NFHS Rule 6-2-6: Pitching Restrictions

[TouchThemAll]

The DIAA has adopted the following pitch limits (no more innings restrictions):

Pitches Thrown Rest Period
1-25 None (no days)
26-50 1 day
51-80 2 days
81-105 3 days

There is a one day limit of 105 pitches by the pitcher.
Maximum of 205 pitches may be thrown in a seven (7) period day.
Maximum of 85 pitches for the first six games of the season.

http://www.doe.k12.de.us/cms/lib09/DE01922744/Centricity/domain/231/approved policies/DIAA Approved Policies Spring 16-17.pdf

 

[SussexBaseball]

The DIAA has adopted the following pitch limits (no more innings restrictions):

Pitches Thrown Rest Period
1-25 None (no days)
26-50 1 day
51-80 2 days
81-105 3 days

There is a one day limit of 105 pitches by the pitcher.
Maximum of 205 pitches may be thrown in a seven (7) period day.
Maximum of 85 pitches for the first six games of the season.

http://www.doe.k12.de.us/cms/lib09/DE01922744/Centricity/domain/231/approved policies/DIAA Approved Policies Spring 16-17.pdf

 

[SussexBaseball]

http://m.mlb.com/pitchsmart/pitching-guidelines-ages-19-to-22/
http://m.mlb.com/pitchsmart/pitching-guidelines-ages-15-to-18/

These rules are an improvement (since DE rules were basically non existent until now) but DIAA and HS coaches that didn't do more should be ashamed of themselves. If these guidelines are intended to promote healthy HS athletes and extensive scientific research has been commissioned by MLB that has established what they believe is safe, ON WHAT AUTHORITY WOULD YOU DO LESS?? It takes 2 minutes to Google the research. DIAA and coaches have to concede their limits are un-researched "lets pick a # that allows us to do what we think we need to compete" guidelines. What would just going with the researched guidelines used for ADULTS do ? ...horrible things like maybe force you to pitch kids that have been pitching all though youth and travel baseball but maybe are not as good as your team's ace. If you are such good coaches, work with kids and get them ready to pitch. Bottom-line, if MLB managers wouldn't pitch a 10 plus years of training, grown man on 3 days rest (except for dire playoff /we know we are risking health circumstances) why is DIAA legislating its ok to do it with 15-18 year olds??

Allowing a kid to pitch 105 pitches and then come back on 3 days rest to do another 100 is just wrong. If you legislate its ok to take risks (which by the research is what this is) even a good HS coach who knows its wrong to do is going to feel compelled to "keep up with the Jones."

Kids train harder earlier now. Because of that they throw harder. I know in the old Jack Morris days pitchers would pitch 350 pitches and 2 complete games a week. Back then the only people who threw 90 were those born into it. Now training is light years ahead and you can train to throw 90 BUT that effort is just tough on the body. It by definition is not natural. Good start on these rules (to at least get some) but to me if some kid (which DE seems to be averaging about 2-4 a year) has to have TJ adhering to these guidelines maybe the threat of legal action is what is needed? That's horrible that we need to get lawyers involved but why can't people just do whats right because its the right thing to do.

If someone knows who the final authority of DIAA is that gave the ok on these rules, please feel free to share my concerns and name them ... I would love to understand the logic behind their reasoning.

 

[Lazertron]

Interesting reading. Here are the pitch-count limits state-by-state.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/high...tch-count-rules-by-state/#tlzC7gTYewA8eyOZ.97

 

[TouchThemAll]

Nice to see that no one has thrown 100+ pitches on a cold March day this year. Not perfect, but better.