IT'S OFFICIAL: NH TO GO TO 43 FEET IN 2011

Coming in 2011, the 43-foot rubber
Filed under Uncategorized by gary fitz at 10:42 am NASHUA TELEGRAPH

SO YOU WANT TO BE A SOFTBALL PITCHER?

Like other skills, good softball pitching involves knowledgeable instruction, coaching and

LOTS OF PRACTICE

You should consider taking lessons only if:
(1) You really like softball (2) Are serious about becoming a good pitcher (3) Are willing to practice pitching several times per week, and (4) Are making the decision yourself, because

YOU WANT TO DO IT!

IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?
Pitching can be a lot of fun. But it takes a lot of hard work and it can be very stressful.  Is this your idea or someone else's?   If you are doing it because this is what YOU want to do, then we can help you achieve your goals.

GOOD PITCHING TAKES A LONG TIME.  GREAT PITCHING TAKES A LIFETIME!
Be prepared to be constantly learning…now, and for many years in the future.  Pitching will not be learned and perfected in a few weeks or months.  Many pitchers in college or playing professionally are still taking lessons regularly, and are practicing several hours per day.

ARE YOU WILLING TO DEVOTE A LOT OF TIME TO PRACTICE?
Top high school pitchers practice at least 1-hour per day 3 or 4 days per week…in addition to team practices and games.  To get to the top, you will likely be throwing several hundred practice pitches per week, even during the winter months.

DO YOU HAVE SUPPORT? 
It is necessary to have someone who will to catch for you during practices, and give you the encouragement you deserve as you progress.   Parents, a brother or sister, a friend or teammate can help tremendously if you let them.  Again, the commitment and decision to take softball pitching lessons needs to be yours, and yours alone.

                                          

To become a successful pitcher you must practice at least every other day. This means, after warm-ups, pitching 100-200 balls, hitting locations and working on all of your pitches (fast, curve, change, etc.).

WORKOUT (all pitches to be thrown using your normal routine)

1. Warm-up with wrist-snaps, T’s, L’s, and K’s. Remember, every pitcher has their own style of warming up – warm up using your own routine.  While warming up, begin to prepare yourself mentally for the practice or game ahead.

2. Throw some heavy balls or close rotation drills to perfect rotation of the ball for certain pitches.  Do your pitching drills (long toss, walk thru, etc.).
3. Once warmed up, work on locations. Start with pitches right down the middle (beginners) and then work the corners (inside and outside) and high and low.
5. Work on change-ups, drops, curves, and any other pitches you may have acquired.

RHYTHM

1. Before each pitch take a deep breath, and do whatever is comfortable for you in order to get relaxed and into a rhythm. Do this every time! You cannot deliver a quality pitch if you are tense.
2. If you are in a game and you get tense, try playing with the dirt in the pitcher's circle. This will help relax you. You may also call time out to talk to your catcher.
3. Take whatever time you need to prepare for the next pitch – every pitch counts! Everyone waits for you – you are in control of the speed and rhythm of the game.  You have 20 seconds to prepare; use as much or as little time as you need.

CONFIDENCE

If you are prepared and relaxed, you will be confident. Stay loose!  The batters can sense your confidence and you will have already won half the battle.  Don’t let them see you sweat!  Softball is 80% mental, you must learn to control your emotions while pitching.  If you make a mistake, take the time to clear your head and get back into your rhythm.  You are the pitcher and you are in control of the game!

COACH'S NOTES

1. Focus your best on the first pitch of every batter. Try not to get behind in the count and do not walk any batters.
2. Finish each pitch in ready position. This will enable you to field your position and protect you from balls hit back at you.  The pitcher is part of the defense.
3. PRACTICE LIKE YOU PLAY!  In practice, deliver each pitch as you would in a game. This will help you deal with pressure situations because you have prepared for them.
4. With a runner(s) on base, make the pitches your catcher calls – you can not allow runners to advance on wild pitches!

5. Do not complain or argue balls and strikes with the umpire!  Figure out his/her strike zone and use it to your advantage.
6. If you are hurt, TELL YOUR COACH! Pitching while hurt will only make your injury worse.  The team needs you for the season, not an inning.
7. Work hard, play hard, and have fun!
 
COACH PAUL

6 KEY POINTS FOR SUCCESSFUL PITCHERS

1.     STRONG PUSH OFF THE RUBBER

2.     GLOVE IS ABOVE 3:00

3.     FULL ARM EXTENSION THROUGHOUT THE WINDMILL

4.     BRING YOUR HIP THROUGH THE PITCH

5.     STRONG WRIST SNAP

6.  PRACTICE PITCHING EVERY DAY!!

BECOMING A SOFTBALL PITCHER

1.  Throw a minimum of 300 practice pitches each week.
Practice, practice, practice.  Practice is everything.  If you don't practice, you won't become a good pitcher.  Learning the  "windmill" pitch is not going to be easy.  You need to build up to the point where you can throw 100 to 125 pitches at least every other day.

2.  Master the mechanics of the pitch first…then speed.
Work on learning and developing proper mechanics.  
As you become smoother and more consistent with your motion, start adding speed.  Do not worry about control right now, control will come later.  Make certain you use consistent arm speed the all the way around - full arm extension throughout the windmill.   Don't use only your arm and upper body to throw the ball; use your lower body, too!  Stay tall (don't bend at the waist) as your arm approaches your hip and bring your hip through with the pitch.
Release the ball with the inside of the wrist straight ahead, facing home plate.  Then follow through!  Let your hand come up after the release, usually palm up.  This is called the finish.  Once your mechanics are smooth and comfortable, then you can work to increase your pitching speed to make it consistently fast.

3.  Develop control.
You can develop good control ONLY if you can control yourself.   Stay in your own head.  Whether in practice or in a real game situation - don't get distracted.  Don't worry about a bad pitch, or fans or teammates yelling, or the umpire's call.  Don't complain, whine, or make bad facial expressions.  You MUST keep control and show everyone else that you are the one in control and that you run the game.
Then, after you get a smooth, comfortable pitching motion, with good speed and after you really feel confident...THEN start working on accuracy and placement of your pitches.  Use the "4 corners":  low and inside, low and outside, high and inside, and high and outside.

4.  Develop a GOOD change-up pitch and use it.
The speed of the change-up should be about 5-10 miles per hour slower.  Grip the ball far back in your hand.  There are several ways to throw a change-up (stiff wrist, circle change, back of hand, i.e.) each technique must be thrown with your normal motion and arm speed.  The key is to keep your wrist locked and have no wrist snap.  The idea is to not let the batter know the ball will be coming in slower.  Your facial expression and your windmill delivery need to look exactly the same as your fastball.  Make certain you and your catcher (or coach) don't always call the change-up only when you have two strikes on the batter.  Mix up your pitches!

Count on a minimum of 2 months to learn to throw a good, deceptive change-up accurately.   Any new pitch you learn (a change-up, drop ball, screwball, curve, rise ball, etc.) will each take many pitches before you get used to it.   Be patient.  Work hard to make each pitch work the way it's supposed to.

5. Develop a drop ball and work on it to make it really drop.
You need to develop a top-to-bottom spin as it goes toward the plate.  There are two common styles:
PEEL DROP: Throw it like your fastball, but roll it or snap it up off the tips of your fingers, to create spin.
ROLL-OVER DROP - Release the ball by "snapping it over" to create the spin. A good drop ball can be very effective because it drops below the batter's bat, making her either hit only the top of the ball for a grounder, or hopefully, swing totally over the ball.

6.  Make certain your pitches all look the same.
A batter should not be able to tell what kind of pitch you are going to throw.  Keep your grip hidden by your glove.  Don't show your grip until you absolutely have to.  Don't "telegraph" which pitch you are going to throw by using a certain facial expression or a different type of motion.

7. Learn a new pitch as soon as you and your coach are confident you're ready.

8. Pitcher is a defensive position on the field.
Don't let anyone tell you that you are not part of the defense just because you are the pitcher.  Know how to play defense at this position.  All great defenses are made up of 9 players, not just 8.

THANKS TO GERALD WARNER!