Throwing Guidelines

Coaches,

I throw a lot with my 12 year old. We long toss and throw for accuracy as well. He has plenty of arm strength. I don't allow much pitching at all.

Can you share a good outline of a throwing program. We throw almost every day. He's never sore and only once in a great while do I notice a little "tiredness" in his velocity.

How much is too much throwing. What guidelines can you share?

 

I help coach with a middleschool baseball team in Cabarrus County.

As far as throwing goes it depends on if your son is a pitcher or outfielder.As far as pitching start out throwing and work on control then as he gets along better with that then try speed and control.We usually throw our pitchers 60-70 pitches like in a game.Once he has thrown that day then he has to take time off like atleast a couple of days for us.As far as an outfielder start out throwing short and then back up a few feet at a time till your son is loose.Rest your son instead of throwing every single day.Just some of my thoughts.

Coach MIke

 

aguyyouknow
do you want your 12 year old to develop into a pitcher or are you just continuing to build arm strength for position play?

 

Catcher - Corner Guy

coach,
he's primarily a catcher/3B. i let him close games when we need him. he throws 70-72 so that comes in handy but i don't let him start (or pitch all that much).

 

ok.
if he's going to be a c/corner guy you really can't throw to much. long tossing is great. have him focus on keeping the ball on the line, 1 to 2 hops is fine. no rainbows just to get it there.

with pitchers we work really hard on doing a good job of breaking the hands, staying loose, and getting a little length with the arm.

c/if guys just stay short and get rid of it quick.

but even if you start doing some pitching mechanics with him, you can't go wrong doing the basic flat ground mechanics. as long as you stay off the hill, he really won't need much down time. throwing off the mound causes more stress on the shoulder (good mechanics) and elbow (not as good) and thusly needs a little more rest.