The Absolutes of Pitching
2009/2010 Training
Phase II
“Self-discipline is a form of freedom. Freedom from laziness and lethargy, freedom from expectations and demands of others, freedom from weakness and fear — and doubt.”
“Thanks, Coach, for making it happen!” Paul Maholm, Pittsburgh Pirates
DEVELOPING THE ABSOLUTES OF PITCHING
During my limited pitching career while blessed with a better than average arm I often struggled for consistency, all the while hearing platitudes from coaches like, “follow through”, “don’t aim the ball”, “push off”, or the most empty of all, “throw strikes”. This well meaning but inept instruction could be compared to the novice golfer being told to hit the ball in the hole, without any instruction on the mechanics of the golf swing. A disciplined and programmed learning approach to the mechanics and mindset of pitching is required, but seldom provided.
By the time I was 17, I was fortunate to have a coach who understood the mechanics of pitching. However, by then years of incorrect muscle memory were very difficult to overcome. The result was a determination (if not obsession) to learn as much as possible about the discipline of pitching when I began coaching almost 30 years ago.
My approach was to combine extensive study of what I still believe to be three of the best pitching coaches of all time; attending Dodger spring training and pitcher instruction for 23 years; and, continuing to refine what I taught over the past 30 years balanced and improved by what I found to be the better teaching methods. This combination of continued study, constant work with various ages and talent levels and having coached in approximately 1,500 competitive youth baseball games, have all caused me to develop an unrelenting belief in what I call the “Absolutes of Pitching”.
I do not claim any personal gift or genius in my insistence that pitching must be taught as a discipline process, nor do I compromise with those who claim they can actually make a positive difference with young pitchers by short spurts of intuitive instruction. At times, natural talent will camouflage lack of adequate instruction, but it will never overcome the lack of progress which could have been achieved with a solid foundation provided by the Absolutes of Pitching……. Paul Stewart
INSTRUCTOR:
Paul Stewart –Competitive Youth Baseball Coach for over 25 years and student of the game for life. 3 National Championships; 8 SE Regional Championships; 13 State Championships. More than 20 former pitchers received college scholarships; 15 or more pitched in professional baseball and 3 pitched in Major Leagues. Former students include Paul Maholm (MS State/Pirates), Mickey Calloway (Ole Miss/Devil Rays/Rangers/Angels) and Josh Stewart (Memphis/ White Sox), Paul Romanoli (Memphis/Cardinals), Chris Stewart (Memphis/Cardinals), Jason McCommon (Memphis/Expos), Kevin Dunavant (MS State/Rangers), Joey Collums (MS State), Brett Cleveland (MS State), Josh Paxton (Kentucky), Colby Paxton (Auburn); Amos Burdine (Tennessee), Eric Filsinger (Tennessee), Jason Sullivan (Tennessee) and many others of whom I am equally proud.
Chris Stewart – Youth Baseball (Memphis Tigers), High School (CBHS), College (University of Memphis), Professional 3 years (St. Louis Cardinals & Colorado Rockies), All Great Midwest Conference; 10-0 In Senior Season with U of M; 2nd lowest batting average against in all of Minor League Baseball 1994 (Cardinals); Coach (12 years; Memphis Tigers, Memphis University School Pitching Coach);
WHEN: Sunday Afternoon and Tue/Wed Evening Sessions beginning September 13th through March 7th
WHERE: Gameday Baseball / D1 Indoor Facility
WHO: Age Groups: 9 through 16
COST: Each Private Session 1.25 hr. @$65.00, or complete program blocks of 15 group sessions @ $400.00. Regimen of at least 12 sessions of private instruction and 30 group sessions over 90-day period is recommended for optimum effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE: Deliver a competition-ready, disciplined young pitcher, who better understands what it takes to compete at the most noble position in all athletics.
Progression Toward the Absolutes of Pitching (First Premise: It does not happen by telling a young pitcher to “throw strikes”, or “follow through”. Much more of a programmed and disciplined instruction and training program is required over a considerable period of time.)
I. Sessions 1-4 Developing a Predictable Platform
A. Orientation film/the importance of balance, direction and power, and specifically how to achieve it.
B. Muscle memory---the friend and the enemy
C. Absolutes of pitching mechanics---understanding, incorporating and maintaining
D. Establishing a minimum tolerance for mechanical variation
II. Sessions 5-8 Training and Re-Training Proper Mechanics
A. Video session for evaluating current mechanics
B. Analysis of mechanical weakness
C. Mound or flat ground sessions for prioritizing correction of mechanical weakness with proper mechanics and drills for muscle memory correction and permanence.
D. Follow-up video and analysis
III. Sessions 9-12 Understanding the Dynamics of Basic Pitches
A. Developing fundamental pitches with proper grip and execution without jeopardizing developing arms
B. Understanding pitch selection—when and why
C. Video analysis of pitch execution
D. Prioritizing pitch improvement
Concluding Session: Review progress, prioritize further work, establish suggested program for further development and spring and summer maintenance routine.
Contact: Paul Stewart @ 901-219-2668, or pws999@comcast.net
Chris Stewart @ 901-848-4618, or cstewartfin@gmail.com
FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO TAKE 10 HOURS OF INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION AND 30 HOURS OF GROUP INSTRUCTION RESULTS ARE GUARANTEED OR MONEY BACK (RESULTS CRITERIA WILL BE DEVELOPED WITH STUDENT)