Posted by: TC2 () on Mon May 17 20:28:35 2004

what is the age a kid should start throwing a curve my son is 11 and i know that to young so what would a good age to start. Thanks
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> Hi Coach Jeff,
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> This I why I favor the elimination of high-tech bats at the lower levels.
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> When I went to some little league games, I noticed that some pitchers added a curve to their repotoire not so much to rebel against conventional as to keep the ball off the fat part of the bat, and prevent line drives from taking their lives. Pitchers have been killed in the past for this reason.
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> Also, when I was seven years of age, kids were always throwing curves at makeshift sandlots game during school recess. There were no parents around to forbid the kids from having fun.
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> I have also heard one major league commentator say that a three-quarters curve, when thrown properly, puts far less stress on the arm than an overhand fastball.
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> Why should Americans refrain from throwing "junk" when Taiwanese pitchers use it all the time to dominate Little League World Series games?
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> While your intentions are noble, the psychology of children is to do something "in secret" that they are "forbidden" to do. And if you forbid your son to throw curves, guess what strikeout "weapon" he will use next time he plays in a pick-up game against his friends? The curve ball?
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> I believe at this age, he will be prone to attempting curves, and brush aside any medical precaution. Therefore, the smartest choice you have is to spend time teaching him to throw it right, and from an angle that will not cause arm injury.
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> Put bluntly, if you say "no," he will probably rebel, and hurt his arm anyway.
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> If you say "yes," but do not show him how throw the curve properly, he will suffer the same fate.
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> However, if you teach him to throw it properly--well, let's say I'm looking forward to a great LL World Series, watching him strike out his opponents. Hence, we can learn much by watching what Taiwanese, Mexican, Dominican, and other pitchers from various national teams do to win games.
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> At this point, this is best loguc I can provide.
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> Good luck to you and your son,
> BHL
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Coach Jeff,

There is some, albeit very little, logic to what BHL has proposed.
Some sports commentator somewhere said something? Well gee- how many times have you heard some of the ridiculous stuff Harold Reynolds or Brett Must-be-wrong have ever said about hitting...especially during the LL World Series!

Look- just because any team (BHL assumes it is just foreigners)brings in their "alleged" 12 year old (yeah like I'm way off here?)in to throw curveballs to beat up on other Little Leaguers doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. I would further state that using LL in general to make a case for the "proper way to play baseball" is not even remotely valid.

If and when BHL can name and or tell us where any of those curveball throwing wizards are today in their baseball careers then perhaps you can take comfort in his wisdom on 11 year olds busting out in curve balls. He does make a good point about "teaching it right" which is the biggest reason to avoid it completely with this age group. Considering you asked the question in the first place it would appear you aren't 100% comfortable with the idea- therefore- don't take such a gamble with an innocent child.

Pitchers killed? Sad but true... yet...is there any data to show these rare incidences occured on a pitch other than a curveball? Would this not have happened if the batter hit a curve ball?
I have seen many, many major leaguers, high schoolers, babe ruth players get the fat part of their bat on a curve ball but I am to believe a LL just can't do that? Hmmmm?
Again- I would question that "logic" if I were you?

Finally, sandlot games and kids playing with no parents around? Where is that happening in America today? Give me a break! Stats show we (Americans) don't even eat together as families anymore because there just isn't enough time. Hey Coach, take a snapshot of your own situation or surroundings and use that as your litmus test.
The norm IS- two working parents/step parents/guardians, perhaps just one son who has LL practice and a daughter who has a soccer game each 2-3 times per week and they are rarely the same nights.

Weekends = "SUNDAY only" and that must be the day they all play sandlot baseball together secretly throwing curveballs, drinking beer, rebelling against society all while mom/dad/guardians leave them unattended:)

Hey, that sounds like a movie because it sure as heck ain't the real life I have been living and witnessing!

Coach, all sarcasm aside, when it comes to kids safety ...always error on the side of common sense and certainly never rely on what LL baseball portrays.