my 9 yr old son has sort of been thrust into the starting rotation as a pitcher on a 9/10 yr old division.

he may be the default 'ace' since we are not exactly a powerhouse deep in the bullpen.

he has never played an inning of live kid-pitch ball and i'm concerned abt wear and tear.

i know there are strict limits on innings pitched and rest days but nonetheless i am curious if anyone has opinions abt managing this situation from a parent's perspective.

any opinions or advice abt this would be appreciated.

Maybe refer your son's coach to the ASMI Pitch Count Recommendations.

The above referance is a great place to start. Always remember it is not truly resting a pitchers arm to go play SS or C after or before they catch.

RT beat me to the ASMI reference. I'll add that last year I attended a coaches clinic by Cal Ripken, one of the speakers was Dr. Joe Chandler of the Atlanta Braves. Dr. Chandler and a group of medical experts spent several years studying the incidence of arm injuries in young pitchers, and came up with recommendations that were very similar to the ASMI.

Also (especially as young as 9) a coach should be more focused on developing all of his players instead of riding one or two 'studs' in order to win.

When my son was that age he had a strict 150 pitch per game limit with no more then 3 games pitching per week. If they had additional games he either just did pens or he caught. During the season, he only worked with his pitching coach twice a week.

We found a technique where you have your son sit in the bath tub and just cover him with 50% water and 50% ice - it worked great.

We have the paper work in now to move to the Dominican Republic so he can start pro ball this year. Going to change his name to Hitoshi Miyumora. Looking to make some big bucks!

If he has good mechanics, use the ASMI guidelines. Also watch for signs of tiring. And encourage the boy to speak up if he gets tired or something hurts.

asmi recommends 50 pitch limit.

our league says 70 or 75.

that's quite a difference.

i guess we'll fall somewhere in between depending on his body.

thank you for the asistance.

Stick with 50 for a 9YO.

catcher


A 9 yr old with a 150 pitch limit, no more than three games a week and he catches also---you must have a misprint there

Mature arms do not do that


As for you bit with the tub I will pass

Uh, TR, he was kidding.

An early April Fools from C09...

Never thought I would say this - but I gotcha TR

Sad day when one dad posts that his son is dismissed from his college team and another posts info like this---you may have got me but I have no porblem with that---Just hope some son or dad didnt see that and read no further -- they are now running around the house going "I told you so---I am not pitching more than I should !!"


Also realize that the poster who started the thread was asking a serious question---

Hopefully TR I made it sooooo off the wall no one could believe it - I understand your point, but seriously, bath tub with 50% ice, 150 pitch limit three days a week - moving to the Domican - giving him a Japanese name - which by the way - first name was from his grandfather, last name was from his Congressional Medal of Honor award winner uncle.

It was meant in good fun my friend. Have a great day - I'm off now to see my son play in an Easter (they call it spring break) tourny - I hope he does well.

Dave

Dave

Have a good one

tzz,
ASMI states that 75 with 3-4 days rest is reccommended for that age. Our league says 50 for the first 1/2 of the yr and 75 for the second.