Why the broad jump???

I'm not a 100% sure of why they used the broad jump but it is a good test for explosive power out of your legs. I could see using it for maybe pitchers for a leg drive thing or possibly stealing bases.

Overall I don't think you would find it in too many places as a test. Maybe a football put on the showcase????

Coach

Explosive power to me is not the same in a broad jump as it is getting out of the batters box or taking off to steal second


What are your thoughts?

I'd bet it's all about comparison to norms, like an over-simplified version of SPARX testing. Maybe it was just the easiest measure that they could come up with?
I agree with TR, it's got nothing to do with baseball ability, just a simple measure of strength.

TR in all honesty I cannot see a real connection to a baseball specific activity. I put pitching and basestealing as a stretch to try and justify it.

I think it is a good test to determine explosive power out of the legs but in the baseball world the only time you really need it is when an IF has to jump to catch a linedrive.

I guess what I was saying if you go with the drop and drive theory of pitching then you can make a small comparison to that explosive power.

Then again I could be totally thinking of the wrong thing with the broad jump?????

The broad jump has very little to do with baseball. However it can show athletic ability. Athletic ability is important in every sport including baseball. So in a small way I can understand why someone might test that.

A good long jump wouldn't really be a determining factor but still interesting if added to everything else. Kind of like if a player had a 40 inch vertical jump. It don't mean he can play baseball at a high level, but it does mean he has some rare natural athletic ability. If most other things are close to equal... pick the best athlete because he probably has the highest ceiling.

Always been a big believer in the more information you have the better. Don't think the broad jump is extremely important, but it is a bit more information. Not sure how much that info would help, but can't see how it could hurt.

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Here is my favorite...by a scout...with a straight face..

...directly equating a slow 60 time in a 16 year old pitcher...

...to any hope of developing future velocity...

44
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Explosiveness and overall athletic ability.

broad jump has nothing to do with baseball. this just shows that the "performance peddlers" are really stretching it. what will they have them do next, pole vault.

What is a "performance peddler"?
Is that something bad?

It has to do with teams exploring aggressive preventative techniques, unique ideas on conditioning, and giving the players enough physical challenges to keep him busy. Lets be honest players get bored with just weight lifting and running. The Diamondbacks have started doing this kinda of stuff with their players and jumping is how Chris Young hurt himself.

You know when you get down to it all this scientific mumbo jumbo, as I call,it can be done away with

The truth comes in the game with every kid---that is the test not the scientific garbage

At some point it becomes too much information and there's the danger of focusing on things that don't really count. Running speed, arm strength, hitting for average, hitting for power and fielding are pretty much it when it comes to baseball other than the intangibles which show up in games and not in SPARQ testing where technique can have a significant impact on scores just like it could with the broad jump.

The really great baseball athletes are going to stand out with their 60 times, home to first times, throwing velocities and power. I think the chances of a broad jump distance or SPARQ score changing that are pretty slim.

The great baseball athletes are going to stand out in a series of games----nothing else

quote:

The great baseball athletes are going to stand out in a series of games----nothing else

TRhit

TR,

Wouldn't that mean that camps, MLB tryouts and showcases are all a waste of time and money?