This question creates more confusion—and pressure—for parents and coaches than almost any other youth pitching topic. In this episode, we move beyond rigid age rules and fear-based advice to explain what really determines arm safety in developing pitchers.  

Why age alone is a poor predictor of curveball safety

How arm stress actually accumulates through workload, intensity, and recovery

What research shows about youth pitching injuries and overuse

Why some pitchers get hurt without ever throwing breaking balls

How growth spurts temporarily change tissue tolerance and coordination

The difference between pitch type risk and contextual stress risk

❌ “Curveballs ruin arms”

❌ “My kid is old enough, so it must be safe”

❌ “If there’s pain, it must be the pitch”

Instead, this episode explains why arm readiness, total weekly throwing volume, and genuine recovery matter far more than the specific pitch being thrown.

Rather than asking “Is my kid old enough?”, this episode offers a calmer, more useful question:

Is this arm ready for added complexity and intensity right now?

You’ll walk away with a practical framework parents and coaches can use week-to-week—whether deciding on a breaking ball, managing innings, or navigating soreness during busy seasons.

Parents of youth pitchers (especially ages 9–14)

Coaches managing multi-position players and year-round schedules

Pitchers feeling pressure to add pitches before their body is ready

Families seeking evidence-based guidance instead of extremes

For additional science-backed education on youth baseball arm health, workload management, and recovery decision-making, explore the resources available at VeloRESET.com.