Associated Press
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Pitchers in the Little League World Series will be held to a pitch count similar to the limit used during the regular season.
Starting in 2007, the number of pitches thrown in a game will determine how long that player must rest before returning to the mound, organizers said Thursday. The rules for the regular season were first announced in August.
Rest requirements would change according to the number of pitches thrown. The previous system was based on innings pitched.
Pitchers ages 11 to 12 will be limited to 85 pitches a day, including play in the Little League World Series. At age 9 to 10, the limit is 75 pitches. Pitchers 13-16 are limited to 95 pitches and pitchers 16-18 are limited to 105 a day.
Sports medicine researchers have said arm injuries in young pitchers have become more prevalent as children work more innings on more teams, are mismanaged by coaches or aren't properly monitored by parents.
Other Little League rules for next year:
• A tournament manager could be suspended for two games, or a team could forfeit its games, if all members of the squad don't play or if a manager makes "a travesty of the game" in trying to get players into the contest.
• Local Little League organizers must check the federal National Sex Offender Public Registry in doing background checks on managers, coaches and other volunteers. Leagues were already required to check state sex offender registries.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
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Finally - a rule changes for the better
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Pitchers in the Little League World Series will be held to a pitch count similar to the limit used during the regular season.
Starting in 2007, the number of pitches thrown in a game will determine how long that player must rest before returning to the mound, organizers said Thursday. The rules for the regular season were first announced in August.
Rest requirements would change according to the number of pitches thrown. The previous system was based on innings pitched.
Pitchers ages 11 to 12 will be limited to 85 pitches a day, including play in the Little League World Series. At age 9 to 10, the limit is 75 pitches. Pitchers 13-16 are limited to 95 pitches and pitchers 16-18 are limited to 105 a day.
Sports medicine researchers have said arm injuries in young pitchers have become more prevalent as children work more innings on more teams, are mismanaged by coaches or aren't properly monitored by parents.
Other Little League rules for next year:
• A tournament manager could be suspended for two games, or a team could forfeit its games, if all members of the squad don't play or if a manager makes "a travesty of the game" in trying to get players into the contest.
• Local Little League organizers must check the federal National Sex Offender Public Registry in doing background checks on managers, coaches and other volunteers. Leagues were already required to check state sex offender registries.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
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Finally - a rule changes for the better
