Teaching Kid a Spitball

[sturg1dj]

First off, I don't have kids....but I was wondering if I did and I was teaching them baseball would I teach them how to throw a spitball? I know its against the rules and that is not what you want to teach a kid....but on the other hand it is a rule that is not really enforced in the lower levels....and it would be more in fun then anything. I would put it into perspective, telling the kid the history and how it is technically against the rules.....but on the other hand I would teach them how to hide it to.


Would that make me a terrible father?

[TG Coach]

First off, I don't have kids....but I was wondering if I did and I was teaching them baseball would I teach them how to throw a spitball? I know its against the rules and that is not what you want to teach a kid....but on the other hand it is a rule that is not really enforced in the lower levels....and it would be more in fun then anything. I would put it into perspective, telling the kid the history and how it is technically against the rules.....but on the other hand I would teach them how to hide it to.


Would that make me a terrible father?

In high school and college some of us fooled around with the spitball. I preferred toothpaste to vaseline. I wouldn't waste time teaching it to a kid. He'd be better off taking an additional 500 grounders a week.

[Utility07]

Does the spitball work because it gives one side more mass, or because it makes one side slicker?

[sturg1dj]

Does the spitball work because it gives one side more mass, or because it makes one side slicker?

both ways can affect the way the ball moves

[2Chance]

It also makes the ball spin the "wrong" way, which baffles batters. That little hesitation is all a pitcher needs to get ahead. ;)

[Williamsburg2599]

First off, I don't have kids....but I was wondering if I did and I was teaching them baseball would I teach them how to throw a spitball? I know its against the rules and that is not what you want to teach a kid....but on the other hand it is a rule that is not really enforced in the lower levels....and it would be more in fun then anything. I would put it into perspective, telling the kid the history and how it is technically against the rules.....but on the other hand I would teach them how to hide it to.


Would that make me a terrible father?

Not terrible, but it would give the kid a false feeling of sucess and make cheating seem not so bad. Not to mention you'd end up on the news if they caught you.

[sturg1dj]

now this is easier said then done, and let me once again say I have no kids....but if I did his is how I would teach them to pitch


1st - Fastball....and we'd work on it until he could spot it

2nd - change-up...and we'd work on it until he could spot it

3rd - breaking pitch, but I would probably wait until he made it to a league that the mound of major league distance....can't stop them from learning it on there own though....maybe teach him a 2-seamer prior to this


I have a philosophy when it comes to teaching a kid to pitch........you can dominate all through little league with just a fast-ball as long as you can place it and know how to set up hitters.......you can make it through HS with just a fastball and changeup as long as you can place it (and if you can throw hard enough all you need is a fastball).

[Padday]

Even if it isn't enforced you've got to remember that the law is there for a reason. Another reason I don't think it's a great idea is because it could result in bad habits. It starts out as "just for fun" but then it becomes more competitive and other "shortcuts" become tempting. Teach him about the pitch and the history but best not to encourage use.

[sturg1dj]

i will say this.....my two biggest regrets from my youth baseball days happened because I practiced good sportsmanship. The first was not beaning a kid who showed me up and the second was never throwing the spitter even though I was totally overmatched many times and didn't have much of a fastball.

[bhss89]

This thread is a joke. Agreeing with an earlier poster, focus on what will make the player better, not on some novelty. The poster who brings this to light shouldn't be coaching . . . let's work on fundamentals. No wonder I see "crap" baseball being played at youth tournaments! Let's see fewer spitballs, cut fastballs, and slurves from our younger players and more sac flies, double plays, sac bunts, and OFers hitting their cut-off! Teach them to play ball - teach them the FUNdamentals. There is a very clear reason that some players are able to ascend to the collegiate/pro level: They know how to execute and do the "little" things - in other words, they know how to play the game.

[bhss89]

i will say this.....my two biggest regrets from my youth baseball days happened because I practiced good sportsmanship. The first was not beaning a kid who showed me up and the second was never throwing the spitter even though I was totally overmatched many times and didn't have much of a fastball.

You should have worked harder . . . or, left the game. Beaning an opponent in youth baseball is dispicable; learning the spitter at that age is a joke. Throwing strikes and getting ground balls for your teammates to handle is FAR more admirable. Let's all hope you're not a coach.

[bhss89]

now this is easier said then done, and let me once again say I have no kids....but if I did his is how I would teach them to pitch


1st - Fastball....and we'd work on it until he could spot it

2nd - change-up...and we'd work on it until he could spot it

3rd - breaking pitch, but I would probably wait until he made it to a league that the mound of major league distance....can't stop them from learning it on there own though....maybe teach him a 2-seamer prior to this


I have a philosophy when it comes to teaching a kid to pitch........you can dominate all through little league with just a fast-ball as long as you can place it and know how to set up hitters.......you can make it through HS with just a fastball and changeup as long as you can place it (and if you can throw hard enough all you need is a fastball).

By my own admission, I'm reading your earlier post first, and it makes GREAT SENSE. Fastball first at a young age, followed by a change-up. "A little on, a little off, a little in, a little out" will get you a great number of ground ball outs. I apologize for my earlier response, IF you will admit that your decision to NOT bean an opponent in youth baseball was the CORRECT decison, and secondly, if you'll agree that teaching a young pitcher anything outside of spotting the FB and a change-up is a disaster, then I'll agree that you're a fine candidate to be a youth coach. Otherwise, you need to run, not walk, away from the nearest diamond.