Baseball season is here! Young athletes are ready to start
training. While the old adage “practice makes perfect” is true, our youth need
guidance in order to prevent injury.
Overuse injuries in school aged athletes are on the rise. The
incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries among youth baseball and softball
players is five times greater than it was in the year 2000.[i]
Many of these baseball injuries are preventable.
In recent years, Little League Baseball has released
guidelines and enforced regulations to help prevent injury in young athletes
(see charts below). The league has put limits on pitch counts during games and
also enforced required rest periods. All the guidelines are based on the age of
the athlete.
While the guidelines from Little League Baseball are important,
there are additional steps that can be taken at practices and off the field. Here
are some tips:
- Always warm up – stretch, jog and begin with some easy, gradual throwing
- Try different positions – different positions require the use of various muscle groups
- REST – don’t play year round and allow rest between games
- Focus on your form, accuracy and control
- If you have shoulder or elbow pain, do not pitch
- Talk to your parents and coaches about any pain – do not play through the pain!
Getting kids involved in sports at an early age is a great
idea, but it is important to remember an injury can end their baseball career
too soon. By following the suggestions outlined here, injury can be avoided and
a lifelong love of baseball and activity can be built!
[i] http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/media/statistics.aspx
Maximum Pitch Counts and Required Rest Periods courtesy of Little League Baseball
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