A Little Leaguer is a miniature version of the big-league players he sees on TV, and the height of the pitching mound mirrors that fact. While major-league mounds are 10 inches high, a standard Little League mound is about half that height.
Height
A Little League mound's standard height is 6 inches. Many fields don't adhere to these standards because the grade of the field can already mean a wide gap before the mound is built, and erosion will make the height decrease. However, a mound built at this height will be the closest thing to what a Little League pitcher can expect when traveling from ballpark to ballpark. Bronco league mounds are also 6 inches high, pony league mounds are 8 inches and high school and above are 10 inches.
Differences From Big-League Mound
A 6-inch mound will have different effects on a pitcher than an 8- or 10-inch mound. As a mound's height increases, a pitcher gains more leverage and puts more velocity on the ball. A Little League mound will also decrease the effectiveness of a curveball, as it is closer to the ground than a high school, college or professional mound. The higher a mound is, the more success a pitcher will have.
Injury Risk
Throwing from different mound heights changes the potential injury risk for a pitcher. According to William Rasch, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, the higher a mound is, the more stress is put on a pitcher's elbow and shoulder. In that regard, a Little League mound is not as dangerous as a major-league mound because it is lower, but it still leads to more potential for injury than throwing from flat ground.
Distance
The distance from a Little League mound to home plate is 46 feet. A high school, college or professional mound is 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate to the toe of the rubber. With the decreased distance, some minor leaguers can throw the equivalent of a 99-mph fastball, in relation to reaction time. For example, a 74-mph fastball from 46 feet is the equivalent of a 99-mph fastball from 60 feet, 6 inches, as both pitches take 0.42 seconds to reach the plate.
Other Little League Measurements
The mound height is not the only thing that differs from high school and major-league measurements. The length between the bases is 60 feet, compared to 90 in the majors. The distance from home to second base is 84 feet, 10.25 inches, compared to more than 127 feet in the big leagues. The distance from home to the center-field wall in Little League should be 225 feet, and 175 to left and right. Major-league outfield wall distances vary.
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