Arm injury articles and studies

ASMI does extensive studies. They are inconclusive.

Be careful the coach may invite you to leave.

I hear what you are saying, but I would rather leave or be asked to leave than go to surgery or rehab with my son.

I am trying to get more info on the subject. Every thing I have read over the past six months says that you need time off to heal micro tears and breaks in the shoulders and elbows of kids that play year round.

We played over a 100 games last year and he wants to start back after only a 1 month break.

Seems a little much to me.

My son is a LHP going into his JR year (College). He has pitched all year long since he was 15 yo. Never had an injury. I would be more concerned about conditioning and proper training.
I have been around pitchers at all levels for 13 years or so and most of the pitchers I know play all year. We took a couple weeks off at Xmas time and went right back at it. I have'nt seen one pitcher that is serious about college /pro side lined by arm injury to the point their career was over.
Not throwing enough is a much bigger concern if you are serious. We always played 100+ from 16yo . Spring/summer/fall and then indoors in a giant s****r dome.
Approaching a coach is a bad plan. If he gets the impression that you are a PAIN he will move on. A scout once warned us that if you take time off someone will take your spot. If you or your son are not willing to follow his approach he will pass you by. There are tons who will.
This doesn't mean you let the coach abuse your son but at this point you and most don't know what that means.

At least you are trying to figure that out.
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I do agree with you Bobblehead but we are only a 13U team. They just got finished with at least 120 games last year at the 12U level.

If it was up to my son he would of played 200 games. Unfortunately, I have to be the adult and do what is best long term for my son. I am trying to find out as much as possible and it is driving me crazy that I can't find the article about year round youth ball!!

Spend you time getting good training and instruction.
As ASMI found out the findinds are inconclusive. Check out their web site. American Sports Medical Institute.
I was lucky I had good adivce right from 9-10yo when my son started pitching. The advice flew in the face of all the popular thinking My job was to make sure he threw properly and get him good advice. He threw CBs from 9-10yo and the worst thing that ever happened was a swollen Ulnar because of freezing cold weather and his team was at bat too long cooling down his arm. He as taught shut him self down feeling stifness in the elbow area after throwing a couple pitches in the 5th. Teaching your son to know his body is also a good way to help protect him. If they don't feel right shut it down.
We also have check ups by a sports/pitching Doctor who keeps a good eye on him. I actually got to the poit that I wondered wether he was bordering on paranoia at times but it paid off. Strick routines and set his limits based on how he felt on a given day.

Doughnutman,

I'm absolutely with you on this they need rest. Here is info direct from ASMI

Baseball pitchers should compete in baseball no more than nine months in any given year, as periodization is needed to give the pitcher’s body time to rest and recover. For at least three months a year, a baseball pitcher should not play any baseball, participate in throwing drills, or participate in other stressful overhead activities (javelin throwing, football quarterback, softball, competitive swimming, etc.).

I also speak from experience and my son did have a growth plate injury that took almost 2yrs to fully recover from. A lot of physical therapy and much more. He went from spring to summer to fall to lessons and started all over again. Then the injury because of overuse. He did not pitch a lot, he played a lot. Kids also grow at different rates and some will be different than others.
I blame myself and it will not happen again. I wouldn't worry about being cut or whatever. If he can play he'll find a team. They need time off for health and just to be kids.

You have other choices besides asking the coach to take a break.
You can ask that your son not pitch during a certain period, or you can just tell him your son needs a break. My son took off summers at that age and pitched minimal in fall, played other positions. One spring he caught and gave up pitching.
As far as 13 year old conditioning, 13 year olds need to stay conditioned by being active and participating in physical activity. If your son begins a workout program too young, he may not reach his potential growth. At 13 mine never conditioned off the field, when he was not playing baseball he was playing golf, basketall, swimming, bowling. He never hit a weight room until he was in HS and never sustained an injury. People have different philosophies, follow your instinct. If you think it is too much, it most likely is.

I am not just worried about my son's arm. We had 4 kids who threw about 3 times the innings my son did. I won't go behind the coaches back. I just feel that all of these kids need a break and I was looking for some facts to either back me up or ease my mind. I do appreciate the input.

If he won't give the team more time off, I guess I will have to sit out a while a let my son tryout for the team in October.

Once again, thanks for all of the input.

You will never be able to totally ease your mind because it could happen to anyone. I have seen guys injury free until 2nd year of college and then they have TJ surgury, bone chips,torn Labrum, and all the other injuriesthat a pitcher can get. As I said if you don't agree with the coaches approach it is not the right team for you. My concern is that you are trying to call the shots based on what you have heard. Investigate and become informed and then if you feel you can't live with that coach move on. Why should the coach cater to your view while others are willing to do so. Are they all wrong and you are right ?

Bobblehead,
I am becoming more informed every day. It seems that kids 14 and below need time off, at least 3 months to allow micro tears and fractures to heal up. I just want our coach to be informed also. I don't want to call the shots, I just want my son to have a chance to play HS baseball. If after he reads the studies, he decides to play anyway, so be it. I am not asking him to cater to me! And I won't bring the other parents in on it either. It is just something that I think should be brought up to the coach that is in everybodies best interest. If he wants to kick us off afterward, so be it. There are only about 60 13U teams in the Phoenix area and we will try out for one of them in October if he doesn't want us back.

And sometimes one person is right and the rest are wrong. Not always, but sometimes.

Doughnutman,
Do what is best for your son and that is rest. Bottom line watch out for him because nobody else will. Your son may not be happy but he will thank you later. I haven't had to suffer through any surgeries like other posters on this website have with their children but I'm sure it is not very easy. If a coach holds it against you for watching out for your son then you are better off elsewhere anyway.