Stupid rule...

[fastpitch]

Many of our rec leagues in the area limit a pitcher to 3 or 4 innings in 10U and 12U. This is done to encourage the development of multiple pitchers and grow the league and has nothing to do with limiting due to potential injury. This encourages the coaches to develop more than one pitcher as they have a difficult time winning with one.

The shame is we have the other side of the coin where the coaches come out and pitch to prevent walks in some weaker parks - in some respects you get what you expect.

The title of this thread is right on the money - stupid rule. I'd have to say the sanctity of the game is damaged when you take a kid out within one K of a perfect game. Yes, I've heard of similar issues with the rec leagues limiting innings.

Now common sense tells me that after pitching batting practice to the baseball team once or twice and the suffering that ensues versus pitching batting practice to a softball team fastpitch underhanded for an entire travel season without worries ought to tell us something even if it is an old man doing it.