Youth Strength Training And Baseball Pitching Performance

The getting “bigger and stronger” mentality for better performance in sports has not proven out. The study below is just one of many that have proven that out.

In pitching we certainly hear it all the time from coaches and even pro scouts who advice the long-lanky pitcher that if he wants to throw harder he needs to hit the weights.

The strength training industry has done an excellent job misinforming baseball and the public in the idea that weight training is going to lead to increased performance. However, studies in sports science have not proven that philosophy to work…in football let alone baseball.

Here is a study that all parents and coaches should read and then digest. This applies even more so to baseball pitching since pitching is a skill activity not a strength activity.

Why is this so important? Because pitching has not gotten much better over the years and may be getting worse. Why? I believe it is due to spending too much time on activities that do help pitchers perform in doing their job better—getting hitters out.

When coaches understand that pitching is a skill activity and not a strength activity then just maybe they will study mechanics so that they can help every pitcher reach his full potential. Pitchers will not improve performance in the weight room.

Specific strength, core strength and stabilization strength… rather than general strength is what is needed so that pitchers strengthen all the movements they use in pitching. Pitching is an explosive activity. When pitchers work in the weight room they cannot be improving the one area that will help them throw at their velocity potential—getting more explosive.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS:

Strength training can improve an adolescent athlete’s performance in weight lifting and power lifting. Strength training is a common practice in sports like football in which size and strength are desirable. Despite theoretical benefits, scientific studies have failed to consistently show that improved strength enhances running speed, jumping ability, or overall sports performance.6,10

Evidence that strength training programs help prevent sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in preadolescents and adolescents is inconclusive.11 Furthermore, there is no evidence that strength training will reduce the incidence of catastrophic sports-related injuries.

Young people who want to improve sports performance will generally benefit more from practicing and perfecting skills of the sport than from resistance training. If long-term health benefits are the goal, strength training should be combined with an aerobic training program.

If you have questions on any phase of pitching—mechanics, strength and conditioning, mental training, strategy send those questions to dickmills@gmail.com and I will answer them here.

If you want an explosive body and explosive mechanics you need to get my Free Report at www.pitching.nexcess.net. We won’t waste your time. We show you what works and what has been proven to work. I show you a comparison between two high school pitchers and a major league pitcher who throws mid to upper nineties. Find out why you do not have powerful mechanics.