How to long toss and at what age

[Three A's baseball]

Is there a proper and improper way to long toss? If so please explain.

Also, at what age is this appropriate.

[CoachHenry]

Since long toss is relative to ability I'd say any person of any age can do it. What's a long toss for someone may be impossible for the next.

Here is a thread that is very recent. See if any of the information in there is useful to you: http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=77403

[new2thesport]

Is there a proper and improper way to long toss? If so please explain.

Also, at what age is this appropriate.

Great question about is there a proper and improper way to long toss! I would like to know also. I have researched (googled) long toss but I cant find anything about the proper technique to long toss(video or explanation)
What I have read is that I guess you already know the proper technique and if you do, the information they give is related to that.

I have read here in baseball fever, that some recommend 10 and over. I dont know why.

I have an 8 year old and we have been doing long toss. When I mean long toss, I mean as far as he can throw(dont think 300 feet but rather 90-100 feet). We emulate what I have read in Alan Jaeger. Again, I dont know if his throwing technique is proper. We start off by utilizing the surgical tubing exercises (bought at a store that sells the tubing for 7 dollars).
We then start at around 10 feet and start to throw for about 5-10 throws. I increase the distance by stepping a few feet back and we throw about 5-10 throws. We continue this until we reach his maximum distance which he can throw confortably. All the time, I ask him how does his arm feel. I emphasize that he should have his arm relaxed and make him dangle his arm after he throws(what I saw on a video). we may reach 100 feet( I am only guessing, it may be less). After his maximum distance, we start to move in and continue throwing but with his maximum distance effort. We end at around 50 feet(again, only guessing).
We have been doing this for about 3-4 weeks. We dont time ourselves so it takes about 30 minutes if I would guess.

Does it work? I would say yes. Is it because of long tossing? I cannot really say, maybe it is because we have been practicing.
At the end of the season(March) he had a goal of throwing from 3rd to 1st without one bouncing it. He used to crow hop and couldnt reach 1st from 3rd. In May(this month), he doesnt crow hop and can reach 1st from 3rd 6 out of10 times.

[baseballdad]

Lately I have been using the 2 steps back, steps in toss for warm ups. The start close (about 20 ft) and if they complete 3 catches one player backs up two steps. If they complete 3 more they back up two steps. If they miss a throw they take two steps in. It keeps the kids in a range where they can complete the throw/catch, makes it a competition to see who gets further apart and challenges the throwers. You have to be sure to match to players of similar ability or it can be frustrating.

[Jesse]

I haven't tried this yet, but I thought it would be a good modified long toss with some practical applications, especially for a younger player (my son's 7). I was thinking of lining up at first base, have him start out at pitcher and throw a few to me. Then move him over to second, then short, and finish him up at third, then come back the same way.

That way he gets backed up every so often, and also gets experience making the throw to first from different parts of the infield.

Of course you could modify it different ways, have him throw from catcher to second, have him step on second then throw to first, etc. As he gets older you could move him to the outfield, have him line up in CF and throw to second, then first or third, then pitcher, then home, etc.

[CoachHenry]

I haven't tried this yet, but I thought it would be a good modified long toss with some practical applications, especially for a younger player (my son's 7). I was thinking of lining up at first base, have him start out at pitcher and throw a few to me. Then move him over to second, then short, and finish him up at third, then come back the same way.

That way he gets backed up every so often, and also gets experience making the throw to first from different parts of the infield.

Of course you could modify it different ways, have him throw from catcher to second, have him step on second then throw to first, etc. As he gets older you could move him to the outfield, have him line up in CF and throw to second, then first or third, then pitcher, then home, etc.

If you have a screen place that at first and hit to him from home plate while rotating him around the field like you mention. Then not only do you get those throws in, you get some fielding practice as well. Hang the lid of a bucket on the screen for a target.

[callyjr]

My 7yr old and I started doing a simply long toss in Feb this year. We would simply play catch and move back, play catch and move back until he got the the point of having to take a step to throw. He went from an average arm to a good arm compared to 9/10 yr olds. He went from probably 60 or 70 feet to an easy 100 feet now. My other coach could not believe the difference. Him growing also helped I am sure, but just doing this twice a week helped a lot more then not doing it.

Now before each game we warm up the same way, simply play catch until he has to take a step to throw and play catch there for 5 or 10 throws.

It is interesting to see though, as he gets further away he starts to throw more side armed. I do wonder if this is his natural arm slot or not? He throws over the top only and always has.

Cally

[korp]

Any age as far as I know is fine to do long toss its something that can't really hinder you unless you throw and you arm will fall off. Basically you want your throws to be on a line ... not just throwing it up in the air as far as you can like a popup. Other than that just make sure you warm up properly and use your body ... crow hop when needed and thats it.

[Go Cardinals]

Any age as far as I know is fine to do long toss its something that can't really hinder you unless you throw and you arm will fall off. Basically you want your throws to be on a line ... not just throwing it up in the air as far as you can like a popup. Other than that just make sure you warm up properly and use your body ... crow hop when needed and thats it.

You want to throw the ball as high up as you need... throwing on a line is when you start to come back and get close

[korp]

Well obviously it won't be 100% straight line but you want a minimal arc. You don't want to sacrifice form just to throw as far as possible that will only get you into bad habits. For example say when you are in game you don't want a popup thrown to a cut-off man you want a line drive right at their head.

[bamajeff]

IMO, you need some of both....you throw for max distance, then pull-down as you move back in. Keeping the same effort to throw the max distance, but take out the arc. If you don't max out in distance(while being careful to listen to your arm and let it stretch out naturally), you won't maximize your throwing capabilities.

Well obviously it won't be 100% straight line but you want a minimal arc. You don't want to sacrifice form just to throw as far as possible that will only get you into bad habits. For example say when you are in game you don't want a popup thrown to a cut-off man you want a line drive right at their head.

[dmullen]

It's not too hard. Remember when we were kids - you just threw the ball & with a little competitive spirit these throwing sessions changed into finding out could throw it further, faster, etc.... I remember so many times my older brother getting mad at me because I launched a ball that got by him or he launched a ball that got by me (usually he did this on purpose).

Now days the kids don't really have other kids to throw with (outside of practice) - so dear old day is stuck being the throwing buddy. We try to make this more of regimented - long-toss program - I know I did. If I had to do it all over again - I would've focused more on having fun with it. "Let's see how far you can throw it". "Great throw - man that was way over my head".

In short just have fun - especially at any age below 12 - baseball gets pretty serious to quickly in my opinion.

[Go Cardinals]

Well obviously it won't be 100% straight line but you want a minimal arc. You don't want to sacrifice form just to throw as far as possible that will only get you into bad habits. For example say when you are in game you don't want a popup thrown to a cut-off man you want a line drive right at their head.

That's the point of long toss, you want the arc. Also, I would disagree 100% with you, the throwing long toss and lobbing it as much as possible has helped my arm tremendously with accuracy and velocity.