So the HS winter training program will include speed and agility training 4x per week. I also got the name of a place that is supposed to be very good with this specific training. Do I have son (2027) do both? Just the HS training?
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Depending on the quality of the workout, I’d definitely only do 1. A good S&A workout is really going to push them physically and the body needs time to recover. Over training could lead to injury.
Most every metro area has a place or two where pro ball players train. Some have been around for a long time, others pop up, last for a while, and disappear. Many have programs for HS athletes and there’s some crossover – HS/college/pro.
My son still trains at where he started as a HS freshman – I remember how much he loved seeing the college and pro guys doing the same work when he was in HS. Then working with the pro guys when he was in college. It’s amazing who will offer there help if they see someone working hard, regardless of the level. Now he’s a pro guy, paying it back…
From my parental perspective, baseball training is mostly about explosiveness and building the structure to contain that muscular violence without injury.
@Dadof3 posted:So the HS winter training program will include speed and agility training 4x per week. I also got the name of a place that is supposed to be very good with this specific training. Do I have son (2027) do both? Just the HS training?
I agee with TerribleBPthrower.
Make sure that you get an age appropriate assessment before you decide on a program.
JMO
People always told us "rake and you'll play". I made a big mistake with the kid taking that to heart. At the higher levels (college) that's not entirely true. Speed and agility (defense) will keep you in the game when you are not raking, and that will happen.
So, where do you think you will get the better training?
I’ve been recommended a facility that has specific training for kids who want to get to the next level (college). Also has trainers that have worked with mlb players I guess.
Does the place have a ramp/hill used for training?
At my son's hs they offer winter track which I believe a lot of multi sport athletes participate in. Has anyone's son done something like this? Could that be a good substitute for a speed and agility program?
My son seems to have developed a love for running on almost a daily basis but it's more of a recreational thing. Will track help with speed in baseball? Or just more with general physical fitness?
BB328;
During our Area Code tryouts at Fresno State I conducted an experiment. After every player ran the 60 yd, I sent the players to the Fresno State track for instruction in proper running "form". Then the players ran again and the average improvement was 5% in running time.
"True story"
Bob
@BB328 posted:At my son's hs they offer winter track which I believe a lot of multi sport athletes participate in. Has anyone's son done something like this? Could that be a good substitute for a speed and agility program?
My son seems to have developed a love for running on almost a daily basis but it's more of a recreational thing. Will track help with speed in baseball? Or just more with general physical fitness?
I would say it is not a good substitute. A good S&A program focuses a ton on explosiveness, forward/lateral/backward movement. My son's facility he used in HS had a ton of training gadgets for resistance, mental decision making, and a ton of other stuff. The owner is also an extremely motivating guy who gets the athlete going at 100% for the workouts.
@BB328 posted:At my son's hs they offer winter track which I believe a lot of multi sport athletes participate in. Has anyone's son done something like this? Could that be a good substitute for a speed and agility program?
My son seems to have developed a love for running on almost a daily basis but it's more of a recreational thing. Will track help with speed in baseball? Or just more with general physical fitness?
It depends...doesn't it always! :-) My oldest son had a travel teammate that was an absolute burner. Ran a 6.1x (something...it was a national record at the time) for the 60yd dash at the national combine (indoor facility) in Minneapolis years ago. This kid ran like a gazelle and just glided through the air. Highly recruited for college baseball and some pro scouts were following him around as early as his high school sophomore year when he committed to a D1 P5 in Virginia that has a rather large centerfield. This guy ran winter track in high school, AND he had an outstanding sprint speed coach that helped him and kept him healthy. So, if your son has a track coach with a positive history and reputation for working with sprinters I would consider it.
Just my experience....
When I was a HC, we met every day of the week at 6 in the morning. We alternated plyometric workouts and weight lifting. We made sure to include dynamic stretching in both cases. Players did not have to come but most did. It was intense but the players were responsible for that. They pushed each other. I did the research, went and talked to several experts in planning the program and then set up the workouts.
For my teams, this really built our teams. They would finish the workouts and then head to the cafeteria where they ate breakfast each day together. There were times when they filled up 2 and 3 of the cafeteria tables. As I have mentioned before, some coaches accused me of building a "cult." I simply offered the opportunity for players to get bigger and stronger and they took advantage of that.
We had one move-in player who had his own routine with his expert. Beware of some of these experts who spring up with their own training businesses. That player tore his abdominal muscles and was not able to play his senior year. Of course, there are trainers who are exceptional out there as well.
@BB328 posted:At my son's hs they offer winter track which I believe a lot of multi sport athletes participate in. Has anyone's son done something like this? Could that be a good substitute for a speed and agility program?
My son seems to have developed a love for running on almost a daily basis but it's more of a recreational thing. Will track help with speed in baseball? Or just more with general physical fitness?
My daughter was talented enough to play P5 softball. After growing from 5’2” to 5’10” in eight months she was a bit awkward. She went to track camp one summer at a top ranked track university. It smoothed out her coordination and running. But coming out of blocks is not the same as running the bases. It wasn’t a waste of money or waste of time. But it wasn’t the best use of the money and time.
When my son was fifteen (also played P5 ball) I sent him to training specific to optimizing his 60 time. He had grown from 5’4 to 5’11” over the previous year. He improved from 6.7 to 6.5 in a matter of weeks.
Depends on your situation and development needs. As a freshman, we opted out of the fall HS training and did our own thing. Part of the decision was that mine critically needed speed training. The other part was the HS training was pretty much not well defined weight training by position. If money isn’t an huge factor, I’d choose my own trainers and definitely do sprint training unless it’s just a run of the mill speed training and not mechanics based.
My experience aligns with @Consultant said. I found a speed trainer that has tailored explosiveness for the 60yd with proper mechanics. The mechanics are key and only the trainers that train sprinters will help IMO. I think he also focuses on shortening the drive through 20yds instead of 40yds (which is what they would do if training for a 100yd dash). I’m just writing this from the hip, so don’t quote me. Anyway, my 2026’s pitching coach loves the strength gains and loves anything with explosive training. The speed sessions are so much harder workouts then the strength stuff for my kid. He’s whooped after every workout to the point I feel it necessary to ask if he’s ok, even if it’s just lip service (haha). The speed training kicks his butt because it’s a ton of hip flexor work apparently.
Anyway, my son does both right now. If your son is slow, like mine was, do speed with a qualified trainer. You’re not going to get faster with the HS trainers unless there is a sprint coach working with the baseball team. Also, Don’t do the local speed and agility program but ask around and find a specialist. Mine did speed and agility for years through elementary and middle school and even saw a different sprint coach (a year before this one). No real progress (until we found his current trainer) last fall when he knocked about 1.5 seconds off his 60yd. His current trainer starts with stretching, warmup routines, and then very specific motion on each of the various reps. He’s not lightning fast, but finally runs a middle of the pack 60 that doesn’t raise red flags.