Injury prevention for young athletes
Baseball and softball
Throwing over and over is hard on growing arms, so most baseball and softball injuries are overuse injuries in the shoulder and elbow.
Injuries to know
Throwing elbow injuries
Repeated throwing stresses the elbow, including the growth area on the inside of the elbow.
Learn: Elbow →Throwing shoulder injuries
The shoulder takes the most stress from overhead throwing, and from the windmill motion in softball pitching.
Learn: Shoulder →Growth plate injuries
Throwing too much can injure the growth area at the top of a young thrower's upper arm bone.
Learn: Growth Plate Injuries →
Habits that protect you
- Never throw through pain. Arm pain means stop and tell an adult.
- Follow pitch count and rest rules for your age, and don't pitch for two teams at the same time.
- Take at least 3 months off from throwing each year.
- If your throws get slower or less accurate, your arm is tired. Stop throwing for the day.
- Warm up for at least 10 minutes, starting with light jogging and easy tosses.
Your lesson path
Take these in order. Each lesson takes about 3 minutes.