Recording on Video - DIY (Do It Yourself)!

This is not going to be a pitch for any particular electronics company. I am just an instructor trying to utlize modern technology for the benefit improving young pitchers. This being said, I'd like to talk about the good things having a camera can do for parents, coaches and players in making a better pitcher.

I have spent a good part of the winter lessons with my video camera watching many pitchers throw from various angles in an attempt to help them better understand and learn what works best for each of them. Many coaches have used video to enhance their teaching ability, I have found this to be the case with my pitchers.

How do you best utilize the video?

1. There is value to on the spot feedback, that is, take footage and replay in on the camera immediately following the pitch. Pitchers focus on the proper form because they know the camera "doesn't lie". I know I often keep my video camera in my pocket and pull it out when needed for emphasis of a point or a change in mechanics.

2. Burn various sessions and outings on a DVD. A great way to build a library of you and your work. Also helpful to compare poor outings or slumps to video of better times as a way of getting back into the groove. It works wonders! But you need to use it often, not only when you throw that shutout!

3. Recording video to send to a coach, scout, or recruiter- a major sign of modern college athletics. there are companies who, for a fee, will record a pitcher in practice or game action. Recorded action can be converted to a beautifully crafted recruiting DVD which can be sent and viewed by many coaches. If you have the ability to digitally record and create a disc, you have everything you need, so DO IT YOURSELF! Enjoy sharing the time together, after all you are making memories by recording, keep the stress levels down. Many, many college coaches will appreciate less "bells and whistles" and more "substance" from you personally. It begins to tell them more about you as a hard working, driven, do it yourself kind of athlete who can achieve success with little or no help.

4. Long Distance Coaching - the digital age now affords people like me to coach people like you from anywhere in the world. A simple upload of footage can enable a coach to view an athlete and offer strong constructive feedback, especially when it comes to the "meat and potatoes" of pitching - balance, rhythm, and timing. I know I have been able to study the movement of a pitcher and solve many control issues by closely studying the movement of the pitcher through the complete delivery. The beauty of this is also in the video feedback you can recieve from your instructor, something you can download and save as a constant reminder and confidence builder throughout your baseball career. Try it sometime, you will be pleasantly surprised with the results!

Catch the Ball - Throw the Ball

As you get to the higher levels of play ( i.e. HS Varsity, Travel Teams, AAU, College, Professional, etc.) you will find certain common themes:

1. You are EXPECTED to be ready to play from the first day of practice. This means off season and between game workouts are very important.

2. The fundamentals of the game never change, the amount of time you PRACTICE THE FUNDAMENTALS must increase if you want to remain successful.

3. Mental strength is increasingly more important with every step up the baseball ladder. To get mentally tough, see item 2.

4. You are in charge of you.....no one else is responsible for what you do on the field. The sooner you play like this the sooner your advancement will come. Don't make excuses.

5. It's a simple game that looks easy - catch it, throw it, hit it - but it looks easiest for the players who work at it the hardest.

I always tell my pitchers that you are a work in progress, not everyone will have the same timetable to their ultimate success on the field. DON'T CREATE A DEADLINE TO YOUR SUCCESS - DO CREATE A NEVER QUIT ATTITUDE. Deadlines can be missed due to outside circumstances. Not meeting your deadline can cause you to give up much too soon. Hard work has no deadline, it only has rewards.

Worried About Tryouts

I talked with a concerned parent yesterday. High School practice has begun and his son was not invited to pitchers and catchers week. This, understandably, concerned him because the player has been a solid contributor for the first two years of high school and was thought to be a candidate to be a varsity player this year - at least in a JV and Varsity combined role. What I didn't understand was the comment that his son was seemingly letting down and resgining himself to maybe not making it in favor of other, less successful players.
Rule 1, only worry about you. Past performance can sometimes help a player get an extra look from the coaches. But not all coaches are basing their decisions on statistics. What they may be doing during the early practice season is look at other players for specific reasons. Don't take it personally, as hard as this may be.
Rule 2, work as hard as you possibly can at this point because you can handle success and failure better knowing you did everything possible to make the team. One thing is for certain, if you give up and go through the motions with a half hearted effort, you will have half a chance to make the team.
Rule 3, coaches don't cut you - YOU cut you. Work hard to never let this happen! It takes discpline.

Some of you will not have to worry about making the team. You maybe be very good and established or you may have a program with very few players trying out. This doesn't give you a pass to not improve your game. Take pride to be the best you can be. It's worth it and others will notice.

Pitching and Fitness

Why do pitchers need to keep their bodies in peak condition?

This week I have taken many of the older pitchers I have and have gone through a workout where they throw either 30, 40, or 50 consecutive fastballs as a test of their stamina as well as a good strengthening workout for the arm. Most of the sessions I conduct will always have breaks after 8 or 10 pitches, so going straight out for 50 can truly test your body.

What I found is that most of the pitchers who are not yet into pitching shape shape lose their control after 15 - 25 pitches. The players who have kept their conditioning level up through the winter maintain their location into the 35-40 pitch range. This does not mean anything as to who is a better pitcher, all of these guys will be ready by season's opening. It DOES show how body fitness plays a large part in COMMAND of your pitches.

Another interesting finding came from these "power" workouts. After the fastballs are thrown we take a short (2-3 minute) break and do some other skill work like fielding, pickoffs, and throwing the off-speed pitches followed by a final set of "simulated batters". Here we run some counts as if we were in a game scenario. It is AMAZING to see the fit pitchers, after the grueling workout, finish with IMPECCABLE CONTROL! This can be attributed to the quicker recovery time for the body in the highly fit pitchers. Think about getting yourself in the best shape possible this year. Whether its running a bit more, doing some drills (lunges, pickups, sprints) or incorporating a properly supervised strengthening program, you will see great benefits in your own pitching success!