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Pitcher Perfect
| One of the biggest
misconceptions about the resiliency of youth baseball and softball
players is that they can't hurt their arms by throwing too many
pitches or with poor pitching
mechanics. WRONG.
Followed by years of research, the ASMI (American Sports Medicine
Institute) has published these pitch count recommendations and
pitching guidelines that
Diamond Academy follows
and youth coaches should also follow:
Pitch Counts
|
Age |
Max. Pitches
Per Game |
Max. Games
Per Week |
| 8-10 |
52 |
2 |
| 11-12 |
68 |
2 |
| 13-14 |
76 |
2 |
| 15-16 |
91 |
2 |
| 17-18 |
106 |
2 |
Recovery Times
|
Age |
1 Day Rest |
2 Day Rest |
3 Day Rest |
4 Day Rest |
| 8-10 |
21 |
34 |
43 |
51 |
| 11-12 |
27 |
35 |
55 |
58 |
| 13-14 |
30 |
36 |
56 |
70 |
| 15-16 |
25 |
38 |
62 |
77 |
| 17-18 |
27 |
45 |
62 |
89 |
Age Recommendation For Learning
Various Pitches
The survey also presented
recommendations for the age at which a player could learn
different types of pitches. These are listed below.
|
Pitch |
Age |
| Fastball |
8 - 10 |
| Change-Up |
10 - 13 |
| Curve ball |
14 - 16 |
| Knuckle ball |
15 - 18 |
| Slider |
16 - 18 |
| Fork ball |
16 - 18 |
| Screw ball |
17 - 19 |
Pitch Count Plus Other Factors
Other factors to take into
account as you determine, "How many pitches should I allow my
player to pitch?".
Some Additional ASMI Survey
Conclusions:
- A pitcher should be limited to
two appearances per week.
- Participation in multiple
leagues, playing other positions, and practice should be
considered when defining and regulating rest.
- Improper technique is a major
factor in injury potential.
- Conditioning of the throwing
arm and entire body can reduce a young pitcher's risk of injury.
- While the number of pitches
should be limited, the young athlete should be encouraged to
throw. This includes playing catch, playing other positions
besides pitcher, and practicing pitching. When symptoms of arm
discomfort or fatigue arise, longer periods of rest are
recommended.
You can find the complete ASMI
research at:
http://www.asmi.org/SportsMed/youth/PITCHCNT.PDF
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