Training for strength and power certainly makes sense for softball athletes. However, for many pitchers games and tournaments can be very long. How does a pitcher train the endurance needed to last before they just gas out?
Thanks for the question! Here is an answer from our s&c department and pitching department - PITCHING: For pitching, endurance is built over time, throughout the off-season. As the off-season progresses, we build both moderate and high intensity volume. Come pre-season, we drop volume but stick mainly to high intensity work. This approach, in conjunction with a solid S&C plan, prepares our OGX athletes for max performance, while also building their resilience against the workload demands of the season. S&C: When you think about endurance for softball, the energy system demands are not the same as going for a long duration run even though they are in the circle for extended periods of time. The game allows for roughly 1 second of pitching (near maximal intensity) followed by 10-15 seconds of rest between pitches. This 1:10-15 work to rest ratio aligns with the Phosphagen energy system being the most in demand. The next step is what would fuel this system? Training this system! This is why strength and power within the training is important. Being strong and powerful in the gym will feed strength and power on the mound. Beyond that, monitoring your child’s pitch count and keeping them well fed (before, during, in between and after games) and healthy gives them the best chance of getting through a tough weekend without sputtering out at the end.
Training for strength and power certainly makes sense for softball athletes. However, for many pitchers games and tournaments can be very long. How does a pitcher train the endurance needed to last before they just gas out?
Thanks for the question! Here is an answer from our s&c department and pitching department - PITCHING: For pitching, endurance is built over time, throughout the off-season. As the off-season progresses, we build both moderate and high intensity volume. Come pre-season, we drop volume but stick mainly to high intensity work. This approach, in conjunction with a solid S&C plan, prepares our OGX athletes for max performance, while also building their resilience against the workload demands of the season. S&C: When you think about endurance for softball, the energy system demands are not the same as going for a long duration run even though they are in the circle for extended periods of time. The game allows for roughly 1 second of pitching (near maximal intensity) followed by 10-15 seconds of rest between pitches. This 1:10-15 work to rest ratio aligns with the Phosphagen energy system being the most in demand. The next step is what would fuel this system? Training this system! This is why strength and power within the training is important. Being strong and powerful in the gym will feed strength and power on the mound. Beyond that, monitoring your child’s pitch count and keeping them well fed (before, during, in between and after games) and healthy gives them the best chance of getting through a tough weekend without sputtering out at the end.
Just in case you haven't listened to the latest podcast that premiered today, we explored your question in greater depth!
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