Should I Take Time Off

By Garrett Wolforth –

As the fall season winds down and the offseason approaches, one of the most common questions we hear is: “Should I take time off, and if so, how much?” It’s an important question— but also a tricky one. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every athlete’s situation is unique, and giving blanket advice would do more harm than good. That said, here’s how we at The Ranch approach this critical decision.

We believe that however much time you take off, you’ll need roughly twice that amount to ramp back up safely and effectively. If you take two weeks off, you’ll need about four weeks to get your arm and soft tissue back into “throwing shape.” If you take a full month off, plan on at least two months to return to full speed. 

This ramp-up period is crucial. Many early-season injuries can be traced back to athletes who simply weren’t fully prepared. It’s not uncommon to see pitchers come into their first game feeling fresh— but lacking the foundational workload to support game-level intensity. 

If a pitcher throws 100 pitches in their first game but only had two weeks of buildup, are they really “overworked,” or were they just underprepared? This is why we emphasize starting with the end in mind. An MLB study found that March and April produce almost twice as many elbow-related Injured List stints as any other month. These are professional pitchers following structured Spring Training programs. They’re not being overused— they’re simply not fully ramped when competition begins.

To plan your offseason properly, you must know exactly when you need to be at full speed again. This will look different for every athlete depending on their level of competition, role, and even where they live geographically (a northern high school pitcher has a different timeline than a southern college arm). 

For example, professional pitchers report to Spring Training around February 14th each year. If a pro wants to take a month off, they must start their ramp-up by December 14th to be fully ready in time. Without a clear target date, athletes often guess or just “feel it out,” which can easily lead to rushing, cutting corners, and showing up to the season underprepared—a significant risk factor for injury.

There’s also a very important exception to consider: If an athlete is behind their competitive peer group in any key area — velocity, command, arm health and durability, or secondary pitches — then taking significant time off may not be wise. 

Time is your most valuable resource in the offseason. If you spend a quarter of it not training at all, you may lose the chance to make the gains you need to advance. The offseason is the one window where you can make meaningful jumps without the pressure of in-season performance. Giving up too much of it can mean starting next year in the same place you left off— or even a step behind. 

The old saying, “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” absolutely applies here. Time away almost always means regression, and if you’re already behind, you simply cannot afford to go backward. 

For that reason, we very rarely recommend taking complete time off. Instead, we often suggest “active recovery” —a period of reduced volume and intensity that allows the body to rest while still maintaining movement quality, arm care habits, and overall readiness.

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Important TBR Updates

• Registration is open for our October class! Classes are held Monday & Wednesday and will run from September through January.  Spots are limited. CLICK HERE to download the registration form or call to reserve your spot. If you have any questions email info@texasbaseballranch.comor call (936) 588-6762. Can’t attend twice a week?  Not a problem.  We have a once a week option. Give us a call.

• Attention Youth Pitchers & Parents – A few spots remain in our Youth Camp! This once a year event, for players ages 8-12, will be October 4th & 5th.  Registration is open! CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

• Our Fall/Winter Elite Pitchers Bootcamp dates have been released!  These are great opportunities to take advantage of our world renowned training. Dates include:
  Oct. 11-13 (Sat-Mon) Columbus Day Weekend
  Nov. 22-24 (Sat-Mon)
  Dec. 28-30 (Sun-Wed)
  Jan. 17-19 (Sat-Mon) Martin Luther King Day Weekend
  Feb. 14-16 (Sat-Mon) President’s Day Weekend
  To register or learn more CLICK HERE

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