By Kolten Smith –
No matter the age, baseball players this time of year have started their playing season or are just on the cusp to begin. Youth baseball is in the middle of its spring season, and high schools and colleges are getting ready to play their first games. With this in mind, many athletes face a difficult question: How can I do my Ranch training during the season? It can be very tough, especially with a coach who is unfamiliar with the Ranch or who does not agree with our teachings. Because of this, in my article this week, I will outline a few different ways you and/or your athlete can blend your Ranch program into your season.
As we all know, doing daily drill work is a big part of most, if not all, of the plans we build with our athletes. Speaking from personal experience, getting all of my drill work in was really tough, if not impossible, during or after an organized team practice. As a result, I always had to find some windows during practice to get some of my drill work completed. This does not mean telling your coach, “Hey Coach, I’m going to go do my Ranch drills. I’ll be done in thirty minutes. Talk to you later!”. That is a good way for your coach to be unhappy with you. Instead, I recommend integrating it into your team’s practice plan when it makes sense. For example, almost every practice has a designated time when you warm up and play catch with a partner. This is a perfect opportunity for you to do some drills. It is the best of both worlds; you are becoming a better thrower through the drill work while also getting your arm hot like your coach wants. Now, obviously, you will not be able to get all of your drill work in during this time, but it is certainly better than nothing.
Another aspect of Ranch training that can’t be forgotten about during the season is our fast and explosive workout exercises like med-ball wall and catapult series. This is not something that can be done during an organized practice, so it will have to be done before or after. While doing extra work before or after practice can be daunting sometimes, I think getting at least some work in once or twice a week would be very beneficial. The last thing you want is to lose a lot of the progress you made during the off-season because you did not work on staying explosive and athletic. Three rounds of med-ball wall or a quick circuit will be enough to be a supplement to your in-season strength training. Like I said, aim to do these exercises once or twice a week. I promise it will pay dividends later on.
I believe that continuing your Ranch training as much as possible is integral to your future success. After a long off-season of hard work and gains, losing some or all of it is something you undeniably want to avoid. With that said, that does not mean you should be the exact same from the first day of the season to the last, but avoiding corruption and reversion is a goal any athlete should strive for.
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Important TBR Updates
- Registration for our 2024 “Summer Intensive Development Program” is now open! Join us for 2-11 weeks this summer. For more information on this one of a kind Summer Training experience and for a registration form, CLICK HERE. There is a $500 savings if you sign up by March 15th.
- Our Summer Elite Pitchers Bootcamp dates have been released. We will have seven bootcamps between Memorial Day and Labor Day. For more information on these 3-Day events or to register, CLICK HERE.
- Would you like to experience both the EPBC and Summer Program? We’ve got you covered. Attend one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps and Add-On one week of our Summer Program immediately after for a total stay of seven days. Call for the details (936) 588-6762 and special savings.
- Have you been considering attending one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamp but haven’t yet pulled the trigger? To help, we have a detailed mailing package entitled “What Makes This Boot Camp Different”. If you’d like to receive this package and start making plans for the summer, email Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a copy.
- We have updated our YouTube Channel “Texas Baseball Ranch – Ultimate Pitching Training” (@TXBaseballRanch) and would love for you to check it out and subscribe. Here’s a recent upload, “9 Ways to Improve as a Baseball Pitcher“. Watch it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrnAcpnjwLI Let us know what you think or other topics you’d like to see covered.
