Throwing

The development of proper throwing skills is probably the most important skill you can teach your players.

1. Face the target (or your partner) with your feet pointing at the target (or your partner).
2. Your glove hand, throwing hand, and the ball should be together at your mid section.
3. Turn your throwing side foot sideways so that it points to 3 o’clock if you’re right-handed and 9 o’clock if you’re left-handed.
4. Start the ball back in a downward motion with the ball facing away from the player. As you turn your throwing side your glove side and hips should turn and point toward the target.
5. The ball continues in a circular motion back keeping the weight over the back foot.
6. The player’s glove side will start to turn back away from the target (the same direction it started in) as the ball and throwing hand start upward. The glove side elbow will lead the ball up and be near the player’s ear.
7. The player’s weight will now be moving toward the front foot and the player will start to lead with the ball by straightening the elbow, snapping the wrist and fingers, and releasing the ball toward the target out in front of the player’s head. The player should try to throw the ball by using his/her fingers instead of pushing with the hand.
8. After releasing the ball the player’s throwing arm should continue down across the player’s body in the follow through.

Note: The ball goes wherever the player’s hand is pointing when he/she lets go of it.