What to Look For in a Quality Pitching Coach

One of the biggest frustrations many parents and coaches share is the lack of teaching talent and many philosophies pitching instructors seem to have these days. There are many theories out there that arent proven. Can you teach each pitcher the same way and clone them? The answer is no, you cannot.

Here is a small list of things you should do when looking for a quality instructor in your area.

First of all, if the pitching coach has spent some time in the Major Leagues, Rookie ball and so on, do not assume they know what they are talking about. There are many who have natural talent with incredible arms, however most dont know the first thing about pitching mechanics; they only know what has worked for them. What has worked for them may not work for you. Everyone is build differently and not all of us share the same arm slot.

Is your pitching instructor a good educator? What experience do they have instructing? Some of the best coaches in Major League and collegiate sports didnt have the best success on the field, however they are better teachers. I have done pitching camps with some retired Major League pitchers and found that they hadnt the slightest clue how to teach even the most basic fundamentals of pitching. They may have a great deal of knowledge; in fact, I know they do; they just dont have the ability to share that knowledge to Little Leaguers, High School Level Players and Collegiate athletes.

Steer clear of the pitching coaches who will try and teach your son different off speed pitches before they clearly understand how to throw a fastball utilizing proper mechanics. Until a pitcher understands proper pitching mechanics, they should not be taught any other pitch. When they do understand pitching mechanics and become somewhat consistent with their velocity and control of the fastball, one of the first pitches they should be taught is an effective changeup.

Last but not least; dont take lessons from an instructor who is behind the plate catching for you and trying to instruct at the same time. They are going to be watching the ball, but they will not be watching you closely to see what youre really doing mechanically. They may be able to give you a pointer or two along the way; but they cannot be effective instructors catching for you. They cant see what you are doing out of the corner of their eye.

There are some outstanding instructors out there, dont get me wrong! The great instructors are just difficult to find. Good luck in your pursuit of the perfect pitching instructor.

Tagged with: Baseball

Filed under: Baseball

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