In 2007 Little League Baseball dropped itsdecades-old pitching rules - which limited pitchers age 12 and under tosix innings per week and six innings per game, with the number ofinnings increasing for older age groups - in favor of rules based onpitch count. The number of allowable pitches was based on thepitcher's age and the rules now mandate specificrest periods between pitching appearances when a pitcher reaches higherthresholds of pitches delivered in a day. [For a summary of the newrules, click here]
Thenew rules were hailed by Dr. James Andrews, medical director of theAmerican Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama and perhaps theworld's foremost authority on pitching injuries and so-called "TommyJohn" elbow reconstructive surgery, as the "most important injuryprevention step ever initiated in youth baseball - certain to serve asthe youth sports injury prevention cornerstone and inspiration forother youth organizations to take the initiative to get serious aboutinjury prevention in youth sports."
In announcing the new pitch count rule in 2006, the firstby a national youth baseball organization, Little League's presidentand CEO, Stephen D. Keener, called "upon all youth baseballorganizations, including travel leagues, to implement their own pitchcount programs in the interest of protecting young pitching arms."
The new pitch count rule followed on theheels of Little League's adoption of a new rule, now fullyimplemented, mandating the use of breakaway bases.
LittleLeague did not institute a ban on curve balls, and, in light of new research suggesting that the pitch does not, contrary to conventional wisdom, put more strain on a young pitcher's elbow than other pitches (indeed, the research suggests curveballs place less stress on the elbow than a fastball), was perhaps correct in not doing so.
For 2010, Little League has revised its pitch limit and mandatory rest rules in its continuing effort to protect the arms of young pitchers. For an article on the new, updated rules, click here.
Revised and updated March 3, 2010
