Between innings, a pitcher should take a breath and let the last inning go, put a jacket or sleeve on his throwing arm, sip some water, pick one focus for the next inning, and stay loose during long at-bats. Skip sitting in a T-shirt, replaying every pitch, and icing. Same routine every inning, and tell the coach if his arm feels tired.
The third out is made, your son jogs off the mound, and then what? For a lot of young pitchers, the answer is sitting at the end of the bench in a T-shirt, cooling off, replaying the last walk in their head. Then they jog back out and the next inning starts badly.
What a pitcher does between innings matters more than most parents think. Here is a simple between-innings routine that keeps his arm warm, his head clear, and his next inning on track.
The between-innings routine
Walk off and breathe
One slow breath on the way to the dugout. The last inning is over, good or bad. Our guide on staying focused on the mound covers the mental side.
Jacket on the arm
Put a jacket or warm sleeve over his throwing arm right away, especially on cool days. The goal is to keep the arm warm, not to cool it down.
Water
A few sips every inning, not a whole bottle at once. On hot days, a sports drink can help. Our guide on game-day food covers the rest of his fuel.
One thing for next inning
A quick word with the catcher or coach about the next few hitters, or one simple focus like “attack with strike one.” One thing, not a list.
Stay loose
If his team’s at-bat runs long, have him stand, stretch lightly, and move around so he doesn’t stiffen up. Ask the coach how they like pitchers to stay loose during a long inning.
Then he uses his warm-up throws on the mound to get back into rhythm: smooth, building up, not max effort on the first one.
What not to do
| Do | Skip |
|---|---|
| Jacket on the arm | Sitting in a T-shirt |
| Small sips of water | Chugging a full bottle |
| One focus | Replaying every pitch |
| Light movement | Sitting still for 20 min |
| Speak up if tired | Hiding a tired arm |
| Keep the arm warm | Icing between innings |
Icing belongs after the game, if at all, never between innings. Our guide on whether a pitcher should ice his arm explains why.
“Same routine, every inning.”
When the routine is automatic, his head is free for the next hitter.Reset the mind, not just the arm
The biggest thing that happens between innings is mental. A pitcher who carries the last inning back to the mound pitches tight. Teach him to let it go before he reaches the dugout: one breath, one thought about the next inning, and that’s it. A good inning gets the same routine as a bad one, so neither one changes how he walks back out. Our guide on a pre-pitch routine helps with the same reset between pitches.
Watch for a tired arm
The dugout is where fatigue often shows up first. If he’s shaking out his arm, rubbing his elbow or shoulder, or saying his arm feels heavy, he should tell the coach, and the coach should know it’s okay to pull him. Our guide on why a pitcher loses velocity late in games covers the signs. If his elbow or shoulder hurts, he’s done for the day and you see a doctor. Never trade a healthy arm for a number.
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Between innings, a pitcher should breathe and let the last inning go, get a jacket on his throwing arm, sip water, pick one focus for the next inning, and stay loose during long at-bats. Skip the T-shirt, the chugging, the replaying, and the ice. Do the same routine every inning, and tell the coach if the arm feels tired. Smooth is fast, and a calm routine helps keep it that way.
Common questions
What should a pitcher do between innings?
Take a breath and let the last inning go, put a jacket on the throwing arm, drink a little water, pick one focus for the next inning, and stay loose during long at-bats. Then use the warm-up throws to get back into rhythm.
Should pitchers wear a jacket between innings?
Yes, especially on cool days. A jacket or sleeve keeps the throwing arm warm so it doesn’t stiffen up before the next inning.
Should a pitcher ice his arm between innings?
No. The goal between innings is to keep the arm warm and loose. Icing, if used at all, belongs after the game.
How do pitchers stay loose during a long inning?
Stand up, move around, and stretch lightly instead of sitting still. Some teams let pitchers make a few easy throws during a very long inning; ask the coach how they handle it.
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