Pitching (Movement)

Question
Hi Coach Mike,

In your past experience, at what age would you say girls should start working on movement pitches? My daughter just turned 12 and has been pitching for about 3 years. She is not the fastest (low-mid 40's) she has text book form and can throw a great change up. I have heard several people (Ernie Parker, Michele Smith & others)say that if you start working on movement pitches to young, you take a greater risk of injuring your pitcher. As I stated, she is only throwing in the 40's, so she does not pitch for school ball, but when I coach Rec ball in spring she does pitch for us there and does a GREAT job in the 14U division playing with and striking out girls 3 years her senior. I feel she is good enough to be a back up pitcher for her middle school team if she would be needed for an emergency situation, but the new coach at school asked her what movement she could get and barely looked at her....
we have not worked on any movement pitches with her yet, just the change-up. Hence my question...when should we start considering working on these, I don't want to put her at greater risk for injury or long term muscle damage, etc.......

Thanks~
Coach Rae

Answer
Hello Rae,

I'm only a volunteer for a free website and not a professional coach, so all I can offer you is my opinion.

I don't feel that you put a 12 year olds arm at risk by learning a few movement pitches.  Unlike baseball, there isn't as much stress on the shoulder and elbow which is why there are no limits on the number of innings a fastpitch girl can throw.  I think the next pitch for her to learn is the peel drop.  This is a relatively easy pitch and uses the same grip as the fastball.  The major difference is the release point.  Only after she has these pitches mastered, would I begin developing a curve and/or screwball.  Last, I would work on the rise.  In my opinion this is the toughest pitch to throw, but also the hardest pitch to hit.  Have your daughter learn the peel drop and get comfortable with it.  I believe the turn over drop is a little tougher on the shoulder and she may want to wait a year to add it and the rise ball to her mix.  Good luck and please let me know how things go.

Coach Mike