Six Pitching Rules To Live By
Here are my own six points to follow when working with pitchers.
1. Practice outside of practice - This is essential with any position in any sport. The winners put in the time, losers just show up for practice
2. Repetition - A pitchers mechanics should be the same every pitch. Consistency is the key to success. Consistency comes from repetition which comes from point number one.
3. Mechanics - If points one and two are being done, a pitchers mechanics will continue to refine. When you as a coach have to call time to talk to your pitcher who can't seem to find the strike zone, the first step is not to stress throwing strikes. The first step is to have him focus on his mechanics during each pitch and not worry about balls and strikes. If he focuses on his mechanics and finds a rhythm, the strikes will come.
4. Have a Short Memory- there is not much more to say about this point. You can't change the past, so why worry about it.
5. Focus- A pitcher should always be focused on the next pitch, not the ball that should have been a strike, or the home run he just gave up (see point four). The pitch you aren't focused on will usually have a negative result.
6. Never Show Emotion - Whether the pitcher is happy or mad, never show it on the mound, especially when he is upset. Once the batter and the opposing team realize that the pitcher is upset or frustrated, they own him. They will be more selective in their pitches and force the pitcher to throw good hittable strikes.
1. Practice outside of practice - This is essential with any position in any sport. The winners put in the time, losers just show up for practice
2. Repetition - A pitchers mechanics should be the same every pitch. Consistency is the key to success. Consistency comes from repetition which comes from point number one.
3. Mechanics - If points one and two are being done, a pitchers mechanics will continue to refine. When you as a coach have to call time to talk to your pitcher who can't seem to find the strike zone, the first step is not to stress throwing strikes. The first step is to have him focus on his mechanics during each pitch and not worry about balls and strikes. If he focuses on his mechanics and finds a rhythm, the strikes will come.
4. Have a Short Memory- there is not much more to say about this point. You can't change the past, so why worry about it.
5. Focus- A pitcher should always be focused on the next pitch, not the ball that should have been a strike, or the home run he just gave up (see point four). The pitch you aren't focused on will usually have a negative result.
6. Never Show Emotion - Whether the pitcher is happy or mad, never show it on the mound, especially when he is upset. Once the batter and the opposing team realize that the pitcher is upset or frustrated, they own him. They will be more selective in their pitches and force the pitcher to throw good hittable strikes.
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