Softball skills can be very complicated. For new athletes who are learning skills there can be so much information that it can be overwhelming. I put this softball throwing mechanics checklist together and found them great for breaking the skills down in smaller and easier to implement chunks of information.
You can print them off and laminate them and then have the players actually evaluate each other on them. I would not do it very often but a few times so that they are seeing what is being taught. Sometimes to teach a skill like softball throwing is a great way to learn one as well.
Softball Throwing Mechanics
Preparation
_____ 3 finger grip across the seams
_____ glove side foot is closer to the target
_____ weight is on the back foot
_____ glove or glove side elbow is pointed toward the target
_____ throwing hand elbow is at shoulder height at a 90 degree angle and away from the head
_____ eyes are on the target
Execution
_____ your eyes are on the target as you step toward it with your throwing hand foot which steps in front
_____ weight transfers to your front foot then push off your front foot
_____ the shoulder leads the elbow of the throwing hand
_____ weight transfers to your glove side foot that has stepped forward
_____ your forearm rotates through with the ball up high
_____ the glove hand or elbow comes down
_____ the throwing hand arm extends and the wrist snaps as you release the ball
Follow Through
_____ your weight is on your front (glove side) foot
_____ your front knee is bent
_____ your throwing hand crosses over your body to the other side with your throwing shoulder forward
_____ your throwing shoulder is forward
_____ finish back in your balanced position with your eyes on the target you just threw to
