Throwing a baseball can be a stressful activity for a baseball player at any age. When youngsters pitch in Little League, they must be protected from being overused by coaches. Young pitchers may show ability and talent at an early age, but they are still children with arms that can be damaged by throwing too many pitches --- or by throwing the wrong pitches.
Pitches in a Game
Little League Baseball restricts how many pitches a young pitcher may throw in a particular game, with the restrictions based on the age and maturation of a pitcher. The idea is that the youth baseball organization does not want to tax the still-developing muscles of the young players. Other youth baseball organizations --- including Cal Ripken Baseball and Babe Ruth Baseball --- use the same restrictions on young pitchers. Pitchers between the ages of 13 and 16 may not throw more than 95 pitches per day. Pitches who are 11 and 12 may not throw more than 85 pitches per day. Pitchers who are 9 and 10 face a maximum pitch count of 75 per day and 7- and 8-year-old pitchers are restricted to 50 pitches per day.
Pitching Rest
Once a pitcher comes out of a game, he must rest his arm before pitching again. The rest regulations are based on the age and physical development of the pitcher. Pitchers 16 and under must rest three calendar days after pitching 61 pitches or more in a given appearance. They must rest two calendar days if they throw between 41 and 60 pitches. The pitcher may not pitch the next calendar day if they throw between 21 and 40 pitches. Pitchers who throw 20 pitches or less may pitch the next day. If a pitcher throws 70 pitches on Sunday, for example, he may not pitch again until Thursday --- resting the next three calendar days after his previous pitching assignment.
Restriction of Positions
After a pitcher comes out of the game, he may not play catcher --- a position that requires a hard throw after nearly every pitch. Any time a ball is not put in play, the catcher must get the ball back to the pitcher. He must also tax his throwing arm when attempting to throw out runners trying to steal bases. A pitcher may catch the day after pitching, but not the same day.
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