Along with the pitch count and rest recommendations, Pitch Smart also offers general and age specific guidelines to keep pitchers healthy. The general guidelines cover all ages, and they include:

• Properly warming up before pitching.
• Avoiding playing for multiple teams at the same time and pitching in multiple games on the same day.
• Playing other sports during the course of the year to allow your arm time to rest.
• Taking at least 4 months off from throwing each year with at least 2 to 3 of those months being continuous.

Below you will find the Pitch Smart recommended guidelines by age group.

Add Content...

Typically 46' Pitching Distance

• Focus on athleticism, physical fitness, and fun
• Focus on learning baseball rules, general techniques, and teamwork
• Do not exceed 60 combined innings pitched in any 12 month period
• Take at least 4 months off from throwing every year, with at least 2-3 of those months being continuous
• Make sure to properly warm up before pitching
• Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods
• Avoid throwing pitches other than fastballs and change-ups
• Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time
• Avoid playing catcher while not pitching
• Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day
• Play other sports during the course of the year
• Monitor for other signs of fatigue
• Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers
• No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts

Age	Daily Max (Pitches in Game)	0 Days Rest	1 Days Rest	2 Days Rest	3 Days Rest	4 Days Rest
7-8	50	1-20	21-35	36-50	N/A	N/A

Typically 46-50' Pitching Distance

• Focus on athleticism, physical fitness, and fun
• Focus on learning baseball rules, general techniques, and teamwork
• Do not exceed 80 combined innings pitched in any 12 month period
• Take at least 4 months off from throwing every year, with at least 2-3 of those months being continuous
• Make sure to properly warm up before pitching
• Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods
• Avoid throwing pitches other than fastballs and change-ups
• Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time
• Avoid playing catcher while not pitching
• Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day
• Play other sports during the course of the year
• Monitor for other signs of fatigue
• Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers
• No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts

Age	Daily Max (Pitches in Game)	0 Days Rest	1 Days Rest	2 Days Rest	3 Days Rest	4 Days Rest
9-10	75	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+
11-12	85	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+

Typically 60' Pitching Distance

• Players can begin using breaking pitches after developing consistent fastball and changeup
• Do not exceed 100 combined innings pitched in any 12 month period
• Take at least 4 months off from throwing every year, with at least 2-3 of those months being continuous
• Make sure to properly warm up before pitching
• Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods
• Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time
• Avoid playing catcher while not pitching
• Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day
• Play other sports during the course of the year
• Monitor for other signs of fatigue
• A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game
• No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts

Age	Daily Max Pitches	0 Days Rest	1 Days Rest	2 Days Rest	3 Days Rest	4 Days Rest
13-14	95	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+