With summer ball in full swing, it’s important that parents of pitchers are aware of how an extended baseball and softball season could impact their child’s health.

But based on past surveys, they are not aware.

In 2021, a University of Florida Health survey found that 83% of the nearly 100 surveyed parents and caregivers of youth baseball pitchers in North Central Florida were unaware of the existence of safe pitching guidelines.

“It’s really important that somebody is watching the players closely to make sure they aren’t pitching too much, so we can minimize the risk of injury,” said Dr. Kevin Farmer, a UF Health orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and team physician at the University of Florida. “If you look at the ligament in the elbow, the ulnar collateral ligament, it isn’t by itself meant to resist the stress that it sees from throwing.”

Ron Brooks, who recently stepped down as Buchholz Athletics Director and baseball coach, experienced that as a player just out of high school.

“I tore my UCL the summer before my freshman year of college (Tallahassee Community College) in 1995,” Brooks said. “I redshirted my freshman year and then returned to play the next season. While I came back for three years, I began to have complications with my ulnar nerve and had to have a second surgery. That, combined with a torn rotator cuff, halted my career.”

While elbow injuries are a concern for baseball pitchers, there are other injuries associated with softball.

“As a general comment for softball, I haven’t seen that many elbow injuries,” said Gainesville High softball coach Chris Chronister. “I have seen more shoulder (labrum) injuries and lower arm tendonitis issues.”

In 2023, UF Health researchers found that 85% of 115 surveyed caregivers were unaware of any pitching guidelines in fastpitch softball.

“Anytime a baseball or softball player feels pain when throwing, that should be a reason to get checked out,” said Dr. Jason Zaremski, chief of the sports medicine division in the UF Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “Pain when throwing a baseball or softball could be a symptom of an injury. Other signs to look for include swelling in your elbow, a popping sound when throwing, and/or reduced range of motion in your shoulder or elbow.”

Zaremski said a major reason for more elbow injuries is due to the pursuit of increased pitching velocity.

He authored a paper with several recommendations that would help prevent pitching injuries.

“As we move from the high school and spring season to the summer and travel ball season, players may begin to develop fatigue from playing so long, particularly in a warm weather area such as the Southeast, where baseball and softball started in January,” Zaremski said. “Throwing too much for too long and with pain may lead to more significant injuries that require further evaluation, or in some instances, surgery. Therefore, it’s crucial that our baseball and softball players participate in arm care programs as well as give themselves some time away from throwing to minimize overuse injuries.”

There are many factors that could lead to an injury, but overuse is certainly a big contributor.

“Each individual is different and are susceptible to different types of injuries based on throwing mechanics and genetics,” Brooks said. “There is an issue with players throwing too much, especially with year-round baseball.”

Brooks said that the biggest issue is “not taking care of your body and training the correct way.

“Players should develop a throwing and maintenance plan that is designed for them and gives them the best chance to train and compete with a period of arm recovery time,” he said.

Chronister said it’s important for athletes to understand their bodies and be aware of when things “don’t feel right so the issues can be addressed as soon as possible.

“Some injuries are due to poor mechanics, but most of the injuries are a result of overuse,” he said. “There is a fine line every athlete has to follow, putting in the extra work to improve their skills to get recruited, but not overdoing it and becoming injured from overuse.”

This past season, GHS played most of the year without star pitcher Leanna Bourdage.

“Honestly, at the start (of the season) I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to play at all,” Bourdage said. “Just coming into it, I was told a whole lot of different things about ‘you’re not going to be able to play for a while’ so thankfully now I am able to (play), but at the start I didn’t think I was going to be able to.”

Fortunately, through rehab and therapy, she was able to return to the circle on April 18.

“Strength and conditioning training should be a part of every serious softball player’s training to help them develop a total body conditioning as opposed to just strengthening their pitching arm,” Chronister said.

While there are surgical and non-surgical options for arm overuse injuries, keeping youth athletes healthy as they play baseball and softball deep into the summer could prevent injury.