Arm Rest v. Arm Strengthening

The amount of rest required depends upon how much your son pitched in the previous spring/summer. If your son's arm was sore at the end of the summer then take a few months off. If he is transitioning into pitching then the fall is a great time to work on mechanics and strengthen the arm. My son pitched a lot in youth baseball - probably too much as 11U & 12U - and was examined at the end of each season by a very good orthopedic guy who recommended he skip fall ball throwing. Remember, the goal is to have your son play in HS and college and not peak as a pitcher before he becomes a teenager.

Aleeblahblah.

I have a long toss program the Plano East head coach provided if you need it.

I was gonna rest E until after December with basketball rolling and so forth but I may reconsider and get the long toss up.

He might be able to hit the broad-side of a barn but he could throw it throuh it...if he could ever hit it. Double ugh.

Love,

Coach Joe.

Txbball14....any insight?

I'm an advocate for resting during the offseason. Unfortunately most are not and our arm injuries continue to rise along with many other overuse injuries.

Pitchers need rest time where they do activities OTHER THAN baseball. Whether that is playing another sport or weight lifting, getting away from baseball is important physically and mentally. With a good strength program, a pitcher will not miss a beat by not throwing for 2-3 months during the year.

Long toss should not be an offseason thing-- It should be done several days per week during the season! This is another reason I believe arm problems are present so often-- players in general are making their longest throws during the games all-out and their arms are not prepared for it.

My son is not a pitcher, (instead he is a catcher). What is the best offseason work for him?

Alee,

You sure do ask some good questions.

Got anything in the works?

Maybe a book?

Regards,

No, just a curious dad that wants to do the right thing. Still not sure what is best. I get the feeling that since he is not a pitcher there is not as much concern about rest, provided that his arm is not sore.

quote:

No, just a curious dad that wants to do the right thing. Still not sure what is best. I get the feeling that since he is not a pitcher there is not as much concern about rest, provided that his arm is not sore.

Nope. I'm sorry; I guess I just assumed he was a pitcher. Any position player needs to take at least a month or more off. I'd advocate taking 2-3 months off for a catcher as well.

I would say that arm strengthening for a catcher is as important if not more important than for any other position including pitcher. Pitchers get rest days. Catchers seldom do. Catchers throw more than any player on the field.

Let me get back to you on specifics..

I'm no expert, but a coach who is also a dad of a HS player (however, he's not a pitcher).

Medical pros who are operating on these young men at an increasing rate AND at younger ages (Dr. James Andrews, for one) recommend 2-3 months rest as you have heard and Bulldog advocates. They also address boys who play multiple sports with "overhead throwing" involved (football QBs, for example). This should never be considered as "rest" if they are playing a sport like that when not playing baseball.

Obviously I do not control parents/players on my team outside of our own workouts, but we take a full month off after the summer season (early-Aug thru early-Sept). Then we play an abbreviated fall schedule which coincides with the HS fall programs, so they are still playing plenty of baseball. However, they are done by early November. So we also take off from then thru late-December. Total through the year ends up being 10-12 weeks of complete rest.

This still gives the players plenty of time to get their arms into shape before school ball starts the first week of February.

Bulldog is correct about long-toss. Older pitchers who may be P-only kids have the opportunity to do this, as well as lots of good conditioning, during the season. A catcher/other position player may not so much, unless the coach is a strong advocate of it, but it is something we always did in college when I was in school.

The pros take time off, so young men whose bodies are developing should too. When they are developing as fast as they are, you will honestly be surprised/shocked at how much they _gain_ by a quality rest period.

Just want to give my two cents worth. My kid pithed all through youth sports and High School they need rest. However it doesn't hurt to throw the ball two to three days a week NOT LONG TOSS just play catch for about ten or so just to keep the motion going (Muscle Memorary). You will surprised at the difference in there arm.

Although he may take off 2-3 months total during the year, I do not think he has ever taken that much time off straight. That is because the time between Summer Ball and Fall Ball is about 3 weeks, and after Fall Ball ends in early November the HS coach has them throw occasionally during the week for drills. So he gets 2 weeks here, three weeks there. He has never had an arm problem (knock on wood), but I want to try and decrease the risk.

Alee, buy the book "52 weeks of baseball"

A little hard to read but if you follow the program you will vary your work depending on post season, off season, pre season and in season. It is a great program to start a young player on. Or any player for that manner.

I would agree, the catcher throws alot. So, downtime is important, especially for a kid who plays spring, summer AND fall baseball.

I would say it's more important to get quality rest, specific to the player. Maybe he needs 3 weeks, maybe he needs 3 months. The overall conditioning of the athlete and the goal of the off-season program is as important as the amount of time. I once read the sport specific rest rotation for baseball is 1:3, so the work-2-rest ratio of a baseball player should be 1:2-3.

GED10DaD

It depends on your definition of rest. Having him come out and throw 3 times(couple of LT days) a week seems fine, and will allow him to strengthen his arm. Just make sure it is a good LT program.
Taking 2-3 months off completely from baseball is not a good thing. However, practice 5 days/wk for 52 weeks isn't good either.
You and your kid can figure out what works for you guys. Just advise not to overdo it. That's what has been leading to arm injuries. That, and kids throwing curveballs at too young an age.

The arm/shoulder need rest. Use the time off (60 -80 days) from throwing to make yourself a better athlete. Find a good core and flexibility workout and concentrate on those areas for a couple months. Just my two cents!