2010 Little League Regionals Reveal Why Little League Pitching Mechanics Can Cause Arm Pain

by Dick Mills on August 19, 2010

The 2010 Little League World Series regional tournaments provide a showcase for some the best Little League Baseball pitchers.  However, this side-by-side voice over video analysis reveals why nearly 50% of Little League pitchers pitched with arm pain this year.  This is also true of high school pitchers.

This video reveals a side-by-side video analysis of two starting pitchers in the 2010 Midwest Regionals between Illinois and Ohio.  The Ohio pitcher I believe is at serious risk of an elbow injury unless he changes this mechanics...specifically his arm action. Notice his elbow position.

Unfortunately, most pitching instructors today continue to resist using a video camera as a means of not only recognizing mechanical pitching faults but also as a very important tool to show a pitcher how he is improving or not actually making the suggested changes desired by the instructor.  Why would they resist? Most simple to not have a strong working knowledge of the entire sequence of the pitching motion...even though they may have pitched at the major league level.

Showing a pitcher video of himself pitching provides him instant feedback so he is able to more easily make needed mechanical adjustments.  This feedback is essential for the instructor as well, otherwise pitchers may actually waste hours and hours of instruction doing something wrong because the instructor is not able to see all the components of the delivery with the naked eye.

It is important for Little League parents to understand that trying to eyeball a pitcher's mechanics accurately is nearly impossible since the acceleration of the pitching arm is the fastest human motion in sports. 

A major league pitcher's arm can rotate nearly 20 times a second.  This of course cannot be seen with the naked eye.

The impact of not video taping a pitcher's mechanics is that pitchers cannot possibly improve since they are not getting accurate and direct feedback from video.  This means that instructors who are not videotaping are simply guessing about whether a pitcher is making the needed changes or not. 

Pitchers are made in the off-season. 

The end of the season is the absolute best time to evaluate a pitcher's mechanics so that during the off-season time can be devoted to making changes. Waiting for next spring is much too late since research has proven that mechanical changes requires many hundreds of repetitions in order for the body to learn new movement patterns.  Many of our clients spend the off-season in the basements or garages practicing mechanics that allow them to throw with more velocity and less risk of injury.

But remember this... there are no secrets to pitching improvement. Just sound sports science principles that we apply to pitching that just make common sense. No magic spoken here.

Our Explosive Pitching Instructional DVD program teaches parents an easy way to help their sons use their bodies to pitch instead of just their arms. Not only does this improve velocity but reduces the risk of arm injuries.  We also teach them proper conditioning.

See discounts on our instructional DVD's...a weapon which every Little League parent should have:  http://www.pitching.com/products/

Plus we do side-by-side voice over Video Analysis for pitchers at all levels. This may be the most important pitching tool available today.

For information about One-On-One Pitching Lessons with Dick and Ryan Mills in Scottsdale, AZ you can email Dick at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with subject: Pitching Lessons. Please provide age and background of the pitcher and any problems he is having.

"I had spent several hundred dollars on a pitching coach who was leading my son down the path to ruin. He embraced every failed philosophy and technique you've identified - long toss, towel drills and more drills ad nauseum. My son's skills were deteriorating. When I found your website and read your report, I sense intuitively your words had merit and deserved further study."   

Mark Smith, Downers Grove,IL

Because of this it is apparent that millions of dollars are wasted each year by parents who believe that because an instructor may have pitched at the big league level that he is qualified to provide