[kdolphan13]

Working with my 13 year old daughter over the winter on her mechanics. (Reinforcing her coach's advice and training.)  She is a beginner (this will be her second year pitching.)  She has developed a bad habit of arching her back/leaning backwards as she pushes off the rubber - moving towards the powerline - raising the ball up/towards the catcher.  This causes her arm to go over her head and she is releasing the ball from behind/around her hip. 

Any drills to help correct this before we start-up with her lessons again in three weeks?

Thanks in advance for your time and advice.

[bill]

Given your description of what she is doing there isn't much I can suggest except that I think you are on the wrong track regarding mechanics, at least the mechanics I teach. Leaping and jumping and power lines and all that " speed stuff" are garbage and have very little to do with getting "good" batters out. This kind of stuff just sells DVDs and lets less than knowledgeable  pitching coaches make a few bucks in the back yard.

You seem stuck on Body Power Mechanics instead of the basic goal of doing what it takes to compete with a tool box of pitches and location combinations to get people out. From what you tell me your daughter probably pitches in some pain and at 13 what she appears to be doing is sure to take her body apart joint by joint.

You need to step back and ask your self th question as to why pitching performance at all levels across the country is in decline .. Could it be the high profile styles and teachers don't know what they are doing when it comes to this kind of bio mechanical instruction and that there are as many styles of mechanics as their are girls .

Bottom line your kids is off balance and her timing is disrupted as she apparently tries to muscle the ball

Coach Redmer

[kdolphan13]

Thanks, Bill.  You are right about being off-balance and muscling the ball.  We took a few steps back and are on the right road now.  Thanks for your advice.