I had friendly a discussion with my Son's High School Coach about position players coming in as a relieve pitcher without any bullpen warm-ups, I'm very opposed when my Son is asked to do it, is this pretty common ?
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At the high school level, it's not that uncommon, but not that wise. However, the player needs to communicate this to the coach, not the parent.
Coaches are not gods folks.
Parents are responsible for the health of their children.
These are not 25 year old pros we are talking about.
Parents are responsible for the health of their children.
These are not 25 year old pros we are talking about.
My son has been doing it in travel since 13U. He did it in high school last year. He's not coming in completely cold. He's told to warm up between innings. He has the ability to come in on eight pitches and throw strikes at a reasonable velocity. Some kids can't get warm that fast.
In 13U to 16U we would send the EH to the field for an inning while the next pitcher warmed up on the sidelines. It was a position switch and not a substitution. If case anyone isn't familar with this USSSA allows a tenth hitter in the lineup (EH).
This week my son was brought in to pitch after throwing eighty pitches two days earlier. After warming up between innings he told the coach his arm felt stiff. The coach told him to do his best. After the game I told my son to tell the coach his arm is sore at practice the following day. At the least it was going to be stiff. It was. He didn't throw at practice.
In 13U to 16U we would send the EH to the field for an inning while the next pitcher warmed up on the sidelines. It was a position switch and not a substitution. If case anyone isn't familar with this USSSA allows a tenth hitter in the lineup (EH).
This week my son was brought in to pitch after throwing eighty pitches two days earlier. After warming up between innings he told the coach his arm felt stiff. The coach told him to do his best. After the game I told my son to tell the coach his arm is sore at practice the following day. At the least it was going to be stiff. It was. He didn't throw at practice.