ARM CARE RULES (Orangeville & Headwaters Minor Baseball)

Arm Care Rules

1. Unless otherwise stated, all Arm Care rules listed in A12.01 shall be in force throughout the baseball season and shall apply to all league play and tournament play as sanctioned by Baseball Ontario or any Affiliated Association. This includes games played outside Ontario and outside Canada, regardless of the tournament’s pitch count rules or lack thereof.
2. Unless otherwise stated, all Arm Care rules listed in A12.01 shall be enforced at all series 22U and below.
3. Pitchers shall be limited to the number of pitches thrown in a single day as outlined below.  Pitchers are required to rest in accordance with the chart below as determined by the total number of pitches thrown on any one calendar day.

*Please see A12.01(m) for 9U player pitching requirements.
Note:  Please see A12.01(h) for multiple games in any two consecutive days.

4. For the purposes calculating days of rest required, the day after game day is considered Day 1 of the rest period. (ie: If an 11U pitcher throws 27 pitches on Friday, they will be next eligible to pitch again on Sunday).
5. If a game extends beyond midnight into the next calendar day, any pitches thrown thereafter shall be counted toward the pitch count of the day the game started. If, however, the game is suspended for any reason after midnight, when it resumes, any pitches thrown by any pitcher shall be counted toward the new day.
6. Intentional walks and balks shall count toward the pitcher’s pitch count total if a pitch has been thrown.
7. Players are permitted to pitch in 2 separate games in the same day as long as they do not exceed the maximum number of pitches that requires no rest for their age category in the first game of the day. (ie: If an 11U pitcher throws fewer than 25 pitches in the first game, the player may pitch in a second game.) No player is permitted to pitch in more than 2 games in any two-day period regardless of the number of pitches thrown.
8. No player may exceed the Daily Maximum for their age category in any two‐day period. If a player pitches in two games in a day or on two consecutive days, days rest required shall be calculated using the combined total of the number of pitches thrown.
   1. Ex1: 22U player throws 45 pitches on Friday in a tournament (no rest required). That pitcher is permitted to pitch again on Saturday to a maximum of 70 pitches so as not to exceed 115.
   2. Ex2: In the same scenario as Ex1, the total number of pitches thrown are added together to determine days rest. If the player threw 45 pitches on Friday and 70 pitches on Saturday, the pitcher must rest for 4 days and is next eligible to pitch on Thursday.
9. Pitchers will be permitted to complete the at‐bat of the batter they are facing when their Daily Maximum pitch limit has been reached but must be removed immediately after (i) the batter is retired, or (ii) the batter becomes a runner, or (iii) the third out of the inning is made.
10. The total number of pitches thrown by an ambidextrous pitcher shall be charged toward their pitch count regardless of which arm(s), or combination thereof, the pitcher uses to throw.
11. No player may pitch on three consecutive days unless their total pitch count for the three days does not exceed the number of pitches where no rest is required for that age category. A pitcher may not pitch on 4 consecutive days regardless of pitch count.
12. Once a player assumes the pitching position, they are no longer eligible to catch for the remainder of the day.  Once a player assumes the catcher position, they are no longer eligible to pitch for the remainder of the day.
13. Any player who is playing in a series higher than their age-appropriate series shall be restricted to the pitch count limitations and required rest periods applicable to the age of the player, provided the following:
    1. Players aged 8 and under and not permitted to pitch in any circumstance.
    2. 9-year-old players who are called‐up to play on a 10U or 11U team are not permitted to pitch.
    3. 9-year-old players who are rostered to a 10U or 11U team shall be permitted to pitch with the following limitations:
       • 0 Days Rest: 1‐20 Pitches
       • 1 Day Rest: 21‐35 Pitches
       • 2 Days Rest: 36‐50 Pitches
       • Daily Maximum: 50 Pitches
14. Any player who is playing in a series higher than their age must be identified on the lineup card. Any underage player not identified on the lineup card is ineligible to pitch. Should any such unidentified underage player pitch, the pitcher shall be removed from the pitching position and the Manager ejected.
15. When a player reaches their Daily Maximum pitch count, the manager or coach may remove the pitcher from the pitching position immediately without penalty, regardless of the number of trips already charged to the pitcher during the inning or at‐bat.
16. For all games except tournament play, the home team shall designate an official pitch counter for their team who shall be responsible for tracking the pitches of both teams.
17. For all games except tournament play, the Manager (or designate) of the home team shall record the number of pitches thrown for all of both teams' players within 24 hours (or before the start of the next game, whichever is earlier) of the game’s start time using the OBA Pitch Count Tracker.
18. For all OBA sanctioned tournament play, (including Provincial Championships, and Elimination Tournaments), the Home team is responsible for capturing the pitch count in the pitch count app in real-time (either pitch by pitch or at the end of each inning) during the game. Failure to complete this in real-time will result in the game being forfeited to the Away team. Should the game not be captured in real-time as a result of negligence and it is not realized until after the game, the game will not be forfeited but will result in a one-game suspension for the Head Coach. Exception: where cell service is weak or down and the tournament convenor gives permission, games may be entered post-game within 20 minutes following the end of the game.
19. Notwithstanding A12.01(r), in all OBA Tournament play, the tournament host may choose to appoint an official pitch counter for the game at their discretion.  If a host chooses this option, and the pitch count is not entered in real-time during the game, the home team will not be penalized.  A $1000 fine will apply to the host.
20. The official pitch counter must provide the current pitch count upon request by either manager or the umpire.
21. The official pitch counter shall inform the plate umpire when a pitcher has delivered their Daily Maximum pitch count. The plate umpire shall inform the manager that the pitcher must be removed, (i) immediately if the Daily Maximum threshold has been reached at the end of an at‐bat, or (ii) following the completion of the at‐bat or inning, subject to A12.01(h).
    1. Note: Failure by the Official Pitch Counter to inform the plate umpire of a pitcher reaching their Daily Maximum pitch count does not relieve the Manager of their responsibility to know the pitch count and remove the pitcher.  Penalty: Failure to remove the pitcher with no notification by the Official Pitch Counter will result in the manager’s immediate ejection and the pitcher shall be removed from the pitching position immediately and will not be permitted to complete the at‐bat. This will be treated as an emergency situation and the incoming pitcher shall receive as many warm‐up pitches as the plate umpire deems necessary.
22. The Manager of the opposing team will receive notification of the pitch count entry into the system and will have 24 hours from that time to verify or challenge the pitch count from that game.
    1. Any challenge of an official pitch count will be forwarded to the Series Chair for resolution.
    2. The decision of the Series Chair with regard to Pitch Counts shall be final