Pitcher: _____________________________________ Fastball: _______ Change up: _______ Curve: _______

Pitching Limitations
Pitch counts should be monitored and regulated in youth baseball. Recommended limits for youth pitchers are as follows:

Recommended limits for 9-10 year old pitchers: o 50 pitches per game o 75 pitches per week o 1000 pitches per season o 2000 pitches per year Recommended limits for 11-12 year old pitchers: o 75 pitches per game o 100 pitches per week o 1000 pitches per season o 3000 pitches per year Recommended limits for 13-14 year old pitchers: o 75 pitches per game o 125 pitches per week o 1000 pitches per season o 3000 pitches per year

**http://www.asmi.org/asmiweb/usabaseball.htm

Pitching Suggestions
Goal3 pitches to get an out (strikeout, groundout, fly out) Goal1st pitch strike!!! MentallyNot enough time for frustration, only time for adjustments Confidence/Body languageconfidence that you are going to throw a strike each time; positive body language (team mates feed off of you); focus on what you can control (ump determines strike zone---make the adjustment) Beat the best hitters with your best pitchif you have a great inside fastball and the hitter is a great inside fastball hitter, attack with your best pitch rather than trying to beat him with your 2nd or 3rd best pitch. Tempoyou can control pace of the game, throw strikes but have a good tempo Icetake care of your arm (shoulder and elbow) HAVE FUN!!!!

Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical.

Yogi Berra

Mechanics 101
***These are recommendations on how to put your body into the best position to throw strikes consistently. There are many theories and beliefs. Again, this is just a recommendation.

Stance
Head centered over belly button. Tall, athletic stance. Eyes focused on catcher. Relax, breathe and balance

Glove square to target. Just below or even with chin.

Body square to target. Weight even on both legs.

Balls of feet rest on front of the rubber. Weight should be balanced

Rocker Step
Head still and over center of body (belly button) Little movement by head or glove. Should be focused on catchers glove.

While taking rocker step back, pitchers head should stay over the pivot foot. Shouldnt lean way back or bend way back at hips.

Rocker step is a short step back (4 to 6 inches). Weight is being transferred onto the rocker foot. This will allow the pivot foot to be picked up, pivoted and placed parallel in front of the rubber.

Balance
Eyes track target entire time. Focus on one spot and stay focused on it all the way through pitch.

Shoulders level and in straight line to plate. Dont coil or turn shoulders away from target. Front shoulder is like a laser site to the target Front hip direct line to target. Front knee at least waist high. Minimum of 90 degrees.

Front foot, directly under knee. Toe pointed downward. This lets the knee go higher and also let pitcher land on ball of his foot

Posting foot, parallel to rubber. Weight on ball of foot. Cant balance with weight on heel.

Posting leg straight with knee slightly flexed and braced to balance/stabilize your body. Cant balance on a straight, locked out knee.

Hand Separation
Break hands in center of body.

Eyes on target. Head level and over belly button. Back straight Glove side elbow like laser sight to target. Lead with elbow. Glove will follow.

As hands break out of the glove, the move down, back and up like a pendulum. Hand start close to body and elbows lift them away.

Fingers on top of ball when coming out of the glove.

Front foot leads your knee. You knee leads your hip. Your hip leads your shoulder as you move sideways towards your target.

Front toe points down.

Power L
Eyes at target, head over belly button.

Body in closed position when plant foot lands. Back leg should be fully extended.

Throwing hand should be hat high, fingers on top of ball, pointing towards center field. Throwing arm flexed and somewhat resembles the letter L. Glove elbow and throwing elbow should be on the same, level plane. Shoulders closed. Glove shoulder/elbow like a laser sight to target. Glove thumb pointing towards ground. Whole torso should be square to third base.

Lower half of body should be facing 3rd base. Front knee has slight flex.

Front foot slightly closed on landing. Foot flat with weight on ball of foot.

When front foot lands, back foot in contact with rubber still.

Square
Shoulders square, eyes on target, head over belly button still. Elbow-minimumshoulder high. Fingers on top of ball. Hand slightly outside of elbow.

Glove hand in front, tucked. Into body not flying out to the side or down towards the waist. Hips are square to target like head and shoulders.

Pivot foot should be in contact with rubber and ground. This helps the back side of the body stay balanced.

Front knee is flexed but able to stabilize the bodys torque/rotation towards the target.

Plant foot still has weight on ball of foot.

Finish
Throwing hands finishes outside of opposite pocket. Eyes on target. Chin is up, making the head flat and level on top.

Should be able to field a ground ball. When trail leg comes around, we should be in a fielding position.