Pitching Speed for 1st year 12U

[8u/10udad]

What is a good speed for a 1st year 12U pitcher?

[Cereal Kid]

Forget about speed concentrait on location speed will naturaly come.

[E Train Dad]

Good advice, My DD was a first year 12U last year and was in the mid to high 40's realistically on the gun.....From the coaches Radar.....that is plenty, if she can hit her spots! Fastball needs to be the Go to, and change/offspeeds/corners have to be there as well if she wants to be in the rotation. Walks are not an option! On most teams at this age, is let the girls hit and let a good defense back the pitcher up! They will grow and get strong!

[E Train Dad]

Another point is most pitching coaches say, you can't teach speed, only location and pitches....some girls have the goods......some don't!

[DonnieS]

This was posted a few years ago - from a softball academy records Regarding the high school years here 9-12 note that this was before high schools went from 40 feet to 43 feet.


Grade - No. Pupils - Avg. mph - top 10 Avg
5 60 39.32 45.7
6 87 43.23 51.60
7 95 47.08 58.00
8 117 50.37 62.20
9 59 51.20 58.30
10 63 52.56 61.50
11 27 56.67 60.90
12 28 58.00 62.00

[soreshins]

For speed pitches, low 50s is fine. Mid 50s would be very good. This assumes good mechanics. The focus should be on throwing the pitches correctly. A lot of change/growth happens during the first year of 12U, so she have better velocity later in the year.

Velocity is not the most important thing as this point, but anyone who says speed doesn't matter is misinformed. A 12U pitcher (and all pitchers for that matter) have to throw "fast enough." Whether that is 50 or 59 depends on the player, her location and movement.

[KFPanda]

For speed pitches, low 50s is fine. Mid 50s would be very good. This assumes good mechanics. The focus should be on throwing the pitches correctly. A lot of change/growth happens during the first year of 12U, so she have better velocity later in the year.

Velocity is not the most important thing as this point, but anyone who says speed doesn't matter is misinformed. A 12U pitcher (and all pitchers for that matter) have to throw "fast enough." Whether that is 50 or 59 depends on the player, her location and movement.

So would you say the difference between her fastball and off speed pitches is whats important?

[soreshins]

At 12U the important thing is to throw the pitches correctly with proper mechanics. At the start of first year 12U they are going to be using what they used in 10U. For most that is fastball and change up. Those mehanics should be well established.

During the 12U seasons you will begin adding pitches over time. Some start with a drop, some start with a curve ball. As pitches are added, proper mechanics have to be learned. Practicing correct mechanics gives the pitches proper movement and avoids injury. You will need a qualified pitching coach who teaches good mechanics. By the summer of the second year of 12U you should be throwing few fastballs.

As the girls grow bigger and get stronger, the velocity will come. By the second 12U summer (13 yoa) there will girls that are consistently in the high 50s with some that are touching 60.

[hotwheels]

My daughter Dani (You probably have heard of her) threw in the low 60's when she was 12...

[DonnieS]

My daughter Dani (You probably have heard of her) threw in the low 60's when she was 12...

And thats not bad for a changeup.