CARY, North Carolina – Major League Baseball (MLB) and USA Baseball today announced additional guidelines to the Pitch Smart program for the 2021 season. Additions to the program for the upcoming season highlight the need for pitchers of all ages to systematically strengthen their preparation for competitive matches after a reduced workload in 2020 due to the pandemic of COVID-19.
Launched in 2014, Pitch Smart is a joint initiative between MLB and USA Baseball that provides a series of practical, age-appropriate guidelines to help parents, players and coaches avoid overuse injuries and promote healthy long and healthy career for amateur players. The Pitch Smart guidelines include age-specific throwing limits and mandatory rest recommendations to limit the risk of injury from throwing fatigued.
Added to the Pitch Smart Guidelines for 2021 are suggested daily pitch maximums with progression benchmarks for early, mid-season, and late season, as well as an annual innings limit for players with a load of reduced work in 2020. Additionally, guidance on youth athletes can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in this update.
MLB and USA Baseball also created a sample throwing program to help athletes prepare for the upcoming season. The program takes place over four weeks and includes daily throwing routines and mandatory rest days. The sample is modeled for a 12 year old youth league player, but can easily be modified based on player age and field size.
“The additional guidelines from Pitch Smart are truly important for the arm health and long-term development of young baseball players across the country as they continue their spring and summer seasons,” said Tony Reagins, director of baseball development for Major League Baseball. “The pandemic deprived many of these young athletes of a normal season in 2020. This steady, phased plan includes a throwing program and progression benchmarks that will give players, coaches and parents the tools they need to have fun and, above all, in complete safety. baseball season.
The standard Pitch Smart pitch count and required rest recommendations continue to be the foundation of the program for young athletes around the world. These guidelines remain unchanged since the last update in 2017 and athletes aged seven to 22 who did not have a reduced workload in 2020 should continue to adhere to these standards to begin the season. The new additional daily pitch maximum recommendations allow pitchers who had a reduced workload last year to reach these standard guidelines by the end of the 2021 season.
“USA Baseball continues to champion Pitch Smart as a priority initiative for amateur baseball in the United States,” said Paul Seiler, executive director and CEO of USA Baseball. “All USA Baseball events and national teams continue to adhere to these standards and we cannot recommend enough that players, parents and organizations adopt and implement these guidelines. Long-term health and safety of our athletes are paramount to the continued growth and development of baseball around the world.”
Pitch Smart hosts a growing number of resources available on PitchSmart.org, including a series of answers to frequently asked questions regarding Tommy John surgery as well as complete initiation guidelines and recommended rest periods for all age groups. The program is further supported by a free online educational course hosted by Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz at USABDevelops.com.
Thirty-three international, national, and regional organizations are fully compliant with Pitch Smart in 2021. Additionally, USA Baseball and Major League Baseball have recognized seven organizations as Select Compliant and three as Educational Supporters. One hundred and twenty-four additional state and local organizations were also Full Compliant, Select Compliant or Educational Supporter organizations for 2020. USA Baseball will continue to collaborate with all organizations on their Pitch Smart progress throughout the season.
Most recently, USA Baseball and MLB updated Pitch Smart website to include special search sections, including one for “Maximize Performance,” such as the following:
- – Proper Launch Mechanics
- – Relationship between throwing speed, performance and injuries
- – Weighted ball throwing programs
- – Long throw and split throw programs
- – Strength and Conditioning for Baseball Pitchers
- – Nutrition to maximize performance
