When young people play organized baseball, they need to have rules that protect their young arms and bodies. This is particularly true of young pitchers, who are not grown or developed enough to pitch more than a few innings each week. In organized baseball for 9- and 10-year-olds, most youth leagues have strict rules that managers and coaches must adhere to in order to avoid pitcher injuries.
No Curve Balls
Young pitchers are fans of the game. They see their favorite pitchers throw all kinds of pitches--including curve balls--and they want to try them. However, trying to throw any kind of curve ball is against the rules for 9- and 10-year-old pitchers. Throwing a curve ball requires a significant twist of the wrist and the elbow and this is damaging to young players. No player of that age should attempt to throw any curve ball.
Pitches Per Game
No pitcher in any organized youth league game can throw more than 65 pitches per game. That might be enough to get a pitcher into the third inning. If the pitcher is capable of pitching three innings in less than 65 pitches, he must come out of the game after three innings. However, the pitcher has thrown 64 pitches and is not out of an inning, he gets to pitch to one more batter. That batter will be his final batter of the game.
Pitching Rest
Any time a pitcher pitches in a league game, he cannot pitch again without resting. The number of days between pitching assignments depends on the number of pitches thrown in the original game. If the pitcher throws between one and 20 pitches, he must not pitch for one calendar day. If he throws between 21 and 45 pitches, he must not pitch for two calendar days. If he throws between 46 and 65 pitches, he cannot pitch for three calendar days.
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