Reader Question: How Much Should a 10u Athlete Pitch?

By Carly | March 3, 2014

Hey Carly! I’ve got twins at the 10u level that both pitch, but in games both of them tend to not reach their optimum speeds/groove until the second inning, and this is after I have given them a complete warm up. As a result I have had them pitch a tad more than most (30 pitches) after warm-up and before the first pitch. We usually throw 100+ pitches in practice sessions so I feel like I have built or I am building their stamina.

We typically practice a couple times a week mixed in with a lesson, so they pitch 3 times a week(If everything falls into place). Does sound right to you? Any tips on how to keep them better prepared without pitching so much before games?

—CC

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Softball Preseason Fitness Test

By Joe Bonyai | February 28, 2014

Do you test your athletes’ fitness or conditioning throughout the season? What physical capacities are you testing? In this video, I demonstrate and instruct you through a sample softball preseason fitness test or combine. This test is space efficient and can be administered to small or large groups by softball coaches and even parents.

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The Speed of Softball

By Carly | February 25, 2014

Coach Jill showed me this cool video today. There are a lot of fun facts in there you can share with the next person who tells you softball is easier than baseball… but the most important thing I see is EVERY PITCHER IS USING FOREARM FIRE!

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How to Reduce Softball Pitching Elbow Pain

By Joe Bonyai | February 20, 2014

Arm, wrist and elbow pain is very common in throwing athletes, especially softball pitchers. In this week’s video I introduce a piece of equipment that I keep in my gym and that I’ve used personally to dramatically reduce throwing related arm pain.

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Still not convinced about forearm fire?

By Carly | February 17, 2014 |

Last week I accepted a university assistant coach position! The entire coaching staff has been changed over the last few weeks, so I had the opportunity to review a lot of prospective players’ videos. I definitely noticed a trend…

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Post Physical Therapy Upper Body Strength Training

By Joe Bonyai | February 13, 2014

Proceeding Jillian’s post, I felt it was a good time to talk about advanced strength training following an injury or physical therapy. In this week’s videos I explain and demonstrate upper body strength training principles and exercises for softball athletes who may, or may not, be returning from an injury.

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Returning from a Major Injury

By Jill | February 10, 2014 |

We’ve all had injuries. They can be painful, emotionally draining, and frustrating. Minor injuries happen all the time, but some may require extensive time off, physical therapy, or even the dreaded word no athlete wants to hear…surgery. After a major injury like that, returning to your sport can be a stressful and scary experience. I know how it feels; at age 24 I’ve had more injuries, surgeries, and physical therapy treatments than I’d like, both softball and non-sport related. Today I want to share some injury recovery tips from my experience with you.

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Is CrossFit Safe for Softball Players?

By Joe Bonyai | February 5, 2014

As CrossFit continues to gain popularity, more high school athletes will become interested in it and exposed to its style of workouts. In this video, I try to lay out the basic tenants of CrossFit methods to let you determine whether or not it’s appropriate for your team or athlete.

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