How to Coach Little League Pitchers
Coaching Little Leaguers to pitch takes patience and attention to detail. Most players who learn improper pitching techniques are hurt before high school. Pitching mechanics are important at all levels and should be taught with the player's best interest in mind. Winning should be secondary when it comes to a young arm.
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Instructions
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Every player, whether a pitcher or not, should know a four-seam fastball. Look at the ball so that the red seams make an upside down horseshoe. Tilt the ball to the left or right and put the first two fingers of your throwing hand perpendicular to the seams. This is a four-seam fastball and should be the first pitch taught. The ball should be held in a relaxed manner, like holding an egg.
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Power comes from resistance to the ground, so players must be balanced. In the wind-up position, (heels on the rubber) the feet should be at least shoulder width apart. Make your players jump straight up into the air and see where their feet are when they land. That should be where their feet are when preparing to pitch from the wind-up position. Do not let them lock their knees or they will buckle just before movement begins.
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Proper mechanics are the key to successful and lasting pitchers. From the wind up ,the left foot (for right-handers) comes back to the right heel. A bigger step throws the pitcher off balance. When the knee rises it should come no less than 90 degrees (belt high) and torque away from the hitter slightly. The pitcher's front elbow should stay inside the left leg to keep from opening early. At this point the pitcher should be tight in a ball and ready to explode.
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All the previous motions can be done at a slow tempo, but the delivery is violent. Arms separate, the front pointing at its target, the back with the ball up wrist down. If the ball is up it will load the elbow with negative energy and begin to cause damage. The kick leg must plant to the left side of the center line (for righties). The center line is the plane from the belt buckle to the ground when standing at rest on the mound. The throwing motion should not allow the arm to open any more than 45 degrees or it will harm the elbow, bicep and shoulder.
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After releasing the ball, the pitcher should follow all the way through with the back bent to the ground. A baseball axiom is "finish low." Keep the glove up for fielding protection and allow the back leg to come through naturally.
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Tips & Warnings
A good drill to teach pitching skills can be done by using a hand towel rather than a baseball. Have the player "pitch" using the towel and hit the end of it on the ground during the follow through.
Without emphasizing proper mechanics and forcing players to adapt, bad habits eventually will harm a young arm.
