Enter your E-mail Address

Enter your First Name (optional)

Then

Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Swing It!.

Home
Coaching Approach Your Coaching Style
Player Development
Products eBooks
FREE Download
Testimonials
Coaching Corner Coach Checklist
2nd Checklist
PreSeason Meeting
Game Coaching
Coaching Tips
Ask the Pro
Youth BB Today
Baseball Practice Top Practice Tips
Sandlot Ball
BB Practice Plans
How to Plan Practice
Pitching Pitching 101
Pitchers Checklist
Youth Pitching
Baseball Pitches
Pitching Mechanics
Hitting Hitting 101
More Hitting Tips
Baserunning
Htters Checklist
Fun Drills More Fun Drills
High School Baseball High School Baseball
Coaching Tips
Baseball Positions
Baseball Parents Baseball Dad
Baseball Moms
Sports Parents
Baseball Parents
Travel or Rec Ball?
Equipment Gear
Bargain Gear
BBCOR Bats
Baseball Bats
Partners More Resources
Baseball Ministry
Resources & Links
Top Interviews
Our Blog
Sitemap
Instruction About Me
Lessons
Contact me
Coaches Clinics
Baseball Camps
Pre-Game Routine

[?] Please Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

 

Youth Baseball Pitch Count for Pitchers

>>Why do you monitor youth baseball pitch counts? Easy. You are looking out to protect your baseball players from arm injuries in baseball.

Injuries in youth sports have significantly increased in recent years. Many adult ballplayers with a history of baseball injuries can be traced back to poor youth pitching practices.

Many of the pitching injuries in baseball can be prevented if we take a real close look at ways to reduce the risk of youth pitching injuries in baseball.

Pitch Counts to Avoid Pitching Injuries

In order to reduce the risk of baseball arm injuries pitches are counted and monitored in high school, college and professional baseball pitchers by pitching coaches.

Studies by the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) published in 2002 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine showed a close correlation in the number of pitches thrown and the risk of elbow or shoulder pain in youth players. They went on to say that the presence of joint pain can often lead to more significant serious joint pitcher injuries.

That led the ASMI in 2006 to work with the USA Baseball Medical & Safety Advisory committee to recommend tracking the number of pitches thrown for youth baseball. In the event that the local youth leagues, rec leagues, and little leagues did not enact pitch counts themselves they came out with recommended youth baseball rules which included little league pitch counts.

Pitch Types: Youth Baseball Rules

Often youth baseball rules do not cover pitch types. The ASMI and top sports medical doctors and experts state that youth baseball injuries and especially youth pitching injuries have increased with pitchers who throw breaking pitches at an early age.

Curveballs, sliders, cutters, cut fastballs should be avoided in youth baseball until players reach well into puberty ages. This is one of the baseball fundamentals to help players avoid pitching injury.

Beware of overzealous coaches trying to win-at-all-costs that are teaching baseball fundamentals to young pitchers and making them throw curveballs before they are physically developed.

Pitcher Injuries in Baseball Playing Positions

How many times has a pitcher reached their little league baseball pitch count and the player goes right over to play shortstop? We are all guilty of this probably.

Naturally, baseball coaches are not thinking of pitching arm injuries in baseball. No, we are thinking ‘How can we win this game?’ I’m not going to put my best players on the bench. They would think I was a fool and terrible coach….and oh my, we might even lose.

So, you follow the youth baseball rules and remove the pitcher properly. You are monitoring pitch counts. But, you are still risking youth baseball injuries.

Why? The player is still playing a high demand position that will require long hard throws. If you are really looking to prevent common arm injuries in baseball then the player should go sit down for awhile.

Bring them back as a designated hitter, first base or a non taxing throwing position in youth sports baseball.

Youth Sports Baseball: Showcases

Showcases are a place where pitchers can really show their stuff. College coaches and recruiters are on hand to look at players’ skills and baseball fundamentals.

Unfortunately injuries in youth sports can come out of these showcases. Pitchers risk pitching injury when overthrowing and trying to impress scouts. They may have just pitched the day or two before and the pitching arm may be tired.

Injuries in Baseball Playing on Multiple Teams

Often players will play during the week in local rec leagues and little league. Then they join a travel team and play four games over the weekend.

Youth baseball rules cover one organization but do not carry over to a travel ball team. Youth baseball injuries in can increase in risk if players are pitching during the week and also on the weekends. Take caution with players that play on multiple teams and look at their total pitch counts for the week.

Youth Sports Baseball: Year-Around

>>Some players choose to specialize in youth sports. Year-round baseball and youth select baseball has grown in recent years. Players are able to play in organized leagues and tournaments all year long.

Most baseball experts recommend a period of at least 3 months of rest from a large amount of overhand throwing during the year.
American Sports Medicine Institute & USA Baseball
Go to Pitch Count USA Baseball Recommendations
Return to Pitching 101 from Pitch Count
Back to Youth Baseball Home from Pitch Counts

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

 

SUPER SIMPLE GUIDE TO COACH YOUTH BASEBALL

See What Others Say

Youth Baseball Coaches tips, strategies and practice plans.

Check This Guide Out

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Be an Expert

Essential guidebook to develop top hitters.

You Will Go As Far as Your Bat Takes You

Discover every strategy and secret I’ve learned from years of coaching, playing, managing and player development in pro ball to T-ball levels..

There are hundreds of tips you can use to make a magnificent difference in your success as a youth baseball and high school baseball coach..

See the Table of Contents & More

“Super Simple Guide to Coach Youth Baseball” shares everything I have learned about maximizing ballplayers talents and abilities. Testimonials

'NEVER RUN SHORT OF PITCHING'

How to Develop Baseball Pitchers. Unique coaching system for youth baseball coaches.

HOW TO DEVELOP AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF PITCHERS EVERY YEAR

Check out the eBook pitching guide to build a deep, versatile pitching staff at all levels.


How to Get a FREE BOOK

FREE Baseball eBook

Dave's Passion and experience is unmatched when it comes to the game of baseball.

Coaching Hitters At the different levels is such a challenge but Dave has compressed so much important information along with a coaching style that motivates and leads Hitters down a path to success.

From Amateur to the Professional level , Dave's Work in this book is a must read whether you Play or Coach.

Jim Coffman Pitching Coach and Oakland Athletics Northwest Area Scout.

How to Develop Offensive Baseball Players


GLOVE REPAIR

Your Guide to Fixing Your Baseball Glove