What are you training for?
Strength Coaches- what are we doing? Sports Specificity has been a grossly overused term, massively “misinterpreted” by many in the field of Strength and Conditioning. When reviewing many organizational programs- I see in-season lifts- cardiovascular training schedules and programming that is anti-baseball. With most programs rooted in a football science, many organizational programs MAY contribute to poor performance of the the athlete.
When was the last time you completed an audit of your teams strength and conditioning program? All good systems- employ a series of checks and balances. In Japanese culture the definition of Kaizen is “improvement” and particularly, “Continuous Improvement”- slow, incremental… but constant.
Here’s a look at some of things we condition- to affect: Throwing Velocity… Pitcher Endurance….Running Speed (not top speed- but acceleration and curvilinear speed- why we still run the 60 is beyond me)… Swing Speed (Power)…Lateral Agility…and overall- Injury Reduction. How do we do it – how do we affect it constantly?
Throwing Velocity- Deceleration- through defined and individual specific load vectors
Pitcher Endurance- Metabolic Training for improved Oxygen utilization
Running Speed- Starting speed (30) and acceleration through 60 feet of a base path on MAX Velocity Days
Swing Power- Ground Force- Core rotational Training featuring emphasis on thoracic mobilization
Lateral Agility- Do you even know the amount of lateral movements your players by position make day in- day out? Whats the volume? Ensure the volume is appropriate for every cone drill!
Injury Reduction: This is where Specificity plays a key role. How do you have a program that is supposed to reduce injury- IF you dont know the imbalances of the individual athlete? Single Leg Squats (SLS) and Overhead Squat (OHS) assessments are important at multiple times throughout the course of a season.. not just pre and post season. in a one-sided sport- imbalances will be building by overall volume and it’s important to stay in touch with these.
The next question is WHEN do we do it? Periodization is critical to success- in an annual- seasonal- weekly- home stand – road trip and single day adjustments. Each year- good coaches need to evaluate their athletes- and their programs. Their should be learning continuously- adaption and change- and re-evaluation. Scientific - Measurable- yet Open Ended for constant improvement. It’s the Kaizen of strength and conditioning.
Good stuff Gary, and all so true at the professional levels especially.