I had a parent contact me the other day asking my opinion on how he should handle his 13 year old’s pitching season. His boy is playing on a little league team and a tournament team and is wondering if it could get to the point where he should shut him down as far as pitching goes. This kid is pretty advanced for his age and has a good chance to do something in this game. As we were talking, he brought up the last game he pitched and it came out that he threw 52 pitches in the first inning. I was absolutely floored when I heard this. To be honest, it really upsets me when I think about it. I’m sure it bothers me so much because I have worked with this stud for the last two years and am emotionally attached. But like I said, this kid truly has a chance.
Coaches, lets get something straight here. A child’s well being trumps that win you are hunting. Leaving a kid out there to battle through an inning like that does the team no good, the player no good and puts the player in a situation where he could hurt himself. You are not turning this kid into a man by letting him work through this. If anything you could be crushing his confidence. Fortunately, I know this kid well enough to know that he has been trained to know how to handle games like this. But most have no idea how to deal with that type of adversity. And to be frank here, if you as a coach allow your player to go through something like this, then I’m sure you wouldn’t be the type of coach that would be able to teach a player how to handle adversity.
I’m my opinion, there should be a pitches per inning limit. I’m sure that in some leagues out there, there is something like this in place. If I was a youth the coach, my pitchers would not throw more than 30 pitches an inning. I’m sure that most coaches reading this are thinking, “well I need pitchers for later in the game and for our upcoming games”. Hopefully you have seen my point by now, but if not I will try again. The rest of the game and your upcoming games will work themselves out. The only thing that is important when your pitcher is in the middle of an inning like that is that child. Not the W, not your game tomorrow or the one after that, that child at that point in time, PERIOD!
Youth baseball is about kids learning how to play this great game and the life lessons it teaches. Adversity is a huge part of this game that players who play into their teen years and beyond will have to learn to deal with but this type of adversity is something we wouldn’t even let our pro pitchers go through.
Coaches, the kids are more important than a W!!
Founder of Baseball Dudes. Blessed with three beautiful children and an amazing wife. Baseball is my life, after my family, and I love sharing what I have learned from it. Thanks for taking the time to view what we offer here at Baseball Dudes.
