Pitch count restrictions and mandatory days of rest for high school baseball pitchers have been approved by the executive committee of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

The NYSPHSAA voted Friday to implement new safety protocols for pitchers at the modified, JV and varsity levels.

“Today’s action by the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee is a giant step forward in doing our part to protect and support our student athlete baseball players”, said Ed Dopp State Baseball Coordinator for the last 12 years. Dopp added, “We will continue to monitor and adjust the pitch count rules in an attempt to always improve opportunities for our student athletes and address safety as best we can”.

NYSPHSAA pitch count and rest rules (via NYSPHSAA.org)
NYSPHSAA pitch count and rest rules (via NYSPHSAA.org)
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  1. If a pitch is thrown on a balk call, the pitch will NOT count for the purposes of this rule
  2. A pitcher at any level who reaches the pitch count limit in the middle of an at-bat will be allowed to finish that hitter.
  3. Schools will have the responsibility to maintain all pitching charts. They will also be required to make any game chart available to any school prior to any game to show availability of pitchers for that given day.
  4. During games, each team will record pitch counts on the official NYSPHSAA pitch count form, this should not include warm-ups or pick off attempts. After each half inning, the pitch counts will be confirmed by both teams. Any discrepancy will be resolved based on the records of the home team pitch count chart.
  5. At game's conclusion, the NYSPHSAA pitch count form will be signed by both head coaches or designated representative.
  6. Any violation of this rule will be considered in the same light as a school using an ineligible player. The game will be forfeited.
  7. As per the NYSPHSAA handbook any additional penalties may be imposed at the school or section level.

In his article at Uticaod.com, Ron Moshier notes that previously high school coaches had to track their pitchers by innings-pitched, regardless of total pitches thrown. Those guidelines allowed a pitcher to throw upto 12-innings in one day, and upto 18-innings over a six-day period.

We'll get Moshier's thoughts on the new rules this Monday morning. He's scheduled to join WIBX First News with Keeler in the Morning at 8:10 a.m.

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