Pitching Centre

Welcome to the Softball New Zealand Pitching Centre

 

I am Debbie Mygind and I have been employed by Softball New Zealand as the National Director of Pitching since September 2005. My role is to oversee the development of pitchers and catchers in New Zealand and this applies to both genders.

Background on Debbie Mygind: Born and bred in Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. I played for New Zealand for 11 years from 1979-1989 under the expert coaching of Ed Dolejs. I played in two World Series and pitched the final to win the World Series in 1982 and a third placing in 1986. I attended Arizona Western College in Yuma, USA in 1983 where we won the NJCAA Championship. In 1984 and 1985 I played at Cal State University, Fullerton under the coaching of Judy Garman, Kathy Van Wyk and Don Sarno. I have played in the Nth American summer in both Toronto and Vancouver in Canada and in California and Arizona in the USA. I also played for the Novara team in Italy in 1992. I assisted with coaching the Swedish National Team in the1994 World Series and was assistant coach for NZ Junior Girls team in the 1995 Junior World Series.

As the National Director of Pitching my focus is nationally driven with an international direction; I am conscious of a player’s long term development and there are specific needs at the different levels in order for our game to be better equipped at the high performance level. This website page offers some incite into the initiatives the Softball NZ coaching programme have in place with regards to pitching and catching.
The Pitcher /Catcher Development Pathways were released in August 2006 and offer a common philosophy on pitching and catching and how to develop the battery from beginner to adult.
Go to the pitching resource page and look for this icon:

Tips on Technique: The illustrated Rookie/Raw Sox Guidelines and the Emerging Sox Guidelines on the pitching resource page offer information on the acceptable techniques of pitching and catching. Players will individualise these techniques and create their own style.

The illustrated version of the Rookie/Raw Sox (U13/U15 ) Guidelines and the Emerging Sox (U17)Guidelines are also on this resource page.
These downloadable resources list the points which are achievable for the age group, and it is important that the coach allows the player adequate time to improve on their technique. Players develop at different rates and in their own time, and physical size has a lot to do with it.

My focus has always been to encourage more players into ‘having a go’ at pitching and catching and at junior level making the game very inclusive. In New Zealand we need more players pitching and catching at the U13 and U15 level.

The U15 ‘Share the load’ Rule has now applied at both the 2008 and the 2009 U15 National Tournaments. This rule is designed to protect the current players and develop the game by providing more opportunities for more players to pitch and catch. The feedback given on this rule has pointed to the need for a similar limit to be applied to club games at the U13 and U15 level. Some Associations have taken on such an initiative; other Associations are considering it for the 2009/10 season.

Have a look at the Pitcher/catcher Tips on the resource page under Game Plan for the junior coach; you can get an idea on who should be pitching and why.

For those coaching U17 and upwards The Competitive Pitching Module and a separate course the Competitive Catching Module is available for coaches as part of the Competitive Athlete Unit. This is an extremely important part of the Coaching Development Framework. In order for coaches to get a better understanding of the “what to coach” and the “how to coach” of pitching and catching, it is important that coaches make an effort to attend these Softball NZ courses to up skill themselves.

Influencing coaches is a real key for me and my ultimate goal is to never hear a coach say ‘I don’t know anything about pitching’.

Regards,
Debbie Mygind


FASTpitch softball = FUN, ACTION, SKILLS, and TACTICS

 Have a go - Share the Load
Rookie & Raw Sox Pitching Poster

 

 

"Please feel free to get in touch with me for any requests for coaching advice
or pitching questions you may have"

 

We need more coaches to encourage more players to help share the load of pitching and
catching in junior fastpitch softbal

Debbie Mygind National Director of Pitching Ph:(09)8172242 Mob: 0800 pitcher or 021748243 Email: Debbie