How parents can help their son develop better pitching control

I've been writing a lot recently about developing better pitching control. But I don't think you can talk about it too much. You can't be a pitcher if you don't throw strikes. Nothing else is as important as being able to throw the baseball where you want and need to throw it -- and then be able to repeat it again and again.

Many parents want to know how they can help their young Little Leaguer or teenage pitcher get better. Control is where you can help your son most. But you have to emphasize the importance of it. And you must make your son practice it every time he plays catch.

However, you don't have to make a big deal out of it. Make it fun: Turn it into a game. You can do this by making a target with your glove and having your son throw to it in practice. How many times in a row (or out of 10 times) can your son hit the target without you having to move your glove?  Keep track of it after you throw. Write it down or chart it. This is important, but it will take discipline to do.

If you don't want to make a target, make it a rule that when you play catch, the ball has to be thrown to your chest every time. Or pick out another spot (a shoulder, perhaps). The point is that you start getting your son to throw with a purpose and throw to a spot, all the time.

Now I know that this "drill" is simplistic. But I did it right through professional baseball, every time I threw the ball. Many of my teammates did it, too. Over time, the precision and accuracy that your son will develop will translate to the mound. Your son will start to feel his release point and will be able to make adjustments -- which is exactly what pitchers must do in games from pitch to pitch, batter to batter.

Pitching as you know is a game of adjustments. To be the best, you must be able to make adjustments constantly. That's why having your son throw to a target, with a purpose, every time he plays catch -- even when he's not throwing off a mound -- will help him develop better control.

Put it to work. Get him to do it, then have him own it.