What Makes Weight Lifter's Stronger? Rhetorical

Harv100+ posts

So this year I decided I wasn't just going to turn over my ball players to the local HS trainer. I was going to develop and supervise the off season conditioning.

I noticed the football team guys. Its been awhile since I lifted for football but it brought fond memories of team work. The last couple of lifts in the last set there were 3 or more guys spotting and yelling encouragement (as only football does) to the guy doing the lifting to squeeze out those last lifts.

I then noticed that, in my explosive medicine ball drills where the ball players take a medicine ball and explode to two hand push it towards the ceiling they quickly moved up in explosive strength to where I was worried about them breaking the roof and made them go to heavier balls for that exercise. Three workouts later I found I needed to provide even heavier balls to protect the roof.

The observation I had was both the football players and the baseball players had "targets", motivation and immediate feedback. One might say "duhhhhh"

So I decided to try something new for pitching velocity workouts. And for you worry worts these are all well developed juniors and seniors two month into their throwing program and 6 weeks before the first game. I set the pitchers up with a canvas target (kind of like a "strike zone" and gave them my trusty Juggs radar gun. Then just left them alone and observed from a distance.

Kids that had never broken 80 were popping 84. It didn't count unless it was "in the zone". Kids that were low 80's were now mid to upper 80's.

Their fellow pitchers were doing football type supportive hollering. The next guy in the throwing rotation held the gun and read out the number.

I found stride length increased while still landing on the ball of the foot.....they got further out over their stride foot, butt facing heaven on release....and they were having a ball.....had to shut them down.

They actually were smiling and never heard a ***** when I said now's the time for the post pitching aerobics and post pitching stretching.

What do you wise men think about this?

2/4/1210:00 PM

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JPontiac500+ posts

I think making everything goal-oriented is generally a good thing. I suppose there is some element of danger when maximum exertion is involved, but I find that so many guys at that age have no clue how far they are from their real limits. I know I had no idea what I was capable of in the weight room and elsewhere until I found ways (like short-term goal setting) to repeatedly push as hard as possible.

2/4/1211:03 PM

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CoachB25Honorary "Old TImer"

Harv, what is your position? HS Coach? Travel Coach? Certified Trainer?

2/5/1211:56 AM

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Midlo Dad10,000+ posts

I would never want any pitcher's focus to become too velocity-centric. But I think most people probably don't realize how often pitchers don't really push to gain velocity over time, and I think that is counter productive.

I think it's worthwhile to challenge a pitcher to set a new milestone from time to time. Every time he raises his ceiling, he also raises the level (a few mph below the ceiling) where he cruises as well.

Another aspect of this is that when a pitcher gets instant feedback, he can start to realize what things help his velocity and what things may hinder it. Which is also helpful from the standpoint of potential mechanics adjustments.

Sprinters, weight lifters, etc. all do this. Properly managed, I think it's a sound approach. Of course, you can also overdo it, as you can with just about anything I suppose.

I'm amazed at how many people just throw what they throw and think, well this is all God gave me. Well, God may have put more in your tank than you realize, so try tapping into all of it!

2/5/122:28 PM

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EdgarFan500+ posts

quote:
Originally posted by Harv:

"So I decided to try something new for pitching velocity workouts. And for you worry worts these are all well developed juniors and seniors two month into their throwing program and 6 weeks before the first game. I set the pitchers up with a canvas target (kind of like a "strike zone" and gave them my trusty Juggs radar gun. Then just left them alone and observed from a distance.

Kids that had never broken 80 were popping 84. It didn't count unless it was "in the zone". Kids that were low 80's were now mid to upper 80's."

I know that you are aware of and recognize the dangers of getting too velo-centric and letting kids focus too much on their radar numbers, but I just thought I would throw this article out there as food for thought:

Dr. James Andrews Talks Tommy John

Excerpt:

quote:
When Dr. James Andrews talks about arm injuries in baseball, it would be crazy not to listen to him. ...So when he has a request for the sport he loves, maybe it should be wise and listen to his request -- especially at the youth and high school level.

"I think they should outlaw the radar gun," he said. "Young pitchers, coaches, scouts and parents put so much emphasis now on throwing hard that these kids are hurting their elbows and their shoulders because they're trying to throw 90 mph."

..."It is surprising," Andrews said. "Kids are growing up too fast. They are outgrowing the development of their ligaments. They are getting too big and too strong too quick. Their ligaments in the elbow aren’t ready.

"The first thing you need to do is basically have common sense," he added. "If you step back and really understand the risk factors you can prevent these arm injuries."

He then goes on to identify the biggest risk factorss he sees for arm injury, and particularly Tommy John injury:

1. Year-round baseball
2. Velocity
3. Fatigue
4. Showcases
5. The radar gun

I'd say this is a pretty good conversation starter, for this board.

2/8/122:02 PM

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