For a complete view of the 2009 rule changes for baseball, click on the heading above.

The table below gives an overview of the number of pitches that will be allowed per day for each age group during the regular season in 2009.

• League Age 7-8      50 pitches per day
• League Age 9-10     75 pitches per day
• League Age 11-12    85 pitches per day
• League Age 13-16    95 pitches per day
• League Age 17-18    105 pitches per day

The rest periods required during the 2009 regular season are listed below.   Note:  There are 2 Options available - each league must choose 1 Option prior to the beginning of the season.   There is no mixing or matching, and no changing mid-season.

 Option 1

Pitchers league ages 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:

• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed + 1 game.
• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed + 1 game.
• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no calendar day of rest is required before pitching again.

Pitchers league age 17-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements:

• If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed + 1 game.
• If a player pitches 51 - 75 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed + 1 game.
• If a player pitches 26 - 50 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-25 pitches in a day, no calendar day of rest is required before pitching again.

NOTE:   A player may not pitch in consecutive games.  Exception - League Age 16 and under - A player may pitch in consecutive games is 40 or less pitches were delivered in the previous game.   League Age 17-18 - A player may pitch in consecutive games if 50 or less pitches were delivered in the previous game.

Option 2

• Pitchers who deliver 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
• Pitch count applies only to baseball.
• Warm-up pitches do not count.
• There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.
• If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed by Regulation VI (c) while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base, is put out or the inning ends.
• Players may not pitch in more than 1 game per day (Exception:  Big League)
• Tournament rules will vary somewhat from the regular season.

Pitch Count FAQ (A complete list of the most commonly asked questions, posted on Oct. 17, 2007.) 

Pitch Count Publication (A downloadable PDF of "Protecting Young Pitching Arms: The Little League Pitch Count Regulation Guide for Parents, Coaches, and League Officials,” updated for the 2008 season and posted on Oct. 24, 2007)

Baseball Game Pitch Log (A downloadable PDF that makes it easy to count pitches for a scorekeeper, scorekeeper’s helper, coach, etc. Updated on Oct. 18, 2007.)

Baseball Pitcher Eligibility Tracking Form (A downloadable PDF that allows the league to easily track the eligibility of baseball pitchers. Posted on Jan. 5, 2007.)

Little League Implements New Rule to Protect Pitchers’ Arms (Original news release published Aug. 25, 2006, regarding the new pitch count regulation)

World Series Managers Predict Little League Baseball’s Pitch Count Regulations Will Change Game for the Better (A story published on Oct. 3, 2006, regarding the opinions of Little League Baseball World Series managers on the new pitch count regulation)

Top Major League Baseball Athletic Trainer Sees Merit in Little League’s Pitch Count (A story published Nov. 22, 2006, about a Major League Baseball trainer’s opinions on the new Little League pitch count regulation)

Professional Baseball Scout Likes the Long-Term Affects, Prospects of Little Leaguers Using Pitch Count (A story published Nov. 30, 2006, on the opinions of a Major League Baseball scout on the new Little League pitch count regulation)

Scorekeeping Tip on Pitch Counts (A story published in September 2006, providing tips to scorekeepers on the new Little League pitch count regulation)

Baseball Great Dale Murphy Praises Pitch Count (A story about former Major Leaguer and former Little Leaguer Dale Murphy on his opinions of the pitch count regulation)