As many of you know, BC Minor has changed its pitching rules this year to be based on number of pitches thrown as opposed to the number of innings pitched. The purpose behind the change in rule is to more effectively protect young pitchers from overuse injuries. To support these new rules, BC Minor has launched a season long educational initiative aimed at informing parents, coaches, and players about how pitchers may develop arm injuries and what can be done to prevent them. The belief is that educating the baseball community about arm injuries is as important as the new pitching rules adopted for this season. This initiative will take the form of weekly articles posted on the BC Minor website every Monday morning.
SBMC fully supports BC Minor's new direction on the protection of young pitchers and we are posting the weekly articles here on our site below.
(Posted June 8, 2009)
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative
Week Ten Article
The Importance of Proper Clothing for Pitchers
It’s a cold, windy day for baseball; a typical April evening during the beginning of baseball season in British Columbia. Many youth baseball pitchers take the mound in practices and game situations and risk injury due to the cool temperature; however, there are steps pitchers can take to reduce the effects of the cool weather. This article will discuss proper clothing for pitchers and its role in helping to prevent arm injuries.
Importance of pitchers keeping their arm warm during a game
All players, including pitchers, warm-up their muscles before every game so they can perform skills at full speed in a game situation without suffering an injury. During the course of a game, it is important for pitchers to “stay loose” to avoid suffering injuries. Staying loose is particularly challenging for pitchers in cold weather because they cool down quicker than they would on a warm day. Therefore, pitchers must dress appropriately when pitching in cool weather in order to retain body heat and keep their arm loose.
Must have clothing for pitchers:
·On any cool day baseball pitchers should wear long sleeves. Long sleeves help keep the arm warm and loose thereby helping to prevent injuries. Under armour now offers a variety of lightweight undershirts designed to keep pitchers warm in cool temperatures.
·Pitchers should wear a jacket between innings. A jacket offers additional insulation and helps to keep the arm warm. Many pitchers choose to wear a jacket on the bases if they are hitting and get on base. Some pitchers also like to wrap their arm in a cloth between innings.
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative Week Nine Article
The Curveball Debate
Many youth baseball parents and coaches have long argued that young pitchers, particularly those in Pee Wee baseball, should not throw curve balls because of the risk of developing arm injuries. Naturally, most young pitchers want to and do throw curve balls because they help pitchers be more successful by getting hitters out easier. In recent years, during the comprehensive review of solutions for the problem of youth baseball pitchers developing arm injuries, the use of curveballs has received great scrutiny. This article will examine the issue of whether young pitchers should stop throwing curveballs to reduce the likelihood of suffering an arm injury.
Arguments for eliminating the curveball
·Many experts have argued that throwing curve balls and sliders puts younger pitchers at a greater risk of developing an arm injury. Most of these experts use anecdotal evidence to support their position.
·A study completed by the American Sports Medicine Institute (2008) found that pitchers in the 9-14 age bracket who threw sliders were 86% more likely to report elbow pain than those who did not throw sliders. Other studies have found similar correlations and drawn the same conclusion.
·See the following links for further articles that do not support the use of curve balls:
·Many experts and researchers have conducted studies in an attempt to scientifically prove that throwing curve balls results in pitchers subjecting their elbows and shoulders to higher loads. However, experts have been unable to prove their theories and currently have no scientific evidence to explain how throwing curveballs increases the likelihood of a pitcher suffering an arm injury.
·A recent study compared the kinetics of youth baseball pitchers throwing a fastball, curveball, and change up in a controlled setting. The results went against even the researchers predictions and indicated that elbow and shoulder loads measured highest when fastballs were thrown and lowest when curveballs were thrown. A similar study completed with college players found the same results.
·After reviewing the literature and research Little League Baseball concluded that, “there is no medical evidence to support a ban on breaking pitches (curveballs and sliders) but that it is widely suspected by medical professionals that it is ill-advised for players under the age of 14 to throw breaking pitches” (p.1).
·Despite these conclusions Little League chose not to ban the curveball because of the lack of scientific evidence but instead chose to conduct further research in partnership with the University of North Carolina.
Summary
This issue of whether young pitchers should throw curveballs is much like the debate over whether pitchers should use ice after games that was presented in article six of this series. The decision should be an informed one made by pitchers, parents, and coaches after having a complete understanding of the research and evidence. The key, once again, is to make an informed decision.
Further Reading
For a middle ground position on the curve ball see the following article:
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative Week Eight Article
Jobe’s Exercises & Surgical Tubing
Many youth baseball pitchers are unaware that there are simple activities that they can do at home to strengthen their shoulder and rotator cuff that may reduce the likelihood of developing an arm injury. Two of these activities are Jobe’s exercises and the use of surgical tubing. This article will discuss how Jobe’s exercises and surgical tubing can be used to strengthen the shoulder and prevent arm injuries.
Jobe’s Exercises
Jobe’s exercises were designed by Dr. Frank Jobe of the Los Angeles Dodgers as an exercise pitchers could use when rehabbing an injury. These exercises are now commonly used by pitchers to maintain healthy shoulder muscles.
The exercises involve performing a variety of arm motions with small dumbbells
Check back on Monday June 1st for the week nine article that will discuss whether youth baseball pitchers should avoid throwing curveballs in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of developing an arm injury.
This article was written by Kyle Williams for BC Minor Baseball.
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative
Week Seven Article
The Importance of Developing Arm Strength & Endurance
The development of arm strength is important for baseball pitchers in their attempt to reduce their risk of developing an arm injury. Good arm strength should allow a pitcher to throw a greater number of pitches before becoming fatigued and should also give a pitcher faster recovery time after pitching. This article will identify ways in which youth baseball pitchers can build arm strength and endurance.
Long Toss
·Long toss is a throwing activity where pitchers attempt to throw over an increasing distance.
·The actual distance pitchers throw would vary depending on age but would typically be between 100-200 feet.
·Correct mechanics for long toss including using a crow hop, bending your back, and using your entire body
See the following links for information on long toss.
·Weight training programs may help many youth baseball pitchers build arm strength.
·Baseball pitchers should ensure that they participate in a weight training program that is pitcher specific. There are many types of weight training activities designed for other sports and even baseball hitters that may increase the likelihood of a pitcher suffering an injury. It is highly recommended that pitchers consult a professional to assist in designing a program that meets their needs as a pitcher.
·Pitchers should use caution when participating in school based weight training programs as part of their physically education class and may need to request exemptions from these activities.
See the following links for information on baseball specific weight training:
Check back on Monday May 25th for the week four article that will discuss the use of Jobe and tubing exercises as a method for strengthening a pitchers shoulder muscles and rotator cuff.
This article was written by Kyle Williams for BC Minor Baseball.
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative
Week Six Article
The Use of Ice for Pitchers
Many pitchers use ice as a strategy for preventing arm injuries and decreasing recovery time after pitching. However, more recently, some coaches have argued that the use of ice has little benefit for pitchers and may actually increase recovery time. This article will discuss the use of ice as a strategy for preventing arm injuries.
Number of youth baseball pitches who use ice
Many youth baseball pitchers in British Columbia report to using ice after pitching, though not necessarily on a consistent basis. The following are results of a 2008 survey of youth baseball pitchers who were asked how often they used ice after pitching.
Rarely – 8
Sometimes – 13
Often – 15
Always – 17
Arguments for the use of ice
Many experienced pitching coaches and professional pitchers highly recommend the use of ice by pitchers to prevent arm injuries. These coaches argue that ice, as it is well known for its use on impact injuries, is an effective method of reducing swelling and increasing healing time. Most coaches recommend that pitchers:
A) Ice immediately after they finish pitching (have ice at the park as opposed to waiting until you get home)
B) Not throw again for the rest of the day after they have iced
C) Not place ice directly on the skin
See the following articles that support the use of ice.
Some pitching coaches are beginning to argue that the benefits of using ice are mythical and in some cases ice may actually increase recovery time for a pitcher. They suggest that many major league pitchers use ice out of habit and there is a lack of research documenting its benefits. One argument against the use of ice is that it may delay the flow of blood to the arm thereby delaying the body’s natural healing process from beginning. Others argue that pitchers should only ice their arms if they are in pain after pitching.
See the following articles that do not support the use of ice.
Summary Many pitching coaches support the use of ice and argue that ice allows a pitchers’ arm to heal faster, while other pitching coaches argue the benefits of ice are mythical. Pitchers should make a personal and informed decision about their use of ice.
Check back on Monday May 18th for the week seven article that will outline strategies for building arm strength and endurance for the purpose of not only increasing performance but avoiding arm injuries.
This article was written by Kyle Williams for BC Minor Baseball.
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative
Week Five Article
Importance of Pre-Game Routines
Having pitchers use an effective pre-game warm-up can reduce the likelihood of a pitcher developing an arm injury. Each team should develop a pre-game pitching routine for their pitchers. This article will examine components of an effective pre-game warm-up for both starting and relief pitchers.
General Ideas:
·Pitchers should have a consistent routine that they follow every time they pitch. Pitchers should have input into the details of their routine based on personal preference, therefore a standard team routine may be slightly adapted to each pitchers’ needs.
·A starting pitcher’s routine may be different from that of regular position players from the moment the pitcher arrives at the ball park. Here are some considerations for varying the starting pitcher’s routine from that of position players:
A) Many pitchers like to know a day or more in advance of a starting appearance so they can begin their mental preparation. Consider this an option in helping pitchers prepare.
B) For teams that arrive more than an hour before the start of a game you may choose to allow your starting pitcher to have a later arrival time so they are not sitting around, particularly on sunny days, during activities they would not be participating in.
C) Many higher level teams do not allow their pitchers to take batting practice when they are starting. At the younger levels, where the pitchers hit during a game (instead of being DH’ed), coaches often still want their pitchers to hit in warm-up. Consider allowing your pitcher to hit and sit down on the bench instead of shagging in the outfield to conserve energy.
D) Many starting pitchers will not run, stretch, or throw with their teammates upon arrival as they will just cool down and have to start over again before their formal pitching warm-up. Consider allowing your pitcher to run, stretch, and throw on his own before the game.
General components of a pre-game warm-up routine
About 30 minutes before game time a starting pitcher should begin his more organized pre-game warm-up routine.
A) Running & Stretching (apx. 10 min)
B) Tubing and/or Jobe’s exercises (optional)
C) Easy throwing from a short distance
D) Long Toss (optional)
E) Fastballs from the rubber
F) Other pitches from the rubber
The warm-up should be finished about five minutes before the pitcher will be needed on the field.
Warm-up routines for relief pitchers
Ensuring that a relief pitcher has a proper warm-up is challenging because coaches do not have the luxury of being able to plan the pitchers’ warm-up around a known starting time.
Tips for warming up relief pitchers:
·Coaches should know who the potential relief pitchers are before the game. This should be communicated to the pitcher so they can stay loose throughout the game.
·Avoid having relief pitchers warm-up and sit down multiple times before they go into the game.
·If the relief pitcher is on the bench it is easier to have a correct warm-up. In this case the pitcher should be staying loose throughout the game (running, maybe some light throwing) because they may not have time to run and stretch before they are told to warm-up.
·Have an organized bullpen. When a pitcher gets in trouble and a coach tells a pitcher to warm-up, time may be very limited before that pitcher gets into the game. A pitcher who is told to warm-up should be throwing in the bullpen within 30 seconds. Know who the bullpen catcher is going to be and ensure they have their mask, glove, and couple good baseballs ready all game. This will ensure the relief pitcher gets as much warm-up time as possible.
·If the relief pitcher is playing in the game then an effective warm-up is even more challenging because the pitcher may be going into the game directly from a defensive position or may have to bat in the inning before he pitches and may not have time to warm-up properly. Consider using league rules to take your pitcher out of the game before he has to pitch. BC Minor all bat rules allow for this option, as does the BC Minor extra hitter (EH) rule.
Warm-up routines for starters of game 2 of a DH
Starting pitchers for the second game of a DH often have a difficult time warming up correctly. Here are some tips for game two starters:
·If possible, don’t play your game two starter in the first game or substitute him late in the game so he can eat and relax before warming up for game two.
·Often game two starters start their warm-up too late. An assistant coach (the manager will be busy with line-ups) should be assigned the responsibility of supervising the game two starter. A catcher for the game two starter must also be identified.
·Ensure the game two starting time is agreed upon. Often teams and umpires do not talk about what time game two is going to start. Pitchers need to know the exact starting time so they can be ready and not be rushed or have to sit around for an extra 15 minutes after they warm-up.
Summary
Each team should establish a pre-game warm-up routine for their pitchers. Having a correct pre-game warm-up should help youth baseball pitchers avoid unnecessary arm injuries.
Check back on Monday May 11th for the week six article that will discuss the use of ice by youth baseball pitchers as a strategy for reducing the likelihood of developing an arm injury.
This article was written by Kyle Williams for BC Minor Baseball.
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative
Week Four Article
The Importance of Correct Pitching Mechanics:
How Improper Pitching Mechanics May Lead to Injury
The term “pitching mechanics” can be defined as the interconnected movement of a pitcher’s various body parts when throwing a baseball. There is a correct and an incorrect way for a pitcher to throw a baseball. When a pitcher throws a baseball correctly he has demonstrated proper pitching mechanics. The use of correct pitching mechanics gives a pitcher an opportunity to reach their maximum potential in terms of accuracy (throwing the ball where they want to) and velocity (speed). Incorrect mechanics often result in reduced performance for a pitcher. In addition to reduced performance, the use of incorrect pitching mechanics can also lead to injury. This article will examine the relationship between incorrect pitching mechanics and arm injuries and will provide a brief summary of correct pitching mechanics.
The relationship between incorrect pitching mechanics and arm injuries
Improper pitching mechanics can put additional strain on a pitchers elbow and/or shoulder. Dr. Carl Nissen recently scientifically demonstrated this connection in a laboratory study that found that pitchers who had improper pitching mechanics had higher loads placed on their elbow than pitchers with correct pitching mechanics. Nissen concluded that the increase in elbow load may lead to arm injuries. (as cited an American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons article titled “Poor Form Causes Little League Elbow in Kids”)
Learning and maintaining correct pitching mechanics is not an easy process for pitchers. While pitchers can read about correct mechanics, they really need to receive feedback and direct instruction from knowledgeable coaches. While all coaches can read about correct pitching mechanics, many coaches find it difficult to teach proper mechanics to pitchers, particularly when it comes to eliminating a pitcher’s bad habits, and few coaches would consider themselves proficient in this area. All coaches can really do is their best, which is to learn some of the basics of correct pitching mechanics detailed above and to try to teach them to their pitchers. Often pitchers seek out expert instruction from private instructors, while sometimes guest pitching coaches can help support an inexperienced coach correct or teach pitching mechanics.
Summary
Pitchers, parents, and coaches should understand that incorrect pitching mechanics can cause arm injuries. Teams and associations should therefore look to provide all pitchers with the opportunity to receive instruction from knowledgeable pitching coaches.
Check back on Monday May 4 for the week five article that will discuss the importance of effective pre-game routines for pitchers in preventing arm injuries.
This article was written by Kyle Williams for BC Minor Baseball.
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative
Week Three Article
Pitchers Playing Other Positions: Risks & Cautions
Professional pitchers do just that; they pitch. Starting professional pitchers often only pitch once in every five games. Unlike youth baseball pitchers, when professional pitchers are not pitching they are watching the game from dugout and do not play other positions. Youth baseball is much different as most pitchers play other defensive positions when they are not pitching, particularly at younger ages. This article will examine the risks associated with pitching and playing other defensive positions and will make recommendations for coaches on how to reduce the risk of these pitchers developing an overuse arm injury.
Stats that demonstrate how often pitchers are playing defensive positions when they are not pitching
A 2008 survey of youth baseball pitchers in BC confirmed that pitchers are often playing defensive positions when they are not pitching.
·65% of BC Minor pitchers surveyed reported that they play a defensive position at least 85% of the time they are not pitching. In comparison, only 26% of PBL (the PBL is high performance league for players aged 15-19) pitchers reported that they play a defensive position at least 85% of the time they are not pitching
·Age was a factor in determining whether a pitcher played a defensive position as the results confirmed that the younger the pitcher, the more likely he was to play a defensive position when he was not pitching. 82% of pitchers 14 years old or younger reported to playing a defensive position at least half the time they weren’t pitching.
Link between playing defensive positions and the development of arm injuries
Playing other positions increases the number of throws pitchers make over the course of the season both in game situations, warm-up, and practice. Increasing the number of throws a player makes, even if these throws occur at other positions, may increase the likelihood of that pitcher suffering an overuse injury. While individually these throws do not equal the repetitive stress of throwing a baseball in succession as a pitcher, they do add to the wear and tear on a pitcher’s arm and may contribute to overuse.
Strategies for reducing the risk of injury for pitchers who play a defensive position
·Look to play your pitchers in positions that have a reduced amount of throwing or lower intensity throws. First base is generally considered a position that is easy on the arm, while shortstop, third base, and catcher are generally considered higher intensity positions. Outfielders make very few throws but the throws they do make can be very long and may be of high intensity.
·Know your pitcher and the condition of his arm. Has he pitched a lot lately and is in need of a rest? Is he pitching today or tomorrow? There are many factors to consider and these are the type of questions coaches should think about when deciding whether to play a pitcher defensively.
·Use BC Minor rules to keep your pitcher’s bat in the line-up while giving him a defensive rest. In all bat leagues a pitcher can bat all game long while playing a limited number of defensive innings. In 9 man ball, BC Minor has adopted an EH (extra hitter) rule that would allow a pitcher to bat but not play a defensive position. Consider these as options when trying to get your pitchers extra rest.
·Look for ways to reduce throwing in practices. If you have a group of players in a line fielding ground balls or fly balls consider whether they need to throw the ball after making the play. Is it throwing practice or fly ball/ground ball practice? A great way to reduce throwing in these situations is to have your pitchers drop the ball in a bucket instead of throwing it back to the coach. When all the balls have been hit the players return the bucket to the coach who is hitting. That way your pitchers can get hundreds of reps without even throwing a baseball. This is a strategy coaches can use to protect the arms of all players not just pitchers.
Summary
Parents, pitchers, and coaches should be aware that pitchers can suffer overuse injuries when playing other positions and they should look to use the strategies identified in this article to reduce throwing whenever possible.
Check back on Monday April 27th for the week four article that will discuss the importance of pitchers using correct throwing mechanics to avoid arm injuries.
This article was written by Kyle Williams for BC Minor Baseball.
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative Week Two Article
Establishing Open and Honest Communication between Coaches and Pitchers
Open and honest communication between coaches and their pitchers is important for preventing arm injuries. Many coaches will ask their pitchers questions like, “Can you pitch today?” or “Can you go one more inning?” and will make pitching decisions based on their pitchers' answer. However, are pitchers always truthful to their coaches about the condition of their arm? The answer appears to be no and the result may be that many coaches unknowingly overuse their pitchers when they are given inaccurate information by their pitchers. This article will raise an awareness to importance of open and honest communication between coaches and their pitchers for the purpose of preventing arm injuries.
Are pitchers truthful with their coaches about the condition of their arm?
A 2008 survey of youth baseball pitchers in BC sought to identify how truthful pitchers are with their coaches about the condition of their arm. The results indicated that only 43% of pitchers surveyed reported that they are always truthful with their coaches about their arm condition. Additionally, 11% of pitchers reported that they are rarely truthful about the condition of their arm. It therefore appears that many coaches may not be getting truthful answers when they ask their pitchers about their arm condition.
Reasons some pitchers may not be truthful about the condition of their arm?
·Desire to win
·Desire or pressure to help their team
·Desire to appear tough or “be a man”
·Perceived or actual pressure from parents or coaches to pitch
·A lack of understanding of how arm injuries occur
·At a tryout, knowing that they have limited opportunities to make a team (beginning of the season, all-star, etc.)
·Future coaches or scouts in attendance
What can coaches do to promote open and honest communication with pitchers?
Coaches should establish an environment where pitchers feel safe reporting injuries, soreness, or simply the need for rest. Adopting a “no questions asked” policy so pitchers know that all they have to do is say they can’t pitch and the coach will respect and respond to their request instead of getting mad or trying to squeeze another inning out of them may be a good idea. The initial reaction of the coach, including body language, may determine how comfortable young pitchers feel reporting that they cannot pitch. Pitchers must know it is okay to say “no”. Coaches should also work to ensure that pitchers understand and buy into the fact that by protecting their arms they are doing what is best for themselves and the team in the long-term. That may mean losing a game in April to win three in July.
Summary Coaches need establish open and honest communication with their pitchers so they make pitching decisions that are based on accurate and truthful information provided by their pitchers.
Check back on Monday April 20 for the week three article identifying the increased risk for developing arm injuries for pitchers who play other defensive positions when they are not pitching.
This article was written by Kyle Williams for BC Minor Baseball.
Reducing Arm Injuries Suffered by Youth Baseball Pitchers: A BC Minor Educational Initiative Week One Article
The Transition to Pitch Counts:
Why Pitch Counts May Reduce Pitching Arm Injuries
For many years youth baseball leagues have used the number of innings pitched as a measure to determine how long a pitcher can safely pitch in a game and how much rest a pitcher needs before he can pitch again. For 2009, BC Minor has changed its pitching rules to be based on the number of pitches thrown (pitch counts) instead of the number of innings pitched. This article will explain the rationale behind the change to pitch counts and will detail some of the research that suggests pitch counts may help reduce the likelihood of youth baseball pitchers developing arm injuries.
Evidence that pitchers are suffering arm injuries
Before adopting pitch counts, BC Minor examined research that indicated that both within British Columbia and throughout North America an unacceptable number of youth baseball pitchers are being overused and some are developing arm injuries. The following is a brief review of some this research.
A) In 2008 BC Minor conducted a survey of 53 youth baseball pitchers between the ages of 12-18 and found that:
·62% of the pitchers reported that they had suffered an arm injury that had sidelined them for at least 2 weeks sometime in their career
·57% of the pitchers reported that they felt that had pitched too long in at least 15% of their outings last season
·64% of the pitchers reported that they felt they didn’t get enough rest between outings at least 15% of the time they pitched last season; additionally 28% of pitchers reported that they didn’t get enough rest between outings at least 50% of the time last season
B) Outside of BC there is evidence to suggest that more pitchers are suffering severe arm injuries that require surgery than ever before. One of the leading experts in the field of arm injuries, Dr. James Andrews, reported that in the four year period from 1995-1998, he completed only nine surgeries on youth baseball pitchers. The number of surgeries he completed increased to 61 from 1999-2002 before ballooning to 148 surgeries from 2003-2006. (M. Burke. Collateral Damage.)
Why pitching rules based on pitch count are better than those based on innings pitched
It is widely accepted that throwing too many pitches and not having enough rest before pitching again can lead to overuse and arm injuries. The important understanding for pitchers, coaches, and parents is that the statistic that matters is the number of pitches thrown, not the number of innings pitched. For example, a pitcher who threw 110 pitches in 5 innings has likely been subjected to a higher rate of overuse when compared to a pitcher who threw 90 pitches in 7 innings. Under innings pitched rules, a pitcher could throw 250 pitches or more before reaching their 7 inning limit for the day. Therefore, pitching rules based on the number of actual pitches thrown should be more effective in preventing overuse then those rules based on innings pitched.
Despite evidence to suggest that pitch counts will be more effective at preventing overuse they are not a perfect solution either. One of the challenges is determining what the exact pitch count numbers should be for each division. This is an area for future research and something that BC Minor and its member associations will review at the conclusion of the 2009 season.
Summary
Pitchers, coaches, and parents need to be aware that the number of pitches thrown is a better indicator of how long a pitcher should pitch in a day and how much rest time that pitchers needs after pitching.
