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Previously pitchers were limited to 10 innings of work in two consecutive days.
The trickiest part of the new rules is they are much more complex than the previous limits with different requirements for days of rest depending on if a pitcher goes one inning, two to three innings, four to seven innings or eight to nine innings in his initial outing to start the 7-day span.
New Rules:
56-1-1 Pitching Regulations - For the purposes of this rule, delivery of one pitch constitutes having pitched in one inning. A pitcher may pitch in a maximum of nine innings in one day but not more than fourteen innings in any seven day consecutive period. If a pitcher pitches in one inning for four consecutive days that pitcher shall have one calendar day of rest from competition pitching beginning with the day following the fourth consecutive day a pitch is thrown. If a pitcher pitches in two or three innings in one day that pitcher shall have one calendar day of rest from competition pitching beginning with the day following the first day a pitch is thrown.
If a pitcher pitches four to seven innings in one day that pitcher shall have two calendar days of rest from competition pitching beginning with the day following the first day a pitch is thrown. Further restrictions regarding this section include:
- After two days of rest a pitcher may pitch a maximum of two innings.
- After three days of rest a pitcher may pitch a maximum of three innings.
- After four days of rest a pitcher may pitch to the limit of the rule.
If a pitcher pitches in eight or nine innings in one day that pitcher shall have three calendar days of rest from competition pitching beginning with the day following the first day a pitch is thrown.
- After three days of rest a pitcher may pitch a maximum of two innings.
- After four days of rest a pitcher may pitch a maximum of three innings.
- After five days of rest a pitcher may pitch to the limit of the rule.
This limitation applies to regular season as well as post season play.
56-1-2 Penalty--Violation of this rule constitutes use of an ineligible and forfeiture of any games in which such violation occurs. Additionally use of an ineligible carries a $100 fine for the offending school.
56-1-3 Educational Points--The medical community generally uses 10 to 15 as an average of pitches per inning. A pitcher’s pregame, post-game and between appearance programs are critical in development an appropriate pitching program. Preseason and early season programs should recognize acclimatization, progression of pitches and physical fitness development of the athlete. Physical development of the player, including age and fitness, should be considered in acclimatization and pitch progression. Fatigue (including arm, leg, general or a combination) should be strongly considered in the pitching regulation process.
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Sam Plank just had the wind knocked out of his sail over this rule!
ReplyDeleteWayne Todd also
ReplyDelete1. According to a statistic that has been airing on the radio lately – texting while driving makes you 23 times more likely to have an accident. Obviously texting while driving is very dangerous. According to a journal article by Dr. Kerut on the prevention of arm injuries, high school pitchers pitching with arm fatigue makes them 36 times more likely to suffer an injury requiring surgery. Pitching more than 80 pitches per game made them 4 times more likely to suffer an injury requiring surgery . Over pitching is the baseball equivalent of texting while driving.
ReplyDelete2. The recently passed VHSL pitching policy is flawed up.
- It uses innings pitched when pitch count is far more valid and accurate.
- It penalizes an efficient pitcher and fails to protect the average pitcher.
- It allows too many pitches per day – far in excess of what ASMI research indicates as reasonable, exposing our children to unnecessary risk.
- It does not differentiate between the 14 year old JV pitcher and the 18 year old varsity pitcher as any reasonable policy would.
3. Should we feel comfortable allowing our 14 year old son or daughter to pitch 9 innings in a single day, an average of 135 pitches . Would you be comfortable about it knowing that regularly throwing over 80 pitches per game makes high school pitchers 4 times more likely to require surgery? Dr. Andrews (ASMI) recommends no more than 90 at the High School Level. “High school pitchers should not throw more than 90 pitches in a game and they should have to take at least five days rest before they pitch again anywhere,” he said. “No way should they throw more than 100. The elbow isn’t ready for that workload. I understand coaches are under a lot of pressure to win. But coaches need to know your No. 1 priority is the health and safety of your young pitchers and baseball players. Your job is to deliver them to the next level without injury.”
4. Where is the medical basis for what was just passed by the VHSL? I want to see it. As parents we should demand it. Challenge the SMAC or VHSL Staff to produce one medical journal article that supports an innings pitched proposal like this. Sure, innings have been used as the metric as to when to shut down for a season, but not a game. Don’t confuse the two.
5. This new policy is reckless.
This really doesn't do much to protect an average pitcher. And it penalizes an efficient pitcher. Plus, thw way it's written you can't tell how many days rest you get after coming back to pitch before the full number of days rest are taken.
ReplyDeleteRick Fuhrmann
Rickdotf@aol.com