Baseball Pitching Advice for Ages 10 and Under

At this age, most kids starting to pitch are likely put on the mound because they have a strong arm. It is important to provide quality pitching instruction at a young age. This will keep pitchers from falling into bad habits that will be very difficult to break later on. My first piece of advice for pitchers 10 and under is to focus on pitching mechanics and balance. Make sure that the pitcher can slowly and smoothly go through their mechanics on flat ground before putting them on a mound. Smooth mechanics are a key element in pitching. While herky-jerky motion can help with deception and timing later on, it can also lead to inconsistency in throwing strikes and increase the potential for injury. One way to make sure a pitcher has proper balance is to have them freeze in the "crane" position. This is the point where the front leg is raised and the hands are together in front of the chest. A pitcher with proper balance should be able to get into the "crane" position and hold it for ten second without falling over. This can be practiced on flat ground as well. For added difficulty, you can have them slowly bend their back knee and then extend it again. If they are able to balance in the "crane" position for ten seconds and move up and down without falling over, then they are achieving optimal balance in their pitching mechanics.

At this age, the only pitch a child should be worried about is a fastball. This can be done with two or three fingers, depending on the size of the child's hand. Velocity isn't a concern right now as much as good pitching mechanics and being able to consistently throw strikes. A young pitcher should never worry about how hard they are throwing. They should be more concerned that they are throwing without pain and putting the ball where they want it. Let the pitcher choose his or her arm slot, whether it be over the top , 3/4s or even sidearm. It is important to feel comfortable on the mound and letting them throw naturally is a key element of that.