This may be a longer post than normal but I think it is necessary for everyone to read, especially those just getting their boys/girls into baseball.
I had a long conversation with an orthopedic MD on Friday about baseball injuries in youth. I had the conversation because I had to take my 11 year old boy to see him. Since the season ended he had pain in his elbow that just wouldn't go away and after two weeks I had enough. Fortunately nothing is torn but he has a serious case of little league elbow. For those that don't know what that is it is inflammation/pull/tears in his growth plate where the UCL attaches.
He can do nothing for two weeks, then no throwing anything or doing anything that causes any pain at all for six weeks, and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks. The doctor, who if I said his name many on here would know who he is, told me that there is a good chance he does not play fall ball at all and if he does will be very limited. The goal is to have him fully ready to go, though probably not pitching, by March. Though I was somewhat relieved by the diagnosis when you are 11 that is only one step lower than a death sentence.
We talked a lot, and this is the point of the thread, about coaches/parents abusing arms of players and not following MLB protocol for youth pitchers. The thing is we do follow it and it still happened. And to his point it is other activities outside of baseball, like swimming for example, that we don't always take into account.
That being said, if you are a parent looking for a team, interview the coach and ask him about it. Look at gamechanger and see if they follow it. See if they allow a kid to pitch in two games in a day or throw more than 20 pitches and pitch the next day. See if they let their pitchers catch and their catchers pitch. Look for pitchers who throw a lot of pitches going in and playing in the field, especially the left side of the infield or outfield, later in the day. Ask them if they have a stretching program and how they handle the first practice after a tournament. Base your decisions on those findings, not ring counts.
And if you are a coach, follow this.
MLB youth PItching guidelines
Last, carry enough kids. We are carrying 12 next year for 12u AAA. And if parents complain about playing time send them this link, or give them my number and they can ask my son how his summer 2023 went.
I had a long conversation with an orthopedic MD on Friday about baseball injuries in youth. I had the conversation because I had to take my 11 year old boy to see him. Since the season ended he had pain in his elbow that just wouldn't go away and after two weeks I had enough. Fortunately nothing is torn but he has a serious case of little league elbow. For those that don't know what that is it is inflammation/pull/tears in his growth plate where the UCL attaches.
He can do nothing for two weeks, then no throwing anything or doing anything that causes any pain at all for six weeks, and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks. The doctor, who if I said his name many on here would know who he is, told me that there is a good chance he does not play fall ball at all and if he does will be very limited. The goal is to have him fully ready to go, though probably not pitching, by March. Though I was somewhat relieved by the diagnosis when you are 11 that is only one step lower than a death sentence.
We talked a lot, and this is the point of the thread, about coaches/parents abusing arms of players and not following MLB protocol for youth pitchers. The thing is we do follow it and it still happened. And to his point it is other activities outside of baseball, like swimming for example, that we don't always take into account.
That being said, if you are a parent looking for a team, interview the coach and ask him about it. Look at gamechanger and see if they follow it. See if they allow a kid to pitch in two games in a day or throw more than 20 pitches and pitch the next day. See if they let their pitchers catch and their catchers pitch. Look for pitchers who throw a lot of pitches going in and playing in the field, especially the left side of the infield or outfield, later in the day. Ask them if they have a stretching program and how they handle the first practice after a tournament. Base your decisions on those findings, not ring counts.
And if you are a coach, follow this.
MLB youth PItching guidelines
Last, carry enough kids. We are carrying 12 next year for 12u AAA. And if parents complain about playing time send them this link, or give them my number and they can ask my son how his summer 2023 went.
The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you never know if they are genuine. -- Abraham Lincoln.
