Any tips on coaching sidearmers?

[00Dawg]

My boy, who is all of 10, has decided that throwing sidearm just feels better, and I'm not inclined to argue, so we're working on that this summer.
He has potential but until he focuses on the game, he's average at best, so nothing you say here is going to ruin a future major leaguer (or anything close).
Since I didn't pitch and my brothers were all over the top guys, I've started the YouTube and web hunts, but haven't found anything great so far.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Make sure he keeps his pitches down especially against lefties if he's a righthander...

No moment too big for @Tanner_Allen10 pic.twitter.com/MZAHes3tQt— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) June 23, 2021

 

[00Dawg]

I'll admit I laughed.

I do have his target strike zone outline set really low.

 

[missouridawg]

I pitched all growing up and always loved experimenting with stuff (my dad was mostly my coach from 5 through 15 years old, so he was ok with having fun). I vividly remember throwing about 1-2 eephus pitches per game when I was 9 and 10. It almost always worked, too.

In high school, I used a sidearm fastball (well, when I threw it, it wasn't terribly fast) as a way to catch a hitter crowding the plate off guard. I would only do it on 0-2 or 1-2 counts when I had a pitch to waste. I also throw a poor mans knuckle ball in these counts.

My advice would be to give him a "per game" counter and say "you can throw X number of side arm pitches per game" and then track how well he does with it. If he sees success with it, then increase that number. If he doesn't, then decrease the number or cut it out altogether until he gets control of it during practice.

From a mechanics standpoint, most sidearm pitchers have a slightly closed stance when they delivery. I would think you'd want to spend some time working on his plant foot to make sure he's straight to home or slightly closed at release point. Anything with an open stance will be hard to control and likely put some extra stress on his body.

 

[llmsudawg]

my 2 cents:

must develop consistency with arm angle/release point on all pitches and hope he can develop any downward movement (sinker, cutter) either naturally or with particular a grip. Not likely to have a high-end fastball from the side, so movement is always key. keep the spinners/curves at his age to a minimum.

 

[missouridawg]

my 2 cents:

must develop consistency with arm angle/release point on all pitches and hope he can develop any downward movement (sinker, cutter) either naturally or with particular a grip. Not likely to have a high-end fastball from the side, so movement is always key. keep the spinners/curves at his age to a minimum.

Agree on the consistency aspect. And, in my opinion, that will start with balance on the delivery and getting that plant foot in the same spot every time.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Being that young is a great time to teach him to throw as hard as he possibly can unless he is throwing a curveball. For those it’s ok to give up a little speed in order to really torque his elbow and wrist.**
I kid but my dad told me one time in 8th grade that it was OK to attempt throwing as much junk as I wanted because I didn’t throw hard enough to hurt myself and wouldn’t make the high school team next year anyway, so there was no need to save my arm. I love my dad.

 

[missouridawg]

Being that young is a great time to teach him to throw as hard as he possibly can unless he is throwing a curveball. For those it’s ok to give up a little speed in order to really torque his elbow and wrist.**
I kid but my dad told me one time in 8th grade that it was OK to attempt throwing as much junk as I wanted because I didn’t throw hard enough to hurt myself and wouldn’t make the high school team next year anyway, so there was no need to save my arm. I love my dad.

He may have been an *******, but he set you down a path of realistic expectations, which is the largest parenting battle we all face.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

At that age I wouldn't encourage side-arming the ball at all. Maybe 3 quarters possibly, but I would keep him overhead. He needs to develop that baseline arm action.

He can become David Berg later on in high school if he wants.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Ha ha. He wasn’t being an *******. We had just heard one parent ranting about the risk of kids throwing curve balls. He was just telling me not to worry about it and have fun… in the bluntest terms possible. I still laugh about it.

 

[SteelCurtain74]

At that age I wouldn't encourage side-arming the ball at all. Maybe 3 quarters possibly, but I would keep him overhead. He needs to develop that baseline arm action.

He can become David Berg later on in high school if he wants.

I would echo this. I grew up and played with/against Chad Bradford, who played at USM then several years in the majors. He threw overhand the entire time we were growing up. It wasn't until he arrived at USM I believe that he changed his throwing motion to sidearm.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I was a poor excuse for a pitching coach but the best pitch to figure out for a kid is a change up. Most learned the circle change but you have to figure out which one they can throw just the same (or close to) their fast ball. I remember taking one kid from okay to lethal just by adding a change to his two and four finger fastball. Those were his only 3 pitches.

If you can't find one it's ok but he will have a bunch of fun if he can because most kids aren't patient at the plate.

 

[Rhinodawg]

I would echo this. I grew up and played with/against Chad Bradford, who played at USM then several years in the majors. He threw overhand the entire time we were growing up. It wasn't until he arrived at USM I believe that he changed his throwing motion to sidearm.

Nope, Coach Bill Perry had him drop down sidearm his 10th grade year at Byram. I was standing right behind the mound when he did it.

 

[mdndog1966]

My son pitched sidearm in high school. He had already signed for soccer before he got baseball offer. He was self taught but kept working with pressure from different fingers could change direction. If you can find someone that has thrown that way and they can really help out

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Pitching is like golf. There are a thousand little minute movements that effect the final outcome. Going sidearm complicates the Hell out of the idea of using standardized, repeatable mechanics. It's more about feel. Sidearmers are to pitching as Jim Furyk's swing is to golf... It's not very often you can be consistent with that unless your name is Eckersly or Furyk.

Don't tell him what you are doing and go set up a net at 1st base. Go hit him 20 ground balls near the bag at 2nd and tell him to throw to 1st base as accurately as he can. Give a treat/prize for each one he lands in the target. Watch his arm angle. He should pick up the ball and throw it in the most natural slot after a few tosses. You don't want a 10 year old "choosing" to be a sidearm pitcher because he saw it on TV... When I was around 10 I decided my bat should sit on my shoulder when I was hitting because that's what Cal Ripken, JR did... It was not my natural stance and I had the worst year of my little league career, but I thought it was cool.

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If he throws that ball sidearm naturally and more accurately, so be it. Tell him to spend his time on the infield because a quick accurate sidearm release is an asset for a middle infielder. As a pitcher, it's going to be really hard to perform well as a sidearmer as deception is not a big deal for kids, location is the key. From my understanding, most sidearm pitchers were overhanded pitchers that went to it out of near desperation in HS/College/MILB.

From an injury standpoint, overhand is hard on your shoulder and sidearm his hard on your elbow. Being a serial farter around myself, just like Missouridawg, I threw some competitive pitches in high school and legion ball side arm... and it was way more stress on the elbow than a curve or slider. From an injury standpoint, I imagine a kid under 14 would be better off throwing a bunch of hard curveballs or sliders than pitching sidearm.

 

[campshelbydog842003]

I was a poor excuse for a pitching coach but the best pitch to figure out for a kid is a change up. Most learned the circle change but you have to figure out which one they can throw just the same (or close to) their fast ball. I remember taking one kid from okay to lethal just by adding a change to his two and four finger fastball. Those were his only 3 pitches.

If you can't find one it's ok but he will have a bunch of fun if he can because most kids aren't patient at the plate.

You are 100 % correct. A really good change up is the most difficult pitch to hit in baseball and it can be taught and mastered by pretty much anyone.