With more student athletes requiring surgery to deal with injuries, some Oklahoma groups are considering rules to help protect young people on the baseball diamond.
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association is planning to meet with other groups to consider limiting the number of pitches allowed per game. It's all to address the growing number of sports injuries in young people.
Brent Foster is a father, he coaches his daughter's softball team and he owns Per4mance Physical Therapy in Claremore. He's seen firsthand how young people are often surprised when they push themselves too far and their bodies fight back.
"We see a lot of shoulder impingement. We also see a deficit in internal rotation due to excessive throwing," Foster said.
The details for Oklahoma's proposal are still being worked out. Other states have implemented similar rules– usually with a specific limit on the number of throws allowed from each player.
Foster said he's glad people are talking about this problem, because pressure on young people seems to be growing.
"Scholarships are becoming more and more prevalent in baseball and softball. They are playing year-round; they are showcasing a lot more," he said.
