The Odds are Against You

It takes a very special person to be a successful pitcher. All you have to do is look at how the odds are stacked against you. We did a little math and the numbers are intimidating.

As you go from tournament to tournament, there are hundreds of girls with dreams of playing college softball. How many will make it? Out of every 200 pitchers, less than 1 is likely to pitch on the Division 1 level. So, for every 1 who makes it about 199 will not.
What are the odds of receiving scholarship money? Only about 1 in 300 will see any significant scholarship assistance. The odds of being the number 1 pitcher on the D-1 level? Generally about 1 in 900.
If it is that difficult to succeed, what are some of the variables which determine success? Obviously there are some “gifts” which help such as size, intelligence or other genetic factors which can influence speed or movement. However, there are a lot more.
We still think proper form is the biggest component. Most pitchers have very little concept of what their body is doing, the contribution of various parts of the body, and tiny nuances that affect each pitch. But, as you work with the very elite pitchers who are destined to be successful on the college level, they almost have a different language. They feel things that others cannot feel, they make adjustments much more quickly, they don’t need nearly as much maintenance to keep basic foundations, and they find unique ways to develop extra advantages through that body awareness.
Another component is strength and conditioning. When we see kids with physical conditions, we know they are severely limited. These include such things as scapular function, hip issues, tight hamstrings, or muscle imbalances. It takes an expert to deal with things like these, and many kids try a local gym or a self-designed strength program, which leaves them wondering why they just can’t get their body to do the things they ask it to do. That is another reason over 99-percent fail.
Injuries are another key. Most people think injuries are something severe such as a muscle tear or tendon damage. Those are obvious. Some are less discernible and their symptoms discourage kids. These include things like soreness, excessive fatigue, or it takes too much work to get results because something is just not right, so pitching becomes a chore. She is subconsciously trying to avoid pain or stress in a certain part of the body and is overloading other parts. She doesn’t even know something is hurt because she has pitched this way so long that it feels perfectly normal to her.
Support at home plays a huge role as well. She cannot do this alone. We have seen a lot of great kids fall short and a lot of very average kids exceed expectations due to the kind of support they received.
Finally, and most importantly, if she is to be that one in 900 who makes it to the top, she has to do the things nobody else wants to do until she can do things nobody else can do. She has to seek every advantage and leverage it to the max. It takes a perfectly conditioned body, perfect form, high goals, and outstanding grades to have a chance. In every way she has to be one step above and not listen to advice from those who never quite made it.
Not everyone has the same dream and that is perfectly okay. But, if you want to take it to an entirely different level, you have to think in entirely different ways.
Note: Special thanks to Certified Instructor, Heather Pomilio on Long Island, for suggesting this topic. If you are a former college pitcher who wants to make a difference in the lives of kids, and dramatically increase the odds of their success, contact us about our Instructor Development Program.