Long Toss

[yankees32]

Well, our high school season is almost over and i need to start putting together a throwing program for the off-season. My question is how many times a week should i long toss?

Thanks

[TG Coach]

Off season? What about summer ball?

http://www.baseballtips.com/longtoss.html

[Jesse]

What's a good age to start incorporating long toss?

[caseyd123]

i have a couple questions:

How often can you long toss (3 days a week? 4? 7?)

And can you start your bullpen session immediately after long tossing or should there be a different type of throwing before the bullpen session and safe the long tossing for a different day?

-Thanks

[Dirtberry]

If you’re a pitcher why not throw maximally from the bump, then you kill 4 birds with one stone. You don’t even need a catcher just a target on a screen and a bucket of balls.

If you are not a pitcher throw the distance you throw in games maximally.
Taper up then taper down using proper crow-step mechanics. Every day.
If you do not throw your throwing muscles begin to atrophy.
This is why shutting down a healthy arm is detrimental.

There is no good reason for youth to train maximally using Long toss under the age of Biologically 16 years old, you are not going to miss out on any velocity when you fully mature. The potential length of your Humerus, Ulna and Radius are at stake,
also the formation of your Elbow.

[StraightGrain11]

What's a good age to start incorporating long toss?

My dad started me when I was 10. By the time I was a freshman in HS, I could out-throw many of the seniors (and was more accurate than anyone) on the team.

Maybe it did nothing for me (as Dirtberry says). But I swore by it. Did it every day(game or practice), religiously (from the LF foul line behind 3B to the fence of the opposite field gap @ 365ft). Never had an arm problem - sore, "tired", weak or otherwise - and, yes, I was also a pitcher.

[MSandman]

There is no good reason for youth to train maximally using Long toss under the age of Biologically 16 years old, you are not going to miss out on any velocity when you fully mature. The potential length of your Humerus, Ulna and Radius are at stake,
also the formation of your Elbow.

What about strengthening the arm UNTIL you mature?

[DerekD]

So maybe a couple times a week for a 10-year-old? Also, we always warm up throwing lightly until he feels comfortable throwing harder. At that point, does he start moving back, while throwing, until he can't get it to me? Or maybe it doesn't matter that much if it actually gets to me. Then, bring him towards me, while throwing.

[Baseball gLove]

Leo Mazzone, Nolan Ryan and Greg Maddux believe long toss to be beneficial to pitching. So do many other current MLB pitchers.

http://www.baseballtips.com/longtoss.html

My son has been throwing long toss since he was 11 years old. He also has been following the Jaeger throwing program which includes a structured throwing program that begins with a warm-up and the use of bands before throwing. He has had no problems and no pain, not to mention that he throws pretty hard for a 15 year old. He actually picked up over 5 MPH after his 1st Jaeger camp.

Here is the throwing program:

http://www.baseballtips.com/throwing.html

[yankees32]

Summer Ball

TG, I do play summer ball in big league with my high school team, but it is only about a month. We only play games a couple times a week and have no practices. That is why i start my off-season workouts right after the high school season.

Unfortunatly there are not many travel teams in my area and the coach of the only legion team in the area is only allowing kids from the high school he is coaching at to play for his post.

[Dirtberry]

Msandman,

“What about strengthening the arm UNTIL you mature?”

Ask Jon Doyle, he seems to have a good handle on physiology, his opinion carries a lot of weight around here? I would like to hear his take?

Baseballglove,

What age does Jaeger believe kids should start his program? And why?

[Baseball gLove]

I've seen 10 & 11 year olds at his camps. Why don't you ask him?

[son who is sidearm]

my son started long tossing the summer after he finished LL. he thru 2 times a week with warm ups and band work went 60', 75', 90', from set postion then 110' with crow hop and bullpen session 1 time a week 2 days rest in between the throwing days. his velocity went up and was basically out throwing his teammates and a few 9th grades when try outs came around. this year we plan on bumping him back to 150' lengthen him out even more. and plan to keep a gunned chart to see his progress. this will all start after his summer ball is over.