Should Little League Ban the Curveball?

The curveball has long been the discussion of much debate in Little League baseball. For years, parents and doctors have agreed that the curveball has been the cause of unnecessary damage to young pitchers arms. However, recent studies have shown no correlation between increase in the damage to young pitchers arms from a curveball or fastball. Little League has taken great steps over the years to protect young players on the diamond; however, when players play year round and youth coaches’ priorities are to win games, this pitch can be overused and lead young pitchers to blowing out their arms.

For the past several years, researchers at Georgia Tech have been tracking every pitch used in the Little League World Series. Their results have shown that with every year there is an increase in how many curveballs are thrown. These young players see pitchers like Justin Verlander and Matt Harvey on the television fooling batters with breaking pitches and they want to throw like the pros. The problem is that professional players are more physically developed and are working with the best coaches in the world to learn the proper mechanics to protect their arms. Little League pitchers learn these pitches throwing in backyards and rarely have experienced coaches who understand correct mechanics to protect their arms.

One of the best known doctors in the professional sports world believes that the curveball is dangerous for young pitchers. Dr. James Andrews, stated that there was an “epidemic” of arm injuries to young ballplayers. He pointed to the troubling trend of youth athletes seeking the Tommy John surgery to replace damaged ligaments in the throwing elbow. The number or arm surgeries he has performed in the last decade shows the troubling trend that young pitchers are experiencing more arm injuries. From 2001-2002 Dr. Andrews performed a total of 13 shoulder operations on teenagers. From 2003-2008, he performed 241. This surge of arm injuries demonstrates that while athletes are becoming stronger and faster, they are also inheriting more risk to injury because of the competitive nature of the game. Young athletes are playing year round, they are lifting weights, conditioning differently and this can lead to injury. The problem is not due to the throwing of curveballs, but the injuries occur when the curveball is not thrown properly. When it is not thrown properly it can lead to extra tension on the shoulder and elbow which can lead to injury and major surgery.

Little League officials deserve credit for the measures they have implemented in the game to protect young athletes. In 2008, they implemented 85 pitches per-game rule, which caps the number of pitches pitchers can throw in games over a 3-day period. The issue of the curveball lies in bad mechanics; if your mechanics are poor you are going to damage your shoulder. In speaking with high level pitchers they recommend that young pitchers focus on learning how to command their fastball and change-up before attempting to throw a curveball. It is difficult for young athletes to take this advice. They see highlights of pitchers striking out batters and they want to be just like their idols. There are not enough qualified coaches to teach every kid how to properly pitch a curveball. If Little League would ban curveballs and sliders it will be difficult to eradicate the pitch from games. The risk will always be there, if your child pitches and is not taught the proper mechanics then they have the chance of blowing out their arm and ending their athletic career. There is no reason not to look out for the best interest of the players and their futures and if it means banning a pitch to young pitchers then that is what should be done.

Written By Thomas Breslin