YOUTH BASEBALL PITCHING STUDY SHOWS OVERUSE is PRIMARY CAUSE of ARM INJURIES.
No Proof Curveballs are More Dangerous than Other Pitches.
DateLine: August 2011, Williamsport, PA. ____________________________________________________________
A five-year study, recently concluded by the Dept. of Exercise and Sport Science at the U. of North Carolina, found that the primary cause of arm injuries in youth baseball players was overuse. It also failed to show an increased risk of arm injury due to breaking pitches, such as curveballs.
"Some within the baseball community have advocated for a ban on curveballs", Stephen Keener, President of Little League Baseball, said. "However, the study conclusions do not clearly support such a ban. Furthermore, a ban on breaking balls would not be simple to put into practice. With such a wide-range of aptitude and ability, it's practically impossible to judge if any youth pitcher intended to throw a curveball or if that's just how the ball came out of the pitcher's hand. To ask our dedicated volunteers with judging the type of pitch thrown is not only unfair, it would be impractical ".
TO READ THE FULL REPORT Go To: www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/media/UNCStudy.pdf
Little League International today announced the full list of significant changes that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, to the policies, rules and regulations of the program.