Can sidearm or submarine pitching be harmful to youth baseball players?

Question

As a fairly new fan to baseball back in the late 1970's and early 1980's I enjoyed watching pitchers like Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry pitch with their submarine deliveries. At the time, I remember hearing that pitching that way is a more natural motion for the arm and shoulder, and would be less likely to cause injury.

Now, decades later I find myself coaching youth baseball. I considered teaching sidearm and even submarine delivery. However, other coaches have warned me that such deliveries can be harmful to young players. Is this true?

Answer 1

This is anecdotal, so keep that in mind, but as a young pitcher, I threw out my shoulder (some undiagnosed rotator cuff issue probably) by throwing overhand.

All I wanted to do in the world was pitch, and my coaches were idiots, so they let me keep pitching even though I was in pain.

Gradually I switched first to sidearm and then to full submarine. Two things happened:

1. My accuracy increased dramatically with no loss of velocity

2. The pain virtually stopped. I could pitch 3 innings easy (which is what I was pitching at the time)

Long term - I have a rotator cuff injury now (but it's from co-sleeping with my son, not sports related) - and I'm 38 and still play softball.

I'd check out what the experts say, but for what it's worth, it worked for me.