Winning Warm-Up: Skills and Drills to Improve Throwing Mechanics

with Shonda Stanton,
Indiana University Head Coach;
2023 ATEC/NFCA Midwest Region Staff of the Year;
2023 was Indiana's first 40+ win season since 1994;
Marshall University Head Coach from 1999 to 2017;
winningest coach in Marshall softball history;
2x Conference Champions;
2017 Conference USA Regular Season Champions;
2017 Conference USA Coach of the Year;
2017 Conference USA Staff of the Year;
2013 Conference USA Tournament Champions;
4x Conference champions;
Akron Racers (National Pro Fastpitch League) Head Coach in 2007, 2008;
IUPUI Head Coach from 1998 to 1999;
Ashland University GA from 1997 to 1998;
1998 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coaching Staff of the Year;
played professionally in Women's ASA Fastpitch Summerball for Chet Smith Lady All-Stars and Buckeye Slammers;
1994 Class B National Champions;
played college softball at UNC Greensboro

Often neglected and relegated to a warm-up activity, throwing is a skill that is vital for success on the softball diamond. Coach Shonda Stanton shows you 28 drills and progressions that cover all aspects of throwing, from mechanics to different types of throws that will prepare your players to make stronger, faster throws with the game on the line.

Warm-Up

Coach Stanton walks you through the importance of treating throwing and catching as a skill set rather than using it to warm up. She starts by focusing on preparing the arms using bands or cords before a ball is even picked up. Next, Coach Stanton covers three types of throwing routines she uses with her team. Each one targets different types of throws and ensures athletes gets a variety of drills to help them be successful.

Drills

Coach Stanton shares 12 throwing drills that will loosen up arms and help players improve reaction time. These drills promote correct throwing form, while allowing your players to use their athleticism. In one self-toss drill, players prepare for when they don't get a perfect grip on the ball but have to throw it anyway. Preparing your players for any situation they may face during games will help them become more confident in their skills.

Progressions

Coach Stanton offers three different throwing progressions that have proven to be successful in creating strong, accurate throwers. She pulls from a wide array of drills to keep the progression fresh and effective, depending on where her team is in the season or how her players' arms feel. Learn different progressions to:

• Focus on mechanics
• Focus on position-specific throws
• Throw and loosen up when your team is sore and tired

You'll learn how to break the progression into position groups to allow outfielders to work on their aspect of the game and infielders to use drills appropriate for them. Having multiple options for throwing will help you adjust your throwing warm-up to what your team needs on every specific day.

Your players will soon be making more accurate throws and be less prone to arm injuries.

55 minutes. 2017.