As Americans, we’re growing accustomed to putting too much on our plate, and I’m not talking about food. It’s a trend that is influencing young athletes who are being run down physically and mentally with unhealthy schedules and expectations. Who’s to blame?
Read MoreMake this fall and winter a proactive off-season! If your arm was hanging this summer, if you had to miss games because of shoulder pain, you can take action this winter to get your arm feeling better than it ever has. Here is my five step plan shoulder and elbow injury prevention plan for softball players.
Read MoreEvery season our older, more advanced students, mainly pitchers, ask the same question: Should I register for a recruiting camp? This is a much more complex issue than it would appear, especially since my answer will likely be different for pitchers than for hitters and fielders.
Read More
One of the things I remember most clearly about my tournament softball days is how difficult it was to stay nourished over the course of a long weekend full of games. Early morning games, erratic schedules, and processed snack bar food all make it very difficult to eat properly; yet you’re exerting yourself all day, especially when the weather is hot, good nutrition is extremely important.
Read More
The end of August always sneaks up on us too quickly, doesn’t it? Some of you may have already started your school year, and the rest of you will probably be going back to school sometime within the next couple of weeks. If you’re a high school senior, you’ll be sending in your college applications, and if you’re a junior, you should start visiting colleges if you haven’t already. Choosing a college can be an overwhelming process, and if you want to play softball it can get even more complicated. For the vast majority of junior and senior softball players who will be walking onto a college team, or even younger players who may be recruited but have not yet committed to a school, here are some critical questions you should be asking.
Read MoreHave you ever watched an amazing athlete and thought “Wow, it looks like they’re not even trying”? Or have you seen a pitcher who looks completely relaxed even though she’s delivering a 65mph fastball? Using a simple analogy, Joe will explain how and why this happens. He will also describe how athletes and coaches should design strength training programs to promote effortless, optimal performance.
Read MoreWant to start a strength training program but don’t know where to begin? The hardest part is getting started! In this post, I provide a workout-template and exercise demonstrations of every training component that should be included in a complete, softball-specific workout.
Read MoreSoftball pitching performance is determined by a combination of technical mastery and physical development. In this post, I unveil the physical contributors to softball pitching performance according to recent research. You will learn which muscles to strengthen to improve pitching velocity, and the exercise principles you must consider when designing softball specific workouts.
Read MoreFastpitch Power recently spent time with Cassie Reilly-Boccia, the all-star first baseman for the College World Series Champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide. If you follow college softball at all, you know that Alabama had an incredible year. Their College World Series win was the first ever national championship for the Alabama program and for an SEC (South Eastern Conference) school. ‘Bama ended the season with a 60-8 record and took top honors in all national polls including USA Today/NFCA and ESPN/USA Softball Collegiate. Cassie helped power ‘Bama to the top with a .331 batting average, 48 RBIs and 9 home runs. She hails from Yorktown Heights, NY and upon returning home from her last softball activity with Alabama (instructing at their softball camps) she spent time with us discussing how it all began, how she got to Alabama, how it feels to win the College World Series and what she’s learned from it all.
Read MoreIf you’re a female athlete, parent, or coach, this post should scare you. Females inherit a number of physical deficits that predispose them to sports-related injuries. These deficits manifest during puberty, which is also a time when sports responsibilities tend to increase. Here is a review of what adolescent females must overcome if they want to reach their athletic potential, while avoiding major or chronic injuries.
Read More