10 year old pitcher with Arm Pain. Advice requested

[3and2Fastball]

I'm a coach on a 9-11 year old Fall Ball team

I've got a 10 year old kid on my Fall Ball team who is a very talented pitcher who has arm pain issues which he says is tendinitis. My immediate instinct is to "shut him down" as far as pitching goes this Fall, just because "10 year old with arm pain" doesn't sound good at all, but thought I should check with you all to see if you think that is an overreaction or a wise idea.

I'm not sure if the issue is mechanical in nature or overuse or what, as we've only had one practice so far and I was working with the hitters primarily. Of course the kid wants to keep pitching. Apparently he pitched a lot this spring and then was on the All-Star team and pitched there too.

Anyways if you aren't too busy I'd sure appreciate your opinion on this one. Thanks!

[DerekD]

Ask the parents what they were thinking when they said their kid up when he has pain in his arm and why it's up to you on what to do with him.

It could be that the kid just needs rest. It could something more.

If he is a "very talented pitcher", he was probably overused anyway during the spring/summer.

[tg643]

A kid shouldn't be pitching at any time with tendonitis. Play him at DH as long as his swing doesn't hurt his arm.

[HeinekenMan]

You need to open a line of communication between his parents and his doctor. The doctor should communicate to you throw a phone call, email or written letter exactly what his diagnosis is and what sort of use is allowed. If he hasn't been to a doctor, the kid shouldn't even be playing. If the doctor clears him to pitch, make sure he has the right mechanics and monitor how his arm feels.

[pthawaii]

Agree with all of the posts. If you don't get a chance to talk to the MD or parents and can't identify the source of the pain, shut him down from pitching for sure. I wouldn't have this throw until he has been pain free. Then start slowly (not pitching, just throwing). There is a lot of good info on the internet, but it's not always easy to tell what is good info, and how to interpret it. Thus, err on the side of caution and as you mentioned, shut him down, especially if he has any pain.

[Dirtberry]

3and2fastball,

“I've got a 10 year old kid on my Fall Ball team who is a very talented pitcher who has arm pain issues which he says is tendinitis”

This is the perfect excuse to go get x-rays of both arms for comparison to evaluate not only the injury but the first good information on his biological growth, ask the Radiologist to do it and evaluate it for you even if you have to pay for the second (glove arm) one

When he gets his Dr’s release start minimal catch while teaching him that supination of a pitch and throw types destroys the elbow in many ways. Make sure he pops his elbow up at release and attain full rotation of his body to safely decelerate his arm.
The injurious mechanic is now changed to a healthy one by just hinging the elbow correctly.

[songtitle]

Why would a pitcher need to be throwing in August? Especially a 10 year old? Especially a 10 year old with elbow pain?

teaching him that supination of a pitch and throw types destroys the elbow in many ways.

Can we please start a Marshall thread, where this long-discredited jibberish doesn't pollute every single thread?

Fleisig 2006: The self-described curveball does not produce more elbow torque than the self-described fastball of college pitchers

Nissen 2009: The self-described curveball produces less elbow torque than the self-described fastball of high school pitchers

Dun 2008: The self-described curveball produces less elbow torque than the self-described fastball of youth pitchers

[tg643]

It's not a preteen coach's responsibility to send a player for x-rays. The coach shouldn't pitch him and tell the parents the kid should see a sports ortho specalist. The rest is on the parents.

[tg643]

Can we please start a Marshall thread, where this long-discredited jibberish doesn't pollute every single thread?

Seconded!!!!! How about a Dirtberry or Marshall sticky. Anyone entering would do so at their own peril. Since I've heard all the bs several times over I wouldn't enter. I wouldn't have to send PM's to new posters that Marshallites are the baseball version of Moonies after then get the ridiculous advice. About 25% of Marshall related advice is sensible. But it's not something he dicovered. The other 75% is board pollution.

[raptor]

Seconded!!!!! How about a Dirtberry or Marshall sticky. Anyone entering would do so at their own peril. Since I've heard all the bs several times over I wouldn't enter. I wouldn't have to send PM's to new posters that Marshallites are the baseball version of Moonies after then get the ridiculous advice. About 25% of Marshall related advice is sensible. But it's not something he dicovered. The other 75% is board pollution.

They will be on the boards regardless of sticky's or dedicated threads. As long as we are civil we can accept or refute.
Any pain in elbow is cause for concern in youth player's right? That's not a normal soreness spot.
How long should a pitcher be shut down in between seasons even if there is no pain?

[johnlanza]

It's not a preteen coach's responsibility to send a player for x-rays. The coach shouldn't pitch him and tell the parents the kid should see a sports ortho specalist. The rest is on the parents.

In all seriousness, help me understand the criteria of how to make the decision to see a specialist. My almost nine-year-old son son, who doesn't throw real fast, said just this morning that his elbow hurt a little.
So is it just development as he begins his pitching journey? - he hasn't pitched in a game. He probably pitches two sessions with me per week and a private instructor once a week. And he's only throwing a couple of speeds of two seamers and four seamers. So what should I be on the lookout for in regards to arm pain vs soreness? My thinking is that "soreness" is somewhat expected as you get stronger while "pain" suggests that rest (and maybe a trip to a specialist) is in order.

[Coach of Twins]

Can we please start a Marshall thread, where this long-discredited jibberish doesn't pollute every single thread?

Fleisig 2006: The self-described curveball does not produce more elbow torque than the self-described fastball of college pitchers

Nissen 2009: The self-described curveball produces less elbow torque than the self-described fastball of high school pitchers

Dun 2008: The self-described curveball produces less elbow torque than the self-described fastball of youth pitchers [/QUOTE]

Thirded...this is one of the reason I quit reading and participating here. Such garbage polluting each thread I don't even want to take the time to wade through it...and I know others who feel the same. Put it all in 1 spot!:crossfingers:

[skipper5]

It's not a preteen coach's responsibility to send a player for x-rays. The coach shouldn't pitch him and tell the parents the kid should see a sports ortho specalist. The rest is on the parents.

Agree.
Also agree that Marshall advocates should post on their own perpetual thread.

[songtitle]

In all seriousness, help me understand the criteria of how to make the decision to see a specialist. My almost nine-year-old son son, who doesn't throw real fast, said just this morning that his elbow hurt a little.

As best I can recall, this is what we (my son and I) did. (I am not a doctor)

If his elbow is hurting, he shouldn't pitch, or throw. Period.

If his elbow hurts for more than a day or two after pitching, or bullpens, that's not normal.

If his elbow hurts for a day or two after pitching, wait at least a week or 10 days before he throws a bullpen, or pitches, again.

If his elbow begins to hurt again after just a few pitches or throws, that's not normal. Extend the shut down period to a month or longer, or see a doctor.

[3and2Fastball]

Thanks very much for the thoughtful replies, I really appreciate it! Just to make things clear, this kid is not my son (my son isn't a pitcher, he's a 9 year old SS/2B/OF on the team). In fact I just met the kid (the 10 year old pitcher) last night at our 1st practice for the first time. He came to us with the reputation of being a great kid and a great talent, and he seems like all of that. But then during practice he mentioned dealing with arm pain.

Personally, I don't think should pitch with arm pain. His arm may have been overused by pitching in both the spring & all-stars and he's not a big guy. We're going to send out an email to his parents asking to get more detail about his arm pain issues. I would lean fairly heavily towards not letting him pitch in the 1st several games until his arm is pain free....

I guess at this point we should try to get as much specific info as we can from the parents and the kid himself