Tools to Teach 9 and 10 Year-Olds to Pitch

Guidelines

• TheCompletePitcher.com gives specific pitch-count guidelines for players 8 to 10 years old. These athletes should not pitch more than two games a week, 52 pitches per game. Recovery time suggestions: one day of rest for 21 pitches; two days for 34 pitches; three days for 43 pitches; and four days for 51 pitches. In addition, 9-year-old players should learn to pitch fastballs only, while 10- to 13-year-old pitchers can begin learning to pitch a change-up but must first master the fastball.

Pre-game Warmup

• While TheCompletePitcher.com says stretching is necessary to heat up the muscle, Pitching.com cites a 2008 article in the New York Times that suggests stretching decreases velocity and increases injury risk. Other basic pregame routines include a light jog and and playing pitch and catch.

Setup and Windup

• Demonstrate the basic mechanics of a pitch, starting with the setup and the windup. Let the child mimic your actions, and critique his movements. Have the child stand comfortably with his feet shoulder-width apart. For the windup, have the child keep his arms close to his body, take a slight rocking step backward with the leg opposite his pitching arm and place his other foot parallel to the pitching rubber. Have the child then lift -- not swing -- his rocking leg into a waist-high balanced position with his toe pointing down. Encourage the child to stay on the ball of his grounded foot and to keep his head and hands still, TheCompletePitcher.com says.

Stride

• Show the child how to allow gravity to guide her toward the catcher. Instruct the child not to lean forward and to try to point her toes toward the catcher during this transition time between the windup and the throw.

Throw

• Have the child start the throw by extending his pitching arm back, elbow at shoulder height and hand beyond, or outside of, the elbow. The angle of the arm should be greater than 90 degrees. At the start of the throw, have the child extend the gloved hand away from his body, and as the throw progresses, bring it back directly into his chest. Instruct the child to keep his fingers at the top of the ball and whip the throwing arm "downhill." Compare the beginning and ending arm positions of the whipping motion to the positions on a clock, starting at 11 and ending at 5 on the outside of the arm's opposite knee. After the ball is released, have the child square up into a good fielding position in case a ball is hit toward the mound.

Methods for Success

• When teaching pitching mechanics and techniques, use positive reinforcement and patience, simple key words, visual examples, focused instruction and repetition. Children respond better to words they understand as well as positive words of encouragement rather than yelling or criticism. Children often can learn by example, so demonstrating a technique can be more effective then explaining it. Repetitive practice will help the child absorb what he has been taught, as children often do not remember all of their instructions the first time. If you get stuck, consult a pitching coach.

Drills

• Pitching drills can help your child improve different components of her pitching. First, try a balancing drill to help the child with the initial pitch position. Have the child lift the leg opposite her pitching arm and try to hold the one-legged position for as long as she can. Another drill that encourages precision and accuracy is a target exercise. Either provide a target with X's marked where a typical child's chest and head would be, or have two children throw to each other. If the child hits at the head, or the top X, he gets three points, and if he hits at the chest, or the bottom X, he gets one point. Time the exercise to determine how fast the child gets 21 points.