Based on available data, the USA Baseball Medical & Safety Advisory Committee has published recommendations to reduce risk of injury and maximize a young player’s chance for advancement to higher levels of baseball competition without injury.
Limits on pitching for youth ( Table I I ) and recommendations for rest days after a pitching event (Table III) reduce the risk of subsequent injury in later adolescent and teenage years.
In addition to the Guidelines (Tables II & III), the Committee made the following general recommendations for youth pitchers:
- Do not throw breaking pitches (curveballs, sliders) until puberty (about age 13). Instead, a youth pitcher should focus on a fastball and change-up, and also pitch control.
- Proper pitching mechanics are important as early as possible in the development of the pitcher (7). Yearround physical conditioning should be employed as the body develops.
- Pitchers are discouraged from pitching for more than one team in a season.
- For at least three months a year, a pitcher should not play any baseball or perform throwing drills. In addition, any overhead activity (football quarterback, competitive swimming, javelin throwing) should be avoided during that period of time.
- A pitcher should not return to the pitching mound in a game after being removed. Additionally, pitching practice after a pitched game is to be avoided.
