Son advances to Junior League

[BT]

And the distances open up tremendously
First day of practice and as a catcher he is bouncing them in front of second base

This is really his best position but if he doesn't get the arm strength way up really fast , he isn't going to be playing catcher anytime soon

I'm headed off to the batting cages with him now since he really needs to work that as well.
He was a home run hitter on the 205 field but @ 280 he needs to increase the bat speed and change his stance completely.

It's gonna be a long fall

[BT]

Well , we went to the cages and he really wasn't doing bad overall but he is the most hard headed kid for taking direction from Dad.
I need someone he doesn't know to take him there.
He'd listen to someone like that

The throwing we worked on a bit but I had to have him throw at the backstop.
( I cant see well enough to catch at this time.)
Hopefully he will be able to challenge himself before he gives up.

[txcc99]

I played BB back in the day, but never catcher. Those guys are insane. You are right though, cant play that position if you bounce them off the dirt everytime.

I would agree, you need an outside coach/instructor to teach him. I know I seldom ever listened to my dad when he tried to coach me in anything. Of course the few times I did it worked out. Guess he knew what he was talking about... at least a few times.

[rreda]

BT, one exercise that will help with arm strength is to have him throw from a kneeling position. Have him start out doing this from whatever distance is comfortable, and then slowly increase the distance. This really helps increase the upper body strength because it takes the legs out of the equation. Then when he throws normally with his legs it is much easier.

A friend of mine who coaches women's softball swears by this exercise.

[BT]

I had him throw off his knee's to second on the smalled field back this summer.
He could just do it but he complained that you weren't supposed to do it that way.
Such a hard headed kid.....full of excuses ;D
Good idea though because I let it go and forgot about it.
Maybe I will have him read this thread today and show him that the old man isn't the only one out there

[rreda]

Maybe you can explain to him that it is like swinging a lead bat while "on deck". Although you don't use the lead bat at the plate, practicing with it makes swinging your regular bat easier.

The same is true here with throwing regularly after practicing from your knees.

[BT]

Good point!