The Complete Windmill Pitching Clinic

Under The Direction Of Coach John L. Ballard, Sr.

 

Coach Ballard’s experience spans 48 years as a pitcher, player, coach, and instructor.  He is a former high school coach and advisor to various colleges.

He is currently the Deputy Junior Olympic Director for the state of Maryland, JO ACE Instructor, Softball Commissioner of the Mason Dixon Baseball and Softball League, Inc., Director of Softball for Hampstead Baseball and Softball Association, Inc., member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), member of the Professional Fastpitch Instructor’s Association, and  President and CEO of North Carroll Girls’ Fast Pitch, Inc. 

He has developed some of the premier fastpitch pitchers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.  He has assisted or established fastpitch programs at all levels.  He is known for his excellence in instruction and guidance to our youth.       

 

Pitching Clinic 2008-2009

Northeastern High School Varsity Standout

&

2006 Team Fury 19th Player Award Winner

Elle Shimkus

 

Francis Scott Key High School Varsity Standout

Ashley Aberts

Francis Scott Key High School Varsity Standout

Kayla Rinehart

Winters Mill High School Varsity Standout

Elizabeth Beall

                             

New Oxford High School Varsity Standout

Amanda Reck

       

Future Star

Lauren Walker

Little Ace Sidnee

Hollywood Caprise Roche

Courtney Masmer

Pitching Tips:

 

Pitching begins with good pitching instructions.  Find yourself a good instructor and remember you can only have one.

 

Physical size doesn’t matter.  Determination and hard work does.

 

Pitching may take months or even years.  So be patient.

 

The age old question of whether to throw speed or throw for accuracy?  The answer is neither.  Proper mechanics are first, throw hard second and accuracy will come.

 

How much does your daughter’s success depend on the pitching instructor?  Well, in a nutshell – 0% on the instructor and 100% on the her.  Too many parents see the pitching instructor as a short cut to success.  There are no shortcuts.  Hard work, following instructions and practice, practice, practice leads to success.

 

Take a break from pitching.  This is best done for a month or so during the end of summer or early fall. 

 

Overuse Injuries are injuries from repetitive use.  They are known as “micro trauma” injuries from doing the same thing over and over.  You can prevent this by cross training and giving yourself at least two days a week without doing anything.  In other words – rest. 

 

I’m often asked how old should a pitcher be before learning new pitches.  Age has nothing to do with learning pitches, controlling the hand and spin on the ball does.  Most young pitchers struggle with being consistent and will have difficulty in regards to controlling up and down and in an out.  So before she is able to learn new pitches she must be consistent with her control.  If the catcher uses a box (in the strike zone) and the pitcher can hit each corner three times, she is ready to learn a new pitch.

 

Staying healthy is not as hard as it sounds.  Here are some tips:  Eat well- nutrition can make a good athlete great and a great athlete good.  Eat the right foods and stay hydrated.  This will allow your body to respond better to the hard work you put in.  Sleep- get plenty of it.  Sleep is when the body recovers.  Lack of sleep will increase fatigue and increase your chances of getting hurt or becoming ill.

 

At a recent clinic Cat Osterman said “To be a good pitcher you need four things” – Wrist snap, Wrist snap, Wrist snap, Wrist snap.