glove hand, throwing the ball with your arm in an overhand motion(try not to drop down sidearm)\n5. Follow through, snapping your wrist at the end to give the ball a bit of backspin so that it will stay in the air a bit longer.\n\nRelease point will have to be adjusted according to who you are playing with(their height) \n\nPractice, practice, practice and have fun!...use a tennis ball(or a spongey baseball) and a brick wall.\n\nGood Luck!!
438809
http://www.qcbaseball.com/index.html\n\nthis is a pretty good informational site.  basically the most important thing would be proper mechanics.  teching a kid proper mechanics and them struggling would be more beneficial long term than just letting them throw and doing better.  without proper mechanics, kids will end up getting hurt.
989613
Well, I got out of little league some years ago, and there was no balks, even in the majors. (the majors is mostly kids 11-12, though some were 10) I had a few times when i pitched and it definatly would have been a balk, but it was never called as one.
1040806
With a grooved swing(short radius, etc), I'd recommend that you work on strengthening your lead hand arm strength. I have seen this work wonders when hitters that want to add more pop do concentrated isotonic training on the lead arm which for most players is their weaker arm. Have you ever tried the frisbee drill where you knock a softball sized wiffle ball off the tee using the lead hand? It's a hoot and effective!
665442
I always threw a tennis ball as hard as I could up against my garage door at an angle to have it come back to me so I could throw it again and again.  Made my arm strong.  Good luck.  Farns