Pitching Starts Here: Slowing Down to Speed Up

She took a deep breath… and threw a strike.

Then the next girl did the same.
And the next.
And the next.

One by one, these little pitchers were dialed in — calm, focused, smooth… and throwing absolute strikes.

This was one of my favorite clinics from the fall, hosted in Louisiana with the amazing @katies_fastpitch. And if you're anywhere near her — check her out. She’s building something really special down there: confidence, community, and a seriously strong foundation for young athletes.

These girls?
All of them were hers.
And they showed up with heart, hustle, and a genuine hunger to learn.

My job that day?
To help them slow down and trust themselves.

Because here’s the truth about coaching littles (and parents — this one’s for you, too):
They don’t need to be rushed.
They need to be understood.

Set the Tone, Let Them Grow

We started the clinic with a simple foundation:

• Take turns.

• Breathe before each pitch.

• Support your partner.

• And most importantly — feel the movement.

That’s it. Simple. Intentional. Game-changing.

And in one of the sweetest moments of the entire day, one of the girls got a little teary after missing a pitch. (If you’ve seen the video — you know.)

Instead of rushing in to correct her mechanics, I sat down and talked with her.
About how it’s okay to miss.
About how real growth comes when you take a moment, feel your way through it, and try again.

How We Teach Beginners

It’s not about perfect drills or flawless form. It’s about connection. It’s about trust. Here’s what works — and what we need more of in youth pitching:

• Set the tone from the start.

• Let them process.

• Celebrate effort.

• Speak with empathy, not urgency.

Even with nearly 30 pitchers in the room, these girls thrived.
Not because I gave a million technical cues — but because we gave them the space to breathe, listen, and figure it out together.

For the Coaches and the Parents

Pitching is a privilege.

Let’s help the littles enjoy it, respect it, and most of all… fall in love with it.

Months later, I still think about this day. About their little faces lighting up with every pitch. About the joy of watching them feel proud of themselves.

And can we just take a moment to say: how AWESOME were these littles?!

This day was a reminder of why I do what I do.
Why this work matters.
And why the way we coach the littles makes all the difference later on.

Here’s to more clinics like this. More deep breaths. And more little pitchers becoming strong, confident athletes — one pitch at a time.

— Coach D