NFHS Rule Changes

[davidlimbaugh]

http://www.nfhs.org/articles/pitching-restriction-policies-in-baseball-to-be-based-on-pitches/

[cbg]

http://www.nfhs.org/articles/pitching-restriction-policies-in-baseball-to-be-based-on-pitches/

 

Maybe it's just me but I did not find the new pitch count limits, do you know what they will be?

 

It's sad when the national federation is forced to implement pitch count rules due to the actions of a few idiot coaches. 

[davidlimbaugh]

Maybe it's just me but I did not find the new pitch count limits, do you know what they will be?

 

It's sad when the national federation is forced to implement pitch count rules due to the actions of a few idiot coaches. 

 

TSSAA has not set our limit yet.  I told a friend the other day it is like the label saying "Do Not Use In Bath or Shower" on Electric Blow Dryers because when they first came out people were doing just that. Warning Labels are because someone has sued somebody or gotten hurt.   Pitch counts are put in place to protect kids from adults.

[davidlimbaugh]

When the pitch count rules are put in place, our high school post-season must be changed.

[ksgovols]

Exactly.  This will be the impetus behind changing the post season format because those that have benefitted from riding one arm to the crown will have to change their strategy.  Maybe more pitchers will be developed.

 

Besides pitch counts, days rest should also be in play.  What I've seen for high school aged pitchers is a max pitch count of 105 for varsity players and a days rest required after 25 pitches, 2 days after 50 and 3 days after 75.

 

The arguments against are that the rules will be unenforceable.  I don't think that's true.  Once a pitch count and days rest are the rule, coaches will never know who might be counting.  Opposing coaches scouting, disgruntled parents, anybody with a counter can figure it out.  I think the umpires will have to have an affidavit of sorts signed by the coaches and the head umpire after games unless there's an official scorer.  The penalty for breaking the rules needs to be severe enough to serve as a deterrent.

 

90 something percent of the coaches do the right thing, but the temptation is always there if you have that one stud on your pitching staff.

Edited July 17, 2016 by ksgovols

[TennesseeVol]

I disagree with this rule for a few reasons. First off, the TSSAA doesn't want to go get sued. There was a state that got sued by the NFHS for not having a targeting or spearing rule in football, I believe that state is either Indiana or Illinois.

 

Moving on, first, this is not a good rule for the smaller schools that has trouble finding players to play in the spring. Obviously we don't know what the pitch is to this point, but it'll be a little difficult for small schools. Schools like Farragut, Independence, Bradley Central, Dyer County, and Arlington will be fine because they'll use a legitimate pitching staff.

 

Second, who is going to keep the "pitch count"?

Base umpire? Head coach of a team? Home dugout? There could be some lieing into all of this for an example. Let's say if it's a 2-1 game in the 7th Summitt is winning and they're the home team. Summitt pitcher Jack (using Jack as an example) has thrown 97 pitches (according to Summitt's coach) but a Riverdale coach claimes that he is at 101 pitches. What happens if 100 is the limit? I know it'll get solved but this could a thing to worried about.

 

Last, I have seen guys throw well into the 100's on Monday or Tuesday nights. The most I've witnessed is a guy throwing around 140 pitches in a district ballgame. I used to be a pitcher in High School and the most I've thrown was 125. But week after week I was always in the high 90's in pitch count on Monday, resting to come in relief on a Friday night game. Personally, I don't have an issue, I signed up to play, if I can get hurt, so what, it happens.

 

I know it's for safety reasons, all for that. But kids have played and thrown baseballs for all their life, it's time for them to let this baby stuff go and let them pitch.

[UTRok]

I think the pitch count issue is more or a summer ball issue than an over all high school issue. You have 12 & 13 year olds throwing max pitches in summer league games and then max pitches on the weekend. IMHO it's more of an issue with parents either not understanding.

 

We only have to look in to the number of kids having arm and elbow issues. Along with high school kids having Tommy John surgery. The innings thrown between 12 & 15 catching up to them at 17 & 18.

 

It's hard to enforce limits that are not known about that is why the parents must take control of the pitch count. No one else know what number of pitches they have thrown in a week. Rec league and then summer tournament team.

 

This all adds up to arm issues in high school. Check out the ESPN special on DR Andrews pitching specialist he talks about arm issues in kids today.

[catsbackr]

I predict this is going to be a mess.  Like others have said, who's going to keep the pitch count?  Either coaching staff has a vested interest in "fudging" their counts.  Base umpire?  No way.  Maybe, a third official to keep pitch counts and count coach's warnings.

[cbg]

This is very simple.  The official scorer must keep the pitch count!  At the end of every inning the count for all pitchers used must be given to both teams.  Any discrepancy must be resolved before the next inning begins.  If both teams cannot come to a resolution the game will be played under protest.  If it is determined that a coach or official scorer has not been honest the head coach will be suspended for the next five (5) games and fined $2500.00.  All fines must be paid by the coach and not the school or booster club. 

[catsbackr]

There are no protests in Tennessee HS baseball games.

 

cbq, you said it is simple then described something that is anything but simple.

Edited July 27, 2016 by catsbackr

[SuperSport]

You proposed a $2500 fine for the coach to be paid personally, cbq? That's a pretty hefty fine, considering most coaches make a supplement some where around $4k to coach baseball. Your plan, as previously stated, is anything but simple. 

 

Look, here's how it's going to go. The T$$AA does not care anything about baseball and does not want to spend anymore time enforcing baseball rules than it has to. With that in mind, they're going to put out a pitch limit, just like the inning limit that has been in place for years now, and will let whoever watches the limit notify them of infractions. If no one (i.e. parent, coach, player, book keeper, etc.) keeps the pitch count, the T$$AA is not going to worry about it. 

 

Coaches are going to be self-enforcing this rule, whatever the limit is, because of the liability. Pitch counts can be really closely estimated by the books, and with apps like gamechanger now, you can go back and find exact pitch counts. T$$AA is going to set the limit and walk away.

Edited July 27, 2016 by SuperSport

[ksgovols]

I agree.  T$$AA will not have the means to enforce it until.................post season.  And as far as splitting hairs between 97 and 101, that's not the intent of the rule.  Like someone said, you can look at a well kept scorebook get a really good estimate on pitch counts.  The point is that there will be days rest attached to the pitch count.  The pitch count will be agreed upon and passed along to the next opponent.  Good coaches are already counting pitches and assigning days rest.  It's not rocket science.  If I know how many batters you faced, how many you walked and how many you struck out, I can assign a pitch count to you that will put me in the ball park for how many days rest you are required to have.