How much pace bowling is safe for my child?

Cricket NSW lists the Junior Pace Bowling Workload Guidelines as guidance for community cricket. They apply to girls and boys and aim to prevent lumbar bone stress injury (a stress injury to the lower back bones), which is the most serious injury for young pace bowlers.

• Under 17, the 1, 3, 5 rule: at least 1 day off bowling after a bowling day, a maximum of 3 bowling days a week (matches and training combined), and a maximum of 5 overs in a spell.
• Aged 17 to 19, the 2, 4, 6 rule: no more than 2 bowling days in a row, a maximum of 4 bowling days a week, and a maximum of 6 overs in a spell.
• Build-up before the season: gradual bowling for 2 weeks before a season or tournament for Under 13, 4 weeks for ages 13 to 15, 6 weeks for ages 15 to 17 and 8 weeks for ages 17 to 19.
• Back pain: if a junior bowler has lower back pain when bowling, Cricket Australia strongly recommends they stop bowling and see a sports doctor or physiotherapist experienced with these injuries before bowling again.

Where a carnival or club schedules matches on consecutive days, a player may bowl on both days but should still stay within 3 bowling days a week and 5-over spells. The coaches' and parents' checklist also suggests a lighter week every 4 weeks and a full week off every 10 to 12 weeks.

Sources: Cricket Australia Junior Pace Bowling Workload Guidelines and Checklist for Coaches and Parents (play.cricket.com.au); Cricket NSW Community Cricket policies page.