My son has decided to try pitching this year!

[EllenFrasier]

Just thought I'd share. He's 11 and plays Little League Baseball. He is not usually the one to speak up or get up in front of a group of people, so I'm hoping he does well at pitching. I asked him if the coach asked him to pitch and he said that he asked to try out for pitching - I'm proud of him that he's brave enough to try it! I think if a team has a lousy pitcher, it can cost them the game - even in the major leagues.

Anybody else have a son playing ball this year?

 

[TN Hockey Mom]

My 9 year old has also decided he wants to pitch. Like your son, he's usually not one to do anything in front of a group. I was very shocked when he decided to do it. I'm proud of him too, but now I get nervous for him. His coaches are very excited because he's a lefty! My 11 year old (hockey player) plays catcher.

 

[EllenFrasier]

My 9 year old has also decided he wants to pitch. Like your son, he's usually not one to do anything in front of a group. I was very shocked when he decided to do it. I'm proud of him too, but now I get nervous for him. His coaches are very excited because he's a lefty! My 11 year old (hockey player) plays catcher.

Funny! My dd11 plays catcher on her softball team! My ds11 is right handed by bats left handed. He throws right handed, so I guess he'll pitch right handed too.

So far we are just in the practice season - opening day is April 24th and I'm looking forward to it.

 

[EdiePA]

Please do your research on youngsters and pitching. I think Little League has a "pitch count", but some coaches don't adhere to the rules. If you child does decide to pitch, you may have to be very vigilant and be sure they don't over-extend their arms.

Edie

 

[lovesmurfs]

Just thought I'd share. He's 11 and plays Little League Baseball. He is not usually the one to speak up or get up in front of a group of people, so I'm hoping he does well at pitching. I asked him if the coach asked him to pitch and he said that he asked to try out for pitching - I'm proud of him that he's brave enough to try it! I think if a team has a lousy pitcher, it can cost them the game - even in the major leagues.

Anybody else have a son playing ball this year?

DS is now 16. The Little League games when he pitched were the most nerve-wracking for me! He's going to be pitching for the sophomore team, and I still have trouble watching.

He also plays football, which I like better because it's much more a "team" sport -- the whole defensive line gets blamed if the other team scores, not just one person like baseball.

And DD10 will be fast-pitching softball this year....more fun!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Please do your research on youngsters and pitching. I think Little League has a "pitch count", but some coaches don't adhere to the rules. If you child does decide to pitch, you may have to be very vigilant and be sure they don't over-extend their arms.

Edie

There are very specific rules, not just for pitch count, but the number of rest days in between pitching games. Our league is fanatical about adhering to the pitch count (mainly looking at the other teams' pitchers so that they don't keep using their really good one...). Different age ranges have different requirements.

There's some good information in this flyer: http://www2.massgeneral.org/sports/...ittle League Pitch Count Regulation Guide.pdf

Good luck and don't bite your nails!

 

[FireDancer]

Please do your research on youngsters and pitching. I think Little League has a "pitch count", but some coaches don't adhere to the rules. If you child does decide to pitch, you may have to be very vigilant and be sure they don't over-extend their arms.

Edie

I pitched from the age of 9 until I graduated HS and was relegated to softball with the rest of the mere mortals.

Our leagues had specific rules about the number of innings a pitcher could pitch a week and how many days they had in between. The coaches in our league were all parents and no one tried to skirt the rules. If they do you will have to step in and stop him from pitching.

The one thing I would caution against is allowing him to throw a slider or curve ball. If he can use finger placement to induce movement that is fine, but throwing proper curve balls is not good for a young arm. I was able to get about 3 feet of movement pretty young but my dad wouldn't let me throw those pitches in a game until I was in JR High.

It is great being the pitcher. You are in control of the game for the most part and involved in every play. I loved it.

 

[dawson5]

My youngest son is a catcher and this year will pitch. He is 12. Our league has a max number of innings a game and max per week. I want to say four innings in a game and six innings in a week, but that might have been AA. Our innings are seven long.

When he first expressed an interest in pitching, we found a training facility for him to go to. He spent a year in lessons, but our thinking was that if he was taught correctly, he should not injure himself. It also helped build up arm strength. He knows how to pitch but he has never pushed the issue. He made a travel team in the summer and his coach was also his defense coach for football. That coach never knew that he knew how to pitch they needed pitching too.

 

[Katie]

My son started pitching at age 9..He is 15 now. He still pitches...He loves when it's his "turn" to pitch....I am a nervous wreck on those days!

He does a really good job and is pitching this summer for an elite travel team that will travel to several states.

His main issue is when the defense makes an error, he needs to keep his composure and get the next batter.....that is his weakness. I am hoping these PRO coaches this summer can teach him the 'mental" aspect of the game...because physically, he is there....and when things are good he is GREAT...but when the defense makes some errors...he starts to overthrow and get frustrated.


My advise to you..is buy some gum...so you can chew while he pitches and relieve some nervous energy!

It takes a special self-confident person to pitch....but it can do wonders for them!

Good Luck!

 

[Katie]

and ditto on the PITCH count...doesn't how many INNINGS he throws..it's how many PITCHES he pitches.....

Keep track!

Also you said he catches....when my son was that age. He caught when he wasn't pitching....with age, he decided that was not a good idea...because he was still throwing the ball ( i know, it's a different "throw" and different muscles)...but, when he stopped catching and went to 3rd or 1st base, his speed increased on his pitching.

When they are young, all the pitches they need are a fastball and a change-up! Last year, he started a four pitch line up...fastball, changeup, slider and a "knuckle"curve......but he was 14 and 6'foot tall!

 

[Promomx2]

Ice Packs!! If you cen get him in the habit of icing down his arm after pitching, that would be great. And don't forget to "breathe" Mom when he's pitching. My ds is 15 and has been pitching since he was 10. Dd is a fanatic about watching his pitch count and taking him to a trainer but I still cringe and beam with pride everytime he pitches. Especially when he strikes out the really big hitters, he's the smallest and about 1/2 the weight of some of the other players. And take lots of pix.

 

[tar heel]

Both of my younger sons pitched some, and it's the most painful thing I've ever done in kids' sports as a mom. Your child is in on every play and what he does determines a lot of what goes on in the game. 11-year-olds tend not to be Cy Young winners, and even the best ones have some painful innings or even games...

Good luck to him . . . and you!

 

[rgf207]

I dont have any children but I played baseball for 5 years when I was young. I played up through little league. I wanted to try out pitching and the coach let me. My first time pitching I hit 3 batters with the ball. The coach was nice enough to let me try again. I ended up pitching a 1 hitter that game. For the entire rest of the season I only allowed 2 runs to score. It was great. Tell your son to go for it. I found my knack. I was never a good batter. I was hit by a pitch on my first time ever at bat and I was scared of the ball after that. Pitching boosted my confidence.

 

[iwrbnd]

I've had 2 boys that pitch. I agree on not letting them hurt their arm. I have a 14 year old that was icing his last night after practice because he threw too hard and is out of shape from winter. I also worried about them getting hurt from a hard hit! It is fun when they can save a game or make a great strike out!

 

[krcit]

Good luck to your ds! My ds is playing ball for the second year...I don't think he's going to be the next david wright but so far he is having fun and doing ok. The coach is having them all try pitching tomorrow at practice. My oldest dd pitched fast pitch for a few years. She was pretty good but the pressure was too much for her and she now plays outfield. It was nerve wracking watching her pitch She just went to the Dr for her annual check-up and they said she has a touch of scoliosis probably from using her pitching arm so much

 

[bored]

Please be vigilent about pitch counts and proper warmup for a kid that young. I pitched thru high school and it only took one time of not properly warming up to still have arm pain when I toss the ball around with my DD 18 years later.