Little League Pitching Guidelines
Little League Baseball has established strict rules regarding the number of pitches a player may throw in a game, as well as the required rest periods between appearances. Following these rules is extremely important to protect the health and safety of our players.
Coach Responsibility
Coaches are expected to use sound judgment when managing pitchers. If any of the following occur, reduce their pitching load and/or provide additional rest beyond the minimum requirements:
-
The player looks fatigued or complains of arm soreness
-
It is early in the season, and their arm strength is not yet built up
-
The player has little or no prior pitching experience
Pitch limits and rest requirements assume that players are only participating on their Little League team. However, many players also compete on travel teams, school teams, or in other leagues. Coaches should communicate with parents and other coaches to understand if a player is pitching elsewhere and how much.
Player Safety Comes First
As a coach, your first responsibility is to protect your players and prevent overuse injuries — not to win games. It is never worth compromising a player’s long-term health for the outcome of a Little League game.
Complete details on pitching regulations, including guidelines for pitching and catching in the same game, can be found on the official Little League website.