How much is too much

OK, developing pitchers ...

...is right on time. But that turns into ace v. ace playing time/starting roles blah, blah, blah. I know You know what I'm saying here. Theres no doubt whatsoever the role of numerous capable pitchers on a team. As for offense, if the pitchers dad has any thing to do with that or the mom keeps the book.......ahhh, never mind.

 

Coaches should manage their pitchers intelligently.

How much pitching to allow in one day should be seriously thought about by all coaching staffs, TB and HS. The issue is not so much how many innings as it is how many pitches thrown and under what conditions. ALL travel ball teams should have more than one pitcher to rely on to take care of that inevitable loser’s bracket situation.

A softball doesn't weigh much, but pitching IS repetitive exercise with a weight and it should be treated as such. As in any weight training situation, rest days are essential to allow soft tissue to recover. If a TB pitcher has a marathon day, then she should not pitch at all the next day nor in a game for another few days.

How many pitches are too many? That depends on the pitcher’s age, the quality of her mechanics, the type and mix of pitches she relies on, her physical condition, and how much rest time is available between games and between game days. The weather can be a factor. Warmer days enable more pitches to be safely thrown. Sixteen/eighteen and under pitchers are able to spin the ball much more radically than younger age groups. Breaking pitches are hardest on the arm.

While almost impossible to compare softball pitchers to baseball pitchers, we should consider this. A major league pitcher spends 5 days recovering from 90-120 pitches thrown in a game. A travel ball pitcher in the loser’s bracket can easily wind up throwing 360+ pitches in a three game marathon day. Granted, the softball pitcher doesn’t throw over handed curve balls, but she still puts a great deal of unnatural spin on the various breaking pitches. Prudent coaches will get themselves a counter, keep up with pitch counts, and formulate a plan that works to protect (and extend the life of) their pitchers’ arms.

Once a repetition injury takes place, the worst thing in the world is to keep pitching anyway. She must take time off and let it heal. Some repetition injuries to tendons and cartilage can take months to heal. The coach should NEVER let the final decision to continue pitching be made by the player.

 

Girls have been throwing a lot of pitches and games for many many years now with no problems. Why NOW all of a sudden do people think it is harmful. They have been doing this a lot longer out west and in other states than we have and those girls throw tons of pitches in tournaments. Heard Finch and Smith telling how they threw many games and pitches when they were young. Obviously no ill effects. Sure some girls have arm problems but it isn't from pitching to much it is from doing it wrong or sometimes some people just get hurt plain and simple. I personally know girls who have thrown a lot that are older now and have no effects whatsoever. I know a lot will take this the wrong way but we are living in an over cautious time with everything. Soon people will complain that all sports will have to be played at night to keep kids out of the sun. LOL.
I would say as far as pitching goes let em throw as much as they want to as far as just pitching goes. But as far as the heat that IS an area to keep an eye on. Not only with pitchers but catchers and position players as well. That is one thing that can cause harm

 

Points well taken.

However, our game is going to higher levels with more kids involved every year . As our players get better, the envelope gets pushed. Repetition injury IS on the rise in softball. Some injuries involve young pitchers who wind up undergoing surgery to correct damage. There are plenty of studies available (and accessible on the internet) that highlight this fact. It would be a shame to ignore this and keep pushing young athletes in unhealthy situations. That's a sure way to get our governing bodies to impose unnecessary rules like pitching restrictions on us. Good management by thoughtful coaches is the best way to keep these types of injuries in check. As our players work to get better, so should our coaches.

 

As I mentioned in my first post on this subject, I did run this by a Div 1 coach before making the post, and the more read and hear from posters, the more I agree with what I was told by the forementioned coach.
and that was, as long as she has the proper form and maintains it during her pitching, no matter the number of pitches made there will be no damage, sure she will get tired as the number of pitches rise, but what will happen, her push from the rubber will begin to shorten, and her arm speed will slow.
But as long as she maintains correct form. there will be no damage to arm or shoulder.
This post is not about someones dd begin allowed to pitch more, or if there is any other pitchers on the team. it is about how much and how many pitches are to much....

Something to dwell on pertaining to this subject, The Ariz. pitched that won the national championship, threw over 2000 pitches that week before the final championship game.

Key words, maintain proper form..

 

Heck, Cheeze, there is only ten years difference, and most 13 yr olds think they are 13 going on 23

 

Also...it is a 23 yr old pitcher who has been asked to tryout for the Olympic team.... the 14 yr old might be trying out for cheerleading this fall....which is certainly not a bad thing...but it is not apples and apples.

The problem of overworking a young, inexperienced kid is a reflection of poor coaching. My intention is not to make anyone mad, but this mentality that a young kid can pitch all day without fear of injury is crazy.

One of the fundamental reasons for there being so many pitchers and so few elite players today, is that the girls today are being taught the same bad mechanics and mistakes as those of yesteryear.

Coaches with no experience are teaching things they have no clue about and ones with experience are teaching what they were taught, which in reality, is only going to limit how high the pitcher succeeds at various levels.

Drills in use today, in many cases, reinforce bad mechanics, which is going to hurt a pitcher in the long run. A dominant pitcher at a younger age may only be dominate because she is purely more athletic than her opponents.

As the ability levels grow in the opposition, bad mechanics and bad pitching habits are going to keep her down while the others improve.
It is also gonna increase the chance of injury.

I have been asked many times about the differences between a male and a female in respect to fastpitch pitching styles...

GOOD MECHANICS KNOWS NO GENDER...

Men tend to be a little stronger, but pitchers ( male or female ) that have flawless mechanics and move the ball effortlessly have the most success.

Many of the coaches today, especially the ones without actual experience or ones that do not have the utmost success, are teaching things that are going to limit the pitcher's ability to progress. This has to stop.


Sorry if I got on my soap box....but if this prevents one injury..
then my yapping did some good....