Throwing ( don't over do it !!! )

See! We agree on the premise!

All we differ on is whether or not there is a point that will be reached no matter what is done to prevent it.

Is it more harmful to throw 120 pitches with good mechanics or 80 with bad ones? There is no "right" answer to that because every kid is different. That's why blanket statements, blanket policies or blanket coaching is never the "right" thing to do.

My boy regularly throws more than 100 pitches in a game during the season as do some of the other pitchers on the team, My son has only missed a start because of an arm problem maybe 3 times in the last 6 years, and those weren't because of a sore arm, but rather a tired one. But, of the 15 regular pitchers on his 3 HS teams, he's the only one who can make that claim.

It isn't because his arm is stronger, its because he's better prepared in mind and the rest of his body, probably more than his arm. The things he does to support his arm bail him out on many occasions. Like his leg strength. People don't seem to grasp the concept that pitching starts and finishes with the legs. Weak legs will likely mean lower stamina on the mound.

And when he does throw, if he throws more than 50 pitches, he doesn't pick up a ball the next day, period. That's one even his HS coach doesn't get in his face about. But, you'll see the other pitchers on the day after pitching warming up with the rest of the team and possibly even playing a position and making those throws. It hasn't endeared my boy with his coach, but his arm hasn't been hurt yet either.

The biggest thing I see wrong with pitchers at every level is that they don't "cool down" after throwing and then immediately ice. My son has never pitched a game or a bullpen since he was 11 when he didn't have his arm iced immediately after finishing. If we didn't bring his personal ice, I'd go to the store or wherever to get some. Other than in a very few cases, the other pitchers wait until they get home.

When I see an idiot coach take a kid off the mound after throwing and put them at a "position" just to keep their bat in the lineup, I want to punch them in the mouth. The kid did his job and even then it isn't enough. When I see that, I know its all about winning and not about the kids. That certainly limits my son's availability for things other than pitching and doesn't make the coach my biggest fan, but like I said, he doesn't get sore arms and when its crunch time, he's the one they always call 1st.

But, how many parents do know who are willing to go that route? The reason I do it is because I'm positive that even though those extra throws aren't pitches, when he's tired, that's when there's the most chance for injury. I've had more than one coach tell me if my kid had to be "babied" like that, he wouldn't play long on his team. well, that's been what goes on for several years now and he's ended up been the #1 or #2 on every team.

If every kid had a parent willing to watch as closely as I do, take his kid's back with the coach, supervise workouts and provide the very best private coaching, fine, let them throw. But I just don't see that as being a very wise move until they get to be at least 13-14. At least then, they have some common sense of their own. and at least might be able to tell when they've done enough or might be doing something that could hurt them.

Just let the kids play! Let them develop at their own pace by learning by making mistakes, and keep them from doing things that could hurt them. There' plenty of time for glory.