10 Youth Baseball Pitching Drills to Up Your Game

While there are an infinite number of drills youth baseball pitchers can use to improve their game, here are 10 of our favorites.

Introduction

As any baseball coach knows, pitching is one of the most important skills in the game. A good pitcher can be the difference between a win and a loss, and every coach wants their pitchers to be as good as possible.

There are a number of different pitching drills that can be used to improve pitching skills, and in this article we will look at 10 of the best. These drills can be used by young pitchers to improve their accuracy, velocity, and control.

The Mental Game

Any good pitcher knows that a strong Mental Game is just as important as physical ability when it comes to success on the mound. In addition to mastering the basic mechanics of pitching, it’s important to develop a pre-game routine and learn how to control your emotions during a game.

One way to work on your Mental Game is to practice visualization exercises. Visualization can help you relax and focus on the task at hand, and it’s a skill that can be practiced anywhere, at any time.

Here are 10 visualization exercises that every young pitcher should add to their pre-game routine:

1. Visualize yourself Throwing strikes Picture yourself throwing perfect pitches in the strike zone and see the batter swinging and missing.

2. Visualize yourself getting ahead in the count. See yourself throwing first-pitch strikes, and imagine the batter getting frustrated as they fall behind in the count.

3. Visualize yourself working out of tough situations. See yourself pitching with runners on base, and imagine making key pitches to get out of jams.

4. Visualize yourself pitching in big games. Picture yourself pitching in front of a packed stadium, and feel the excitement and adrenaline rush that comes with performing on a big stage.

5. Visualize your perfect delivery. See yourself executing your pitch from start to finish, from the windup or stretch position all the way through your follow-through. Pay attention to every detail, from your grip on the ball to your release point to where you want the pitch to end up.

6. Visualize making adjustments during a game. See yourself spotting hitters’ weaknesses and making adjustments on the fly, whether it’s changing speeds or locations or mixing up your pitches.

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Pitching Mechanics

To have success on the pitcher’s mound, it’s important to have sound mechanics. That means repeating the same delivery over and over again so your body becomes accustomed to the motion. It also means throwing with proper form to avoid injury and increase accuracy. Here are 10 pitching drills that can help you develop good mechanics.

1. Wrist Snap Drill
This drill is designed to help you develop a quick wrist snap on your pitches. Start by holding the ball in your glove in front of your body. Keeping your elbow close to your side, snap your wrist so the ball pops out of your glove and into the air. Catch the ball and repeat the motion 10 times.

2. Coin Drill
The Coin Drill is a great way to work on your follow-through and ensure that you’re finishing your pitch correctly. To do this drill, simply place a coin on the ground near the back of your pitching rubber. As you make your pitch, focus on keeping your head down until the coin is no longer visible. If you lift your head too soon, you’ll know because the coin will still be in view when you release the ball Do 10 pitches from each of two different locations (one from the middle of the rubber and one from the back corner) for a total of 20 pitches.

3 Distance Drill
This drill is all about arm strength and control. To do it, set up two cones or chairs approximately 30 feet apart from each other. Start at one cone and throw to the other, focusing on throwing with as much velocity as you can while still maintaining accuracy. Once you reach the second cone, turn around and throw back to the first cone without stopping. Do three sets of 10 throws from each location for a total of 60 throws per session

4 Bunting Drill
The Bunting Drill is designed to help pitchers improve their control while also working on their pick-off move to first base. To set up this drill, all you need is a catcher and a first baseman (you can also use a coach or parent). The catcher should set up behind home plate as usual while the first baseman takes position near first base like he would during a game situation . The pitcher will then come set on the mound like he would during his windup before delivering a pitch . However, instead of throwing to home plate he will simply bunt toward first base . The play should be dead once contact is made; no base runners should be used for this drill . After bunting 10 times , move back 10 feet closer to home plate and repeat

5 Pickoff Move Drill
This drill focuses exclusively on perfecting your pickoff move . As with The Bunting Drill , all you need for this one is a catcher and first baseman (or coach/parent) . Set up like you’re going to start a game with both fielders in their usual positions; however , instead of starting his windup , The pitcher should come set position like he’s going to bunt before quickly turning his body toward first base in an attempt to pick off the runner . Again , play should be dead once contact is made with no runners being used ; just focus on making smooth, accurate throws . After picking off 10 times from each side foot (20 total) , move back 5 feet closer to home plate click here

Strength and Conditioning

The off-season is the perfect time to focus on Strength and Conditioning for your young baseball player By incorporating some of these 10 youth baseball pitching drills into their training regimen, they’ll be sure to come back next season stronger and more prepared than ever before.

1. Arm Circles
One of the most basic youth baseball pitching drills, arm circles are designed to warm up the shoulder muscles and get the blood flowing. have your child stand with their feet shoulder-width apart and their arms out to their sides at shoulder height. From there, have them slowly make small circles with their arms, working up to larger ones. After about 30 seconds, reverse the direction of the circles.

2. Trunk Twists
Another easy drill, trunk twists help loosen up the muscles in the core and Lower back Have your child stand with their feet shoulder width apart and their hands behind their head. From there, have them twist at the waist from side to side, maintaining a tall posture throughout. After about 30 seconds, have them stop and take a few deep breaths before repeating the exercise.

3. Squats
Squats are a great way to build lower-body strength, which is key for pitchers who need to generate power from their legs when they throw. Have your child stand with their feet shoulder-width apart and their hands behind their head. From there, have them squat down until their thighs are parallel with the ground before standing back up. Be sure to keep their chest up and back straight throughout the exercise. Repeat for 3-5 sets of 10-12 reps each.

4. Lunges
Lunges are another great exercise for building lower-body strength while also helping improve balance and coordination. Start by having your child take a large step forward with one leg before lowering their body down so both legs are bent at 90 degrees. Be sure to keep their front knee from going over their toes as they lower down. Once they reach the bottom of the lunge, have them push off with their front leg to return to the starting position before repeat lunging with the other leg forward. Repeat for 3-5 sets of 10-12 reps per leg.”

Nutrition

As a young athlete it’s important to fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to perform at its best. Eating a balanced diet is key, but there are also specific foods that can help improve your performance on the diamond. Here are 10 youth baseball pitching drills to up your game.

1. Eat breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s especially important for athletes. Eating a nutritious breakfast will give you the energy you need to perform your best.

2. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is essential for all athletes, but it’s especially important for pitchers. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and even more on days when you’re pitching.

3. Eat complex carbs before games. Complex carbs like oatmeal, whole grain bread, and sweet potatoes are great for giving your body sustained energy throughout the game. Avoid simple carbs like candy, cookies, and cake, which will give you a quick burst of energy followed by a crash.

4. Eat protein after games. Protein helps repair and rebuild muscles, so be sure to eat some after games or practices. Good sources of protein include chicken, fish, tofu, beans, lentils, and quinoa.

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Recovery

After throwing each pitch, it is important for the pitcher to immediately recover and be ready to field their position. In order to properly recover, pitchers should:
-Come set (feet together, weight on the balls of their feet, glove in front of their chest)
-Get their throws off as quickly as possible
-Maintain good balance in their windup and delivery
-Use a quick pitch count

Arm Care

One of the most important aspects of pitching is arm care. These 10 youth baseball pitching drills will help keep your arm healthy and strong so you can pitch your best.

1. Wrist Flips – This drill helps to loosen up the wrist and get blood flowing to the hand.

2. Arm Circles – This drill helps to stretch out the shoulder muscles and get blood flowing to the shoulder.

3. Backward Throw – This drill helps to stretch out the chest muscles and get blood flowing to the front of the shoulder.

4. Tricep Pushdowns – This drill helps to strengthen the triceps muscle and prevent injury.

5. Bicep Curls – This drill helps to strengthen the biceps muscle and prevent injury.

6. Shoulder Presses – This drill helps to strengthen the deltoid muscle and prevent injury.

7. External Rotation – This drill helps to stretch out the rotator cuff muscles and get blood flowing to the shoulder joint

8. Internal Rotation – This drill helps to stretch out the rotator cuff muscles and get blood flowing to the shoulder joint.

9. Pendulum Swing – This drill helps to loosen up the spine and get blood flowing to the back muscles.

Pitching Drills

Pitching is a critical Art of Baseball and if you want to up your game, you need to put in the work. Fortunately, there are a number of different pitching drills you can do to improve your accuracy, control, and velocity. Below are 10 drills that will help you take your pitching to the next level.

Game Strategy

You’ve put in the work all season, now it’s time to fine tune your skills so you can be at your best when it matters most. These 10 pitching drills will help give you an edge on the competition.

1. Get in your stance and go through your motion without the ball to help you get a feel for proper timing and body positioning.
2. For added resistance and improved strength, try using a weight vest or dumbbells while working on your mechanics.
3. Perfect your delivery by practicing in front of a mirror or filming yourself so you can analyze and make adjustments to your technique.
4. Work on different pitches in addition to your fastball to keep hitters off balance, including a changeup, curveball, or slider.
5. Incorporate movement into your pitches by throwing from different arm angles or using a cut fastball that breaks late and inside to right-handed hitters.
6. Use a weighted baseball or Soft toss drill to get a better feel for the release point and follow-through of your pitches.
7. bullpen sessions should be focused on quality over quantity – throw each pitch with conviction and focus on hitting your target rather than just getting up reps.
8. build up arm strength and stamina by gradually increasing the number of pitches you throw in each bullpen session or live batting practice outing.
9._ ______________________________ between innings to stay loose and prevent stiffness from setting in during long games._
10._ ______________________________ after each pitching appearance to help reduce soreness and promote recovery._

Conclusion

As a pitcher, you need to have proper pitching mechanics in order to be successful on the mound. You also need to be able to control your pitches and have good command of the strike zone These 10 Youth Baseball pitching drills will help you improve your pitching skills and help you become a more successful pitcher.