What's your take on this pitching schedule?

coach 27 I'm not at the high school level so thankfully I don't have to put winning at the risk of a young mans arm.

This is a sample throwing program of what many colleges do for their starters and almost every professional organization. The only programs I have seen that were better actually threw more....
This is a mid season, arm in shape, good weather program

Tuesday- game pitcher (100-125 pitches) Cool down program(includes 25 minutes of jump rope or stationary bike, donegal protocal(which is a shoulder and scapular program), light weight dumbbell program)

Wednesday- flush day 3 mile jog at decent pace, flex band program (shoulder and scapular workout), in season lifting program, finish with 10 minutes of throwing get to 100 feet I have seen most of our pitchers will not have ice after finishing the whole day's workout

Thursday- hard sprint day pitcher will do different lengths of sprints from 20 up to 100 yards, explosive med ball throws and wall touches (Wolforth's program), ten minutes of throwing up to 120 feet finish with 50' bullpen for about 40-50 throws, finish with donegal protocal and flex band program


Friday- bullpen day start with flex band program, throw for ten minutes get to 150 feet, 50 -60 pitch bullpen, lower body and upper body plyometrics, donegal protocal, finish with series of long sprints (about15)
Many pitchers will want to ice after this day

Saturday- light day start with flex band program, throw for pitcher's desired time and distance, finish with light sprint work

Sunday- game pitcher process starts over

This is a real good workout program for your pitchers. you will increase reps and intensity until you reach a certain point as the season goes along. I know this doesn't give a great argument for a pitcher throwing on two days rest but we have had some pitchers throw the Friday bullpen in a game because of necessity.

I want to stress most arm injuries are beginning with throwing practices that start in the youth leagues. Today's pitcher will throw a high pitch count in a weekend tournament and then not pick up a baseball except for mid-week practice and then go throw the same way the nexy weekend. Coaches think about it, we used to play catch or some other type of throwing everyday. Our arms were more durable and most of us can still throw a huge amount of batting practice in our old ages because we built up our arms while todays kid isn't throwing everyday. off thread topic but still important...

 

Thanks

for the information. I am not suggesting that all HS coaches are out there putting kids health at risk. In fact the vast majority are not. But the fact is pitching without proper recovery time does not allow for proper recovery. Everyone has to live with what they do.

 

12 innings

Saw on another board last night that the pitcher for Richmond Co. Went 12 innings and threw 180 pitches. They lost to Ashley HS in that game so I guess the boy will have time to re-attach his arm to his shoulder.

 

I bet he can't wipe his butt today.

 

Did I tell you that I luv ya?....and you better be careful. I went through Hartnett County yesterday (for the 1st time in my entire life) and I stopped at the welcome sign. On the back of the sign you will find this message, " Kenny May has been here....and I shall return"

 

Old ages? Old ages?...c'mon coach, don't include yourself in Coach Evans century...now that's old.

But seriously, college is not the place that pitchers get injured (at least not most colleges). The damage was done way before then...and in most cases during summer leagues, fall leagues (LL on up).

olefty- I'm not sure our arms were more durable because we threw more. Most of us "old guys" played multiple sports and NEVER lifted weights for baseball. In fact, weights were frowned upon for baseball.

I distinctly remember this one old minor league coach, Sharkey L@#$#@. Now Sharkey was one of those tobacco chewin', smart mouth coaches, but he was usually right. One day we were sitting together and he said, " Braves, ya see that?" Now I had no idea what Sharkey was talking about, but he was the type you always said, "yep" to. He said, " that kid ain't going to last as a pitcher"...."Why".......Sharkey said, "because he got muscle where there shouldn't be...that boy's goin' to have arm problems"

...and, as usual, Sharkey was right. The pitcher tore his labrum; never to throw again. Was Sharkey really right? I dunno....he thought he was right about everything and he sure acted like he knew what he was talking about...and this was in 1974

 

braves- as you know old is a state of mind! ha!

You are right it happens before college for the most part and it is happening younger because of not throwing on a regular basis.

all that said you can't win a state championship in hs without two pitchers anymore so coach27 is absolutely right.

 

Lastly, I'll say injuries usually don't come from throwing 250 pitches a week. They come from not throwing for three or four days in a row and then trying to throw 100-125 pitches with an arm not in top performance shape.[/quote]

Olefty WRONG about the pitch count thing. My kid just had TJ surgery (6 weeks ago) and the main reason was too many pitches too early. This it what playing year round will do for you. Most of these injuries or tears start years before the problem becomes major. Just look at the major leaguers that have had it just this year, and they get the best help and training possible. BJ Ryan, Arthur Rhodes and now Carl Pavono (sp) to name a few. I watched my sons pitch count, iced him down after games, did the Advil thing, ran his poles, did all the things that you are supposed to do, and bam, .... surgery. From now on, down time between seasons will be the medicine.

 

The only good thing I can mention in regard to TJ surgery. When I visited Dr James Andrews office in Birmingham, Ala, he had patients that were professional ball players (football, baseball, soccer) and a celebrity actor. I had an opportunity to talk to one of the Pro pitchers that was there. He told me he probably didn't need the operation, but felt it would help extend his career an additional 5+ years.

The surgery has become sadly routine, but the new "ligament" should last a lifetime..

There is just so much information available that points directly to young kids throwing "too much" to refute that logic.

 

phillydave,

sorry about your son. It's a tough rehab and the mental part is just as tough to get through.

I never said anything about down time in the winter. And I never said a guy should throw year round. I also don't think running poles is worth a hill of beans except to waste time and don't know how advil is supposed to prevent injuries. It just hides the problem for a brief period of time.

What I was talking about was during the season. I was talking about when the kids play in these weekend tournaments and throw complete games or relievers throw three days in a row. Then take the week off thinking this will recup there arms. and go through this process for several months in a row. That is my concern and problem.

I am truly sorry about your son though. I hope he can come back and be successful and pain free. Also, if you get with a good rehab guy a lot of the programs we use to prevent injury he will use during his rehab.