Pitching-How many pitches do you throw and what pitch

One of the many debates about pitching is how many innings do you throw and what age do you teach players how to throw a pitch. Experts are now saying that limiting innings may not be the right way to judge for several reasons. I am sure that all of us have witnessed the five pitch innings and the 25 pitch innings. So how do we judge? The following reports were from a survey that was sent out a few years ago to coaches, trainers, players and physicians. I remember as a youth player two of my better friends never made it to high school baseball because their arms were hurt before they turned 14. Even though there was no determining point of how their arm was injured, throwing three to four games a week did not help. One of my good friends from high school (the late John Denman) hurt his arm because he threw too many pitches without enough rest, and he was one of the top pitching prospects in the entire country. But you need to throw and the only way to get command of pitches is to throw, so the following is good to follow. This is another opportunity to teach your bench players about pitching and have them count pitches and mark the location of the pitch so you can discuss why certain approaches are better, this can bring good positive reinforcement.

Pitch Count and Other ASMI Recommendations

Pitch Counts

Age	Max. Pitches Per Game		Max. Games Per Week
8-10	52	2
11-12	68	2
13-14	76	2
15-16	91	2
17-18	106	2

Recovery Times

Age	1 Day Rest	2 Day Rest	3 Day Rest	4 Day Rest
8-10	21	34	43	51
11-12	27	35	55	58
13-14	30	36	56	70
15-16	25	38	62	77
17-18	27	45	62	89

Age Recommendation For Learning Various Pitches

The survey also presented recommendations for the age at which a player could learn different types of pitches. These are listed below.

Survey - Age Recommendation for Learning Various Pitches

Pitch	Age
Fastball	8 - 10
Change-Up	10 - 13
Curve ball	14 - 16
Knuckle ball	15 - 18
Slider	16 - 18
Fork ball	16 - 18
Screw ball	17 - 19

Pitch Count Plus Other Factors

Other factors to take into account as you determine, "How many pitches should I allow my player to pitch?".

Some Additional ASMI Survey Conclusions:

• A pitcher should be limited to two appearances per week.
• Participation in multiple leagues, playing other positions, and practice should be considered when defining and regulating rest.
• Improper technique is a major factor in injury potential.
• Conditioning of the throwing arm and entire body can reduce a young pitcher's risk of injury.
• While the number of pitches should be limited, the young athlete should be encouraged to throw. This includes playing catch, playing other positions besides pitcher, and practicing pitching. When symptoms of arm discomfort or fatigue arise, longer periods of rest are recommended.