By Steve Krah
PBR Indiana Correspondent 

Follow @PBRIndiana



In an effort to protect the health and safety of the state’s baseball pitchers, the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s executive committee is considering pitch count measures for the 2016-17 school year. 

Innings have been standard of measurement before this change. The IHSAA have allowed pitchers to work a maximum of 10 innings in three calendar days. 

IHSAA assistant commissioner Phil Gardner, who met recently with 10 baseball coaches from around Indiana, presented a pitch-count proposal at an Aug. 16 board of directors meeting and the board plans to vote on the matter at its Oct. 6 meeting.  

“We’re going to put it out to all schools and coaches so they know what’s being proposed,” Gardner said. “It’s for the protection of the arms of the young kids.” 

A 2015 study by the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine found that 56.7 percent of Tommy John surgeries were performed on 15-to-19-year-olds between 2007 and 2011. 

Taking into consideration underlying Pitch Smart guidelines adopted by USA Baseball (which offers a chart that is age-specific) and the programs used in other states, the IHSAA is working with the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association to set up the parameters. 

Stressing that it is still in the proposal stage, Gardner presented a plan that calls for a scale of maximum pitches and required days of rest. 

At the varsity level, an outing would cap out at 120 pitches (101-120 pitches would require four days of rest). Throwing 81-100 pitches would call for three days of rest, 61-80 pitches two days of rest and 36-60 pitches one day of rest. Up to 35 pitches would require no day of rest. 

While the National Federation of State High School Associations — the national governing body of high school baseball — mandated that all member states go to a pitch-count restriction, it is something that IHSBCA leadership welcomes. 

“We need to have something in place,” IHSBCA executive director Brian Abbott said. “We’ve got a few people that just don’t pay attention to (pitch counts).” 

At the direction of Abbott, LaPorte coach Scott Upp headed an investigative committee which included New Prairie coach Mark Schellinger, Portage coach Tim Pirowski and Trine University coach Greg Perschke, looking into what other states have done while sharing and discussing his findings with others.  

The matter was covered at the IHSBCA State Clinic in January and throughout the spring and summer. 

“It’s good for high school baseball,” Upp said. “It’s good for the arm care of individuals, so (teams) don’t overuse any one guy.” 

Upp said most coaches are paying attention to pitch counts, but the ones who are not currently, will have to fall in line. 

“They will be held accountable as a coach to take care of your kids’ arms,” Upp said.  

A log will be kept and there will likely be some kind of penalty for offenders, though that has not yet been determined.  

Pitch counts will be tracked (it’s not clear yet if that will be done on paper, electronically or both and which team’s scorebook will be official), but other factors to consider in a pitchers’ health such as the day after an outing, therapeutic bands, stretching and other things, also go into proper arm and shoulder care. 

“It’s about not abusing and overusing arms,” Upp said. “That’s where this program is going to help.” 

While there will be set numbers in the adopted policy, Schellinger points out that pitch counts are an inexact science and each situation should be approached on a case-by-case basis. 

“Some kids throw 70 pitches and they’re done,” Schellinger said. “Other throw 100 to 110 pitches and they’re fine. 

“Each kid reacts differently.” 

Schellinger notes that Indiana baseball coaches are trying to be proactive rather than reactive. 

“We want to get on the forefront,” Schellinger said. “You have to have guidelines to protect the kids in general. The most important thing is keeping guys healthy.” 

Perschke welcomes pitch-count limits. 

“I think it’s a great thing,” Perschke said. “It’s something that needs to start at the younger levels. Everybody is so worried about their wins and losses at every level.” 

Perschke said each team needs to do their own pitch chart or used a clicker and even the bullpen should be monitored. At Trine, pitchers throw a maximum of 45 pitches in the pen. 

Upp said the coaches are appreciative of the National Federation and the IHSAA for allowing the coaches to have a voice. 

“They gave us the opportunity to work together to get something that fits our particular situation,” Upp said. “They’re not trying to shove it down people’s throats.” 

Abbott, who has coached pitchers at Huntington North High School and Huntington University, said the goal with the first year of getting guidelines in place and see how it works. 

“This is a policy that has to evolve,” Abbott said. “We’re getting started.” 

Here is proposal language presented to the board by Gardner: 

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION BY-LAW 51-4 

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PITCH COUNT RULE 

Pitching Limits: Varsity. 

Requirements and Suggestions: 

a. No pitcher may throw more than 120 pitches in a game. A pitcher will be allowed to finish a batter if they hit the maximum limit (120 in varsity play; 90 in sub-varsity) during an at bat, but must exit the position after the hitter. 

b. A pitcher who throws more than 60 pitches over two days will be required to have one day of required rest. No sub-varsity pitcher can throw more than 60 pitches over two days. That limit will result in one day of mandated rest. (Swing players who play multiple days at multiple levels should combine pitches thrown and use the varsity chart for mandated rest). 

c. Warm-up pitches allowed before each inning, warm-up pitches allowed by the umpire in case of injury or game delay, and plays attempted against the batter-runner at first, second, or third base do not count against the limit. 

d. All schools have the responsibility to maintain every pitching chart form until the school season is complete. 

e. A copy of the pitching count form with current statistics shall be submitted following each game to the respective athletic administrator of his school by the varsity baseball coach. 

f. The use of a pitcher not eligible to pitch by the pitch count restrictions shall constitute the use of an ineligible player and result in a contest forfeiture. All violations must be reported in writing to the IHSAA Commissioner. 

g. A pitcher who enters the game to replace a pitcher who has reached his maximum number of pitches permitted will be allowed a maximum of sixteen (16) warm up pitches. 

h. It is recommended for accuracy that each school adopt a current app such as GameChanger. 

i. It is strongly recommended that once a pitcher is removed, consideration be given to what position he is assigned once he is done pitching. Consideration should be given to the throwing requirement of the fielding position once the pitcher vacates the mound. 

j. It is strongly recommended that each school team develop a pitching philosophy that includes the instruction in proper throwing mechanics, broadening the number of players who will become pitchers on their staffs, and developing a “work up” plan so that a pitcher is not throwing the maximum allowable pitches from the first day of competition (i.e., no more than 65 pitches in weeks 1-3, no more than 85 in weeks 4-6 to allow for growth and arm strength to develop. 

k. It is strongly encouraged that schools provide an additional day of rest for those pitchers that throw more than 70 pitches. 

l. Coaches must recognize each pitchers “fatigue threshold.” Each pitcher will be different in his ability and threshold. In essence, the coach must learn the behaviors of his/her players.