Valuable information from Section VIII’s Official Partner in Health Education
Maintaining Performance Through the Baseball Season
Heather Milton, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Supervisor Sports Performance Center
Baseball is a great sport for youth athletes to participate in. There are, however, a few pointers to consider to keep youth players happy and healthy throughout the season.
1. Preparation. Be sure to get active throughout the year. Practicing a variety of sports and activities can help keep fitness levels up and balance the muscular asymmetries acquired during the baseball season.
Prepare for each game and practice with a thorough warm-up that incorporates trunk muscles, shoulder stabilizing muscles, hips and legs, and rotation for the trunk and hips. This should occur prior to position specific warmups. Warmups should take at least 15-20 minutes.
2. Pitch Count. Pitch count is important for all age groups. However, one must not forget that the higher the pitch velocity, the higher the stress on the body. Youth players with faster velocities than their age-matched peers may need to reduce their pitch count to accommodate for that increased stress per pitch.
3. Pack the snacks. Fueling is one of the most important factors when it comes to athletic performance. Ensuring players are well hydrated during games and practice will help players maintain performance and mental focus. For any activities lasting more than 90 minutes in the sun, an electrolyte drink is recommended to hydrate.
Ensuring young players have a meal 2-3 hours before play, as well as snacks to replenish energy following a practice or game will help them perform at their best and recover quickly. This is especially important during tournaments that may require playing multiple games per day or per week!
Learn more about the Sports Performance Center and Sports Health to stay happy and healthy throughout baseball season!
