43 feet at 14U?

[Dropn N]

The speed for 97's will reamin the same or increase some because they got older and stronger (they check the speed most times when it leaves the hand) Now with that said being further back (3 feet) will slow the ball down more when it reaches the plate, you also got the extra 3 feet for a batter to see the ball and unload on it.
Extra 3 feet + Ball reaching the plate at a slower speed = dentist
Keep the kids at a distance that is wont kill them. Corner infielders and P's need to invest in something to wear over their face.

Wouldnt an extra 3 feet + ball reaching at a slower speed be like adding 6 feet?

[wadeintothem]

most 14's really struggle at 43'.

[jasmine12298]

Look folks; high school and up is now 43' so moving 14U to 43' is absolutely necessary to prepare the girls for what is to come. I totally understand the concept of "protecting" the girls at 12U and under. But if the athlete is playing at 14U and above I have to assume she is looking to play in High School and possibly college. If the athlete lacks the physicality to throw at 43' by the time she is 13 or 14 it might be time to look at either 1) another position or 2) another sport. To the guy who was "concerned" about his 85 lb pitcher.... My daughter just finished her 12U tryouts (we selected a team early) and at the four tryouts we attended there were several girls who were clearly "on the team" (even though the coaches advertised that "all positions were open and earned") who had no business on the field. Girls that were afraid of the ball, weighed 85 lbs soaking wet and lacked any strength, etc., etc. I can understand this crap at 12U and under but at 14U it is time to get serious. 14U should be the end of "daddy ball" or "entitlement ball" of any type, move it to 43' at 14U and get the real athletes prepared for high school and beyond. Tell the 85 lb girl to tryout for Cross Country!

[EzOut.EzOut]

Wow

[ontheblack]

Jasmine, 1st year 14s are not playing HS ball, and most 2nd year 14s wont do better than frosh or JV teams, which is the perfect place for them to make the adjustment. You want to change something that benefits the few over the many, and even then for only the last 3 months of the TB season for the 2nd year 14?

[Get-n-dirty]

Well said Jasmine......as I was about to say something very similar. Whatever happended to strength and conditioning to help prevent injury no matter the position. For Pitchers it should be even more important getting ready to make the jump to 43'. Do a bunch of shoulder excercises with light weight, upper body workouts, surgical cord work, lower body, a bunch of plyometric workouts, etc. Help prevent injury by doing more than just pitching workouts.

I think a bunch of parents of pitchers are more concerned of seeing little Susie getting lit up at 43' to be honest.

Like Joe said, we don't see people going crazy or going to the doctor in droves with the jump from 35' to 40' from 10U to 12U.

[Mantle07]

^^^Well said!

[ontheblack]

I'm not worried about pitchers getting lit up. Good movement and location will trump speed against all but the best hitters. The irony here is that Gary is 100% correct about how making them focus on location, movement and changing speeds will make them better pitchers in the long run.

My ONLY concern is injury. And if you have coaches with jasmine's mentality, then overuse is going to be huge because they wont have the patience to develop pitchers at 14s. After seeing numerous teams at States and Nationals, and watching a handful of tryouts so far, there are only a few 97 14U teams with any pitching depth where the #2s and #3 are effective against quality hitting at 40'. They will go with the one pitcher they can find who can carry the load and they will pitch her arm off.

Injury concerns aside, I don't buy the argument that they can and will make the adjustments as 1st year 14s because the emphasis on development just isnt something that is done by most, regardless of the BS that is prevalent in many of the tryout postings.

[Get-n-dirty]

Ontheblack, you make a good point. On the overuse of the #'1's on a pitching staff. This could be related to 10U coaches as well.

I witnessed first hand the top 3 placing teams at 10U nationals ride the coat tails of one pitcher from primarily what amounted to every game. What does this do to a pitchers arm if this same thing keeps up as they begin playing 12U ball for the next two years and still are over worked from 5' further back. That is what I call over extending, but the jump from 40' to 43' should be much more manageable.

Coaches must do a better job of utilizing a pitching rotation and set proper expectation to the parents of pitchers that want or expect their DD to actually carry the work load or pitch every game. Unfortunately they get to caught up in winning the hardware instead of grooming the pitching staff.

[jasmine12298]

In response to OnTheBlack; First of all, I realize that 1st year 14's are not playing high school yet, that is why I said get prepared for what is to come. With regard to your second comment that most 2nd year 14's will play frosh or JayVee, what does that have anything to do with it? Whether they are playing Frosh or JayVee, they will still be at 43'! If they continue softball, they are going to be forever at 43'! Take that first year at 14 to develop from the new distance so that when they start to play when it really matters (2nd year 14 and 16) they are not struggling. If they can't handle it, time to either switch to 2nd base and when they get cut there try out for song girl. From my view, this game is changing and the girls are getting more and more athletic. Those coaches and organizations that are running "Mattel Factories" (code for promoting Barbie Ball) are not doing themselves or the girls any favors, especially when you hit 14's. That is why God invented rec.......