9 yr old throwing help

Vince,

There are several pieces that one needs to examine when teaching a player to throw. Elbow must be above or at least even with the shoulder. This is important to keep the elbow up, it reduces injury to the shoulder and elbow. The grip on the ball is another topic. The ball should be held in the upper part of the hand with four, three, or two fingers depending on the size of the child's hand. The ball should be held not too tight or too loose. The analogy I use is it "like holding a live bird", if you hold it too tight the bird will be injured, too loose and the bird gets away. The hips play a very important part of the throw. The arms both glove and non-glove arm make a "T". When the ball is thrown the glove is brought to the chest and follow through and forward momentum cause the throwing leg to be brought over the top. If you have qestions please call me would love to talk to you about this. Call me at 919-461-0735 or e-mail me.

Thanks,

Coach Ray Harrington