Little League Baseball is a nonprofit organization that oversees baseball leagues and competitions around the world. Little League has baseball leagues for players as young as 7 and as old as 18. In 2009, Little League updated pitching rules for all games regarding pitch count and mandatory rest days for pitchers.
Reasons for Pitching Rule Changes
According to James Andrews, chairman of the American Sports Medicine Institute, studies have shown large increases in youth baseball arm injuries from overuse. Little League introduced rules designed to protect youth pitchers by limiting the number of pitches and then requiring mandated rest days or days off based on the number of pitches thrown. In 2009, Little League unified its rules to make the regular season rules the same as tournament and post-season play to eliminate confusion.
14 and Under Rest Requirements
Pitchers in 14 years old and younger leagues have different rest requirements than pitchers in older leagues. According to the Little League website, pitchers 14 years of age and younger who throw 66 or more pitches in a day must then have four calendar days of rest. The rest period begins the day after the pitching. For example, if you pitch on a Monday and throw 67 pitches, your required rest days would be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Pitchers who throw 51 to 65 pitchers are required to have three days rest, 36 to 50 pitches requires two days of rest, 21 to 35 pitches mandates one day of rest and 20 pitches or less does not require a rest day, according to Little League rules.
15- to 18-year-old Rest Requirements
Pitchers in leagues from the ages of 15 to 18 have less stringent rest requirements. According to the Little League website, if you throw 76 or more pitches you are required to have four days of rest, 61 to 75 pitches requires three days of rest and 46 to 60 pitches requires two days of rest. Rest requirements are observed just like the younger leagues, meaning the day after pitching is the first day of rest. Pitchers who throw 31 to 45 pitches require a day of rest and 30 pitches or less does not require a rest day according to Little League rules.
Pitch-Count Rules
Little League rules govern the number of pitches a pitcher can throw in a game. A pitcher can only exceed the pitch limit to finish pitching to the current batter who was up when he reached the limit. In addition, Little League rules state that any pitcher who throws at least 41 pitches cannot play catcher the rest of that day, but pitchers are allowed to play other positions without restriction. According to Little League rules, players from 17 to 18 years years of age can throw 105 pitches per day, players from 13 to 16 can throw 95 pitches per day and pitchers from ages 11 to 12 are permitted to throw 85 pitches per day. Younger pitchers must follow a more stringent pitching regimen. According to Little League rules, players from ages 9 to 10 can throw 75 pitches per day and players ages 7 and 8 are permitted to throw only 50 pitches per day.
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