04/02/2026
Parents, here are some tips to keep your child/children healthy. Baseball season is beginning. Soon we will hear the familiar crack of the bat and incessant chatter of our children. Baseball. in one form or another has been with us for nearly two hundred years. Some would say longer. Saying the sport is steeped in history is like saying snow is white. Really? At a recent meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons a study presented revealed that over 75% of parents/caregivers/coaches were guiding young pitchers incorrectly in their approach to pitching. Inappropriate pitch counts, mechanics, utilization, and training techniques were being employed. These transgressions can lead to serious injury in children including disability, deformity, and arthritis. The following are some of the recommendations for our youths engaged in pitching provided by Major League Baseball, USA Baseball, and the American Sports Medicine Institute. For children 8 years old and under the following should apply: -Typical pitching distance should be no more than 46 feet. -The child should take at least 4 months of the year off with 2-3 months being continuous. -The child should be throwing nothing but fastballs and change ups. -Maximum pitch count on 2 full days of rest should be 50 pitches. For children 9-10 years old the following guidelines apply: -Typical pitching distance should be no more than 50 feet. -The child should take at least 4 months off the year with 2-3 months being continuous. -The child should be throwing nothing but fastballs and change ups. -Maximum pitch count on 4 full days of rest should be 75 pitches. For children 11-12 years old the following guidelines apply: The same guidelines as for a 9-10 year old, except maximum pitch count is raised after 4 full days of rest to 85 pitches. For children 13-14 years of age pitching distance has risen to a full MLB levels at 60 1/2 feet and the same guidelines persist except on 4 full days rest the pitch count can rise to 95 pitches. Also, some more exotic pitches can be added to the repertoire. I’ll address this a little later. For children 15-18 years of age the same parameters are in place except that on 4 full days of rest a 15-16 years old may have a pitch count of 95 pitches and a 17-18 year old may have a maximum of 105 pitches. For all ages, keep in mind, that these are MAXIMUM pitch counts. Here are some loose recommendations as to what age to teach and add exotic pitches. At age 14 a curveball may be added. Age 15 the knuckleball can be introduced. At age 16 both the forkball and slider can be taught. Finally, at age 17 a youngster can be taught and pitch a screwball. Remember, maturity levels differ for all children. A seasoned, experienced, and competent coach should be able to offer advice. This short blurb provides a lot of important data but is presented in a confusing fashion. The logistics of the site force my hand. A more organized and complete presentation can be found at http://www.//m.mlb.com/pitchsmart/pitching-guidelines/. Also, another useful site is http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/baseball-injury-prevention.aspx You are not going to hear about that 12 year old kid who has a huge arsenal of pitches and throws like a big leaguer. His arm will be overcooked spaghetti when high school rolls around.
The Pediatric Office Comes To You!
Our service lets you avoid the germy office. Avoid the inconvenient and awkward appointment times. Avoid dragging well children with your sick child so they get exposed to germs. Avoid the long waits and short visits. We stay until ALL of your questions are answered and you understand the situation. Pediatric House Call Solutions comes to you, respecting your busy schedule. Your child stays in bed, resting, watching TV, whatever. We bring the entire pediatric office to your home. Most insurances, Husky A&B accepted. No extra charge. Give us a call at (203) 893-5394.
