43 feet at 14U?

[superD3]

My DD pitched MS,JV,Var. last year as an 8th grader from 43ft. with no problem. She was even successfull against some D1 signees, she's also 5'9" 150lbs. We started working @ that distance before school.

[hotwheels]

My DD pitched MS,JV,Var. last year as an 8th grader from 43ft. with no problem. She was even successfull against some D1 signees, she's also 5'9" 150lbs. We started working @ that distance before school.

WOW! That's great but definitely the exception to the rule and you can't foresee the future as far as how that may eventually have affected her down the road...She may develop arm issues when she is 16 or 17 (God forbid, and I truly hope she doesn't) when those same issues may have not developed until she was 25 and out of softball...Just a thought...

Of course there will be kids and plenty of them that will have NO trouble making the jump...But why and for what?...Doesn't make it right....Or wrong for that matter either...I just say why rush it and risk injury...Same recruiting rules will apply to her when she is a Junior as they do to all the kids who didn't go that direction...

It's not like any coach is going to say "This kid is great! Been pitching from 43' since she was 13"..."Give her the $$"...Doesn't work like that...

[soupy62]

My DD pitched MS,JV,Var. last year as an 8th grader from 43ft. with no problem. She was even successfull against some D1 signees, she's also 5'9" 150lbs. We started working @ that distance before school.

If my dd was in 8th grade i would probably wanting her to start throwing at 43'. But she is just now going into 6th. Each kid/team has different situations. We are a solid team but dont have the physicly mature pitchers that other teams have. At 40' where our off speed stuff works we have a chance to compete. at 43' when the off speed stuff drops on the plate or they have to change things to make it work could cause more harm than good. A 52 or 53 mph fastball with a change that wont work is a big fat meatball! LOL. Guess im gonna have to travel a few hours to find some good teams to play at 12U. Maybe i can get a few local 14u teams to play some double headers with us putting a portable rubber in when we pitch. ( yeah right) lol.

[AlwaysImprove]

My kid was very good and could throw from '43 as a 8th grader, freshman, but she was the exception in our area. I was surprised at the number of kids that could not make it at '43 at 16U. When my daughter did pitch from '43 as a 14 year old, there were a couple of those scary comebackers as she learned to keep the ball a little more off the plate.

Sam is right on this one. I generally fall into the let's not bubble wrap, they are fine, let them compete crowd. I really think '43 at 14U is too much. Those few rare players that can do it, should be playing up.

[superD3]

I tend to agree that 43' is too much for a 13-14 yo, but that is the hand we were dealt.

[SoCalSurge]

43' at 14U will be a great benefit for the girls that are planning on moving up and playing college ball. It will get them used to the longer distance sooner, in turn preparing them more aptly for when they make the move. I also feel it may help to level out to competition unless there are some girls which will blow away their peers at that distance, which there will be. Again, just my opinion.

[soupy62]

3 years ago you didnt see 43' till exposure torneys. Next season they are wanting half of the 7th grade girls throwing at 43'. What happened to baby steps lol. I know they want to keep up with High School ball but they should think about those 7th grade kids that dont have the choice to stay down at 12U so they dont have to go to 43'. The kids that want to prepare for High School should move up to 16U anyway. Not that i have one but my vote would be to leave 14U alone.

[Get-n-dirty]

Don't 2nd year 14U pithers need the experience at 43' before entering the 1st year in HS were it will be 43'? That seems like the best time for them to get used to pitching at that distance. If your daughter is a 1st year and you don't want her pitching at that distance just yet then don't. Ease her into it by progressively moving backwards a foot at a time at 1-2 months at a time. After 5-6 months of making the gradual adjustment they shoud be ready to go.

[ontheblack]

Don't 2nd year 14U pithers need the experience at 43' before entering the 1st year in HS were it will be 43'? That seems like the best time for them to get used to pitching at that distance. If your daughter is a 1st year and you don't want her pitching at that distance just yet then don't. Ease her into it by progressively moving backwards a foot at a time at 1-2 months at a time. After 5-6 months of making the gradual adjustment they shoud be ready to go.

If they change the rule, then there is no option - you either pitch from 43 or you dont pitch.

Leaving it as is works fine. 2nd year pitchers that are good enough to play high school as freshman can play up, but the reality is that not all 2nd year 14u pitchers will make a HS team as a freshmen, so I dont see what the over all benefit will be gained by a rule change.

[1prouddad]

Don't 2nd year 14U pithers need the experience at 43' before entering the 1st year in HS were it will be 43'? That seems like the best time for them to get used to pitching at that distance. If your daughter is a 1st year and you don't want her pitching at that distance just yet then don't. Ease her into it by progressively moving backwards a foot at a time at 1-2 months at a time. After 5-6 months of making the gradual adjustment they shoud be ready to go.

If they change the rule, then there is no option - you either pitch from 43 or you dont pitch.

Leaving it as is works fine. 2nd year pitchers that are good enough to play high school as freshman can play up, but the reality is that not all 2nd year 14u pitchers will make a HS team as a freshmen, so I dont see what the over all benefit will be gained by a rule change.

Though I don't want to see it happen, come November, I'm sure they will vote to make a rule change to 43' --- Wish they would leave it at 40', but I don't see it happening - If your DD/Pitcher is not wearing a face mask now, she better start!