Archive for Throwing
Throwing the Baseball Tips
Posted by: | CommentsYOUTH BASEBALL THROWING CONCEPTS
- Use a four-seam grip whenever throwing to a teammate on defense.
- Grip the ball lightly in the fingers, not in the palm, as if holding an egg.
- Grip the ball with two fingers, laying the index and middle fingers next to the “horseshoe and across the seams.
- Younger players with smaller hands can use three fingers.
- Space the index and middle fingers slightly apart to minimize “drag” on the ball.
- Place the thumb under the ball; the thumb should not “creep” up alongside the ball.
- Remove the ball from the glove and take it down, out, and up to a position pointing away from the target. (This is a small circular motion.)
- Shift weight to back foot as arm goes back away from target.
- Keep hand (fingers) on top of the ball, shifting behind the ball as the arm comes forward.
- Keep elbow above the shoulder, forming an “L” as the ball is released.
- Point the front shoulder at the target.
- Step toward the target, transferring weight to front foot.
- Release ball as arm comes forward.
- Continue moving toward target after ball is released.
Develop a Stronger Throwing Arm
Posted by: | CommentsThe Guys at Youth Baseball Insider would like our readers to take a serious look at the FastArm training aid as we do believe it will help your throwing ability by developing a stronger arm.
Check out the video at the following link: FastArm Training Aid
Put a FastArm in your Baseball Bag
The revolutionary FastArm throwing aid — designed by former Major League pitcher Bob Kaiser — uses leverage, momentum and centrifugal force to sharpen your throwing mechanics.
The popular training aid was recently named “Best of Show” at the 66th annual ABCA Convention held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. from January 6-9, 2011, and comes with a 30-Day 100% Money Back Guarantee.
How the FastArm Works
When used correctly, the FastArm moves freely and effortlessly and programs your throwing mechanics while preparing your joints for higher speeds and loading.
Where muscle contractions are required, the FastArm provides instant feedback. The proper positioning of the end naturally guides your arm to rotate at key positions during the throwing motion.
With a little consistent practice, you learn to program your arm to make these transitions with less effort and great consistency. The result is less strain to your arm and a more efficient, powerful throw!
Believers in the Product
The FastArm is used and endorsed by Texas Rangers pitcher Neftali Feliz. In addition, former big league catcher Matt Walbeck – the current manager for the Class-A Rome Braves – is another big believer in the training aid.
“The FastArm is a great practice tool for all players — especially young players — to develop proper arm action that teaches arm pronation. It builds arm strength, improves overall body coordination and develops arm flexibility.”
– Matt Walbeck, 11-year MLB catcher
More on the FastArm
FastArm inventor Bob Kaiser, a third round pick in the 1968 draft, was called up to pitch for the Cleveland Indians in 1971 but a shoulder injury limited his big league career to six innings.
From that point on, Kaiser set out to make sure other baseball players wouldn’t suffer the same fate. He has made it his life-long mission is to help players at all levels – from little league to the pros — vastly improve their throwing abilities.
Check out the video at the following link: FastArm Training Aid
Go Here to purchase the FastArm Training Aid: Get the FastArm
BASEBALL DRILL – “Reaction Throwing”
Posted by: | CommentsBASEBALL DRILL – “Reaction Throwing”
BEHIND THE DRILL: Players of all age must learn to make decisions quickly when they catch the ball. Young players have a difficult time getting the ball out of the glove and knowing where to throw it in advance.
SKILL LEVEL: Basic to Intermediate
DRILL TYPE: Throwing
PURPOSE: This drill will develop hand eye coordination while improving a players reaction time.
EQUIPMENT: 2 Tennis balls for young players, 2 Baseballs for older players and gloves
PLAYERS: 5-6 minimum but usually worked with entire team.
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- Line up your players on a straight line about 3 feet apart. We usually use one of the outfield foul lines and have the players face into the outfield.
- The player closest to the infield steps out in front of the group and turns and faces them. This player should be about 15 feet in front of them and standing in the middle of the line. This player is called being in the hot seat.
- The hot seat player has one ball.
- The player at the end of the line closest to the infield has the other ball.
- On the coaches command to “throw” the hot seat player throws the ball to the second player in the line as the first person in the line throws the ball to the hot seat player.
- The players continue to throw the ball just like this all the way down the line and then back again. Once the ball is back to the original two players that round is over.
- The hot seat player goes to the end of the line, furthest from the infield and the player closest to the infield goes to the hot seat position.
- Repeat this until all players have participated.
- If you have a large team, break them up into two groups.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- The drill is about reaction and thinking quickly. Players have to know where they are throwing the ball ahead of time and look to receive the ball from another player quickly.
- Use tennis balls, especially for young players and make sure the players are not throwing the ball to hard. The throwing should take a nice even pace.
- Work the drill your entire season and notice how much improvement you see in the player’s reaction time and judgment.
- While fundamentals is important this drill is less about correct throwing mechanics as it is about developing good reaction time, hand-eye coordination and judgment.
Guest Post about Throwing
Posted by: | Commentselecting a youth baseball throwing drill to develop good young arms
Developing a well-rounded baseball player at an early age is a tremendous responsibility taken on by Little League baseball coaches across the world. Teaching proper hitting mechanics, proper base-running techniques, and developing a strong throwing arm make up vital components important to that development. However, understanding and utilizing a proper youth baseball throwing drill may be one of the more important components in order to not only develop good throwing arms, but also to eliminate bad throwing habits that could injure a young baseball player in later years.
A strong youth baseball throwing drill will help to prevent elbow and shoulder injuries, and should be incorporated as a component into every single practice. The key to any successful youth baseball throwing drill is repetition. Young players need to learn to throw the correct way consistently, thousands of times in order to develop the proper throwing mechanics.
Many baseball coaching experts are big proponents of a youth baseball throwing drill that starts with the young player with the knee of his throwing arm on the ground, with the other leg extended outward. From this position, the player is forced to concentrate on proper upper body mechanics. This drill is especially important in isolating the top part of the body to ensure the proper release and follow through of the throw itself.
Players from this position should also make sure that their knuckles are pointed skyward to ensure accuracy of the throw, and their fielding glove and alignment of the ball behind them should be in direct line with their target. If not properly aligned, the player would be forced to compensate by either throwing across his body or opening his shoulder during delivery of the throw.
After release of the throw, the playerís body should be perfectly aligned in facing his target, with a full follow through across the body. Once the follow through is completed, the playersí eyes should be looking directly at their target.
This is a great youth baseball throwing drill in several ways. First, the drill can be completed through a number of repetitions, in order to re-align proper mechanics. Second, it helps train a young player the proper upper body mechanics to use with each throw, and last, it is a drill that can taught to the entire team, provided the coaches are watching closely to correct any inconsistencies.
With the increasing numbers of shoulder and elbow injuries seen later in life as a result of poor throwing mechanics, starting a Little League player with the right youth baseball throwing drill will go a long way in ensuring a strong arm and injury free baseball career.
Baseball Drill – One Knee Throwing
Posted by: | CommentsBEHIND THE DRILL: One of the most basic drills used to teach proper throwing mechanics and accuracy with young players. Also used to teach good pitching fundamentals.
SKILL LEVEL: Basic
DRILL TYPE: Throwing
PURPOSE: To develop solid throwing fundamentals for young players
EQUIPMENT: Baseball
PLAYERS: Any even number of players can do this.
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- Have two players stand 10-15 feet apart facing each other.
- Have the players place the knee of their post leg (right knee for a right handed player) on the ground with their stride foot (front) flat on the ground.
- They hold their glove in front of them about chest level with their hand holding the ball in the glove.
- To get into what we call power, throwing position the players need to rotate their shoulders and separate the ball from the glove.
- Ball should now be behind the player with his fingers on top of it. The arm should be up and form a “J” from the wrist to the shoulder of the throwing arm.
- The glove should out in front of the body with the “eye” of the glove pointing away from the players back.
- The player now delivers the throw and should ensure to extend the throwing arm down and across the stride (front) leg.
- The glove should be pulled into the side of the body around the player’s heart area.
- Players throw 20-30 balls like this. Move them back as they get better at the drill.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- This is about throwing fundamentals so start slow and make sure each player is doing things correctly.
- Make sure the players use a four-seam grip and their fingers remain above the ball prior to throwing.
- Watch and make sure the glove arm doesn’t just drop and hang to the side. They need to understand the fundamental move is similar to a push/pull move. They are pushing the ball out and pulling the other side of the body. This is how power is generated for the throw.
- Make sure their throwing arm comes all the way over and down in front of the lead foot. It’s common for young players to not extend the arm down far enough. Try to have them reach down and touch the ground with the throwing arm.
Baseball Drill – Throw with a Partner
Posted by: | CommentsBEHIND THE DRILL: One of the first things you see prior to practice or a game is two lines of players playing catch. This is great for developing good throwing fundamentals but needs to be done correctly. You can even make a game of it.
SKILL LEVEL: All levels
DRILL TYPE: Throwing and Catching
PURPOSE: To help develop accurate throwing skills and improve catching ability
EQUIPMENT: Baseball
PLAYERS: Minimum of two players.
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- Line the players up on two lines about 10 feet apart to start. If you are on a baseball field I usually set up one line on the left or right field foul line and the other about 10 feet into the outfield.
- Players should be directly across from each other.
- Have the players get ready to receive the ball. Have them put their gloves up around the center of their chest to give the thrower a target to aim at.
- One player starts by throwing the ball to the other who catches it. That player will now throw the ball back to the other player.
- Continue this for 3 to 5 throws each and then back them up to 15 feet. Continue moving back a few feet after successful throws. This will obviously need to be adjusted based on the age group you are working with.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- Make sure the players are using correct throwing fundamentals.
- This is a throwing drill to teach accuracy so make sure you get your players throwing to the chest of the other player.
- Add a game element to the drill by having the players keep score. They get one point for each ball that is caught by the other player. You can give them an objective to reach like 50 or 100.
- You can also have the players compete against each other. If you have 6 groups of 2 players you could keep score by having each group compete to get to 25. Once they get to 25 you could have them sit. Once you get 3 groups to 25 then declare them the winners. The other 3 groups would have to pick up baseball and equipment at the end of practice.
- Lot’s of other variations I’m sure you can think of.
Youth Baseball Drill – “Throw Like a Pro”
Posted by: | CommentsBEHIND THE DRILL: Learning to throw correctly is extremely important for young baseball players. Doing it correctly not only helps your teams ability to play good defense but also limits the potential injuries that can happen from throwing with poor fundamentals.
SKILL LEVEL: Basic
DRILL TYPE: Throwing
PURPOSE: This Drill helps young players learn the basic movements needed to throw the baseball correctly.
EQUIPMENT: Player needs a glove. Then add baseball later during drill
PLAYERS: Any number of players
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- To begin with the drill is conducted without a baseball. A ball can be added after everyone gets the movement down.
- Have your player’s line up on the outfield foul line either on the first or third base side. They should be 5 feet apart and facing out into the outfield. If not on a baseball field then line them up where you can.
- Each players starts in a baseball ready position.
- Give a command to “break”, the players should rotate their bodies sideways like they would be throwing a ball and have their arms break away from their body.
- Give a command to “throw”, the players should simulate throwing of the baseball and follow-through.
- Give a command to “Ready”, the players should go back to the ready position.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- When instructed to break the players should turn sideways and their arms should break away from their body. Glove hand toward the target.
- Look for extension of both arms with the elbows slightly bent. The glove’s pocket should be pointed in the direction of the players back.
- Fingers of the throwing hand should be rotated so they would be on top of the baseball.
- Make sure they are slightly bent at the knees and waist.
- When commanded to throw make sure they come over the top of the shoulder when throwing and follow through with the throwing arm’s hand going down toward the opposite knee.
- The player should pull their glove hand into their chest area as the throwing motion is taking place.
- Add a ball to the drill once they have the motion down.
