overhand softball throw By Alaina Larson

Serial Skill Throwing is a serial skill Your upper and lower body is working against each other, to work together to make one motion Your upper body is rotating and going backwards while your lower body is moving forward Then your lower and upper body come together giving power to the target

Ten Steps There are ten steps for throwing a softball First you need to find the grip. Its mostly used using three fingers. But if your hand is big enough you can use two and place your thumb under ball Your front foot should be at least at 45 degree angle Thumbs apart and your glove should be pointing to target Your throwing arm should be up and in an a “L” shape. Your hand should be like your giving someone a high five behind you. Step Twist and rotate with upper body Pull glove hand into chest Keep “L” shape with throwing arm and bring it forward Release and snap with finger tips Pull down and follow through (your back leg should take a step in front of you)

The Grip

Cues Hands together Feet apart Point glove High five behind you Step Pull Rotate Release Follow through

Throwing levels

Beginner  Takes a long time to get ball out of glove  Keeps elbow very low (below shoulder)  Never gets fully extended with arms  No “L” shape  No step or steps with the wrong foot  No follow through  Gets very distracted with things going on around.  Needs to be in a closed environment

Maddy Age 20 Months

Intermediate  Might hesitate when getting arm to “L” shape  Have wrist back and ball to sky  The step by the lead foot is not along the throwing line  Elbow leading  Does not snap release  Might shorten up follow through

Jamie Age 12 years old

Intermediate Overhand Throw Frame by Frame 1)Arm too low 2) Opens up way too much & too early 3)Elbow is leading 4) Arm extends to early 5) Glove drops 6) Arms crosses on follow through

Jessica Age 13 years old

Advanced  Fluent with their motions  Keep elbow up  Ball pointed behind for the perfect high five  You can see “L” shape perfectly  The step, rotate, release and follow through is down by your knee  Sometimes only a short step is not needed due to upper body strength

Alaina Age 22 years old

Differences  Beginner has no “L” shape  Beginner has no step or step with wrong foot  Beginner keeps elbow low  Intermediate hesitates when getting to “L” shape  Intermediate might shorten up follow through (see following slide)  Advanced has very fluent motion  Advanced is accurate and consistent

Follow through levels

Similarities  Advanced and Intermediate has “L” shape  Advanced and Intermediate has a step  Advanced and Intermediate keeps elbow high  Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner in “T” shape with arms  Advanced finishes follow through (see previous slide)

Stages of Performance and Learning  Early Learning – the overhand throw is inaccurate, inconsistent, inefficient, and stiff- looking.  Intermediate Learning – the overhand throw is more accurate, more consistent, more efficient, and more relaxed.  Later Learning - the overhand throw is accurate, consistent, efficient, and automatic.

References  Downey, Greg (2009, February 1). Throwing Like a Girl’s Brain, Neuroanthropology. a-girls-brain/  Braun, Kokmeyer,, and Millett (2009). Shoulder Injuries in the Throwing Athlete, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 91:  Zawrotny, Steve (January 2008). Overload / Underload Training: How It Works & Why Ball Players Should Use This Training Method, SiftedArticles.com.

Overhand Throwing Video