Shifting Focus in the Fall

If you’re going through each year without changing your pitching routine, it’s time to reconsider your strategy. Each season—spring, summer, fall, and winter—is different, and accordingly, each should have it’s own goals.

The spring season (school ball) and summer season (travel) are typically marked by intense competition and a lot of pitching for serious pitchers. With the commitment required for the average team, this is understandable and expected. In the fall and winter, you have more control over your routine and should use that opportunity to make yourself into the best pitcher possible.

Unless you’re an uncommitted senior, the fall and winter should be all about winding down your actual pitching and ramping up your strength training. I’ve written specifically about the winter, and the reasons behind this focus shift here. That post includes links to a free and complete off season workout program.

Fall, however, may be the beginning of the off-season, but for many pitchers it’s not entirely off; I’m aware that many travel teams require fall tournament play and scrimmaging. Hopefully it’s less play than during the spring and summer. Take this time to test things you’re working on. In scrimmages, and even in tournaments (UNLESS you are being watched by a college coach), try out that pitch you’ve been working on. Focus harder on the mechanics you’ve been trying to fix, even if your command suffers a little. Try for more speed. Find some small step you can take to challenge yourself, and do it. Limit this to things you’ve been doing well but not perfectly in lessons. Trying out the pitch you started learning yesterday isn’t going to do you any good, but making sure you’ve got that smooth footwork you use in lessons but not games is a good investment.

In between games, start decreasing your pitching practice days and do something else. As I wrote in the article linked above, balancing your body with strength training and/or other sports will do more good for your pitching than excessive pitching practice will.