| Back in the Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax days | | | | develop through crunches and medicine ball |
| pitchers were told to stay away from the weight | | | | rotations. You don't need any fancy equipment. Fill |
| room due to the fear of becoming too muscle | | | | up a volleyball with sand and you have a medicine |
| bound and losing flexibility. Today pitchers are | | | | ball; hit the carpet in the living room to perform |
| encouraged to train religiously to stay in shape, | | | | sets of crunches. Abs can be worked everyday, |
| which also includes hitting the weights. This doesn't | | | | at any time in the day. |
| mean to go crazy pumping iron and come out of | | | | Finally, it is crucial for pitchers to develop some |
| the off-season looking like Arnold, but pitchers do | | | | sort of cardio routine both in season and off |
| need to incorporate a conditioning program | | | | season. For young ballplayers, the off season |
| involving strength training and aerobic exercise. | | | | conditioning can be that of playing another sport |
| The legs are the starting point for generating | | | | like soccer, football, or wrestling. As far as in |
| power and durability. Both weight training and | | | | season conditioning goes, a steady dose of |
| running offer a way to build strength in the legs. | | | | sprints, comfortable jogging, and cardio-based drills |
| Some common lifts are squats, lunges, toe raises, | | | | would be valuable for pitchers. |
| leg extensions, leg curls, and the leg press. These | | | | Pitchers need to be in shape. Losing just a couple |
| six lifts hit all of the key muscle groups in the legs. | | | | mph's late in the game on the fastball can mean |
| Running hills and/or steps is another way to | | | | the difference between a win and a loss for the |
| strengthen the legs. If a player doesn't have the | | | | team. When a pitcher's body breaks down from |
| opportunity to go to a gym and use a treadmill or | | | | exhaustion, injuries are more likely to occur, |
| stair climber, the nearest hill or steps would | | | | therefore, youth baseball coaches need to be |
| accomplish the same results at no cost. | | | | very much aware of pitcher conditioning and |
| Next, the abdominal region creates the maximum | | | | prepare their players for the increased pitch |
| external rotation that transfers the energy into | | | | counts that are to follow as they grow older. |
| the arm. The abdominal muscles are very easy to | | | | |