Throwing Progressions and Pitch Counts
For the last article in this three part series, we wanted to share
with you some information about throwing progressions and
pitch counts. Instilling the importance a proper throwing
progression in a young pitcher will carry with them for the rest of
their career. Likewise, limiting the amount of pitches thrown can
significantly prolong their career. It is our duty as coaches and
parents to do what it best for our young athletes’ future, not for
our present.
Whether your pitcher is warming up for a game or a short
pitching session, he must have an appropriate throwing
progression each time to ensure that his arm is completely
warmed up. This includes a dynamic warm up before the
throwing progression. Having a planned throwing progression
not only allows the pitcher to completely warm up his arm and
body, but it also allows him to “take a step back” and focus on
his mechanics while creating a rock solid, consistent routine.
The video below provides an example of an ideal, and
thorough, throwing progression. Danny Pacha shows us his
warm up in this 6-minute video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAbRtxVDvyY&feature=yo
utu.be
In our first article, we talked about the most common injury
amongst youth pitchers being caused from overuse. As
mentioned before, injuries related to overuse are becoming
more and more common. Therefore, it is wise to keep track of
how much your pitcher is throwing in order to save that
lightening bolt of an arm. This is the last part of our three part
series on baseball pitching. To read our first two articles, please
refer to our “News” page here. We’ve talked about
precautionary tips and proper mechanics for baseball pitchers,
now it’s time to talk about progressions and pitch counts!
You may already be aware of a limited pitch count for youth
baseball pitchers; even if you are, please pass this around and
make sure everyone that is working with your young pitcher is
aware and on the same page! The below information on Youth
Pitch Counts is from Little League Baseball online. This is a guide
for young pitchers to look off of to make sure they are not
throwing too much. The first table displays the amount of
pitches, per age group that can be thrown in a game. The
second table displays the number of rest days needed, per
age group, per amount of pitches thrown. These limits must be
strictly enforced by parents and coaches to help aid in arm
health. If your child is experiencing any tightness in their arm, it
may be wise to take additional rest days. Also, if your child is
experiencing and pain, contact your doctor immediately.
Maximum Pitch Counts
Age
Pitches per Game
7-8
50
9-10
75
11-12
85
13-16
95
17-18
105
Rest Periods Required
Ages 7-16
Ages 17-18
Required # of Rest
Days After Pitching
61+
76+
3 calendar days
41-60
51-75
2 calendar days
21-40
26-50
1 calendar days
1-20
1-25
None
We hope this information has been helpful to you in some way.
Please contact us if you have any questions about any of the
content you have seen in this, or any other articles we have
published. It is our hope that all athletes have a long and
healthy career.
As stated before, incorrect pitching mechanics and overusing
a pitcher can be detrimental to their career. Focusing on
mechanics first, in addition to keeping track of the number of
pitches thrown, can help keep a pitcher’s arm healthy and
extend their career. We encourage you to talk with one of our
pitching coaches for more personalized information for your
young pitcher, as well as stopping by and checking out the
poster board created by Dr. Bollier. If your child is experiencing
pain in their arm, please contact your doctor.
This article is broken into three parts to be featured in the three monthly newsletters:
Preventative (November), Mechanics and Warning Signs (December), and Throwing
Progressions and Pitch Counts (January). We hope you enjoy and take something from
these articles. Please note that these are intended for general and basic information
and are not the end all say all. We encourage parents and coaches to do research.
If you have any questions about this article or would like more information on baseball
pitching, please contact Diamond Dreams at [email protected].
For more information on throwing injuries or if you are interested in seeing a specialist at
the University of Iowa, contact University of Sports Medicine 319-384-7070 or visit
http://www.uisportsmed.com/