Basic mechanics that can help players throw more efficiently

How can you get your team to make more efficient throws? Spend time on basic mechanics. Players at every level, especially beginners, need training on how to grip the ball, create space, and whip the ball to a target. Even after you’ve trained them, players may require reminders about certain aspects.

Coach Yvette Healy works with her players on the following three areas:

Palm: Leave a space between the ball and the palm.

Seams: Use the seams as guides to grip and throw properly.

Fingers: Focus on where to place the fingers on the ball. Younger players use more fingers on the ball than older ones. By college, players usually place a thumb on the ball bottom with two or three fingers on top and the ring finger or pinky on the side.

Coach Healy also shares a simple backspin drill for practicing rotation and a “ball down” drill for getting the ball out of the glove quickly.