I have found in my 12 years as an instructor that the students that I work with (and go to other instructors) that are the best and have the most success are the ones that have worked the hardest to be the best and practice their pitching often. The pitchers with strong work ethics are always the best, strongest and most successful pitchers in a tournament and on their varsity high school teams. 

I have on occasions too numerous to count asked a student in a lesson, "How much did you practice this week?" or, "Did you work on the drills I showed you last week?". All too often the answers I get are, "No" or, "I forgot". These students and their parents wonder why the girl pitching along side is progressing faster than her and learning new pitches at a faster pace. The simple answer is THEY WORK HARDER! My best students in the past have been kids who were very goal oriented and made dad or mom take them out to throw. For example, Tonya Winberry, who pitched for the University of Missouri Tigers, she and her dad would work daily to improve some part of her pitching talents. Tonya was probably the hardest working student I have ever taught. Her work ethic is what took her to NCAA Div. I softball.

To the student I would suggest this...if you want to be the best and have success, please practice what you and your instructor work on each week in between the pitching lessons. I want to teach each one of you so much more. 

If you are the parent of a pitcher, don't blame the instructor if your young pitcher can't go the distance. If anyone thinks a pitcher will do real well in tournaments without putting in the extra work it takes during the week, you are sadly mistaken.

WORK HARD AND BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!