When a young baseball pitcher is learning, it can be tempting to try to throw many different pitches, like his idols. Sweeping curveballs, biting sliders and changeups all add depth to a pitcher's arsenal, but might not be the best for a young arm that is still growing. It is important to take proper care of a young pitcher's arm so that he can progress and excel in the future.
Fastball
The fastball is the first pitch any youth pitcher learns and the one that will be the main pitch throughout his pitching career. You can create a few variations on a standard fastball, but for the most part it is thrown with your fingers either along or across the seams. You hold it with your forefinger and middle finger on top on the seams and thumb underneath.
Overuse
Regardless of the type of pitches thrown, the American Sports Medicine Institute claims that overuse is the primary contributor to youth baseball arm injuries. Pitching too often and too long results in fatigue, which results in poor mechanics and arm strain. Poor physical condition also can play a part in pitcher fatigue.
Breaking Pitches
The Children's Memorial Hospital says that young kids who throw breaking pitches before their skeletal systems have had a chance to mature might be causing themselves pain and injury. The USA Baseball Safety and Advisory Committee suggests pitchers throw only a fastball from ages 8 to 10, add the changeup at 10, the curve ball at 14, the knuckleball at 15 and the slider at 16.
Considerations
Watch for signs of fatigue when a young pitcher is on the mound and remove him from the game when necessary. For youth pitchers, aim for at least two to three months of no overhand throwing at all each year, and at least four months without competitive pitching. If you are a pitcher, do not play catcher when you aren't pitching because you will still be throwing the ball on every pitch.
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