2. Practice

• Quality vs. quantity, intense & focused, good form is goal not the strike zone in the beginning
• 3-5 days a week year-round, drills concentrating on particular aspects of motion
• Goal-oriented - accomplish one thing (improvement in one aspect of motion) each practice

3. Success - pitchers must see some improvement even if small.

4. Understanding - pitchers must know what went wrong (or right) with each pitch.

5. Patience yet determination - don't get frustrated by wild pitches, analyze & do something about them.

6. Master the basic fundamentals.

7. Relax but be aggressive!

2. Never tell a pitcher in training to "slow up and throw strikes"! She's learned a rhythm you'll destroy.

3. Be a student of the game and of the skill of pitching, try to do it yourself to appreciate how hard it is.

4. Hold separate, supervised practices for your pitchers. Get involved with young pitchers that will feed into your program in the future.

5. Be positive when possible, yet firm when a pitcher is lazy.

6. Emphasize form, not strikes; encourage speed with good mechanics, strikes will result.

7. How often should a pitcher practice? How good does the pitcher (not Dad or Mom) want to be?

8. Do drills at a closer distance for better mechanics.

9. Keep it simple by focusing on one point at a time & stay with it until correct. Video to better visualize mistakes.

ABSOLUTE NO-NO'S - do not allow a pitcher to do these!!!!

• Leaning - head & shoulders are ahead of hips (your power source)
• Pushing - there's no wrist snap, no speed, no control (except for luck)

1. 2 or 3 finger grip on ball with tape on it for rotation, fingertips slightly over seams

2. ball held across seams on the "C', thumb across from middle finger on seam

3. ball well out of palm

B. PRESENTATION OF THE BALL

1 . both feet in contact with pitching rubber shoulder-width apart

a. ball of right foot in dirt with heel on front of rubber

b. toe of left foot barely touches back of rubber, cannot extend beyond side of rubber

2. shoulders & hips facing home plate in closed position

3. hands are separated during signals; hands come together to a complete stop in front of body for 1 - 10 seconds, adjust grips at this time but be sure to hide ball from 3rd-base coach

C. BEGINNING THE PITCH

1. arm motion begins

a. two options for beginning:

1) double pump or rocker by dropping pitching arm directly behind you, or

2) single pump - glove and throwing hand stay together and drop downwards to begin circle

b. pitching arm extends and begins full windmill circle

1) thumb begins pointing down toward ground, do not cock wrist until downswing

2) arm begins circular path upward going in front of your nose, then brushes bicep on ear

3) arm speed should be increasing throughout motion, especially from the top of circle

4) glove hand extends out at target to 2 o'clock position ahead of pitching arm's upswing

2. transfer weight from back to front foot to load up power leg, bend right knee

3. bend at the waist and lean shouldem forward, eyes may look down briefly

4. shoulders and hips

a. as arm motion begins upward, pitcher begins stride with left leg

b. passing knee next to knee, left leg goes up and over an imaginary box

c. as left leg extends, right foot pivots rotating hips and shoulders to an open position (facing 3rd)

d. do not lean!!! shoulders stay above hips, never in front of them; nose is up being "snotty"

e. left foot should land toe-heel, at a 45 degree angle, and touching the power line to the left

f. get left hip out front, landing with right shoulder slightly behind right hip as arm passes ear

g. left leg bends upon landing to absorb shock, it then straightens for resistance; should be solid & firm, but knee should not be locked

h. right foot pushes away from mound & drags on the big toe side of shoe, stay in contact

5. at top of arm circle

a. palm and thumb rotate - thumb will be in 6 o'clock position under ball

b. shoulder will also rotate open

c. arm should be almost fully extended, brushing by right ear

d. wrist should be cocked in preparation for violent snap

D. THE RELEASE POINT

1 . release position is in line with thigh of right leg and above the power line

2. left leg is firmly planted and doesn't move

3. right leg must bend as toe kicks forward & knees pinch, do not pinch feet nor wrap feet!

4. arm is fully extended but not locked at release

5. ARM WHIP: as upper forearm brushes front of right hip, thumb comes off and the cocked wrist snaps violently forward so back of hand is at target; snap & reach out

6. hips begin to close after arm has passes the right hip

7. shoulders and feet begin to square to home plate

E. FOLLOW-THROUGH

1. hips snap close to square position

2. right leg pushes toward home plate, toe dragging, end by placing right foot under you

3. after wrist snap, right arm should finish in line to target, up into body, elbow past side

4. knees slightly bent, pitcher should be ready to field ball