How would travel ball change "If pitchers were put on a pitch count"?

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Jun 8, 2016
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Now i see people willing to spend lots of $$$$
Yet not spend time to make the $$$$ spent quality time.
You are not going to get an argument from me regarding people not willing to put in the work. That said, a part of getting better is playing high quality competition and in 2021 that usually involves $$$$ 🤷‍♂️
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
Thread topic!
Appreciate that!

It's a difficult Topic in that
While I do appreciate diversity, in that i recognize its ok to not have the same goals.
Just hope that whatever others plans are they enjoy it and have the best experience they are seeking.
At the same time that I get to have the opportunity to enjoy what I want to do, on the level I want to do it at.😎
 
Oct 9, 2018
396
63
Texas
Can you explain how the current system discourages coaches from developing pitchers?

being that i do teach softball,
I Know no matter how much instruction i offer, my time & effort teaching...
Not much would matter unless
'The individual student applys themself'

How does the system affect that?

Agree with @pattars comment!
If i may gleen from it there is some difference now in what folks do with there own time.
My example, never had lessons.
At a young age on my own i made up drills and trained myself.
Rode my bike or got a ride to go catch for pitchers at there lessons.
Actually developed an entire mechanics workout and as it turns out have been teaching it for over 30 years.wa
Because of effort i grew my skills.
Not because of
West has already answered this question very well but I will add just a bit more.

How this system discourages pitching growth.

1. Fastpitch is played in age groups of 2 years. The age range makes it difficult to stay the best option for a coach since every other year you may be competing against someone years older.
2. Weekend Tournaments. . Whole weekend tournaments are like final exams at school but you do not get the daily quiz's to show where you needed to work. Pitching is a skill that needs thoughtful repetition that is daily honed. It is hard to review how well you pitched when tournaments are structured like a marathon. Fatigue is a real issue that limits performance.
3. Travel teams gathering from long distances. The pitcher will most likely spend more time traveling for softball than practicing pitching. Time wasted.
4. Pick up players in travel ball. On any given weekend circle time could change depending on the coaches outlook that week.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
West has already answered this question very well but I will add just a bit more.

How this system discourages pitching growth.

1. Fastpitch is played in age groups of 2 years. The age range makes it difficult to stay the best option for a coach since every other year you may be competing against someone years older.
2. Weekend Tournaments. . Whole weekend tournaments are like final exams at school but you do not get the daily quiz's to show where you needed to work. Pitching is a skill that needs thoughtful repetition that is daily honed. It is hard to review how well you pitched when tournaments are structured like a marathon. Fatigue is a real issue that limits performance.
3. Travel teams gathering from long distances. The pitcher will most likely spend more time traveling for softball than practicing pitching. Time wasted.
4. Pick up players in travel ball. On any given weekend circle time could change depending on the coaches outlook that week.
*None of that accounts for individual preparation.
Or lack of.
Most/Many Coaches don't know how to develop pitchers.
So they pick up what they can.
Perhaps if coaches could develop pitchers that may help.
But time is still a huge factor!


1. Talent is talent regardless of age or size.
2. Yes there are tournaments that are optional in a teams schedule. Because thats usually goals for teams.
And have different levels to play..
3.yes lol its travel ball
4.yep integrity is part of all situations in life.
 
Last edited:
Jun 26, 2019
256
43
The question specifies travel ball, but I will talk about rec ball and will explain why I feel it is relevant

For further consideration: in a weekly rec league most teams can get by with one primary pitcher and a second who is a big step down in ability. If a pitch count were able to get a second or third girl regular innings at the 10 or 12u level, i think more will stick with it. I think alot of the girls at 10 and 12u that give pitching a quick try give up to early before they really know where they will end up. They get bored and quit because they do not have the attention span yet to apply pitching instruction (from wherever that may be coming from) i think if we delay a few more girls from quitting for another season or two I think it will be good for the game. That “should” lead to more kids being serious about pitching and moving on to travel ball. Would it work that way? I dunno, but thats my thoughts
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
The question specifies travel ball, but I will talk about rec ball and will explain why I feel it is relevant

For further consideration: in a weekly rec league most teams can get by with one primary pitcher and a second who is a big step down in ability. If a pitch count were able to get a second or third girl regular innings at the 10 or 12u level, i think more will stick with it. I think alot of the girls at 10 and 12u that give pitching a quick try give up to early before they really know where they will end up. They get bored and quit because they do not have the attention span yet to apply pitching instruction (from wherever that may be coming from) i think if we delay a few more girls from quitting for another season or two I think it will be good for the game. That “should” lead to more kids being serious about pitching and moving on to travel ball. Would it work that way? I dunno, but thats my thoughts
That could be a good place to start. Unfortunately the good pitchers that come out of Rec tend to leave Rec early and partially it's because of the pitching restrictions. Where they only get to throw six outs or something like that. 10u?
And 10u travel evolved.
 
Jun 26, 2019
256
43
That could be a good place to start. Unfortunately the good pitchers that come out of Rec tend to leave Rec early and partially it's because of the pitching restrictions. Where they only get to throw six outs or something like that. 10u?
And 10u travel evolved.
I didn’t know anyone was doing pitching restrictions at any level in softball. Is that common out west? Or just a few leages?
I was also going to ask what restrictions should be if they are enacted. So many pitches per day? Per game might be interesting… per tournament?
Also, I dont see anything unfortunate with pitchers leaving rec and playing travel. The more kids that get quality basic pitching instructions the better, I really dont care how they get it, older sister, friend of a friend of a friend, a volunteer older girl helping the younger ones. The problem I see is that it is hard to get a girl started without telling mom and dad they need to drive an hour and pay for lessons. Seems to me the vast majority of girls never get the instruction to even have a chance to be successful, wether its them not wanting itt bad enough soon enough or mom and dad not knowing or not wanting to put in the time or effort.
 
Last edited:
Oct 14, 2019
897
93
In Babe Ruth rec ball in central Florida, pitchers limited to 3 innings per game in fall ball to encourage use of more than one pitcher.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
I didn’t know anyone was doing pitching restrictions at any level in softball. Is that common out west? Or just a few leages?
I was also going to ask what restrictions should be if they are enacted. So many pitches per day? Per game might be interesting… per tournament?
Rec city league that i know of.

Enforcing anything like that in travel would need to be worked out.
Honor system wont do it lol
 
Jun 26, 2019
256
43
Enforcing anything like that in travel would need to be worked out.
Honor system wont do it lol
How do they do it in youth baseball? I have not been around youth baseball since I was a youth, for reference when I was a kid, we all fought over who could play center field, because Kirby Puckett was THE MAN!
 

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