The off-season is a time for work to begin. One question, what tools should every baseball/softball player use. The first place a player gets better is in the weight room (for those of the proper age). If a player does not work hard in developing a strong body and mind then the tasks on the field will not matter because they will not be able to handle them. The program designed for the weight room should be one which focuses on the athletic movements within the sport. For in

Coaching is a difficult job but one of the most rewarding job out there. Coaches have to wear multiple "hats" when working with a player or team. Coaches must be a : 1. Teacher 2. Parent 3. Role Model 4. Tutor (for older kids) 5. Confidant 6. Trouble Shooter 7. Manager 8. Planner 9. Individual/Team assessor 10. TEACHER The above list is just a fraction of what a coach must be every day in the lives of their players. Coaches at the younger age group (4-15 year old) need to foc

Now we are at the point in our training to begin to convert on sport-specific training into specific baseball skills. Practice: Do drills, fielding, hitting, and throwing as a team. Running: Players should be running 5-6 times per week. For the first two weeks in this training group focus on stamina on Mondays, focus on speed on Tuesday and Friday, light jog on Wednesday, do speed-endurance on Thursday, and so speed-endurance and run bases on Saturday. Take Sunday off or an e

At this point in the training program you should be training five times per week to be in peak performance by the start of Spring Training. The objective during this phase is to lift heavier weights for more sets and fewer reps. This will teach the body to turn on more fast twitch muscle fibers. Aerobic fitness focus during this time is Sprints for speed and acceleration. Do plyometrics twice a week. Warm up and stretch properly before workouts; cool down after them. Play cat

As we begin to work into the first "formal" training phase of the program please note that the previous section (Active Rest) is designed to prime the body for the training portion. This training phase is designed to build a general fitness base. In the first 4-week block you'll do a total body program to prime the system for the harder work to come. The focus is high volume, low intensity, general fitness workouts (more reps with light to moderate loads). Gradually build the

Goal: To recover, rehabilitate, and maintain current fitness level The goal in the first three to four weeks after the season is over is active rest. You want to give your body time to recover from the completed season and stay just active enough to maintain fitness. Formal training will begin in October/November. The Active Rest phase is a three to four week section with no formal training that is designed to allow you to recover both physically and mentally from the previou