I have been helping coach my sons little league team and I have become quite frustrated with it. Yesterday was the first game and we were beaten quite badly. I am not really upset with losing because the kids did play quite well. I am more disgusted with a couple of the fellow coaches. The age level of the team makes it where the coach pitches the ball to the kids, and this is where the problem arises from. The other team pitched under hand to the kids and a couple of the coaches insisted that our kids be pitched to over hand in the hopes of teaching the kids how to hit an overhand pitch.

To me this is the problem and I will explain my views on why this is the problem. On the surface it sounds good to try to teach the kids an overhand pitch. To me it makes no difference on there learning ability to pitch underhand to them. You can only throw the ball at about the same speed so you get no benefit from the overhand pitch in this respect. I think it is more important to teach the kids to hit a pitched ball no matter what way you pitch it.The biggest problem with the overhand pitch IMO is that when a 6' man is pitching to a 6 or 7 year old kid the ball has to be lobbed in at a downward angle as the ball crosses the plate. This kind of pitch actually causes the kids to have to swing at a upward angle to get a decent shot at hitting the ball. This seems counter productive in my mind. I am not sure if I am missing something or should I just push the issue with the other coaches.

I am looking for your opinions on whether or not the ball should be pitched overhand or underhand as long as they are about the same speed pitches?

I agree that the kids are there to play ball and have fun. I also think we should help them learn the best way to play that game possible. I also agree that the rules should be followed, oh yeah I forgot to mention we don't even have an umpire for our games.

I am just looking for some opinions on what may be a better way to instruct these kids on hitting.