Earlier this year, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) instructed its member organizations to adopt a rule limiting the number of pitches a player can throw in a high school baseball game with the purpose preventing an injury to the student athlete. On Wednesday, the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) released its new rule that will be implemented when the spring season begins for 2017.
According to the AAA, a pitcher in Arkansas may not throw more than 110 pitches on any one day for varsity games. If a pitcher throws at least 86 pitches in a day, three calendar days rest are required between games. Two days rest will be necessary when the pitch count finishes between 61 and 85, one day is required for 31 to 60 pitches, and no rest is needed if the final count is 30 or less. The AAA also recommends consideration should be given to what position he is assigned to once he is removed from the mound.
For junior varsity games, the maximum pitch count allowed is 85. If a player pitches in both varsity and j.v. games on the same day, the 110-maximum pitch count will still be used.
Each team will be required to count pitches, and it will not be the responsibility of the umpires to enforce the pitching rule. In addition, the host school will be required to provide a pitch recorder separate from the person counting for the team. Schools will have to report violations of the rule to the AAA office within 24 hours after the game is over, and violations of the pitch count regulation will be considered in the same manner as a school using an ineligible player.
The new rule will take effect with the start of the season in March.
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