So, how can I get Jr. throwing harder??

So the reoccurring theme to many of my post-lesson conversations, talks with dads, or just BS sessions with curious people is this, "so, how can we get him/them to throw harder?"

AHA!  There it is.  You can dance around it all you want, but it's becoming apparent that this is what the "real" concern is.  Well, here's the best I can give you.  I'm going to break this into 2 parts.  The first will cover those inquiries regarding pitchers 13 years old and younger, and the second will be a more general statement geared toward the Jr. High/High School kid and above.

So, dad, your son is 10 and you want him to throw harder!  1.) Throw!  Nothing is going to create arm strength, at an age as early as that, better than throwing.  After a long discussion we both reach the agreement that this is, in fact, the most logical way to achieve more velocity, dad heads off to the field with Jr.  to start heaving balls as far as they can.  Not a bad concept, but it's not that simple.

There are a few things we need to be aware of before we begin our "ball-heaving" endeavor to create better arm strength.  First, and foremost, there is a correct way to throw.  I don't mean that everyone has to throw with the same arm slot, and mechanics.  NO!  We are not robots.  We are individuals, and just like our fingerprints, everyone throws a little bit differently.  What I do mean, is that we must understand HOW to use our body to their full potential.  Once you understand how you body generates power, most efficiently for you, you can then start to implement that into your throwing mechanics.

Maybe you've decided that having a good back-side drive is really going to help you achieve better velocity.  Excellent!  Now you need to learn how to not just create, but develop that, as well.  Here is a link to a quick video demonstration of the Stand Still Drill, which will help you do just that.

We must keep in mind that NOBODY is going to gain any good velocity if they, a) don't know how to use their energy, or b) don't know how to throw, period.  If you start implementing a long toss program without "knowing how to throw," all you're going to do is amplify a bad habit, and cause injury.

My second word of advise I'd like to tell 9 and 10 year old kids that want to throw harder is, "grow up."  I mean, literally, grow up.  You're 9.  You're going to start throwing harder as you get older, I GUARANTEE IT!!  You better start making sure, now, that you now "how" to throw so you can capitalize on it when it happens.

Part 2, High School kids:  read above, and add strength training and a lot of commitment!