[Skip to Content]
</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>Safety Tips: Baseball</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/teens/safety-baseball.html?WT.ac=pairedLink"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">Consejos de seguridad: Béisbol</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p>Baseball has been called our national pastime for decades. It's a lot of fun to play. But players are at risk for injuries from things like wild pitches, batted balls, and collisions in the field.</p><p>These safety tips can help protect you from injuries while playing baseball.</p><h3>Safe Baseball Gear</h3><p>Wearing and using the right gear can help prevent injuries. Safety rules for most leagues include:</p><ul class="kh_longline_list"><li>Batting helmets must be worn whenever a player is at bat, waiting to bat, or running the bases. Some leagues may even require pitchers to wear them. Helmets should always fit properly and be worn correctly. If the helmet has a chin strap, it should be fastened. If it has an eye shield or other faceguard, this should be in good condition and securely attached to the helmet.</li><li>A catcher should always wear a helmet, facemask, throat guard, full-length chest protector, athletic supporter with a cup, shin guards, and a catcher's mitt whenever catching pitches, whether it's in the game, in the bullpen, or during warm-ups.</li><li>All players should wear athletic supporters. Most (particularly pitchers, catchers, and infielders) should wear protective cups.</li><li>Baseball spikes should have molded plastic cleats rather than metal ones. Most youth leagues don't allow spikes with metal cleats.</li></ul><p>Some leagues have rules about not using aluminum bats, which hit the ball harder than other bats.</p><p>Some players also like to wear:</p><ul><li>sliding pants that go under baseball pants to protect against <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/cuts.html">scrapes and cuts</a></li><li>batting gloves that can keep hands from getting sore while hitting</li><li>shin guards and foot guards designed to protect against balls fouled straight down</li><li>a mouthguard</li></ul><h3>Safe Baseball Training</h3><p>To <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/sport-safety.html">prevent injuries</a> during training:</p><ul class="kh_longline_list"><li>Be in good shape <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/tips-sports.html">before starting the season</a>.</li><li>Always warm up and <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/stretching.html">stretch</a> before practice and games.</li><li>Stop training if you get hurt or feel pain. Get checked by an athletic trainer, coach, doctor, or nurse before going back to training.</li></ul><h4>Pitching</h4><p>Too much pitching can lead to serious injuries. These guidelines can help prevent pitching injuries:</p><ul class="kh_longline_list"><li>Follow league rules for the maximum number of innings pitchers are allowed to throw. This is usually from four to 10 innings per week.</li><li>Follow the pitch count limits recommended by U.S.A. Little League and the American Sports Medicine Institute: <ul><li>13–16 years old: 95 pitches a day</li><li>17–18 years old: 105 pitches a day</li></ul></li><li>Pitchers younger than 14 should limit total pitches to less than 1,000 per season and 3,000 per year.</li><li>Pitchers should take at least 3 months off per year from overhead sports (i.e., sports that involve a lot of overhead arm movements, like baseball or volleyball).</li><li>If pitchers feel pain in their throwing arm, they should not pitch again until the pain goes away.</li></ul><h3>Safe Play</h3><p>All coaches should emphasize safe, fair play. This includes knowing the rules and:</p><ul><li>teaching players how to slide correctly</li><li>making sure the field is in good condition and has breakaway bases (bases that are not fixed)</li><li>having a first-aid kit available at all practices and games</li></ul></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: February 2019</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/sport-safety.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Sports and Exercise Safety</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/find-sports.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Choosing the Right Sport for You</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/safety-sledding.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Safety Tips: Sledding</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/safety-snowboarding.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Safety Tips: Snowboarding</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/safety-skiing.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Safety Tips: Skiing</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/safety-skateboarding.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Safety Tips: Skateboarding</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/safety-baseball.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=t-ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/safety-baseball.html?view=emailto&WT.ac=s2af-en-teens-safety-baseball.html" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,6,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. </p> <p>© 1995-<script>document.write(KHcopyDate);</script> KidsHealth® All rights reserved.</p> <div class="imageDisclaimer"> <p> Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p><a href="http://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></p> <p>Copyright <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> document.write(KHcopyDate) </script> by <nobr>Cook Children's Health Care System</nobr>, <nobr>Fort Worth, Texas</nobr></p> </div> <script src="/misc/javascript/n00/nitro-main.js"></script><script src="/misc/javascript/n00/n00_art.js"></script><script src="/misc/javascript/kh_footJS_common.js"> </script><script src="/misc/javascript/kh_footJS_desktop.js"> </script><script> var kidsHealthSearchHandler = "/CookChildrens/en/teens/"; // KidsHealth custom search handler var kidsHealthLicID = "403"; </script><script> function downloadJSAtOnload(deferredScriptPath) { var element = document.createElement('script'); element.src = deferredScriptPath; document.body.appendChild(element); } if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'), false); } else if (window.attachEvent) { window.attachEvent('onload', downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'), false); } else { window.onload = downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'); } </script><script> textSizer('1'); </script><script> // Define variables for ReadSpeaker theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); RSLanguage="en_us";</script><script src="//f1-na.readspeaker.com/script/5202/ReadSpeaker.js?pids=embhl"> </script><div id="ariaAnnouncements" aria-live="polite" tabindex="-1" style="visibility: hidden; width: 1px; height: 1px;"> </div> <!--googleon:all--></body></html>