Throughout the years Ive had the opportunity to attend various softball pitching clinics. Some are quite good but many are just average. Being a pitcher myself as well as an instructor, I can spot the down falls easily. The organizational process is one of them. The time set aside for a pitcher is critical to the pitchers arm. If the camp schedules six hours in a row of pitching it can actually hurt more than help. No amount of ice can save that arm at the end of the day.

That however is only one of the many mistakes. I’ve come to realize that most pitching camps don’t realize that they need an equal pitcher to catcher ratio. They always have more pitchers and not enough catchers. Since catchers need time to train on other parts of softball they can not be expected to catch the entire event. Some events in this situation will have pitchers catch for pitchers which is counter productive since the pitchers are not experienced enough to be a catcher. So how do you fix this problem?

Setting up nets to pitch into is a great substitute for catchers. This method however requires many nets and multiple balls for the pitchers to use. Using a net provides a target for the pitcher which is beneficial. Once they pitched every ball into the net or fence, theyll have to retrieve them all themselves.

Many of the better softball pitching clinics I have attended use variety in managing the time scheduled. The warm up is a good example which is very important for safety reasons. Taking breaks in between learning different concepts will allow for better understanding. Breaks are very important for taking pressure off a pitchers arm. Water and snack breaks must be planned as well to keep players properly hydrated.

Another attribute to a great softball pitching clinic is sending quality information home with the player for continuous improvement. Providing a side by side video of the campers pitching form and comparing it to a professionals pitching form is very effective. Giving out personalized booklets with the skills and drills from the camp is also beneficial.

At the end of the clinic the camper must go home and remember all of the things taught at the clinic so look for softball pitching clinics that give you those necessary tools.