Training Tips

Winter Training

REMEMBER, High School pitchers should not begin throwing until late January and since the pros don't start until the second week in February why should you. Your arm should be rested from the beginning of November until late January or early Feb.. Stay away from indoor leagues because it is a good way to get injured. Pitchers should begin throwing in late January or early February with short mechanical work and long toss for 2 weeks. After that the program should consist of three to four times a week off the mound, throwing 30 pitches and building that up each week by 5 pitches. After the fourth week go to three times per week and increase your pitch count. By season start your arm should be ready to go a full game once a week. Keep your pitch count from 85 to 95 pitches early in the year. As it gets warmer, you should be able to up your pitch count by 10-15. Remember the less pitches early in your career the more you'll have later and most importantly you should never pitch with pain. Any pain means bad mechanics or an abuse by a coach. If pain continues seek out a qualified pitching coach. That means a coach who has a track record of keeping pitchers healthy and getting them to the next level --- COLLEGE.

REMEMBER hitters, when training in winter indoors do as much live training as possible. Stay away from machines where you can't see the ball the entire time. In our opinion Video screen batting cages are not true training tools they are more for entertainment. There are new machines out that change pitches so you learn to deal with curves, changeups and fastballs. That's all fine and dandy. But how many out there can swing a bat mechanically correct without a ball coming at them. How many players can deal with all 9 zones. Very few. There is much more to do before you step into a batting cage. You need to work on all your body parts in relation to hitting, i.e. your spin, single hand swing drills, load drills etc. When seeking instruction make sure the instructor has put players in college. If not and he is a beginner and your son is now a test case. Not what you want.

REMEMBER players we need to weight train but don't replace the swings you need with weights.

Parents Advice

Parents give your son the opportunity to excel by making sure that he is in the correct grade. Players should enter college and turn 19 in the first few months of college. This gives them the athletic advantage of not having to give away 6 years to the college senior. This is a physical issue not an academic one.

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