The Pathway to Elite Level Pitching: Why Most Lessons Fall Short
- Nicole Fougerousse
- Feb 26, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 2
Every week, parents ask me how to help their daughter pitch at the college level. They know she’s talented. They just want to give her every possible edge to make that dream happen.
Here’s the truth: only 8.5% of high school players compete in college, and just 1.7% play at the D1 level.
From my experience coaching and recruiting at the D1 level, college coaches look for pitchers who can consistently:
Throw 60+ MPH
Command four pitches (Fastball, Change, and two movement pitches)
Keep ERA under 2.50
Limit WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched)
Yet most pitchers never reach those benchmarks—even though they’re taking lessons and “putting in the work.” Why? Because traditional lessons don’t produce elite-level results.
Let me show you why.
The Pyramid of Pitching Development
At the base of the pyramid, you’ll find the typical lesson model: 30–60 minutes of instruction, a few quick tips, and a “see you in a few weeks.” It’s transactional, not transformational.
Sure, your pitcher might look a little sharper after a lesson. But without structured progression and accountability, that growth fades fast. The truth? One-hour lessons rarely lead to long-term performance gains.
Don’t fall for the “quick fix” lesson trap. Just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t make it right. There’s a reason only 8.5% of players move on to college ball.
Structure Without Strategy = Stagnation
Pitching classes are a step up—they add structure, repetition, and consistency. But without periodization, progress still hits a ceiling.
Periodization means strategically planning training intensity and workload throughout the year—pushing hard in the off-season, tapering in-season, and peaking at the right time. Most players get that backward: training hardest during competition and coasting when they should be building.
That’s how you get fatigue, injury, or burnout—the trio that ends most promising careers.
Coaching vs. Instructing
Here’s the game-changer: coaching.
A coach doesn’t just sell an hour of time—they build a relationship. They know your goals, hold you accountable, and design a plan that develops you technically, physically, tactically, and mentally.
An instructor trades time for money. A coach transforms players into competitors.
The Connected Coaching Difference
My Connected Coaching Programs takes that relationship-driven model and amplifies it with technology. Athletes get individualized feedback, video analysis, and measurable mini-goals (KPIs) to track progress.
It’s built for athletes who want to go all in—those serious about shattering college-level benchmarks and playing at the elite level.
So ask yourself:
Where does your pitcher’s training really fall on the Pathway to Elite Level Pitching?
Are you getting the results you’re paying for?
What would change if your pitcher trained in the top tier?
P.S. If you’re ready to break through those college benchmarks and get noticed by recruiters, check out the 21K Yearly Pitching Program. It’s not just training—it’s the roadmap to the next level.
