Anyone have tips for a pitching coach for a varsity baseball team?
456723
Ok I was a left-handed pitcher and just graduated after playing in college. The best source in baseball right now for pitching is Tom House. If you are really serious about becoming a good pitching coach you'd learn as much about him as possible -- buying one of his recent books is a great option. He is not only a former baseball pitcher / pitching coach, but also has a Phd in bio kinetics. He was Nolan Ryan's, Randy Johnson's, Curt Schilling's, etc. pitching coach. For quick refence I'll go over three things: mental aspect, mechanics, and drills. \n\n1. Mental aspect. Pitching is all mental. It is as much about confidence as anything. A good pitcher is not just talented physically but also understands a batter's stregnths and weaknesses and exploits them. He also follows these goals...\n\nA.Get ahead in the count (throw a first pitch strike)\nB.Get the first out of the inning (this takes away the opposing team's ability to play small-ball)\nC.When you get a hitter 0-2 change head or change feet. That means make them reach for a pitch off the plate or brush them back inside -- this choice will become more clear when you know the hitter.\nD. Never commit a cardinal sin of pitching (0-2 to 3-2 or even worse a walk, 0-2 hard contact -- they should never hit an 0-2 pitch hard if at all, lead-off walk)\nE. Pitch down in the zone and on the corners\nF. Have command of three pitches (i.e. fastball, breaking pitch, change-up)\nG. Know the how attributes of pitches rank (1. Location, 2. Movement, 3. Velocity -- don't try to overthrow the ball)\n\n2. Mechanics\n\nA. Have good posture and good balence (be over the center of gravity, pitch off your toes not your heels)\nB. Throw with equal and opposite (if front side is high back side is low)\nC. Stay in the box keep your front elbow between your shoulder and your hips at all times, don't pull it out of the that box on follow through -- it will move the release point)\nD. Keep your head still (1 inch of head movement moves release point 2 inches...something like that not positive)\nE. IMPORTANT Throw to your glove. Hold your front side glove out, push it closer to the plate, and aim it where you want the pitch to go. When you throw move your throwing arm to the mit. It is like a site on a gun. The front side (glove) is a muzzle, your arm is the bullet. Point the muzzle and direct the bullet to it. If you miss low push out farther with your front side. The farther you extend your front glove the closer you throw to the plate, which creates preceived velocity. A good drill for this is the Towel Drill.\nF. Step over the buck with your back foot when you follow through. \nG. When you throw a curveball you wrist should be at full pronation. When you throw the pitch you do a karate chop motion. Your fingers shoould be folded over the ball. \nH. When you throw a curveball hold it in your glove a second longer before you part your hands.\nI. Change-ups are thrown with full supination -- like a screwball. Drop your thumb to your hip -- set that angle and keep it, unless you do that the pitch will be ineffective and will hurt your arm. (a left handers thumb will be facing first base at release, a right hander will face third)\nJ. Pitches are more a matter of arm angle than grip. \n\n3. Drills \n\nA. Towel Drill -- Go through your motion with an 18-inch towel held with your middle finger 6 inches down. Mark off full extension and have a buddy hold out his glove there. Try to slap his glove with the towel. If you can, move your buddy back and try again. This will help extension and is also a good way to solidify mechanics without pitching a ball. \n\nB. Knees -- start each day throwing all your pitches from both knees (both knees on the ground). This should isolate the upper body and allow you to get a feel for your pitches and help solidify release point. \n\nC. Hat drill -- Take off your hat and put it about 15 feet in front of you. Have your buddy do the same. T
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!!
2431
Contact athlectic directors at colleges, especially the ones he may plan on attending.\n\nOr you might try contacting some of the minor league teams scouts in your area.
819401
Check out www.DiamondDreamsBaseball.com \nIt is a baseball development school with some great baseball links.
576447
He has no Major league coaching experience. He only worked with Pitchers in Spring Training the past 4 or 5 years.
667305
Try visiting your local batting cages.  Set it for various speeds and hieghts.
476261
does this do it?\nwww.piaa.org/district11/handbook/xi handbook 0506/BASEBALL 0506.pdf
905844
My best advice for you is to get the backing of a local field and find a teacher who would be willing to be a coach or at least an adviser.  If you're not already a frequent visitor of www.pbnation.com go there.  There are lots of threads on there from people who have started up teams at their schools and there's lots of info on how they did it.
1000577
First off you have good height strong upper body helps but pitching is 30% body strength 70% technique ask yourself these questions \n\n1.do i have good balance from the point of my rotation into my stride.\n\n2.am I using full arm motion = on a 360 degree scale wich means are you releasing the ball at the top point into your stretch.\n\n3.you say you have long legs that is a good tool for alot of pitchers. question from me to you. So I can be a bit more helpful . After you go into your stretch from the wind up what is the position of your trail leg into your stretch do have a habbit of pushing off the mound . Not good gets you into bad habbits .Its more like a pulling off the mound into the stride then pushing into the release . \nA good practice for this is stand at the mound go into your routine simulate your movements to the place go step by step every motion check your body position into each step. Break it down steps 1 to 5  \n\n1.your starting stance Check your balance \n2.your raise into your windup check balance look at your footing \n\n3. from windup into your stride check balance arm position did you get proper waist rotation did you push off the mound. \n\n4 look at your arm are you at your right release point .is it in correct position if not at a perfect point gonna cause loss of velocity and cause improper control of the pitch.\n\n5 check your balance after the stretch do you still have proper balance.\n \n\n\ncauses balance issues and takes away from your volicity and has a tendency of causing alot of wild pitches. Do you see  \n  yourself with this problem?\n\nThe leg kick is a tool but if you dont have balance from the kick to the stride your wasting your time .\n\n4. Do you have proper waist rotation going from windup to the stretch this is important. (note) proper hip motion=rotation) if your not balanced going from your turn into the stride this will cause a potential  loss of velocity thats where alot of power pitchers    get this down to tee.\n\nYou say you have a 3qtr arm slot question when you release the ball at what point of your stride are you release what is your arm position .Always release the ball at the top of you stride Balance+  release point = velocity .I hope this gives you some ideas on  where your at or where you need to be at .Please feal free to e-mail question's if you have any .Id be glad to help
406371
Go to your local bookstore and find a book on baseball training. Most websites charge for that info.
1011519
Offense is decent.\n\nPitching however is lacking. Good relief pitchers but your starting pitching is quite weak. They are all good young arms, but as a result of being young, they arent the most dependable, and dont put up the best stats.\n\nTips:\n(a) search the waiver wire for guys. Possibly find a replacement for gonzalez.\n(b) try and get another closer to help your staff a bit.
382253
The best website to visit is www.ehow.com and search for baseball pitching. It has awesome tips. Here is an example of how to throw a fastball: \n1.Choose one of the following handgrips for a combination of comfortable release and maximum control.  \n  \n2.   Grip the ball perpendicular to the seams, at their widest point, with your middle and index fingers spread 1/2 inch apart. Your thumb lies perpendicular to the seams on the underside of the ball. With this grip, expect the pitch to rise as it makes its way to the catcher.  \n  \n3.   Alternatively, grip the ball with your middle and index fingers at the point where the seams are closest to each other. Your fingers should lie perpendicular to the seams. Expect the pitch to sink.  \n  \n4.   Hide the ball in your glove.  \n  \n5.   Wind up, and use this windup to gain power. Use the same motion you use with other pitches so that the batter has trouble predicting a fastball.  \n  \n6.   Release the ball from your fingertips to maintain control and gain spin.  \n  \n7.   Continue the motion of your arm after releasing the pitch, and follow through with your body. Allow your natural momentum to carry your body forward.  \n  \n  \n  Tips:  \n For increased backward rotation of the pitch, snap your wrist slightly as you release the ball - this sacrifices some speed but makes the pitch harder to hit.  \n  \n As your control improves, adjust your grip to maximize speed without losing control.  \n  \n  \n  Warnings:  \n Gripping the ball across the seams may cause blisters.
536243
Here you go, just follow these simple steps.\n\n1.Hide the ball in your glove.\n \n2.Grip the ball with your middle and index fingers perpendicular to the seams at their widest point, with your thumb underneath the ball.\n \n3. Spread your top fingers apart slightly and keep your ring finger and pinkie tucked into your palm. \n \n4. Hold the ball firmly, applying pressure with your middle finger and thumb. Try not to let the ball rest in the palm of your hand, and keep your index finger relaxed. \n \n5.Wind up into the pitch. Use the same pitching motion as in your other pitches so that the batter cannot predict a curveball. \n \n6.Keep your wrist relaxed. After drawing back the pitch, hold your wrist so that the back of your hand points toward your body. \n \n7.Roll your wrist downward and to the right (if you are right-handed) or to the left (if you're left-handed) immediately before releasing the pitch. \n \n8.Release the pitch and follow through by bending your wrist. A right-hander should finish with the palm facing in toward the chest. The top of your thumb should be facing up.\n \n9.Throw the ball between the batter and home plate if you're a left-handed pitcher facing a left-handed batter or if you're a right-handed pitcher facing a right-handed batter.\n \n \n\n \n \nTips:\nYou can also try gripping the ball between and along the seams. Spread your fingers apart slightly and press your middle finger into the ball. Go with the grip that allows you a comfortable release, the proper spin and maximum control.\n \nTurn your wrist further to increase the ball's spin. You will lose some control but will gain more curve. Throw harder, and the pitch gains speed but loses some of the curving movement.\n \n \nWarnings:\nThrowing a curveball can cause serious and possibly permanent damage to your shoulder, elbow and wrist. For this reason, most managers and coaches advise that young players avoid this pitch until they reach physical maturity.
533987
I have coached 7 and 8 yr olds also....Fundamentals of the game is one of the most important things, along with sportsmanship and all that. Kids that age are VERY impressionable so let them see awesome sportsmanship from you and also play softball with them...That shows them that they can do what an adult can do. It helps. trust me
635065
Use a crow-step if you're an outfielder. It allows your body to help push the ball for some extra distance. Although it adds additional power to your throw, it eats up some time if you are a novice, so ask your coach about using it for further info.\n\nWhen batting, make sure to put a good twist in your hips as this adds more power to your swing. Do not focus on power, however, until you have mastered technique. Otherwise you will pick up bad batting habits. Also, ensure that you are never pulling your head away from the ball. Many unknowingly do this and whiff.\n\nHope that helps at least a little. \n\nTry browsing this for more in-depth advice: http://www.baseballtips.com/newsletter/tipsarchive.html
1077678
First and foremost, don't push (I think you've gotten that message already). Let them find the sport (s) that they're interested in and you become just as interested, enroll them (and yourself in some cases like golf) in lessons and/or camps. Don't have unrealistic expectations, just because they like baseball doesn't mean they'll be the next superstar. Learn as much as you can about the game and surround yourself at the games/matches with other parents/coaches who know it well and pass on information.\nFinally, no matter what sport it is, encourage them to always try their best and have a good attitude. Coaches will almost always play the good player with a great attitude over the jerk who has all the talent.
1140954
OK, follow me here because this is gonna take a while, but in the end I promise it will help your team a bunch if you give it a few weeks to take shape.\n\n1 catcher is all you need...you need to drop 2 and pickup a first baseman who plays EVERY DAY, I personally would keep Varitek or Ross.  Tough choice, but you can't go wrong with either, so you make the decision there.    \n\nBroussard is great at home vs. righties, but he does not start vs. lefties, so you are limited there.  You may put him on the bench and save him for the righty @ home situations and check the waiver wire for an every day 1B.  Prince Fielder?  Cuddyer?  Cuddyer could platoon with Broussard, play Cuddyer vs. lefties and Broussard vs. righties.  That will help your 1B problem and with the open roster spots you'll have by dropping 2 catchers.  \n\nVidro is average at best.  Again, check the waiver wire for someone along the lines of a Dan Uggla or Jose Castillo.  Another suggestion here is to BENCH Vidro, move Bill Hall to 2nd base, and you need to be starting Morgan Ensberg every day at 3B.\n\nBill Hall is a MUST KEEP, regardless of what I have seen others say on here.  Leave him in your team but move him to 2B as I said above and start Ensberg every day.  \n\nYou are in need of some outfielders, and if you drop 2 of your catchers, you should be able to add 1 outfielder and start him everyday.  Check the waiver wire for Marcus Thames or Curtis Granderson.  They will provide you with more HR, RBI than what you have now.  Crawford and Rios are EVERY day starters, so adding one of the guys I mentioned will solidify your outfield considerably.  If one of those 2 are not available, consider J. Encarnacion who is starting to get comfortable at the plate since he is not pulling his head as bad as earlier in the season.  He is seeing the ball well.  \n\nPitching is fine, you just need to be patient with what you have because you have a quality staff.  If you feel the need to add a starter, then check the waiver wire for Gil Meche, and any young starters who have been up for less than a month and have done well that may have snuck under the radar in your league.  If Jered Weaver is available, pick him up because although he is being sent down to the minors for a few weeks, he WILL be back within the month and have a solid 2nd half of the season.  \n\nClosers, well, depending on your league, there are probably not any closers available for the taking.  You can propose a trade I supoose, but I am not a big trade kind of guy, so.....if you propose a trade, you could use Coco Crisp and one of your cathcers as trade bait for a mediocre closer such as Fuentes(Rockies) or Rivera(Yankees) who is having a down year, but still will get you the saves you need.  Wagner is your only save guy, Howry is pretty worthless in the fantasy baseball world, so he could be dropped and you could utilize his rister spot for some of the players I listed above.  You could use one more quality closer to ensure you get more opportunities for saves.  Call me crazy but, the closer for KC, A. Burgos(3 for 3 in Save opps in last 3 opportunities) has been getting better of late and may be worth a look if he is available.  \n\nHope this helps your team.  Good Luck the rest of the year.