Should a 10 year old throw a curveball?

James Andrews (renowned orthopaedic surgeon and medical director for the Andrews Institute) recommends that youth pitchers refrain from throwing curveballs until they have mastered the fastball and change-up and are at least 14 years old4.


Can a 10 year old throw a curve ball?

As mentioned above, there is no singular answer to this question. Each young pitcher is built differently. The short answer is that many experts agree that pitchers can begin throwing curveballs between the ages of 13-16.

What age is OK to throw a curveball?

So, what is the appropriate age? In regard to curveballs and sliders, I recommend a player wait until he is 13- or 14- years- old. It all depends on his physical maturation and muscular development. You want to avoid overloading the shoulder and elbow.


What pitches should a 10 year old throw?

In general, a child can start throwing a fastball at age 8, a change-up at 10, and a curveball at 14. All other pitches should not be introduced until high school age.

Why shouldn't kids throw curveballs?

The study of 149 pitchers under the age of 12 showed that players who did not follow pitch count limits had higher odds, ranging from 2.04–2.47, of developing elbow pain during a single season. Pitch type, specifically curveballs, remains one of the most controversial potential risk factors for arm pain/injury.


When is it safe for a young pitcher to throw a curveball?



How hard should a 10 year old throw?

The average fastball velocity for pitchers 10 years old and younger is between 40-50 mph. The average change up speed for this age group is about 10 mph slower, putting the velocity between 30-40 mph. Pitchers in this age group are playing in the Majors division in Little League.

How often should a 10 year old pitch?

The league age pitch counts for Little League Baseball® are as follows: Ages 13-16 – 95 pitches per day. Ages 11-12 – 85 pitches per day. Ages 9-10 – 75 pitches per day.

Does a sinker hurt your arm?

Does throwing a sinker hurt your arm? No. The sinker has a similar arm slot and grip as the two-seam fastball. The sinker generally safe.


What pitches hurt your arm?

Offspeed/breaking pitches such as the curveball and slider have received so much attention and scorn in the last few years that they are part of the reason for an increase in arm injuries.

Should kids throw curves?

While the research has not conclusively shown a connection between curveballs and injuries; it is safest for young pitchers to avoid throwing curveballs until they are more mature and can use proper mechanics.

Is throwing a curveball hard?

The curveball should be thrown – just like all pitches – as hard as the fastball. The arm-speed for all pitches should be 100% at all times, but the output speed, the final radar gun speed, is determined by how much speed is converted into spin.


What is the hardest curveball hit?

Movement. The 12 to 6 curveball is the toughest type of curveball to hit, because it moves vertically, and has no horizontal break. The difference of the speed from a fastball and the break make the pitch difficult to hit if a pitcher uses it correctly in a pitching sequence.

How much should a curveball break?

Every pitch drops, remember, thanks to gravity. Four-seam fastballs, depending on their velocity and movement, drop something like 10 to 25 inches on their way to the plate. Curveballs, on average, usually drop between 40 to 70 inches. As you can see, all pitches drop to some extent.

Should a 12 year old throw a slider?

Young pitchers who throw breaking balls–including sliders–report more arm pain than those who do not. The right age to start throwing a slider or curveball is between 14 and 15, which gives a player enough time to develop the pitch (takes 1-3 years) so that it's good by the time the college recruiting process heats up.


Should kids throw sinkers?

Sink pitching is not recommended for younger players, because the throw can stress arm muscles. Because the pitcher's motion is similar to that of a fastball, batters are often fooled by the pitch. Pitchers who throw sinkers do not need to change pitch speed as much as other pitchers because the sinker is so effective.

Can long toss hurt your arm?

Long tossing at 180 feet has significantly more elbow varus torque and shoulder internal rotation torque, essentially the two types of forces that cause injuries to your shoulder and elbow, especially Tommy John injuries.

Is a cutter a fastball?

A cutter is a version of the fastball, designed to move slightly away from the pitcher's arm-side as it reaches home plate. Cutters are not thrown by a large portion of Major League pitchers, but for some of the pitchers who possess a cutter, it is one of their primary pitches.


How far should a 10 year old throw a baseball?

How far do 10-year-olds pitch from? The pitching distance for a 10-year-old is anywhere between 46 – 50 feet. They also cannot exceed 80 innings of pitching throughout 12 months, and pictures removed from the mound cannot return as pitchers.

How many innings can a 10 year old pitch?

(b) Minors/Little League (Majors): A player may pitch in a maximum of twelve (12) innings in a day. If a player pitches in seven (7) or more innings in a day, one calendar day of rest is mandatory.

How hard should an 11 year old throw a baseball?

11 And 12-Year-Olds

The average fastball is between 50-60 mph. Although at this age the players may begin to reach puberty, and for that reason, it is not unusual to see a pitcher throwing around 70 mph. The changeup velocity at this age is generally between 40-50 mph.


How can I improve my pitching velocity for a 10 year old?

Do not allow the glove to go too far behind the lead hip.
  1. Eliminate the "balance point" ...
  2. Raise lead knee to a minimum of 60% (but not more than 70%) of pitcher's overall height during leg kick. ...
  3. Increase elbow flexion at stride foot contact. ...
  4. Keep the head behind the lead hip longer. ...
  5. Don't rush.


How can I help my 10 year old pitch faster?

It often feels like arm strength for a youth pitcher is just about genetics. But that's actually not true.
...
4 Ways To Increase Your Kid's Pitching Velocity
  1. Encourage Healthy Weight Gain to Increase Pitching Velocity. ...
  2. Use J-Bands to Add Speed to Your Son's Fastball. ...
  3. Use Medicine Ball Drills to Help Your Son Throw Harder.


How often should a 10 year old practice baseball?

We say shoot for at least 2-3 times per week. Anything more is great, but you also need to make sure you don't overdue when a youth player is starting out.