DEVELOPMENT OF A DISTANCE-BASED INTERVAL THROWING PROGRAM FOR LITTLE-LEAGUE AGED ATHLETES

We developed a distance-based interval throwing program for Little Lea gue-aged athletes (9 to 12 years) to be used in training and rehabilit ation. The timing and repetition parameters were developed from data c ollected during 400 innings of organized baseball during a single seas on, and short toss distance from Little League rules for field dimensi ons. There were 1022 boys from organized baseball teams in the four st udies, Maximal distance and speed measurements were recorded for 853 b oys. We developed a mathematical model from these data to predict maxi mal throwing distance from maximal throwing speed. This model was then tested on a second sample of 114 players. We compared the predicted d istance with the actual maximal throwing distance; the correlation coe fficient was 0.92. Forty players aged 9 to 12 participated in a study to assess degradation of speed and distance. The average variability o f the speed was small (<5 mph), but the variability in distance was la rge (22.4 feet). Fifteen boys then threw the entire throwing program a s designed. These results show that healthy young athletes can be expe cted to be able to throw the predicted value of this practical progres sive interval throwing program for Little League-aged athletes. The ap propriate program can be assigned from age and known preinjury pitch s peed.