My kids are just hitting the age group where they get to pitch. Kids will get so excited about pitching and most kids are going to want to try it out. There are some very important things to know when teaching youth to pitch. I hear from parents and coaches all the time, wondering how to teach youth pitching.
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So, how do you teach youth pitching?
It’s important to remember to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Any time you give a kid too many things to do or think about they end up looking like a robot.
Below are some basic rules to teach your youth to be the most effective pitcher they can be. Its your job to get the kids body in the right position to make a good throw, all they need to do is ‘throw the ball as hard as you can at the glove’
Before you start pitching, make sure your athletes are warmed up! A quick jog, some stretching, and some warm up throws are essential before they get on the mound.
Wind up or Stretch? This can be really confusing to teach the difference to kids just starting out. I’d recommend choosing 1 and stick with it. I like the wind up at first since it will help kids use their whole body to throw.
Here is a great video breaking down the wind up step by step.
Balance Point Teach your athlete to get to the balance point. This is a pretty basic first step in pitching. Making sure kids have good balance is key.
Throw to a spot Let’s remember to keep it simple! If you can get the basic mechanics down and get your kids in a good throwing position tell the kid to throw it as hard as they can at the glove.
Here is a great article breaking the mechanics of pitching down even further.
How do you teach a kid to throw faster?
Kids will pick up naturally how to throw the ball, but remember not all kids are developed the same way. Some may not be strong enough to make it all the way home so they will need to work on that in practice.
Let your kids practice throwing the ball as far as they can. We call this long toss as they get older, and it’s used to help add velocity. One of the best things to help improve muscle stability and arm strength is a consistent long toss program. If you are looking for a staple exercise for how to teach youth pitching, long toss is one that that you can’t go wrong with.
One game I like to use for younger kids is called ‘clean your room.’ Basically you throw out tennis balls all over a field. There is a line in the middle, and the object is to have your kids throw the tennis balls to the other side. Kind of set up like dodgeball, but you are encouraging the kids to throw the ball over their opponents so they have a hard time returning the balls. This is a fun activity that will get the kids running around, and working on throwing the ball far!
Next, kids just need practice. Home plate may seem very far away at first. But the more they try it the easier it becomes. When kids are just starting out it’s ok to make home plate closer than it will be in the real games in order to build up confidence. At first it’s all about getting them in the right positions and feeling some success. As they develop, move the home plate back. Soon your athlete will be throwing strikes at regulation!
What age do kids start pitching?
Most kids start pitching around 7 or 8. Some leagues will introduce kid pitch, but if a batter walks, then the coach will come in and let the kids have an opportunity to hit. This is a great way to allow kids the opportunity to pitch before it really counts.
However, it’s important to start introducing your kids to pitching even before this. Sometimes even the age of 5 kids can start learning how to throw properly. If you get the kids throwing with good mechanics, then pitching becomes that much easier.
How fast should my kid be pitching in little league?
The average speed for kids in little league is around 60 MPH. Kids will start increasing velocity naturally as they get bigger and stronger. Its important not to focus on velocity until a kid is fully developed, as this could lead to arm injury. First thing is first, THROW STRIKES!!
Kids in the LLWS will be throwing the ball close to 70 MPH, which looks a lot faster since the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home is only 46 feet. That is equivalent to seeing a 92 MPH pitch at a professional distance of 60.5 feet.
When should kids throw a curveball while pitching?
Kids should not learn to throw a curveball until they have successfully learned to throw a fastball and changeup.
Kids should focus on throwing a fastball and changeup before they learn to throw any other pitch. There is a line of thought that a kid can hurt his arm if he throws a curveball too early. I don’t buy it. The problem is when a kid is throwing a curveball the wrong way.
Teaching the right mechanics on how to throw properly will help keep your athlete’s arm in shape, and help avoid injury. Also over use will play a bigger role in injury than what pitches a kid may throw.
Throwing a curveball is fun, and you can make hitter look DUMB, but they will be ineffective until you can throw a fastball for a strike consistently.
How do I get kids to throw more strikes?
Practice, practice, practice. If a kid has good throwing mechanics, and mentally they don’t need to think too much, they should be successful at throwing strikes. They need to be comfortable holding a ball, and be put in the right position to throw a pitch. Then make it easy on them. Throw the ball as hard as you can, at the glove!
Muscle memory is key for proper pitching mechanics in baseball. The more practice a kid has the more it becomes second nature to them. When kids are starting out pitching, the mechanics may feel awkward. Having the kids repeat the steps over and over will help their natural ability begin to shine through. If you practice proper mechanics early on, you can help kids prevent injury, and get rid of bad habits early.
If a kid is trying to throw too many different pitches, or thinking too much about mechanics, it can get in the way of his success.
How to teach youth pitching conclusion
Remember, baseball is fun, and simple. It’s all just one big game of catch! Its you job as the coach to get the athlete in the best position to throw the ball. Then, make the game simple. They have 2 jobs, throw the ball as hard as they can, and throw it at the glove. You will find GREAT success if you make it that easy for them.
Follow the basic steps outlined in this article and your athlete will be throwing strikes before you know it. Make sure to be patient and practice. It wont happen overnight. If you aren’t finding success, move home plate closer, then slowly back it up to regulation. We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to teach youth pitching and remember, make it fun, it’s supposed to be!
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