Nearly 10 years ago, Little League® developed its Pitch Count regulations to help curb the risk of overuse injuries to young pitchers. Sweeny Little League actively monitors the overuse of our young players by requiring both teams to track Pitch Counts during the games for all pitchers and for managers to report those pitch counts when submitting game results.

Pitch Count Rules

Pitch Count Log Template

SPECIAL NOTE: If a pitcher reaches 40 pitches while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day, until any one of the following conditions occurs: (1) that batter reaches base; (2) that batter is retired; or (3) the third out is made to complete the half-inning or the game. The pitcher would be allowed to play the catcher position provided that pitcher is moved, removed or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another batter. If a player delivers 41 or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

Little League regulations for Pitch Count and Days of Rest are as follows:

Pitch Count Limits per game

Pitchers with the following league ages have the following pitch count limits:

Pitchers and Rest

Situation: Player "A" pitches "X" pitches on Saturday. Player "A" is eligible to pitch again on:

Regulation VI (d) was modified in 2013, clarifying that:

EXCEPTION: If a pitcher reaches a day(s) of rest threshold while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is retired; 3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning. The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest for the threshold he/she reached during that at-bat, provided that pitcher is removed before delivering a pitch to another batter

An example of this would be:

The pitcher starts an at-bat having thrown 32 pitches prior to the first pitch to the current batter. The pitcher completes the at-bat by striking out the batter, throwing an additional 5 pitches. His pitch count at the end of the at-bat is 37, but since he reached the 35 pitch threshold during the at-bat, Regulation VI (d) EXCEPTION applies, meaning he will only have to observe 1 day of rest. If the pitcher continues to pitch to the next batter, throwing one official pitch, he will have to observe two (2) days of rest.

THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTANT TO CLEARLY MARK THE END OF EACH AT-BAT AS WELL ON THE PITCH COUNT SHEET

Sample Pitch Count Sheet from the example above:

Pitches thrown grayed in, dark line signifies the end of the at-bat.

Follow us on Facebook for the latest updates!

facebook.com/sweenylittleleague