When to pick it back up?

For us, HS tryouts start during 1st week of February. Bballson is a pitcher and threw a limited schedule in the fall. He has not done much in November, but will start back getting in throwing shape in the beginning of December. By that I mean, throwing flat ground probably 3 times per week, continue with weights and conditioning and throw a bullpen/lesson probably 2x a week. By end of January, he should be ready for the season to start.

Tryouts are March 1st with the season starting the 15th. In past years my son would do physical training and hit all winter. He would resume throwing February 1st.

Sounds like a good plan to me. There is nothing wrong, with hitting through the shut down at least some. Since he is an incoming freshmen catcher the coach will be looking at pop times, blocking and hitting. His stamina won’t matter for tryouts also since it will most likely be short. Like they say if he can hit then they will find a place for him to play.

My son was a H.S. corner in-field position player and now a College first baseman.

We would play Fall Ball; which ended mid-October. He never stopped throwing or hitting for longer than three weeks (assuming a healthy arm). I always planned twice as much time to "re-train" compared to the down period of "non-training."

You said that; "you quit just before Thanksgiving and are thinking about being ready either the 1st Week of January (for scrimmages: two weeks of training after 5 weeks off?) or the first week of February for tryouts (five weeks of training?).

Your son is an incoming Freshman and will throw more during his 1st week and month of high school tryouts and practices than he ever has in the past. I don't think you are giving him enough training time.

If you don't begin throwing and hitting until Christmas then you've been "down" for at least a month and you have just two weeks to get ready to play in January? I would not do that! The timing is ok if you skip the January games and opt to be good to go on Feb 1st which would be more than ample time to get his "catchers arm" good to go. JMO

You will likely receive some varied opinions on your plan, however. GOOD LUCK during tryouts. It's good to have a solid preparation plan and sounds like you are giving it thought.

Alot to think about. I appreciate the thoughts.

Additional data.....The January scrimmages are not related to HS tryouts. Having said that, its been said to me that he has a fair chance to be the JV catcher. And, most of the kids/pitchers on this January team will be JV players. There in lies the opportunity to get face/catching time with the JV kids. It should also be said that the January games are meant to get them loose for spring. Not really full speed games. Not sure if this changes or adds to the thoughts already offered.

I would keep up a throwing and hitting regime. Maybe a little more rest in between, but I would not spend more than a couple days down (not being a resting pitcher). Certainly not a full week without throwing.

Finding time to not compete is a very good idea. Dropping the ball altogether is a very bad idea.

What my son did every year was after Jupiter (WWBA) or Scout ball ended (late oct/early nov)he would stop playing games/tournaments but continue a long toss program (google Jaeger long toss) continue his 2x weekly batting workouts, and maintain his regular cardio/weight workout routine.

It is good to get some "no compete time"in but to abandon his conditioning would not leave him in great shape going into season.

We saw lots of great players come into season out of shape and it cost them their starting spots... It took them until the end of the season to regain their competitive shape again.

quote:

Originally posted by slbaseballdad:
Additional data.....The January scrimmages are not related to HS tryouts.

Never buy into "optional" work as not counting. My son nearly made varsity as a freshman due to his playing on the "optional" fall ball team. The following year he won a starting position for the spring in the "optional" fall ball games. If a player shines in those scrimmages he's going to have a head start in tryouts or a little slack if tryouts don't go as well as they should.

My son #22 is also in the same position. He is an incoming freshman pitcher and pitched fall ball which ended in mid Oct. I was always on the mindset to not even let him pick up a ball for a month or so to let his arm rest and start exercises aimed mostly for pitchers after Christmas. I would like to know what most people think.. should he throw lightly and no bullpen work or not even throw at all for a month or so. He wants to throw in the backyard every so often.

Jaeger long toss!!!!!!!!!!!! Look it up. To not throw is a huge mistake. To not pitch is a great idea.

KEEP THROWING

The problem with "putting it down" is that you may have trouble "finding it" at a later date. If there are some injuries to recover from, then its time to rest.

The real problem with "putting it down" for a position player is that the competition isn't resting, the competition is always improving. Each day you miss, is another day the competition moves a day ahead of you.

This is no different then taking the summer off after gradustion, only to find that they guys you are trying out against played and lifted all summer long....

My son, a catcher, is working out at least 4 days a week. I don't think he throws much, if at all, on the days he lifts.

CPNM,
On his own or a program the organization gave him?

I think the training staff gave wieght lifing and nutrition guidance. Starting at the college level most coaches expect each position player to take care of whatever business they need to w/o oversight.

As your kid moves up the ladder, most of the kids left standing are those serious about improving. You see fewer and ferwer of the kids that didn't want to break a sweat or showed up drunk/hungover.

quote:

Originally posted by CollegeParentNoMore:
The problem with "putting it down" is that you may have trouble "finding it" at a later date. If there are some injuries to recover from, then its time to rest.

The real problem with "putting it down" for a position player is that the competition isn't resting, the competition is always improving. Each day you miss, is another day the competition moves a day ahead of you.

This is no different then taking the summer off after gradustion, only to find that they guys you are trying out against played and lifted all summer long....

My son, a catcher, is working out at least 4 days a week. I don't think he throws much, if at all, on the days he lifts....

I think the training staff gave wieght lifing and nutrition guidance. Starting at the college level most coaches expect each position player to take care of whatever business they need to w/o oversight.

As your kid moves up the ladder, most of the kids left standing are those serious about improving. You see fewer and ferwer of the kids that didn't want to break a sweat or showed up drunk/hungover.

All outstanding points.

CollegeParentNoMore - I am guessing many of our members here want to see their kids go as far in the game as humanly possible. Your son played in the ACC and now is in the pros. I think I know the answer here, but does your son do all these things because he "has to" or simply because he loves the game and is willing to pay the price it entails?

Not really sure how to desribe it other then he enjoys what he is doing and knows it will end if he doesn't improve every day.

It seems the overwhelming response has been == "don't pitch, but you still need to throw in offseason conditioning." I umderstand the reasoning, but I also know some great examples of tremendous pitchers that close it down for up to 2 months with no throwing. In addition, colleges we have talked to recommend the same. My son is the same age as Coach McCullers two younger sons. He played against them quite frequently. I know two years ago, he talked to our son at length. He told us Lance had a period of 2 months where he did not even touch a ball. He conditioned and hit. He did say he fielded some, but tossed the balls in--- did not throw at all. He said key was coming back correctly. Now, it's been two years since we've had any discussion with him about this, but it made an impact on us. We have tremendous respect for Coach McCullers, and our son even had his baseball card, so that made him even more credible. Our son conditions hard, takes infield and outfield without the throw, and hits, hits, hits-- but he's on a six week throwing break right now. He will resume mid December, and be ready for the HS season. Other person is Karsten Whitson. He told me last Christmas that he didn't touch a ball for two months after his long showcase season. (Team USA, Afflac, Under Armour, etc) It obviously worked for him, as he was 9th pick of the 1st round and ultimately stayed at UF. Again, he worked VERY HARD on conditioning, and had a good throwing plan. Do you think it depends on the type of pitcher, power vs finesse, as to what type of offseaon throwing or nonthrowing program a pitcher should use-- or even primary pitcher vs secondary pitcher/primary position player. As you all know, the pitchers I'm referring to are both phenoms and throw gas. I wish it was as easy as 1+1=2. I guess I'm saying, "there's more than 1 way to skin a cat."

I really value everyone's opinion on this. I would love to hear from the parents of those who are post HS and maybe even Post college. What have your pitching sons done during the offseason with respect to their arm?

I think a lot has to do with innings pitched, plus the type of pitcher. Most pro pitchers put down a ball for two months, don't even toss, but work on conditioning, etc. They aren't even expected to show up full velo, about 76-80%. They are expected, as with everyone else, to come conditioned, and you would be surprised, some don't.
I can't speak for position guys, hitting is more important for them and some don't stop.

Karsten Whitson made a good choice, Kevin O'Sullivan was my son's pitching coach and he is very careful with not overworking a pitcher.

Thanks-- Karsten is from our home town. His family still comes to visit friends, and being from a "small town" we are very proud of him. He thinks Coach O'Sullivan is great!

quote:

Originally posted by smalltownmom:
He thinks Coach O'Sullivan is great!

Sully is the man!