DURHAM, N.C. - Major League Baseball and USA Baseball recognized on Thursday the amateur and youth organizations that have fully adopted the Pitch Smart Compliance Program's guidelines and principles for the 2019 season. The updated compliance program includes the addition of four national organizations to the Full Compliance level, bringing the total to 28 fully compliant national and regional organizations, an increase of nearly twelve percent from 2018.
Pitch Smart is a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball that provides safe pitching practices and guidelines to help reduce the risk of arm injuries in amateur players. The program includes a growing number of resources on its home site at PitchSmart.org. It is further supported by a free online educational course available at USA Baseball's Sport Development website at SportDev.org that is hosted by Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz.
"Major League Baseball remains committed to the Pitch Smart program as the health and safety of amateur players is paramount to the future of our sport," said Chris Marinak, Executive Vice President, Strategy, Technology & Innovation, Major League Baseball. "We are thrilled by the expanded influence of the program and commend the organizations who have implemented Pitch Smart guidelines into their rule books and prioritized the longevity of their amateur players."
Full Pitch Smart compliance represents the highest level of commitment to the program and is defined by the incorporation of Pitch Smart guidelines pertaining to pitch counts and rest periods across all competitions, as well as supporting Pitch Smart educational efforts across all platforms.
The Coastal Plain League, Dixie Youth Baseball, IMG Academy, and Wilson Premier Baseball join the lineup of fully compliant Pitch Smart organizations for 2019. The returning fully compliant national organizations from 2018 include: American Amateur Baseball Congress, American Legion Baseball, Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, Baseball Factory, Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, California Collegiate League, Cape Cod Baseball League, Dixie Boys Baseball Inc., East Coast Pro Showcase, Florida Collegiate Summer League, Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League, Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, Little League Baseball®, National Amateur Baseball Federation, National Youth Baseball Championships, New England Collegiate Baseball League, New York Collegiate Baseball League, Perfect Game, PONY Baseball, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), Southern Collegiate Baseball League, Sunbelt Baseball League, USA Baseball, and Valley Baseball League.
In addition to the Full Compliant organizations, Major League Baseball and USA Baseball also recognize organizations that are Select Compliant and Educational Supporters. Select Compliance of the Pitch Smart program is defined by the implementation of Pitch Smart guidelines pertaining to pitch counts and rest periods across select competitions, supporting Pitch Smart educational efforts across all platforms, and a plan to progress towards the adoption of all standards of full compliance in coming years.
The final level of Pitch Smart compliance, Educational Supporters, includes organizations that agree with the philosophies of the Pitch Smart program, support Pitch Smart educational efforts across all platforms, and will work towards select and full program compliance upon organizational review.
The Select Compliant Pitch Smart organizations for 2019 include: Babe Ruth League, Game Day USA, NCTB Baseball, and Prep Baseball Report.
The Educational Supporters of Pitch Smart for 2019 include: Amateur Athletic Union Baseball, National Federation of State High School Associations and Ripken Baseball.
"Since its inception, Pitch Smart compliance has grown to be the expected policy for pitch count rules throughout the amateur game," said Rick Riccobono, USA Baseball's Chief Development Officer. "USA Baseball is proud to proliferate and support the Pitch Smart program, as well as other educational and health and safety programs, as part of our comprehensive governance of the sport."
In addition to the national and regional organizations listed, 92 state and local organizations have been recognized as Full Compliant, Select Compliant or Educational Supporter organizations for 2019. USA Baseball will continue to collaborate with all organizations on their Pitch Smart progress throughout the 2019 season.
For a complete list of all full compliant organizations, select compliant organizations and educational supporters, as well as more information about Pitch Smart and an application for inclusion in the compliance program, visit PitchSmart.org.