Main Takeaways
- Pitching while fatigued increases the chance of injury.
- Understand what you’re looking for: Being familiar with a young pitcher’s mechanics allows you to easily spot when something’s different, and that’s when problems tend to start.
- Some young athletes get fatigued faster than others. Studies show that taller kids, with “longer levers,” likely expend more energy and simply get tired faster because they’re often thin and not yet as strong or coordinated as those with shorter, sturdier frames.
- Rare is the young athlete who’ll admit to how tired he or she is. Listen to them, but it’s on you to use your eyes, experience and intuition to make sure we’re protecting them and keeping them healthy.