Little League pitching rules go by league age (age on August 31). Daily limits are 50 pitches at 7 and 8, 75 at 9 and 10, 85 at 11 and 12, and 95 from 13 to 16, with rest days that rise with the count, up to four. A pitcher can never pitch three days in a row, can pitch back-to-back days only after a no-rest outing, and can’t pitch after catching four innings or catch after throwing 41 pitches.
Little League pitching rules can feel like a lot the first time you read them: league age, daily limits, rest days, a catching rule, and a rule about finishing a batter. Once you see how they fit together, they’re simple, and almost all of them exist for one reason: to protect young arms.
Here is a plain-English guide to the Little League pitching rules parents ask about most.
First: league age
Little League sets its limits by league age, which is a player’s age on August 31 of the current year. A boy who turns 13 in September plays that season at league age 12. Check his league age before reading any chart, because it can differ from the age he is on game day.
Daily pitch limits
There’s one exception worth knowing: if a pitcher reaches his limit in the middle of a batter, Little League lets him finish that batter. His required rest is then based on his count when he threw the first pitch to that batter.
Required rest days
The more pitches he throws in a day, the more days he has to rest before pitching again. Rest days are full calendar days after the game: the day he pitched doesn’t count.
| Rest | Ages 14 and under | Ages 15-16 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 days | 1-20 pitches | 1-30 pitches |
| 1 day | 21-35 | 31-45 |
| 2 days | 36-50 | 46-60 |
| 3 days | 51-65 | 61-75 |
| 4 days | 66+ | 76+ |
So a league-age 12-year-old who throws 70 pitches on Monday needs four days of rest: Tuesday through Friday off, eligible again Saturday. Our free pitch count calculator does this math for any age and pitch count, and shows the first date he can pitch again.
Pitching on back-to-back days
A pitcher can pitch two days in a row only if his first outing was short enough to need zero rest days (20 or fewer pitches through league age 14, 30 or fewer at 15 and 16). And he can never pitch three days in a row, no matter how low his counts were. Tournament weekends are where this one catches families off guard. Our guide on pitching on back-to-back days explains why the rest matters.
The catcher-pitcher rule
Little League limits switching between catcher and pitcher in one day. If he catches four or more innings, he can’t pitch that day. If he throws 41 or more pitches, he can’t catch the rest of that day. Both jobs put a lot of throws on the same arm, which our guide on whether a pitcher should also catch covers.
“Little League’s rules count pitches in Little League games. His arm counts every pitch, everywhere.”
The rulebook is the minimum, not the whole picture.Leadoffs and balks in the younger divisions
In Little League’s Major Division and below, runners can’t lead off, so balks aren’t called the way they are at higher levels. An illegal pitch with runners on is simply called a ball. Once a player moves up to divisions that allow leadoffs, balk rules apply, so it pays to build a clean, full stop in the set position early. Our guide on what a balk is explains the basics.
What about curveballs?
Little League’s rules don’t ban breaking balls, but that doesn’t make them a good idea for young arms. Most experienced coaches still recommend waiting until the early-to-mid teens, once he commands his fastball and changeup. Our guide on what age to throw a curveball covers the readiness checks.
What the rules don’t cover
- Other teams. Little League’s limits only count Little League games. Pitches for a travel or school team land on the same arm. Our free printable pitch count sheet keeps every team’s pitches on one page.
- Practice and bullpens. They don’t show up in the scorebook, but they count toward his workload.
- Pain. No rule replaces common sense. If his arm hurts, he stops pitching and you see a doctor, whatever the chart says.
For the bigger picture beyond Little League, our guide on pitch counts by age covers the Pitch Smart guidelines that apply to everything else he throws. Never trade a healthy arm for a number, and that includes one more inning.
Rules protect the arm from too many pitches. A clean delivery protects it on every single one. A free evaluation breaks down his mechanics frame by frame and shows how efficiently he’s throwing. Start his free evaluation.
The bottom line
Little League pitching rules are set by league age (age on August 31). Daily limits are 50 pitches at 7 and 8, 75 at 9 and 10, 85 at 11 and 12, and 95 from 13 to 16, with rest days that rise with the pitch count, up to four days. He can finish the batter he’s facing at the limit, can pitch back-to-back days only after a no-rest outing, and can never pitch three days in a row. Catching four innings rules out pitching that day, and 41 pitches rules out catching. Count every pitch from every team, and remember the rules are the minimum.
Common questions
How many pitches can a Little League pitcher throw?
By league age: 50 pitches a day at 7 and 8, 75 at 9 and 10, 85 at 11 and 12, and 95 from 13 through 16. If he reaches the limit in the middle of a batter, he can finish that batter. Local leagues can set stricter limits.
How many days of rest does a Little League pitcher need?
Through league age 14: none for 1 to 20 pitches, one day for 21 to 35, two for 36 to 50, three for 51 to 65, and four for 66 or more. At 15 and 16: none for 1 to 30, one for 31 to 45, two for 46 to 60, three for 61 to 75, and four for 76 or more.
Can a Little League pitcher pitch two days in a row?
Only if his first outing needed zero rest days: 20 or fewer pitches through league age 14, or 30 or fewer at 15 and 16. No pitcher can pitch three days in a row, no matter how low the counts.
Can a pitcher also catch in Little League?
With limits. A player who catches four or more innings can’t pitch that day, and a pitcher who throws 41 or more pitches can’t catch for the rest of that day.
What is league age in Little League?
A player’s age on August 31 of the current year. It decides his division and his pitch limits, and it can differ from the age he is on game day.
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