softball home run
Sport specific conditioning or game speed practicing are not new concepts, but often overlooked is the unique fitness training needs of fastpitch softball position players. Softball athletes execute short explosive movements with varying rest intervals. Softball pitchers and catchers operate at a different frequency than infielders and outfielders. This rest interval difference needs to be taken into consideration by their strength and conditioning program. Many athletes now have specifically tailored fitness programs. Taking this into consideration, here are three examples of a tailored fitness program.
The Power Hitters:
The power hitter's greatest asset is their ability to generate bat speed through the strike zone. Power hitter's can hit for high average and/or home runs. Defensively, power players will typically play the catcher or corner infielder positions. For this group, the strength program emphasizes the lower and upper body and core strength development. Conditioning sessions put added emphasis on incorporating medicine ball plyometrics for trunk torque and power development and improving speed-endurance for under 40 yard conditioning.
The Speed Players:
The speed player's role is defined by their ability to accelerate quickly and maintain a high terminal running velocity. This group of players is typically grouped together as slappers and base stealers. These players typically are middle infielders and outfielders. Don't underestimate the strength of a speed player, because she may be the strongest player on the team, but the emphasis on strength training is less when compared to speed, endurance, and agility training. Speed player's typical strengthening routine involves full body exercises like lunges and squats, with less of an emphasis on upper body strength. Agility can be enhanced through cone drills, ladder drills, and short shuttles. The speed endurance targets acceleration and running distances under 40 yards through form running and resistance sprints.
The Pitchers:
Arguable, the pitcher is the most influential player that effects the game's outcome. They need to be explosive on every pitch, withstand long innings, and pitch multiple games per week. Their lower body and core must be exceptionally strong and powerful while maintaining wide range of motion and flexibility. Like speed players, pitchers strength training focuses are full body workouts with a slightly greater emphasis on lower body strength. Pitchers also need to do extra grip strengthening work and as hip flexors and adductors to improve lower body mobility.
Final Training Considerations:
Off-season and in-season strength training sessions have dramatically different emphasis. In the off-season, a strong emphasis is placed on muscle building and injury prevention. Conversely, in-season training is for injury prevention and maintenance.
All three groups have the same basic training, but the number of sets and repetitions differ depending of the areas of emphasis. All groups should perform full body strength training like squats, lunges, and plyometrics to develop strength and power. Injury prevention is also addressed with abdominal stability, full body flexibility, low back strength development, and shoulder and rotator cuff work. All groups also have conditioning days for endurance development where they run stadium sprints or shuttle runs. Over the course of the week, the athletes have covered all the strength and conditioning development areas, but just have not spent the same amount of time on each.
About the Author:
Learn more about fastpitch softball conditioning from Fastpitch Softball at Youth-Athlete
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Conditioning Exercises for Your Softball Player
Brandon Murray's 515ft homerun (Softball Kingdom)
|
|
Baseball Motivational Wood Photo Mat & Frame - Every Strike Brings Me Closer to the Next Home Run -Babe Ruth $60.00 This beautiful laser cut wooden mat surrounded by a solid wood golden oak frame will create a cherished keepsake when your photos are added.... |
|
|
Do It Better Slo-pitch Softball (Take Your Pitching and Hitting to New Heights) $34.95 Get the inside pitch and take it out-a-here with three of the nation's biggest names in softball as they show you the hitting and pitching styles that have made them successful. First, Rob Whittleton uses his fifteen years of manager/pitcher experience to demonstrate pitching strategies, team positioning, and practice techniques. Then, you will witness the awesome power and discipline of two of th... |
|
|
Baseball Motivational Wood Photo Mat & Frame - Every Strike Brings Me Closer to the Next Home Run -Babe Ruth $60.00 This beautiful laser cut wooden mat surrounded by a solid wood golden oak frame will create a cherished keepsake when your photos are added.... |
|
|
Master Baseball / Softball: Subliminal CD $14.95 What happens when YOU play ball? The problem most of us have is that when our game doesn't go as we intended--we tend to start thinking too much. Real baseball or softball skills are unconscious. We are programming our bodies to hit, field, and pitch with skill and control when we practice--but when we are actually play ball its not time to be thinking, it's time to let the skills we've develop ... |
|
|
Do It Better Slo-pitch Softball (Take Your Pitching and Hitting to New Heights) $34.95 Get the inside pitch and take it out-a-here with three of the nation's biggest names in softball as they show you the hitting and pitching styles that have made them successful. First, Rob Whittleton uses his fifteen years of manager/pitcher experience to demonstrate pitching strategies, team positioning, and practice techniques. Then, you will witness the awesome power and discipline of two of th... |
|
|
Dubble Bubble Homreun Baseball Gum 240 Piece tub $12.85 ... |
|
|
H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet (Alphabet Books) $6.00 Now anyone can be one of the 'boys or girls of summer' and get a home plate view of America's favorite pastime in H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet . This new offering in our line of children's alphabet books brings the game of baseball to entertaining and informative life. Sports writer Brad Herzog pairs easy-to-read rhymes with detailed expository so that readers are pitched baseball's fact... |
|
|
Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth $1.97 "He has always had this swing. This easy, upthrusting swing. This 'pretty' swing, not taught by any coach. One day the Babe just swung--and it was there. It was his." Combining stirring, poetic prose and Mike Wimmer's realistic illustrations, Home Run conveys the feeling of excitement and awe that must have been present at a baseball game in which the great Babe Ruth played. Robert Burleigh... |
|
|
Home Run! My Baseball Book $2.27 Artist David Diehl hits one right out of the ballpark for toddlers! Young sports enthusiasts—and adults, too—can celebrate Americaâs national pastime one word and image at a time. Whether itâs a batter hitting a “home run,â a “playerâ sliding across the plate, or a “pitcherâ winding up for a strike, Diehlâs energetic and lively pictures convey... |
|
|
Rawlings Home Run Wmns Racerback Softball Jerseys W/DG-WHITE SHIRT/DARK GREEN INSET AS (33-34) Rawlings Home Run Women s Racerback Softball Jersey (12 Colors) Style Number: WJBI - Women s Features: - Women s sleeveless racerback jersey - Colors: 100% nylon flatback mesh (21 cloth) - White: 100% polyester flatback mesh (21 cloth) - Moisture management material Size: Women s Adult: AXS (30-32), AS (33-34), AM (35-37), AL (38-40), AXL (42-44), AXXL (46-48) SHIRT SHOWN IN PICTURE IS W/B-WHITE S... |
|
|
Baseball Motivational Wood Photo Mat & Frame - Every Strike Brings Me Closer to the Next Home Run -Babe Ruth $60.00 This beautiful laser cut wooden mat surrounded by a solid wood golden oak frame will create a cherished keepsake when your photos are added.... |
|
|
Do It Better Slo-pitch Softball (Take Your Pitching and Hitting to New Heights) $34.95 Get the inside pitch and take it out-a-here with three of the nation's biggest names in softball as they show you the hitting and pitching styles that have made them successful. First, Rob Whittleton uses his fifteen years of manager/pitcher experience to demonstrate pitching strategies, team positioning, and practice techniques. Then, you will witness the awesome power and discipline of two of th... |
|
|
Master Baseball / Softball: Subliminal CD $14.95 What happens when YOU play ball? The problem most of us have is that when our game doesn't go as we intended--we tend to start thinking too much. Real baseball or softball skills are unconscious. We are programming our bodies to hit, field, and pitch with skill and control when we practice--but when we are actually play ball its not time to be thinking, it's time to let the skills we've develop ... |
|
|
Dubble Bubble Homreun Baseball Gum 240 Piece tub $12.85 ... |
|
|
Little Kids Junk Ball Home Run Challenge $9.99 Set up a mini ball park in the backyard. Marker discs may be used to mark off a field, a home run fence or home run distances. 13 piece kit includes (1) junk ball bat, (4) junk ball baseballs, (6) red junk ball discs, (1) pitcher's rubber and (1) home plate, all packed in a 4 color box with the bat attached with two cable ties.... |
