Practice vs. Warm Up: Is there a difference?
Is there a difference between practicing and warming up? Do you warm up the same way that you practice and do you practice the same way you warm up?
Read MoreHealth and Wellness
Interview: Optimal Nutrition for Tournament Softball Players
One of the things I remember most clearly about my tournament softball days is how difficult it was to stay nourished over the course of a long weekend full of games. Early morning games, erratic schedules, and processed snack bar food all make it very difficult to eat properly; yet you’re exerting yourself all day, especially when the weather is hot, good nutrition is extremely important.
Read MoreNatural Healthy Alternatives to Sports Drinks
Newsflash: sports drinks really aren’t very good for you. Many of them contain multiple different sources of sugar, including high fructose or other corn syrups. If you’ve got a zero-calorie sports drink, you’re likely contending with artificial sweeteners, and no matter which you choose you’ll likely be consuming artificial flavors, “natural” flavors (which aren’t as natural as you think), artificial colorings, and preservatives. If you’ve got a practice or a single softball game ahead of you, you really only need water to stay hydrated; however, if you’re facing a 90+ degree summer day under full blazing sun with three or more tournament games to play, something with extra carbohydrates and electrolytes can definitely be beneficial. So what should you drink? I’ll tell you!
Read MoreHow to Give Yourself a Killer Massage
Everyone likes to get a massage, and they don’t just feel good—they’re pretty good for you too. Massages increase blood flow to areas of tension and promote muscle health and healing, and can thus be particularly beneficial to athletes. Unfortunately, we can’t all get a personal masseuse to pamper us regularly. It is possible, however, to give yourself a pretty decent massage with a few simple tools, some of which you probably already have lying around your home.
Read MoreMedicine Ball Exercises for Softball Pitching
In this video, I explain and demonstrate proper technique for throwing medicine balls to improve pitching performance. Simply twisting and throwing heavy medicine balls is not enough to improve pitching-specific capacity. These exercises should reinforce proper pitching mechanics, and improve pitching-specific mechanics that many young pitchers struggle to command.
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