(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch.

Exception: Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.

A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more (15- and 16-year-olds: 31 pitches or more) in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day. EXCEPTION: If the pitcher reaches the 20-pitch limit (15- and 16-year-olds: 30-pitch limit) while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to return to the catcher position, until any one of the following conditions occur: (1) that batter reaches base; (2) that batter is retired; (3) the third out is made to complete the half-inning or the game; or (4) the pitcher is removed from the mound prior to the batter completing his/her at-bat.

Little League® has always placed safety as a top priority, and is continually striving to provide children with healthy and safe baseball and softball opportunities. For more than a decade, the Little League program has been at the forefront of promoting arm safety for youth pitchers. As we continue to work to make baseball a safe, fun sport for all children, Little League is proudly supporting the efforts of Major League Baseball and USA Baseball through the Pitch Smart campaign.

About Pitch Count

The eligibility of a player to pitch in a Little League® Baseball, Softball, or Challenger game is governed by a tiered pitch count that is tied to the number of pitches thrown in a game. The pitch count determines how many days of rest are required before said player may pitch again.

As the Official Pitch Count Technology of Little League®, GameChanger provides powerful, free scorekeeping tools that can help you track pitch counts for your Little League baseball and softball teams.
Learn More About the GameChanger App


CLICK HERE FOR MORE PITCHING RULES


COACHES SHOULD KNOW THE LITTLE LEAGUE AGE OF THEIR PLAYERS (age as of 9/1 of the current year). CLICK HERE FOR HELP DETERMING THEIR LEAGUE AGE.