Different Dimensions=Problem??

If I understand correctly, your 10 year old son is going to be playing on 2 different teams at the same time?
You probably will get a number of views on this site.
Here is one:
He will be pitching for both and playing 3B for both and their games will be at different times and days during the same week?
I assume he has different coaches?
It isn't the distance that should be your main focus, it is the number of times he throws that distance and how hard he does it and how much rest he gets.
Assume he pitches a game for the travel team and then 2-3 days later they want him to pitch for the rec ball??
Assume he pitches for the rec ball and the next day/2days later they want him at 3B for travel and to pitch in relief.
Just my view, but the focus needs to change.
10 year olds are very susceptible to growth plate injury/damage, amongst other issues.
The issue isn't primarily dimensions, it is how many pitches on each dimension as a pitcher followed too closely by 3B and more pitching, and and how they are all thrown, ie., velocity and breaking balls or both.
Growth plate injuries are painful and can have lasting issues if not appreciated.
Take this one from experience...mine, and ours never played travel, just little league. Take ownership of your son's health and arm health now. Read and make sure you know about growth plates and injury and mitigating/preventing to protect your son.
Plan in advance how you will deal with him pitching for 2 teams and playing 3B and avoiding over use and getting him enough rest in between. You and he won't regret this later if you do.
If he is 12/13 and having overuse issues, whatever he does as a talented 10 year is not worth it!!!
Good luck.

infielddad-
Points taken!! I don't know the first thing about growth plates but will do my research. I can tell you that the travel coach was a very successful h.s. coach for years and now that his son is old enough to play he wants to be a part of this. He is very concious when it comes to overuse-medical issues. He stays in touch with all rec. coaches to look out for the kids' safety. He doesn't want to "undermind" the rec. program and wants all kids to put the rec. and community first. He says if he has to use a kid that's never pitched before in a travel game then he will. So I don't THINK overuse will be an issue. However, I am going to study up on growth plates and thanks for the advice!!!

Also, neither coach allows any breaking balls. It's really surprising to me how many pitchers we've seen throw them at this age level. What's more surprising is the ratio of fastballs vs. breaking balls. We lose our share of games from not being able to hit a breaking pitch but I pray these boys on opposing teams will still be able to throw when it matters several years down the road.

Assuming all necessary precautions are taken to protect his arm, the 3-5 ft. difference in mound distances is no big deal. He should adjust just fine.

quote:

when it matters several years down the road.

Baseball becomes really fun for the player, and hopefully even more so for the parent..."several years down the road."
That is a great view of the game you have for your son.
Good luck to your son. Hope you find this site very helpful to you and him "several years down the road."

You shouldn't have any problems throwing fastballs from either distance. Jr. always practiced from 60 feet. Curves might present a challenge.

My son played on a team that played 60 90 on week days and 50 70 on weekends. The kids had no problem with it and the change of pace made it fun for the kids. Just don't let the boys throw too many fastballs...

cocdawg:

My son pitched from both distances as a young 11 with no problems--though his travel team took the regular LL season off from tournaments to avoid the overuse/pitching availability issues. I'm sure it would have been harder to do a year earlier, but I think it also depends on the individual player to some extent.

If the mechanics and arm strength aren't yet there to be effective at the longer pitching distance (and against generally better hitters), then a pitcher trying to get something "extra" on each pitch, or going 100% on every pitch is definitely more at risk of injury. You, or an attentive coach, should be able to tell if he looks like he is straining a bit too much.

In my son's case, velocity was not an issue, so once he got more accurate at the longer distance, he was very effective at the shorter distance.

I love how us parents over analyze this stuff. Let him go out and play with his friends, just no pitching on two teams at the same time. (or at least control the innings, 3-4 max per week COMBINED) There is no need for 10-11 YO to be pitching more than this.

The issue isn't the change in throwing distance. The issue is pitching for two teams at the same time. It wouldn't be my son. At ten he played rec in the spring and travel in the summer. At ten years old I only let kids pitch two innings a week.

No one remembers the preteen studs other than "isn't it a shame he destroyed his arm pitching too much." No player ever got to the mound in high school based on being a preteen stud.

quote:

He doesn't want to "undermind" the rec. program and wants all kids to put the rec. and community first.

Then his travel team shouldn't play until rec ball is over.

quote:

Originally posted by cocdawg:
Question for those of you who have been in this or a similar situation.

My son played Little League and CYO at the same time. He gave it a shot, but said he didn't feel comfortable pitching from both the 60' mound and the 47' mound. I said, 'then don't'. It wasn't a big deal. He was 12.

If your son is OK with it, I don't see any problem.

RJM-
I'm not saying my son is a stud by any means. Even if I could see into the future and was guaranteed he would be the next Bryce Harper I wouldn't say that. That's not my makeup. I'm just asking for a little advice. He won't be doing very much pitching anyway. Your point about travel after rec.....well you may have a point there. Most kids here do one or the other. This travel team is a group of first year kids that are just trying to get there feet wet. One tourney a month type thing. Thanks for the advice though.

quote:

Originally posted by cocdawg:
RJM-
I'm not saying my son is a stud by any means. Even if I could see into the future and was guaranteed he would be the next Bryce Harper I wouldn't say that. That's not my makeup. I'm just asking for a little advice. He won't be doing very much pitching anyway. Your point about travel after rec.....well you may have a point there. Most kids here do one or the other. This travel team is a group of first year kids that are just trying to get there feet wet. One tourney a month type thing. Thanks for the advice though.

I was thinking back to personal experience. At nine and ten my son played on a travel team where he was referred to as one of the Fab4. The first year I was head coach. I protected my pitchers. The second year I didn't have time to be head coach. The new head coach rode three pitchers like a mule. We argued all season over him riding three pitchers and me not allowing my son to pitch more.

When it was all over we were still second best to the same team as the previous season, but three kids had sore arms. Two years later two had surgery and one had his arm in a sling. The three suffered growth plate damage.

Three sets of parents were caught up in their sons being heros. They walked around the tournament complexes like peacocks. I saw 9U and 10U baseball as nothing more than extending the season into the summer.

That was a community based travel team. Three kids from that team are playing high school varsity. Only one is from the Fab4. Two who made varsity were very mediocre until high school when they physically filled out.

Enjoy the journey.

You guys would have had me arrested. My son pitched his first complete game when he was 9. When he was 11, he shut out The Commissioner's undefeated team in the first game of the playoffs. That didn't go over well. The next year our LL 'fixed it' with a 65 pitch limit.