My first blog was about the rule changes already in place to protect young pitchers—mainly pitch counts and mandated rest days between outings. At first glance, you might think these rules are helping keep arms healthy.
Well, they’re not.
If we truly want to protect young pitchers, we need to think more radically—outside the box. These are kids we’re talking about. Protecting their arms means protecting the future of the game itself.
Here are two rule changes I believe would make a significant impact:
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Pitchers ages 8–10 should only be allowed to use the slide step (no leg lift).
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Pitchers ages 10–15 must finish their throw within a designated pitching lane no wider than 2–3 feet.
Rule #1: Slide Step – No Leg Lift
A typical pitching delivery begins with the pitcher lifting the front leg, knee up to the hip, before striding forward to throw. That leg lift is the one action that separates pitching from every other throw on the field. So when a shortstop or outfielder comes to the mound, the delivery suddenly feels foreign.
The problem? Most young pitchers simply don’t have the core strength to balance during that leg lift. Instead of staying back and controlled, they fall forward as the leg comes down. This shortens the time available for the arm to get into the proper power position, creating stress and inconsistency.
By requiring the slide step at ages 8–10, pitchers would eliminate the balance challenge and be forced to focus on one critical element: arm speed. With less time available in the motion, the arm must accelerate quickly from glove break to power position. That’s exactly the type of efficient arm action pitchers need—whether they’re slide stepping or eventually pitching from the windup.
Rule #2: The Pitching Lane
A few years ago, college softball introduced the pitcher’s lane—two lines painted on the field, each about 5–6 feet long and the same width as the pitching rubber. Pitchers were required to finish inside that lane or the pitch was ruled illegal.
Softball’s motivation was protecting hitters, since pitchers were stepping across themselves and hiding the ball. But in youth baseball, the same concept could protect pitchers’ arms.
Here’s how a pitching lane would help arm health:
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It forces more arm speed behind the throw.
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It provides more time from stride to foot landing.
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It balances both arm speed and timing, reducing over-rotation.
Currently, many youth pitchers finish by falling off to the first-base or third-base side of the mound. That fall isn’t just bad balance—it’s a mechanical red flag. It usually means the arm was too slow, the body got forward too early, or both. The result? The arm is dragged through the throwing zone at the wrong angle, putting massive stress on the elbow or shoulder.
A pitching lane rule would change that. If a pitcher can’t finish in the lane, the pitch is illegal. Enforcing this rule would push coaches, parents, and players to finally address timing and mechanics instead of just results.
It may take time to implement, and the rules might need fine-tuning, but the payoff would be worth it. Our kids—and their arms—deserve better.