Everything You Need to Know About Baseball Conditioning

By Guest Author: Nathan E Gotch

Most players do not really understand baseball conditioning training because of the misinformation given by their respective coaches. One of the biggest mistakes that players make is utilizing aerobic conditioning. The most famous examples are poles and long distance running.

There problem with these conditioning techniques is that they train the wrong energy system. Baseball is one of the most explosive sports there is, and should be trained that way. Hitting, pitching, sprinting to first, or sprinting towards a fly ball are all examples of anaerobic movements. In fact, baseball is one of the least aerobic sports there is.

The game of baseball is designed as a constant stop-and-go routine. Players need to the ability to explosively spring into action. It doesn't take 30 minutes to swing a bat or deliver a pitch.

Baseball conditioning training must be structured to increase anaerobic levels. Anaerobic activities will increase explosion, strengthen fast twitch muscle fibers, build lean muscle mass, and reduce excess body fat. These results occur because most anaerobic exercises are high intensity.

Some of the best conditioning training techniques for baseball are sprints, hill sprints, plyometrics, agility's, Indian runs, suicides, pole intervals, and body weight circuits.

By utilizing these methods in combination, a player will be able to reach peak conditioning levels. Most of these exercises can be performed before or following a weightlifting routine. This is purely preferential, and you must decide what's right for your particular body and conditioning advancement.

Sprints are among the most effective conditioning exercises for baseball. These high intensity runs are baseball-specific and prepare players for the explosive movements involved within the sport. In addition, sprints will increase anaerobic conditioning, lean muscle mass, and overall running speed. Simply examine any professional baseball player and you will see their incredible sprinting speed. They achieved such great athleticism by utilizing methods like sprints because they are specific to baseball.

If you're a more advanced player, then you might see more benefits by utilizing hill sprints. Hill sprints are simply a more advanced version of the traditional sprints. Incorporating hill sprints in your conditioning routine will greatly increase your anaerobic capacity.

What every player must take out of this, is that baseball conditioning training is much more complex than just running some poles. Running long distance will never make you a better player. Always focus on high intensity conditioning through explosive movements, and interval training. This will ensure that every technique you use, is specific to the sport.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you read Baseball Conditioning: The Correct Way for a more in-depth look at this highly debated topic.

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Baseball Exercises

Baseball Exercises
By guest author: Jim Bain

The thought of baseball exercises being important to young baseball players doesn't always get the proper amount of attention from coaches and parents that it should. It's somewhat understandable, as one equates youth with unlimited energy and abilities, but training should begin as early in a player's career as possible.

Ahhh, did you catch the word training instead of exercises? The difference in words, although they are interchangeable, shines a different light on the subject.

Players are never too young to begin a strengthening and conditioning program. In fact you are doing a disservice to the player waiting until he/she is 11 or 12 years old, because proper strength and muscle building requires time to develop and the longer you wait...the longer it takes for the player to catch up.

Let's look at some exercises through the terminology of training and Baseball specific.

Wind Sprints are a tried and true method of developing endurance as well as speed. Endurance is required to not only play 7 innings of baseball, but to be able to play 7 innings at peak performance level. Does an inside the park home run count for less in the 6th inning than the 1st? With a 0-0 score it is of equal importance, but if the level of performance has shriveled due to fatigue, the 6th inning run may not score.

Sprints in sets of 10, 30 to 40 yards in length will have the player(s) embarking on a quality endurance program. Having the players run the drills as a unit, such as pitchers together, catchers, infielders, etc. will also build a team unity which is invaluable during the course of a long season.

Squeezing racquetballs or tennis balls, is an excellent exercise for developing wrist, forearm and finger strength. The drill can be performed by the player anywhere at anytime without the need for a partner or any special weather conditions.

One may not realize, but strong fingers are a huge part of swinging a baseball bat. Think about it. You don't hold the bat in the palm of your hand, at least you better not, where there is no strength. You firmly clasp the bat in the fingers using the palms to merely keep the bat from falling out of your hand.

Strong wrist and forearms, which operate in conjunction with the hands, are the strength mechanisms which yield the snap and power of the wrist when swinging a bat or throwing a baseball.

These are but two exercises, or rather training exercises, which a young player needs to begin as soon as possible. Strength, endurance, team building and much more are accomplished through drills, exercises and training which is started young, with the intensity level increased as the player develops.

Jim ( Coach ) Bain is a former Minor League Player and Coach of Youth Baseball for over a decade. He has drawn from fellow successful coaches' experiences and combined them with his own extensive experience to create a Baseball Teaching Website. The site is packed with 100s of tips, drills, history and instruction on how to play and coach the game of baseball.

http://www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Bain

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