The efficacy of caffeine on sports performance has been extensively researched during steady-state sports, but the influence on motor skills remain understudied. Purpose: The present pilot investigation sought to determine the effects of moderately low caffeine ingestion on softball pitching accuracy and ball velocity. Methods: In a single blind design, five (n=5) female club softball players were either given a pill containing either caffeine (3 mg/kg body weight) (CAFF) from a commercially available product or a non-stimulant carbohydrate-based powder (maltodextrin) as a placebo (PLAC).After an hour of rest and self-selected warm-up post-ingestion, participants performed a total of 30 pitches (20 fastballs, 10 curveballs); pitching velocity and accuracy (% pitches in the strike zone) were determined by a portable pitching analysis software. Paired t-tests were used to determine statistical significance, and Cohen’s dwas used to describe effect sizes. Results: Participants had significantly (p\u3c 0.05) improved pitching velocity following the CAFF treatment (46.6 ±6.3 mph) as compared to the PLAC treatment (42.8 mph ±5.7 mph). There was not a significant difference (p\u3e 0.05) between pitching accuracyfor the CAFF treatment(50.4±7.9%) and the PLAC treatment (43.6 ±7.1%). Conclusion: This evidence suggests that moderately low caffeine dosage may improve softball pitching velocity without deleterious effects on accuracy
