Masato Tsuji, manager of the Taga Boys Baseball Club: “You’ll never be able to pitch well on your own”
“Catch,” which can be said to be the basics of baseball, is one of the important skills to extend the lifespan of a player. Although the motion of throwing seems easy, there are surprisingly few instructors who can properly teach it. Full-Count interviewed an expert who is familiar with the field of youth baseball about important points and practice methods when teaching “throwing motions.” Masato Tsuji, manager of the Shiga Taga Youth Baseball Club, who has won consecutive national championships and is well-regarded for his pitching coaching, tells us about important points to keep in mind in the world of youth baseball.
Even though 36 years have passed since the Taga Boys Baseball Club was founded, Coach Tsuji’s inquisitive spirit has not run out. Initially, the team was built with an emphasis on strategy and tactics in pursuit of victory, but the team changed its direction to “nurturing individuals.” In order to graduate from elementary school and continue playing baseball even in the upper categories, it is necessary to acquire the correct basics. The most important of these is the throwing motion.
“In the past, no matter how you threw the ball, it was valued as long as it was fast. The way you threw was just a nuance. That’s because the coaches at the time didn’t learn theory or technique. I was the same way. That’s the basics, but that’s the most difficult thing to do.No matter how good your batting ability is, players who are worried about throwing the ball will have limited options.It may be an exaggeration, but the action of throwing the ball may determine your baseball career. ”
Throwing motion varies greatly depending on the individual environment. It is said that by the time children grow up and start playing ball, they develop certain habits. There are various types of darts, such as “dart throwing” where the elbow is forward, and “hand throwing” where the dart is thrown using only the strength of the arm. He says that children who are able to pitch smoothly when they join a youth baseball team are either because their parents are studying hard or because they are being taught by a good coach.
During a parent-child game of catch, parents are also instructed: “The child will imitate this.”
Director Tsuji’s personal theory is that “the basic premise is that no one will automatically become good at pitching” when working with the children. The team has improved their throwing motion by adopting a “spring throw,” which uses tendons to throw and reduces the risk of injury. It will be necessary,” he points out.
For example, when a parent and child join the club and have the opportunity to play catch, the first thing they do is teach the parents how to throw, saying, “Dad, you can’t throw that way.” There was a scene in which the child threw with his hands while facing directly, and he was instructed, “Children will imitate this.Let’s put our shoulders in and throw with rotation.” He also had a video taken of the spring throw, creating an environment in which he could repeat it at home.
The team’s alumnus is pitcher Kodai Norimoto, who plays for Rakuten, but it is said that his pitching style has not changed much since he was a member of the team. He became one of the world’s leading pitchers, and Manager Tsuji was proud of him, but he says, “I didn’t teach him at all, or rather, I wasn’t able to teach him at all.At that time, I didn’t have any theory or coaching ability.” His parents took videos of his pitching form, so the family worked together to lay the foundation by practicing at home while copying the pitching form of professional baseball players.
“Of course it is necessary for coaches to study. That is their responsibility. Nowadays, we live in an era where information is easily available, and coaches’ eyes have been cultivated, but it is still not enough. Not only the team but also the team. However, how much time can parents teach their children to throw well?They spend far more time at home than on the field.If they become more conscious of this, fewer children will have trouble learning how to throw. I think so.”
At Taga Youth Baseball Club, coaches and parents work together to support the growth of children. Director Tsuji is scheduled to appear in “Pitching Guidance Week” to be held from December 16th. Where can I find tips on how to throw, which is difficult to teach? This should solve the problems of parents of baseball players.
Manager Masato Tsuji also appears…Introducing practice methods that are useful for teaching youth baseball pitchers!
Full-Count, First-Pitch and the baseball training technology improvement program “TURNING POINT” will hold an online event “Pitching Instruction Week” for five consecutive nights starting December 16th. For players, coaches, and parents who have concerns such as wanting to increase ball speed, improve ball control, or want to throw accurately, we have a team of coaches and trainers with extensive experience in each baseball category for elementary and junior high school students. will give you advice on how to practice and how to care for it. Participation fee is free. For details on performers, etc., see the page below.
[Pitching instruction week details]
[To participate, register for free at TURNING POINT]
(Kengo Hashimoto)
I want to increase the speed of the ball, I want to hit the ball farther… “First-Pitch,” a sibling site of “Full-Count,” tells baseball boys and girls, coaches, and guardians about the coaching methods they want to know about, as well as the “current situation” in the field of baseball training. We will provide useful information every day as a gateway to learning the fun of baseball and as a clue to solving your questions.
