Pitching can be a stressful activity, even for the strongest and most well-developed players. It can cause significant difficulties for young people. Structurally, the shoulder is not meant for overhand throwing. An underhand motion is more natural for the shoulder. However, baseball requires overhand pitching and there are rules designed to keep youngsters from suffering long-term injuries.
No Curveballs
Pitchers should not throw a curveball until they reach the age of 14. The curveball requires a twisting of the wrist and a snap of the elbow that is quite forceful. Since young players' bones are also still growing, this activity can have a negative and painful impact after a youngster tries to throw this pitch. The reality is that once a youngster has an idea on how the curveball is thrown, he will probably spend quite a bit of time trying to make the ball spin and break. That practice time is what causes the damage. Significant elbow and shoulder injuries can result from throwing a curveball. Coaches should not allow their pitchers to throw curveballs if they care about their young players' future health.
Pitch Count
Throwing pitches will tax a young player's arm. Since throwing overhand is an unnatural motion, pitchers must be limited in how many pitches they can throw in a particular day and how much rest a pitcher must get before pitching again. In organized youth baseball--Little League, Cal Ripken Baseball and AAU--pitchers who are 10 and under may not throw more than 65 pitches in any one baseball game. Pitchers who throw 46 to 65 pitches require three days of rest before they can pitch again. Pitchers who throw between 26 and 45 pitches require two days of rest while pitchers who throw between 15 and 25 pitches need one day of rest before they pitch again. If they throw 14 or less pitches, no rest is required.
No Metal Cleats
Many leagues prevent any young player from wearing metal cleats when they play baseball. However, while young position players can occasionally get hurt while wearing metal spikes--from sliding or a mis-step--it is essential that young pitchers avoid wearing them. Standing with metal spikes on the pitching rubber can invite disaster. If the spikes get caught up in the rubber or in the groove between rubber and the mound, the youngster's momentum during the pitching process may be halted and while his lead leg goes forward, his back leg may be locked into place for an instant. This could cause a devastating knee, hip or arm injury.
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