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Pitching for YouthPitching for Youth

Major Major Checkpoints for a Checkpoints for a PitcherPitcher

Playing Playing catch/stretchingcatch/stretching

BalanceBalance Using the entire Using the entire

bodybody All power working All power working

towards the catchertowards the catcher Landing and finishLanding and finish Focus and mindsetFocus and mindset

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Playing catch, stressing Playing catch, stressing proper throwing proper throwing techniquetechnique One knee throwing, One knee throwing,

supporting the elbow, supporting the elbow, etc.etc.

Long arm, separationLong arm, separation Play with a purpose; use Play with a purpose; use

a line on the gym floora line on the gym floor Sides of body working Sides of body working

togethertogether Chest to gloveChest to glove Experiment with gripsExperiment with grips Throw to targetsThrow to targets Demo arm stretchesDemo arm stretches Show arm bandShow arm band

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BalanceBalance

-Bringing the body’s -Bringing the body’s power togetherpower together

-1 through 5 step -1 through 5 step format and what we format and what we are looking for with are looking for with each numbereach number

-Keeping body fixed -Keeping body fixed controlled over controlled over rubber as long as rubber as long as possible, MIDLINEpossible, MIDLINE

-Create a rhythm -Create a rhythm and tempo to and tempo to deliverydelivery

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Power towards the Power towards the catchercatcher All power working All power working

towards the catchertowards the catcher -Keep body weight -Keep body weight

towards the back of the towards the back of the moundmound

-Weight transfer back to -Weight transfer back to go forwardgo forward

-Tilt, notice back leg -Tilt, notice back leg and shouldersand shoulders

-Where the head goes, -Where the head goes, the body goes most the body goes most timestimes

-Chest should be -Chest should be brought to glovebrought to glove

3 foot window3 foot window

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Keeping the weight Keeping the weight backback Weight over Weight over

rubber as long as rubber as long as you canyou can

Power position:Power position: Scapular loadingScapular loading Use abs to pull Use abs to pull

you forwardyou forward

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Using the entire bodyUsing the entire body

Philosophy behind Philosophy behind power coming from power coming from rubber, to legs, to core, rubber, to legs, to core, to chest, and finally the to chest, and finally the armarm

Driving off the mound, Driving off the mound, while keeping weight while keeping weight back, controlled but back, controlled but aggressive throwersaggressive throwers

Rotate late, when front Rotate late, when front foot hits my weight foot hits my weight should still be backshould still be back

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Landing and finishLanding and finish

-Pitcher should land on -Pitcher should land on front half of footfront half of foot

-Angle of landing foot, -Angle of landing foot, 45, then rotates as abs 45, then rotates as abs pullpull

-The chest should be -The chest should be out over the front kneeout over the front knee

-Finish past front knee -Finish past front knee or across itor across it

-Should be close to -Should be close to being able to eat dinner being able to eat dinner off of back of pitcheroff of back of pitcher

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Focus and MindsetFocus and Mindset

-Lock into the game, just pitcher and -Lock into the game, just pitcher and catcher’s glovecatcher’s glove

-Pick out a small spot in catcher’s glove -Pick out a small spot in catcher’s glove so if you miss, you still are around the so if you miss, you still are around the zonezone

When to focus on the target (ask When to focus on the target (ask coaches)coaches)

-Develop a routine, example of mine -Develop a routine, example of mine when I pitchwhen I pitch

-As you get ball back from catcher, think -As you get ball back from catcher, think of next pitch on way back to moundof next pitch on way back to mound

Grip toughest pitch in hand when you Grip toughest pitch in hand when you take the moundtake the mound

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Coaching emphasis working with young Coaching emphasis working with young kids:kids:

Provide the kids an image of what you Provide the kids an image of what you are talking about. Examples: power are talking about. Examples: power punch, eating dinner off of your back, punch, eating dinner off of your back, finishing the pitch past front knee, finishing the pitch past front knee, goal posts etc.goal posts etc.

Don’t over complicateDon’t over complicate Drill work is where kids will improve on Drill work is where kids will improve on

mechanics, ultimately allowing them mechanics, ultimately allowing them to use the most of their body and to use the most of their body and potential (muscle memory potential (muscle memory development)development)

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Coaching ContinuedCoaching Continued

Bull Pen - Minimize Talking focus on PenBull Pen - Minimize Talking focus on Pen Preach first pitch strikes, getting ahead in Preach first pitch strikes, getting ahead in

counts, challenging hitters, working both counts, challenging hitters, working both sides of the plate, and teach the changeup sides of the plate, and teach the changeup early so it looks the same out of the hand as early so it looks the same out of the hand as a fastball a fastball

Build pitchers up to pitch counts and Build pitchers up to pitch counts and be be conscious of wearing kids outconscious of wearing kids out

Long Toss, Long Toss, and Long Toss using Long Toss, Long Toss, and Long Toss using legs!!!legs!!!

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Drill WorkDrill Work

Chair DrillChair Drill This is where a This is where a

dad or mom can dad or mom can be very valuable be very valuable with one on one with one on one timetime

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Some guys who need work Some guys who need work from Dexter Youth Coachesfrom Dexter Youth Coaches

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Successes through Successes through instruction or instruction or

cheating…cheating…

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Developing AthletesDeveloping Athletes

Correct mechanics when you canCorrect mechanics when you can Not all pitchers are the sameNot all pitchers are the same Some slight differences make Some slight differences make

them greatthem great If a kid is throwing strikes and is If a kid is throwing strikes and is

using his body, “if it ain’t broke using his body, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”don’t fix it”