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Pitching Speed

Speed seems to be a popular word used to describe an important attribute which can aid an athlete in beating an infield hit on a softball/baseball diamond, running by his/her opponent on a lacrosse field, or crossing the finish line first in a 100-meter dash.

If the question, “Can you develop speed or is it something with which you are born,” was asked to ten people ten years ago, eight out of the ten would have responded, “No you can not develop speed.” However, over the last 10 years there has been an explosion in the amount of research-based information that indicates that given the right approach, athletes CAN increase their speed.

Speed is a skill just as hitting a baseball is a skill, or cradling a lacrosse ball. So just like any other skill that an athlete wants to improve, speed requires practice. In order for an athlete to improve his/her speed, he/she must participate in an effective and consistent training regimen.

Contrary to popular belief, speed training is much more than running. A solid speed development program includes various running mechanic drills targeted toward improving arm action, leg action, and improving the body’s ability to exert maximum force against the ground in the shortest amount of time. An effective program also helps an athlete work on factors that directly impact his/her game speed such as reaction time, starting ability, and acceleration.

The most successful approach to implementing an effective speed development program is for an athlete to first focus on improving and mastering running techniques. Once this is accomplished, then, and only then, should the athlete turn his/her focus to improving game speed.