Softball pitching

[Anonymous]

12-year-old DD started pitching last year and seems to have some ability. Her coach suggested she start doing private lessons. But between her travel practices and other child’s activities we have no more bandwidth for another thing after school. (We did reach out to the coach he recommended who was 45 min away, cost $90 a lesson and was only free around 430pm- how do people do this?!?!)
Are there things she can be doing at home to improve?

[Anonymous]

I had a pitcher and unfortunately it’s almost impossible to really learn to softball pitch without a private coach. The low cost way to do it is to find a local HS girl who is a pitcher who will do it for more like $40 an hour and be closer. Since HS kids often drive they might even come to you or your local park. Even looking at more “professional” ones, You should also be able to find one that is closer to you. We used a college pitcher from a local college.
There are YouTube videos and of course you can get her a pitching net and a bucket of balls and she can just practice, but you really don’t want her developing bad habits since there’s a lot of muscle memory involved and of course you don’t want her to hurt herself. Be sure she ices her shoulder after training sesssions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a pitcher and unfortunately it’s almost impossible to really learn to softball pitch without a private coach. The low cost way to do it is to find a local HS girl who is a pitcher who will do it for more like $40 an hour and be closer. Since HS kids often drive they might even come to you or your local park. Even looking at more “professional” ones, You should also be able to find one that is closer to you. We used a college pitcher from a local college.
There are YouTube videos and of course you can get her a pitching net and a bucket of balls and she can just practice, but you really don’t want her developing bad habits since there’s a lot of muscle memory involved and of course you don’t want her to hurt herself. Be sure she ices her shoulder after training sesssions.

DO NOT listen to this person. Whilst they likely mean well, they do not know what they are talking about here. It is unnecessary for a softball pitcher to ice after every work out, every game, etc. Source: My daughter has been pitching for 6 years. Her coach is a former DII pitcher. Her pitching coach is a former DI pitcher. NEITHER of them have ever said to ice after every work out.

If you need additional assurance I am correct.

https://fastpitchlane.softballsuccess.com/2019/10/11/softball-pitchers-leave-the-ice-in-the-cooler-mostly/

Additionally, there are other resources online telling you it isn't necessary. My daughter does not, never has in six years, and has never had any issues because of not icing "after every training session. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a pitcher and unfortunately it’s almost impossible to really learn to softball pitch without a private coach. The low cost way to do it is to find a local HS girl who is a pitcher who will do it for more like $40 an hour and be closer. Since HS kids often drive they might even come to you or your local park. Even looking at more “professional” ones, You should also be able to find one that is closer to you. We used a college pitcher from a local college.
There are YouTube videos and of course you can get her a pitching net and a bucket of balls and she can just practice, but you really don’t want her developing bad habits since there’s a lot of muscle memory involved and of course you don’t want her to hurt herself. Be sure she ices her shoulder after training sesssions.

Yeah, the second sentence is clutch here. Learn bad habits = undo over the course of six months to a year, if ever. My daughter first learned outdated pitching mechanics and breaking down and redoing her entire pitch was a slow, painful process.

[Anonymous]

Pitching requires a huge commitment outside of regular practices, expensive private lessons, and extended practices.