Looking to lessen the chances of high school pitchers' injuring their arms because of overuse, the National Federation of State High School Associations' Baseball Rules Committee announced Wednesday to “require a pitching restriction policy based on the number of pitches thrown in a game.”

The rule change, which will take effect in 2017, requires each state association to “develop its own pitching restriction policy based on the number of pitches thrown during a game to afford pitchers a required rest period between pitching appearances.”

Before the change, pitchers were allowed to throw a maximum of 14 innings in a seven-day span or 10 in a three-day span.

“The recommendation is a good thing for the players,” Arundel coach Frank Hood said. “Something's got to be done to protect the kids. It's a precaution, but it will be interesting. In my opinion, if you are throwing a kid for over 100 pitches and not giving him ample amount of rest, like three or four days, you don't belong [in] coaching.”

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association oversees Maryland's public school teams.

“Ultimately, the NFHS is leaving it up to the state associations on a pitch-count policy,” Hood said. “The NFHS and the MPSSAA are looking at the guidelines of USA Baseball's Pitch Smart Program. I have followed that for years at both Southern and now at Arundel. I never throw a guy on just three days' rest.”

The Pitch Smart Program standards include a limit of 95 pitches for ages 13 to 16 in a single day with four days of rest before taking the mound again. That pitch limit climbs to 105 for 17- and 18-year-olds with the same rest requirements.

“It's going to provide some consistency too,” Old Mill coach Charlie Chaffin said. “It goes all the way back to USA Baseball, so I think there are going to be guidelines. I think it's going to start from there and filter down to all the high schools and amateur levels as well. It's going to be put in place to protect the arms.”

Well-intended as the new rule is, Hood and Chaffin say the measures may be difficult to enforce.

“The hard part is keeping track of the pitches,” said Chaffin during a rain delay at Saturday's Crab Claw Classic at Joe Cannon Stadium in Anne Arundel County. “We're going to have to follow up game after game and check the accuracy of what we have and what the other team has. I don't really think it's going to alter the number of pitches a kid throws in a week versus if we track innings, but it's the way things are going.”

Said Hood: “The big question will be how it is enforced. Since it won't be part of the rule book, it will be outside the umpires' jurisdiction. But who will be responsible for the count? Each coach? How will you resolve discrepancies? Those questions all have to be answered.”

Ultimately, Archbishop Curley coach Brooks Norris believes the responsibility for keeping players healthy is the coaching staff's.

“I don't think there's any one right answer,” he said. “I think it's good to try to keep kids from getting abused. Counting pitches instead of innings is a big plus, but I don't think it's perfect. There are some kids who are bigger, stronger, more physically mature who can handle a higher pitch count.

“I think it's a step in the right direction, but I think it's the coach's responsibility to take care of the kids, take care of their arms to make sure they're not getting overused. Hopefully, it will help, but who knows?”

Archbishop Spalding coach Joe Palumbo said that the main problem with overworked arms should not attributed to high school coaches but to summer travel teams. He estimated pitchers will throw about 75 pitches in pool play, and if his team reaches the next round, the same pitcher will throw another 75 pitches for a total of 150 in five days.

“So many young players get injured and need surgery at such a young age. It's definitely something people need to be aware of as parents and as coaches,” Palumbo said. “It's going to help players stay healthy long-term.”

Baltimore Sun Media Group reporter Mike Morea contributed to this article.