Should You Pay for Pitching Lessons for Your Kid?

[@sergs9455]

I took note when his pitching coach said, you’ve been practicing at home haven’t you? I can tell, good job! Gave him a boost and a little credit for the old man “encouraging” practice

[@Ninjaa320]

Loved the bit on self exploration. Kids not working on what coach said to work on is number one pet peeve from coaches every time I've asked.

[@tw7554]

Dan, way to nail a lot of sides of pitching lessons so quickly! We have got to talk! Once again, KEEP IT UP!!!

[@kriskostiuk8567]

Thank you Coach Dan, I really appreciate you and your channel to help me with being a better father to my son, Roman. I just ordered and received one of your books so I can be better informed alongside the coaching for my son and his pitching development. Thank you

[@DanBlewett]

thanks for supporting me as well!

[@shawnmsattler2116]

Very informative, ty. When I get me Certified welding inspector cert. Thinking of moving to Texas, Georgia or Indiana as they have better facilities to coach then where we live now. My son is 6 and loved to pitch. Finding the right people when he's young is important to me on the right mechanics to throw the right way.

[@MrCctvtech]

No one is going to care more about your son than you. Meaning, did you play baseball? You might want to train him. I was a pitcher many moons ago and have been studying pitching for a long time. So my son basically lives with his pitching coach. I started him at age 9 and we take our time with age appropriate drills. Hes 12 now and probaly going to hit 70 mph this upcoming season with great mechanics and never a sore arm. Im sry I always start bragging. But if you study how to throw/pitch you might be able to train your son and then bring him to someone just to get a 2nd opinion.

[@shawnmsattler2116]

@@MrCctvtech that's what I am doing now, studying to make him better but he's 6 and still throwing like an out fielder with a pitching wind up. He player t ball last year and now couches pitch this year. If he like the game I will teach him outfield, 3rd and pitcher as i played outfield (left).

[@MrCctvtech]

@@shawnmsattler2116 the one thing you have is time since he's only 6-7. Have fun with it. Make sure he's having fun with it. Good luck!

[@RonaldGorman]

Coach Dan, I would like to see this same advice paired with what they should be doing as they progress in age. For example practicing on your own at 9 is not the same as 15. Trying balance progression of skill without burning them out. Also, what are your thoughts on multi-sport athletes in HS, specifically those that participate in fall/winter sports in HS like Football/Wrestling/Basketball. When should they start to specialize in only baseball if that is their passion.

Before I watch I'll say absolutely yes, and not just pitching either. I've been watching a few groups of kids for 5 years now and the difference between the ones who get pitching and hitting lessons, especially the ones with a dedicated coach, and the rest of the team is night and day. They're all around the same age but it looks like kids playing with their dads sometimes.

[@DanBlewett]

yeah, I grew up without lessons, but I also played a lot more pick up baseball than kids today, and without instruction, kids just have to figure it out on their own a lot more, which leaves a more "sink or swim" type thing. I was lucky to swim, and looking back I'd probably have thrown a lot harder a lot earlier had I had more instruction

[@Datruth330]

On point as usual

[@dblankenship88]

My son has been going to his pitching coach for 3 years now, he’s 11. Twice a month when we can fit it between tournaments and if we only have 1 tournament that month we go 3 times per month. Out here (Vegas) going rate for the top guys in the valley is $50 for a half hour. It’s like you said Dan, sometimes it’s just a check up like a doctors visit.

[@DanBlewett]

yeah, it definitely refines kids faster. I saw my mechanics from high school on video recently and saw so much I could have improved on, but lessons werent really a thing as much back in the early 2000s

[@dougp7934]

Are you worried about overuse for your child, at such a young age?

[@dblankenship88]

@@dougp7934 nope. Bullpens with his pitching coach are only 30 min all of which 15-20 min is warming up. Tournaments he only pitches on Sunday and only a single game. Max pitches allowed per the head coach is 60-70 max. That’s below little league allowed pitch counts.

[@mr.o4610]

Good Stuff!

[@DanBlewett]

Thanks!

[@KennyGlavan]

Where can I find a good strength and conditioning program for my 13 year old. He's 85lbs but has a string core.

[@manuelprado8583]

Thanks for the great videos you put up Dan. About how many pitches per bullpen session would you recommend in the once a week sessions? 12u players

[@DanBlewett]

30-40 is typical

[@manuelprado8583]

@@DanBlewett got it

[@bigdawg35100]

Lots of good info!! I have a question and hope you would touch on it one day. How do I know if My son is on track to making a team in high school. Sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough as a dad to help him make a team in high school. He just turned 12 and plays select 12u AA. He also has been playing shortstop and pitching for the last 3 season. He normally is 3 or 4 in the batting line up. Overall he’s doing good but I know that there is a lot of young talent out there. Awesome video by the way!

[@DanBlewett]

if he's consistently an above-average dominant player at each level, then he's on track. Your job is just to make sure he has fun, loves it, doesn't view it as tedious work, is supported, and to hit him as many ground balls as he wants to field.

[@Jbzero999]

Thanks for this dan. What do you think for lessons for other positions? My kid loves to catch, and I only really played 1b and OF so I signed him up for lessons here locally.

[@DanBlewett]

catching lessons are important, at least to make a foundation. Catching is unlike pitching lessons in which you can learn a lot of what the person teaches and do it at home, so pay close attention and you can get a lot for your money coaching at home with what you see in lessons. pitching and hitting require a lot more longterm maintenance for mechanics to not degrade, but thats not as much the case with catching.

[@sanchitoman1293]

Hi Dan, I appreciate all your videos. I am not a pitcher and I volunteered to help coach my son's team. I was thinking about taking a pitching lesson specifically to help me with 10-12 year old pitching kids. Has someone asked you for something like that before? What do you think?

[@DanBlewett]

Ive never done a lesson in that context, no.

[@jeffmilroy9345]

My kid never took a single lesson. I started out coaching and conditioning him. To this day I cannot figure out his secret sauce as to how he never walked two guys in one inning and was so effective at winning his team first place trophies. I suspect it's just a good arm and how they are wired between the ears. The sad thing is once they lose the passion required to do preseason conditioning its all for nothing. You cant do a thing about it.

[@DanBlewett]

the innate mind-body connection is real. Most really good pitchers have it.

[@17franciscovega]

Hey Coach! Can a kid who throws 76mph learn how to pitch at age 16?

[@DanBlewett]

i dont understand what you're asking

[@Adrianobrien-l7g]

if they are willing to put in the effort and they learn from people tha fully understand how their body needs to move

[@adidas4275]

for context... my son's pitching lessons are a monthly price.. up to 10 lessons a month at $250 a month and 1 hour a session We for sure do 2 a week and sometimes get that 3rd in a week to make 10 a month. Our coach is a former D1 pitcher who runs the lessons at his house which is a small farm and this is 2 players at a time

[@DanBlewett]

yeah that's not typical pricing, which makes sense given he's doing them at his home. Almost no one charges that little - and rightfully so. $50 an hour part time isn't a sustainable full-time wage for something most instructors can only get seasonally and cant fill out their full time schedule - just as an aside. sounds like you found a good situation.

[@emilyyork9005]

if kid does not put in work outside of lessons it does not matter.

[@DanBlewett]

yep - I said that in there too

[@rinck17]

You could be a hall of famer, but your own kid won't listen to you so you might as well get someone else to teach them what you know so they actually listen.

[@dougp7934]

You haven’t said anything about taking time off. I don’t want my kid too damaged by the time he is 15!

[@DanBlewett]

This was a video about pitching lessons.

[@dougp7934]

@@DanBlewett yes, true. But I’m trying to figure out pitching lessons for my 10 yearold in the summer. He generally plays spring and fall, and I am wondering if he should take several months without throwing at all.

[@DanBlewett]

I have many other videos about this topic. I do not address every possible baseball topic in every video

[@dougp7934]

@@DanBlewett I guess the reason I asked it here is because I want to know if there is more to be gained from pitching lessons immediately after the spring season, or resting the arm.

[@DanBlewett]

next time I'd suggest asking questions in a less bizarre and accusatory way.

[@josephmannix5120]

What should I do if I can’t afford it

[@DanBlewett]

KZbin. Practice more than everyone else

[@josephmannix5120]

@@DanBlewett alright