- by Adam Todd (as observed in action)

These tips were developed by watching the actual pre-season and in-season habits of a volunteer youth coach who happens to be very close to WebBall.


We could argue this point. Some might say hitting coach, others the fielding coach. But pitchers control games more than any other player and, therefore, the Bullpen/Pitching Coach is a crucial member of your coaching staff.

In fact, if you're running a youth team with only yourself and an assistant, we would seriously suggest one of you assume this role as your primary function - it's that important. We have also found that the bullpen coaching role is best served by someone who not only knows pitching but can work well with teaching catchers.


The responsibilities of the Bullpen/Pitching Coach begin at tryouts. He will assess the available talent to determine who the pitchers are that he wants to work with. They may not be just the best throwers available, but also those undiscovered talents that he believes he can help make better. (The desire to work to improve his team is in our view an essential quality in any coach.)


Pre-season he works with them first to slowly build up their basic conditioning - monitoring the number of pitches they throw, making sure they participate in all team conditioning, fielding, hitting, baserunning practices. (Our division does not have the DH rule.)

During pre-season he may work on adjusting mechanics... torquing, or arm-action, or drive dynamics, or landing and extending release point - anything on an individual basis that might help that pitcher be a little faster, more accurate, etc.

He may also teach a new pitch - something he might also try in-season if he sees that a pitcher is struggling. The new pitch will depend on that specific pitcher... he has introduced some to a knuckle-curve, others to a screwball, others to a 3-finger fastball - it depends on what he thinks that pitcher might be best at.


He will try to determine who his starters are and who are the best relievers. This starts pre-season but he will continue to assess this in-season. The criteria might include - endurance for starters (which will build through the season), versus warm-up time: pitchers who warm-up to full velocity more quickly are often good relievers; those who take longer are better used as starters (all other factors being as they should). He will also see which pitchers are better with runners on base, who has the better pick-off moves - in other words, which players can go in during tough situations with the game on the line, and which pitchers prefer to take charge of the game from first pitch, but might not hold up under late-inning stress.

In-season, he will try to make sure that each starter gets a full bullpen session 2 days prior to each start, and that relievers also are on this cycle. He will also protect them from overwork the day before a start.


On game day, he first runs his catchers through a special pre-game routine - of blocks and throws because he believes the better the catcher the more confident the pitcher. Then he'll get his starter working through a set warm-up routine (this after regular team throwing, conditioning, fielding work).

Usually this will start about 20-30 minutes before the first game pitch. Once the pitcher has had 20-30 good warm-up throws, he will get the catcher in the crouch and follow a set pattern which might be, say, 20 fastballs in a row, 10 breaking balls in a row, then two or three five-pitch simulated batter situations  (each with a mix of pitches, in an attempt to get the "batter" out - not only on strikes but on well-placed balls out of the zone that generate misses or weak hits or pop-ups). Again the actual number of pitches will depend on the individual pitcher - how many he needs to be fully prepared.

During this time, expect the bullpen coach to ignore the resrt of them team, other drills, coach chats, etc. His focus is on getting a good start from his pitching staff. Period.


During the game we will track pitch count obviously, and the pitching coach will make sure that a relief pitcher starts his routine in time to be ready to go in at a moment's notice. Also, he will watch his pitcher on the mound and If necessary he will go out there and suggest adjustments in his release point to get back on focus. The pitching coach might also relay pitch calls through the catcher, but the preference is for the catcher and pitcher to run their own game - signals from the bench are more often about defensive plays (pick-offs, etc).


After the game there may be a post-analysis session - which pitches worked best, what could be done better, what to work on before the next start. There will be aa reminder of the off-day routines and a focus on practice times that best suit the pitching cycle.