Hawkspeak,
“I have an 11 year old son who I think would benefit from instruction on mechanics and off-season programming to build strength.”
You have a chronologically aged 11 yo. This info only helps if you know his biological age also.
If his chronological age matches his biological age, motor and strength skills become easy to plan.
He may be up to 2.5 years delayed in biological maturity (rate of bone growth timing) or 2.5 years advanced in biological maturity. you need to asses this info before making any choices on training and motor learning oppertunities and amount.
Perturbed bone growth is one of the only early injuries you can’t fix, EVER!!!
All Elbow bone solidifies at 16 biological yo. 50% of youth males fall below this solidification rate.
The traditional pitching motion (Centripedal delivery) where your forearm fly’s away to the outside of the elbow has been proven to cause intuitive forearm supination that has the Ulna crash into the Humerus continually and ballistically in hyper extension is known to be a pathomechanic (injurious force application) on the highest order causing dozens of types of serious and escalating injuries!
“Is there a general consensus on Tom’s National Pitching Association program?”
No, it is accepted as a continuation of what has always been taught.
The Psychologist Mr. House studies by replication the throwing motions that are intuitively exhibited.
“We’re considering starting with one of his organizations coaches this off season; starting with an analysis followed by programming targeted to improve weaknesses.”
I would suggest you start with an expert in the field of Motor skill acquisition, Exercise physiology and Kinesiology. Dr. Mike Marshall before moving to any traditional choice! Read his material, have an exit strategy, go back again and again until you understand what he is saying, then build it yourself. He’s had hundreds of parents with no experience produce great results.
“I’ve most heard good things except from Chris O’Leary…”
Chris means well but wants to fit in like everybody else who learns Dr. Marshall’s information by not applying it fully (I call these Org’s the 20% er’s), then calling it there own discovery.
It has really manifested itself in the training aspect where you see traditional Org’s now trying to replicate Dr. Marshall’s work with out the expertise or willingness to disseminate the info for free as Dr. Marshall wants so they Bastardize him and the info, the worst part being, going against his warning that if you do not enlist the pathomechanical busting mechanics the training will really hurt you.
“ I’m new to this game and learning a lot but admittedly have a hard time separating faction from fiction! Thanks for the input.”
Just go with the real science, performed by actual clinical researchers. Baseball has thousands of experts who virtually have no credentials.