Solving problems and Self Coaching:
In order to effectively solve mechanical problems you must:

1. Trace a problem to its roots (many just work on the symptoms)
2. Research the problem and come up with a plan of attack (you must develop a plan to solve the problem)
3. Your plan must have both a short term solution (during a game) and a long term solution involving drills to help prevent the problem from surfacing too often.

Self-Coaching:
The best way to coach pitchers is by teaching them to be their own coaches. In order for this to be effective you must:

1. Give them a very basic understanding of their mechanics
2. Make sure they feel these basic concepts in their delivery, and
3. Help them develop checkpoints and drills to solve (fix) their individual problems

This entire concept can take a long time to fully develop. It is very important that the pitching coach spend as much time as necessary with each individual pitcher to make sure they have a complete understanding and feel of the three areas stated above. Once the pitcher is comfortable with his knowledge and understanding of the basic mechanics, this system will last an entire career.

Benefits of the Self-Coaching concept:

1. Some pitchers are able to solve problems during the course of a game before the problem beats them.
2. Pitchers are included in the development process more, so communication is therefore better between coach and pitcher.

Dangers of the Self-Coaching concept:

1. The mechanical material must be kept very basic or the pitcher becomes confused and can become a “mechanical mess”.
2. Some pitchers may start to believe that the mechanics are the only thing that is important and pretty soon it’s “I didn’t win but at least my mechanics were good...”
3. You look around and pitcher A is coaching pitcher B using his own mechanics as a guide. They (pitchers A’s mechanics) may not apply to pitcher B, and may in fact do damage.
4. Pitchers over analyze mechanics during the game.
    

Self-Coaching system:

All pitchers overthrow and get into trouble. We want to train each pitcher to develop a “self-coaching system” in order to solve minor mechanical and mental problems during the game. It is a fact that a pitcher who can coach himself can win games that he would normally lose, and help prevent long periods of ineffectiveness (pitching slumps). It is the responsibility of the pitching coach and pitcher to develop this system together for the long term of the pitcher.

1. Learn Basic Mechanics:

• Break your delivery into three parts - understand each part.
• Understand the importance of overall balance and good direction.
• Apply basic mechanics to your delivery.
• Learn the difference between the symptoms and the roots of the problem and learn to find the root and plot a solution.
• Train yourself to develop both short term solutions (during the game) and long term solutions (drills).

2. Mental Skills in Self-Coaching:

• Keep your cool and think rationally.
• Focus on the solution and not the problem.
• Talk nice to yourself.
• Use pictures not just words.
• Remember what you learn and the solutions you develop.
• Don’t stop with one solution - always try to improve the system.

Situations That Promote Overthrowing:

1. When you are in trouble
2. After an error
3. When the best hitter comes up
4. After a home run
5. Anytime you lose your temper
6. After a cheap hit off you
7. When a scout comes to see you pitch
8. When you get tired
9. The 1st, 5th, and 9th innings
10. 0-2 count and you think “strikeout”
11. Trying to get revenge against a team or an individual
12. When family or friends are in town
13. After a bad outing
14. When the game is on the line
15. The coach is about to take you out of the game
16. Large crowds
17. 2 outs
18. TV game
19. You feel strong
20. Shut down inning
21. The team is on a losing streak
22. Long inning
23. When you don’t think you have your best stuff

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