Machine Pitch or Coach Pitch?

Which do you think is best for 7,8, and 9 year olds? Also, from everything I hear and read, a kid shouldn't start pitching until he's 12 years old. Do you agree with this? If so, why so many recreation leagues and travel ball tournaments have kids pitching at 9 and 10 years old?

 

Pitch if you can throw strikes

Disagree with the non-pitching until 12 yrs of age.....as Braves would say since the age of the caveman kids have started pitching at age 9.

 

Coach Pitch all the way! The kids will have a better feel for the game as they progress! Do not agree with starting kids to pitch at 12. If they do start then, most will be left behind. If you teach them the right mechanics (this is the key) at an early age, then you have a great foundation to grow with. I have never heard of holding a kid back till he's 12 .... when did you get that info! Just curious!

 

Agree with Coach Pitch....the earlier a young player can pick the ball up coming out of your hand the better.

They get to see good pitches and bad (more bad if Braves is pitching) and change of speeds with the coach pitching.

 

As I typically get arrows thrown at me, allow me to clear this misconception up. As stated, players get a better opportunity to pick up the ball released by the hand, I teach them how to get out of the way...a very important learning tool!!!!!

I agree with Coach pitch too! Even with rags arms like Dbacks and Stretchy

 

get rid of the pitching machines

The game is not played with a pitching machine so why use it?

Oh! To let the kids hit and it makes the game funner? Right!

The "machine" is kinda like the internet. It allows us to not have to get off our big fat &#%'s and be humans ie like parents. For that would require us to get up off the couch and go outside and "gosh for bid" play catch with our kids.

For if the kids are required to pitch then they would in turn have had to learn how to play catch. But parents didn't take the time to teach them how to play catch... so roll out the pitching machine so they can hit the ball.

Well if the argument is that, the machine will make the game more interesting because more kids will put the ball in play, then what actually is happening when the ball IS put in play? If there is less emphasis on the catching and throwing part (read pitching ie playing catch), then it takes away from the game. IMO

I guess what Im saying is the machine promotes the wrong concept of the game. The game is fundamentally centered on catching and throwing.

 

Couch potato dad

Son wait for me...I will play catch with you!!!!!

 

Coach pitch all the way....

Nothing beats learning to see the ball out the hand at an early age. Machines are too unpredictable and unreliable. The only problem I see with coach pitch is when the coach floats it in like a slow softball toss....

 

That would be Braves......

 

Coach pitch. I took pitching machines out of our youth league 10 years ago. We did Coach pitch from a minimum of 36 feet, no underhand. You get 7 pitches total. Even if they are all terrible pitches, you only get 7 pitches total and 3 strikes.