Safety-Pitchers

Revised pitch count limits, longer mandatory rest periods, and other rule changes implemented by Little League Baseball in 2010 to reduce shoulder and elbow overuse injuries to youth baseball pitchers remain in effect for 2014.

In 2007, Little League Baseball dropped its decades-old pitching rules - which limited pitchers age 12 and under to six innings per week and six innings per game, with the number of innings increasing for older age groups in favor of rules based on pitch count, with the number of allowable pitches based on the pitcher's age and with specific rest periods between pitching appearances when a pitcher reaches higher thresholds of pitches delivered in a day.  Revised rules go into effect for the spring 2010 baseball season.

With spring youth baseball right around the corner, here are some ways to reduce the risk of baseball pitching injuries from overuse, poor pitching mechanics, and/or poor conditioning.