11/19/15 – KHSAA Board Reviewing Pitch Count Limits for Baseball

November 19, 2015 Baseball Blog Updates

At its November meeting, the KHSAA Board of Control continued review of a pitch count limit for baseball. The review comes through working with USA Baseball, the National Federation of High School Associations, Major League Baseball and other youth organizations and medical groups.

“Again, the safety of our student athletes is requiring us to review our pitching limitations”, said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “There is sports medicine based research, as well as play at other levels, that clearly illustrates that a pitch count limitation is likely a much better injury minimization strategy than the long-existent innings limitations for pitching.”

Colorado and Alabama are two other state associations to recently adopt limitations based upon pitch counts. The Board will discuss the matter further at its January meeting and likely make a final decision at that time, with implementation to begin for the 2016 playing season.

“We’ve mentioned a potential pitch count was on the horizon at the annual Baseball Coaches Association Conference,” said Associate Commissioner Butch Cope. “Arm care continues to be a point of emphasis in rules clinics for coaches and the need to understand the importance of arm safety.”

(USA Baseball and others Pitch Smart Guidelines)

– KHSAA –

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