With the baseball season rapidly approaching, things can start to get busy with trying to juggle school, playing games, and still finding the time to practice and take care of their bodies. A lot of kids will start to find excuses for reasons not to train because they are “too busy”. With most teams from the high school level and down, pitchers might not know they are pitching until the day before and sometimes not until the day of. That’s why developing a solid routine can help you always be prepared whenever your name is called upon to pitch.
As most people know, the baseball season can be a grueling time both physically and mentally. Sleep, nutrition, and exercise are great ways to make sure your body can withstand the entirety of the season. Set yourself a schedule that includes at least 2-3 lifts a week, and a minimum of 8 hours of sleep. These are absolute musts in allowing the body to recover and maintain strength throughout the summer. With a lot of athletes spending the day at the field, sometimes the concession stand seems like the only place to eat. Packing yourself a healthy snack to eat in between games is highly recommended. Don’t be the guy who eats two hot dogs in between a double header on a 90 degree day and expects to go perform at a high level. If you know what days you’re going to lift, what you’re going to eat, and approximately what time to go to bed at night, suddenly the schedule will start to seem less hectic.
While getting into a routine at home is extremely important, developing a routine at the field can keep things fun and help your mind be at ease when you are called on to contribute. The best thing about your preparation at the field is that you can choose what you want to do. Not everyone likes to get ready the same way. Between long toss, plyocare balls, bands, and weighted balls, find something before the game that gets you ready both mentally and physically. As a pitcher, you will find yourself in very stressful situations throughout the year. When these situations arise, knowing you have done everything in your power to prepare will help provide the confidence needed to achieve success in these moments. All of our athletes at Mach1 have worked extremely hard this offseason. Don’t let the start of the season be an excuse to stop working. Instead, use it as a mental edge against your opponent and know that you have put in the work and you are ready for anything.
Good luck with the start of the season!
The MACH 1 Team
