Folks,

As some of you know, my 5 year old is playing tee ball and having a good time with his friends. Now that 1/2 the season is over, the league says the teams can play coach pitch the last inning. If a kid wants to do it, he/she gets 5 pitches. If they don't hit the ball, move the tee in, and hit away. The league also has rules for this coach pitch.

1. Must pitch from 42 feet.
2. Must pitch the ball overhand.

This brings up a pet peeve (spelling?) of mine I have had for a number of years. IMO, throwing overhand does more damage than good. The intent, I believe, is to build confidence in the hitter and prepare them for 9-10 ball when the kids start to pitch. From what I have seen, I have formed some opinions about 6 ft. tall men throwing to 3.5 - 4.5 feet tall kids:

1. They don't throw a whole lot of strikes.
2. The kids develop real nice upper cuts.
3. Atleast one kid gets hit and the adult feels terrible about it.

Why not pitch underhand to the kids? Better control through a more natural throwing motion, lots more strikes to hit, and the ball travels in a path that is closer to that of a pitched ball.

I know people are going to say how important it is to develop recognition of the pitch by the pitcher's ear, but is that really a valid argument. I remember the first time I played in a fast pitch softball game. It took me one or two at bats to figure out where the ball was coming from.

I'm very interested in other opinions, pro or con. Thanks!

We had the rule of overhand but it was more like throwing darts. Also the dads could pitch from one knee - helped a little.

Don't take this the wrong way Larry, but these kids are real young and it's not going to stunt their baseball development to hit a ball coming in from a slightly high angle. There's plenty of more important things to worry about, like teaching them proper fielding mechanics, proper swing mechanics, proper throwing mechanics, baserunning, etc. etc. etc. Oh yeah, don't forget to let them just have some fun and don't worry so much about the end result right now.

Heck, back when my son was that age if I'd have known half of what I know now....

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I remember the first time I played in a fast pitch softball game. It took me one or two at bats to figure out where the ball was coming from.

As with your experience it won't take these youngsters long to adjust when the ball is coming from a lower angle.

The tee is a great tool for young hitters. Obviously it has value, as all good coaches I know of at every level still use tees for hitters. My son plays coach-pitch right now and my one problem is the angle of the ball too - they won't let our coaches pitch on one knee, which would help A TON! Kids get used to it, though - my son has made the adjustment....although our coach has trouble throwing the ball low enough for my "midget" (smallest kid on the team!).

Thanks folks...great advice!

I'm not focused on the coach pitch aspect...I have been working them on the other fundamentals of the game. Great group of kids. I don't want any of them getting discouraged at this age because they can't hit a pitched ball, or fear getting hit.

Let's face it...some really good athletes quit baseball at an early age because of various reasons:

1. Boring
2. Discouragement born out of failure
3. Scared

One of you mentioned dart throwing, and that would be an option. Definitely more accurate than a full throwing motion. But I'll bet no one is out there throwing darts from 42 feet (league mandated distance for coach pitch).

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One of you mentioned dart throwing, and that would be an option. Definitely more accurate than a full throwing motion. But I'll bet no one is out there throwing darts from 42 feet (league mandated distance for coach pitch).

Sorry that was me - 42ft is a pretty good distance....I cant remember where our coaches stood but the overall objective was to have kids HIT. 45 minute games with 5 run rule and final scores were something like 25-24. It was a lot of fun for everyone!!!!

I am all for coach pitch. Most kids have been pitched to since they were able to stand. Or was that just me?

I throw from one knee when practicing, but in games it just does not work. On one knee I can't get out of the way, or in the way, fast enough. I say in the way because I think we have all been in that situation where you feel obligated to protect the little one playing pitcher in these games.

I recall a game last season where we had a real bruiser on our team. He was just one of those kids that you always told the other coaches about. Move your kids back and have them on their toes. I was pitching and I told the little girl playing pitcher to stand in kind of close and be ready to get behind me if needed. Her coach wanted nothing of it. The rules say she has to have one foot on the grass he said, and that's where she's playing. he actually thought I was trying to move his players for our advantage I think. I even tries to call his bluff and told him I was not throwing a pitch until she was allowed to move in. He insisted that we play by the rules. I pitched and immediately jump in front of her. He actually argued that I was interfering with his players. The next pitch I got drilled in the hip by a line drive while standing right in front of this little girl. It's the only time I have ever wished I could call for a bunt in a coach pitch game. Had I been on my knees, either myself or that little girl would have been hurt a lot worse.

I know this story has little to do with the question asked. I've been ****ed at that guy ever since and just saw a chance to vent. Sorry for doing that here.

I now just try and get as low as possible without hurting myself when pitching to the kids in games. I pride myself on the fact that I get rocked when I pitch. The kids seem to like it too so I must be doing something right. I'm a strong believer in pitching as fast as I can safely with as straight a trajectory as possible to these kids. I think a ball thrown on a straighter line is much easier to hit and pitching faster to them gets them to swing harder and faster. All of this will help in the next league up and they may just not be so scared of that 10 year old kids heat!!

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for letting me sound off.

Tim

I sometimes pitch to the little ones in my local park, always do it overhand, moderate speed from the little league distance. You really have to concentrate on throwing the ball down when doing this, preferably at a low three quarters arm angle if at all possible.

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.....preferably at a low three quarters arm angle if at all possible.

All coach pitch pitchers should read this, IMO....

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always do it overhand, moderate speed from the little league distance.

This, also.....It's good advice!!

Good advice being given here. I would add, and this may go with the idea of moderate speed, try to have as little arc on the pitch as possible.......the less arc, the easier it is for young kids to track the flight of the ball with their eyes.

Going along with the crew here... move it back to 48 - 50 ft range and get it there as flat as possible, also moves the pitcher a little further from harms way.

I saved this link from a couple of years back. Have pitched numerous seasons and always throw with more velocity to our guys. And while it took them some reps to catch up at first, they eventually did and were better hitters for it. They just have to know ahead of time that's the expectation.

This study backs that up.

Pitch Info

Back when the article came out I tracked down the professor who conducted the study....sent her a note and got this in return.

"Dear CW,

Thank you for your letter. Glad that you were able to see the results first hand!!

The study itself had to do with the development of judging the speed of stripes moving on a computer screen. Through mathematical rules, we were able to give the results a practical application to judging the speed of baseballs. However, the application to baseball was not published in the original article. In case you would like to read about the development of judging speed and the fact that judging speed differences from a slow standard is more immature than judging speed from a faster standard."

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Originally posted by larrythompson:
Thanks folks...great advice!

I'm not focused on the coach pitch aspect...I have been working them on the other fundamentals of the game. Great group of kids. I don't want any of them getting discouraged at this age because they can't hit a pitched ball, or fear getting hit.

Let's face it...some really good athletes quit baseball at an early age because of various reasons:

1. Boring
2. Discouragement born out of failure
3. Scared

One of you mentioned dart throwing, and that would be an option. Definitely more accurate than a full throwing motion. But I'll bet no one is out there throwing darts from 42 feet (league mandated distance for coach pitch).

That is a joke of a distance for 5 year olds. Our pinto 7-8 year olds kid pitch from 38 feet. Why 42 for 5-6 year olds? At that age you want to develope the hand eye coordination and you dont need to be 42 feet away to do that. I can't imagine the borefest for the parants watching that.

I pitched to the 5-6 year olds from a knee at about 30 feet or so. Not all the other coaches did this though. I always hated them saying, "come on, hit it Johnny." When the pitch was coming in from about an 8 foot arc and crossing the plate at the kids eye level.

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I always hated them saying, "come on, hit it Johnny." When the pitch was coming in from about an 8 foot arc and crossing the plate at the kids eye level.

This is exactly what I see.......Ridiculous, but so true!!