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I'm looking for any training tips I can find to help me be the best Little League pitcher in our district. Coach gave me a couple of books to read. I thought I'd check on-line for anything else that's out there. Since you have a section on children, I was wondering if you know what I should do.
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Young pitchers can stay healthy and strong by following guidelines set up by the Little League organization. They suggest keeping track of pitch count and pitch type, getting proper rest, and avoiding overparticipation. Equally important is a proper conditioning program.
During the preseason, and between seasons (off-season), a strengthening and conditioning program of exercises is essential. Such a program is the best insurance to reduce the risk of injury to the throwing arm. You will want a fitness program that includes a weight lifting program but one that is appropriate for children and teens who have not yet completed their growth. One type that experts recommend is called a functional conditioning program.
The program is designed in a pyramid form. The basic foundation (at the bottom) is the bulk of the program. This begins with physical fitness. Overall fitness provides stability, flexibility, and balanced posture. The athlete doesn't progress to the next level until foundational fitness is demonstrated. This concept is important to prevent joint break down when moving to the next level in the pyramid, which is called joint integrity. At this level, plyometrics (e.g., plyoball training) is used to increase endurance during repetitive movements. Plyometrics refers to a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system.
From there the athlete is progressed to machine work to build up speed and power. Free weights are used to further reinforce speed and power. At the top of the pyramid are activities that further enhance speed or velocity.
Throughout the functional conditioning pyramid, there is an effort to train opposing muscle groups equally. The idea is to strive for muscle balance for young pitchers. The act of throwing training requires the coordination of many muscles working together with perfect timing. Problems can develop if even one muscle is fatigued or overloaded.
Yyou don't want to start any kind of lifting program without proper supervision and guidance. Consider asking your parents to help you find the right kind of program for your age and build. Some sports centers, gyms, and fitness centers provide this kind of help for athetes of all ages.
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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