PGStaff posted:The kids that throw the best have the best chance for arm surgery. Kids that throw the best usually throw the most at the younger ages. The best arms, the best pitchers are very easy to pick out. Then they often are abused in the interest of winning. It is a dangerous cycle. I'd like to see youth coaches use their best arms as little as possible. Let them learn the game mostly as a position player and use them sparingly for pitching. No they wouldn't win as many games, but that kid might have a lot brighter future. There is a risk involved every time someone pitches. There is a point when that risk just isn't worth taking. You're not a good Little League coach just because you win championships. In fact, it's possible you are a terrible coach if you're abusing young kids that can pitch just to win games.
That should be required reading before anyone is ever allowed to coach!
it is starting to seem like every town and every high school program has a teenager or two who has had Tommy John surgery. Crazy!