Major League Baseball has introduced an Amateur Recovery Period to give young players structured time away from constant performance demands. Dr. Christopher Camp, one of my mentors and a leader in baseball medicine, explained how this rule is designed to reduce injuries that are becoming more common in high school and college athletes.

MLB’s New Dead Period

✓ High school players: no scouting or evaluation from Oct 15 – Jan 15
✓ College players: no scouting or evaluation from Nov 15 – Jan 15
✓ Scouts cannot attend games, showcases, practices, or workouts
✓ No evaluation of batting practice, fielding drills, or throwing sessions
✓ No use of bat-and-ball tracking data, biomechanical data, or third-party video

What This Means for Parents

The policy was developed with input from all 30 MLB amateur scouting directors, along with college coaches and medical experts. It also received the support of the MLB Owners Competition Committee after a 2024 report on pitching injuries raised concern about the growing number of elbow and shoulder problems in young players.

The goal of the dead period is clear. By removing the incentive for constant evaluation, players are encouraged to rest, recover, and continue developing in a safer way. Parents can apply the same principle by planning recovery periods for their children instead of filling every month with competition.

✓ Rest is not a setback, it is protection for long-term growth
✓ Families can use downtime to prevent overuse injuries
✓ The other side of the coin is continued development
✓ A year-round strategy balances rest with guided progress
✓ Focus areas include rehab, performance, and nutrition

Families who apply this balanced approach give their children the best chance to stay healthy, enjoy the game, and continue improving season after season.

Practical guidance to help parents support their athlete’s health

Every day you wait is another day your child is at risk for preventable injury.
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