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Development of a Distance-Based Interval Throwing Program for Little League-Aged Athletes

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Lynn Snyder-Mackler, ScD, PT

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Jeff G. Konin, PT, MEd, ATC

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Michael J. Strube, PhD

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

We developed a distance-based interval throwing pro gram for Little League-aged athletes (9 to 12 years) to be used in training and rehabilitation. The timing and repetition parameters were developed from data col lected during 400 innings of organized baseball during a single season, and short toss distance from Little League rules for field dimensions. There were 1022 boys from organized baseball teams in the four stud ies. Maximal distance and speed measurements were recorded for 853 boys. We developed a mathematical model from these data to predict maximal throwing distance from maximal throwing speed. This model was then tested on a second sample of 114 players. We compared the predicted distance with the actual maximal throwing distance; the correlation coefficient was 0.92. Forty players aged 9 to 12 participated in a study to assess degradation of speed and distance. The average variability of the speed was small (<5 mph), but the variability in distance was large (22.4 feet). Fifteen boys then threw the entire throwing pro gram as designed. These results show that healthy young athletes can be expected to be able to throw the predicted value of this practical progressive interval throwing program for Little League-aged athletes. The appropriate program can be assigned from age and known preinjury pitch speed.

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