side arm pitching

Question
My daughter is 10yrs old.  She plays on a travel fast pitch baseball with the boys.  She is a very talented baseball player and is a natural athlete.  She is the one of the top pitchers on the team and when she isn't pitching she is first string short stop.  Her only downfall is that she is a side arm pitcher.  She throws fast and accurate causing many strikeouts.  she never complains about her arm being sore, but her coach insists on changing her side arm because she might cause injury to her rotator cuff.  I have also had people tell me not to change what comes natural to her.  She will eventually have to convert to softball is it that important for her to change her pitching style.  she doesnt throw side arm while playing short stop.  she is having a real hard time changing her pitching style.  is it possible she is a natural side armer?

Answer
Stacy,
I don't think it is important for her to change her pitching style.  If she is going to convert to softball and wants to pitch I would suggest that she start to practice the windmill pitching.  I can't tell you if she is hurting herself by pitching sidearm because I have not seen her pitch.  I would suggest you see a pitching instructor.  Some pitching instructors will immediately say she is going to hurt herself because of the side arm motion so choose your instructor wisely.  If she is throwing improper than she should change her style.  If she injures her arm now it may always hurt in the future.    

If she is putting any unnecessary stress on her shoulder due to the sidearm pitching than she may hurt her rotator cuff.  Overhand throwing is not a natural motion so any style can result in rotator cuff injury.  Thats why MLB pitchers throw every 5th day and softball pitchers can pitch everyday.  Young players are very flexible, so what seems to be a natural motion now may not be a natural motion when they get older and their bones and muscles grow.  If you could go see a pitching instructor than they would be able to tell you if she should change or continue with the sidearm pitching.  

Thank You,
John Priest