Pitch count regulationss have been modified by Little League Baseball for the 2008 season. Last year, for the first time, pitchers in all divisions of Little League, from age 7 to 18, had specific pitch limits for each game, based on their age. The number of pitches delivered in a game determined the amount of rest the player had to have before pitching again.

For all of Little League Baseball’s history, and for the history of amateur youth baseball in general, pitching regulations used innings pitched to determine pitcher eligibility. Recently, researchers and medical professionals in the field of sports medicine have been suggesting the actual number of pitches thrown (i.e., pitch count) is a safer way to regulate pitching in youth baseball.

Little League is the first national youth baseball organization to institute a pitch count. The Little League International Board of Directors approved the measure in August 2006.

The number of pitches allowable under the new regulation is based on the pitcher’s age. Specific rest periods are in place when a pitcher reaches certain thresholds of pitches delivered in a day. The table below gives an overview of the number of pitches that will be allowed for each age group during the 2008 regular season.

League Age Pitches allowed per day

17-18 …105
13-16 …95
11-12 …85
9-10 …75
7-8 …50

The rest periods required during the 2008 regular season are listed below.

Pitchers league ages 7 through 16 must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must beobserved.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no calendar day of rest is required before pitching again.
• If a player pitches more than 41 pitches in a game, they must also have ONE GAME OF REST, regardless of how many days since their previous pitching.

• Any player removed as a pitcher is not allowed to play the position of catcher for the remainder of that game. This is designed to further prevent overuse injuries.

• "Automatic" intentional walks are no longer allowed. If a pitcher wishes to intentionally walk a batter, he/she must do so by throwing four pitches, which will count in determining pitch count.

Regulations for tournament play (all-stars) will be similar, but with some modifications. Those regulations will be released soon.