“Off Season” really means “Training Season”

“Off Season” really means “Training Season”

During my 14 years in professional baseball I always at the end of each season took 2-3 weeks off to rest physically and mentally. Playing either a 140 game minor league schedule or a 162 game big league schedule it took its toll. The time off not only provided me the rest I needed from the grind but also prepared me for my upcoming winter training routine. That is why I could never look at the winter as an “Off Season”, I could only see it as “Off Weeks”. So the term “Off Season” meant I was entering a new season which I called my “Training Season“.

The term “Training Season” means the pressure of having to produce is eliminated; the idea of people watching, evaluating and critiquing was non-existent. “Training Season” is that time when we work in attempt of mastering the areas of our game we do well and focusing heavy on the areas of our game that needs improvement.

Developing baseball skills comes through repetition. I was fortunate to have been drafted by the Baltimore Orioles when Cal Ripken, Sr. was overseeing the player development. One of many things that Cal, Sr. would say that stuck with me was “Practice doesn’t make perfect, Perfect practice makes perfect”. That is the pure physical and mental approach to the work that has to be done over the winter or “Training Season”.

So many players will go through the motions of working out and don’t approach their workouts with a plan or understanding of how to get better. Just hitting to hit or throwing just to throw does not do it. We have to work systematically during the “Training Season” to develop sound fundamentals, confidence, strength and positive muscle memory. All of which we need once we get back to the "In Season".

Perfect practice is the key to bettering ourselves in our “Training Season” in order to perform at a higher level than the season(s) before. Every workout needs a plan and should be approached with a purpose. Don’t just do it, understand how it is supposed to be done and why it is done a certain way. The “Training Season” is the time when we elevate our game.

I will end with these thoughts. Never be satisfied with mediocrity and always challenge yourself to be great. Take advantage of the “Training Season” because if you’re not you can be sure someone out there is.

Jeff Schaefer
Carolinas Baseball Center
www.cbcbaseball.net

“Baseball is the most over coached and under taught game in the world”
Branch Rickey

 

What is the 1 thing that you think most kids need to work on more to help them play at the next level?

 

Schaef, well said...you may also recall :

"Young man, Perfection & Satisfaction are Incompatible"...

Coach Notle, 1980

( not sure who the guilty party was ! )

 

Great topic!

 

Excellent practice/preparation.......

You are right: this is a great topic.
You might think this is only a play on words, but the young men ought to seek perfection but most will have to be satisfied with excellence. Actually, think about in all the years of baseball, who were the perfect players. I don't think there have ever been any. Many excellent but none perfect!
I believe that achieving the best they can be for young players they need to take the approach PGA golfers take. Analyze their game (or get help analyzing their game), then work primarily on the one thing that needs the most improvement. Good scouts quickly see a player's weakness. They will remember that...or forget about the kid all together.
Regards,

 

Great Post!

Its the time of year when you either are working to get better or allowing others to outwork you and become better than you. This is the most important time of the year for a baseball player imo. Everyone is playing in the spring and summer. What is everyone doing when the games are not being played? This is your opportunity to put 100% of your focus on doing the things that will allow you to become an even better player when the games start back up. What you do in the off season when no one is watching will determine what you are capable of doing when everyone is watching.

For HS players your goal should be to be game ready , season ready on the first day of practice in Feb. If your sitting around waiting for practice to start up to start getting ready for the HS season your going to be way behind those that have not been waiting but have been training. When the season starts in Feb most know that the majority of practice time is spent on team related practice. The focus is on preparing the TEAM for the upcoming season. There is limited time for individual work. In some cases very limited time. Spend the off season training for the upcoming season. Spend it helping yourself become a better player so not only you can be better but your team can be better.

IMO this is the most important time of the year for the player that wants to be the best he can be. If your waiting for the start of the season to start your way behind. Great post and so true.

 

Multi-Sport Athletes

This 'training time' is also one of the ways that the multi-sport athlete is able to keep in shape - but not in practice with the game.

They might have amazing skills - like blazing fast speed. But, they have no instincts. At the next level - they are unable to adapt the the intricacies of the game and find themselves being picked off, running into unproductive outs, striking out without a plan at the plate going for the fences or missing a sign.

However, the truly lazy specimen finds themselves making errors in the field, unable to connect with the ball or throwing the ball into the stands, nevermind showing little to no drive, initiative or focus.

The focused and determined baseball player is confident in their abilities, works every moment at improving and hits the gym, platform and the indoor cage to work on their game.

 

I wholeheartedly agree with what is said here. I'm grateful that my son does too and is working hard during this "training season". I do have a question though. Do you feel it is wise to continue to throw, including long toss, year round or should there be some period of downtime and rest. If so, how long would you recommend.

 

Every athlete needs to take some time off. Pitchers as well. Pitchers should rest arms but should continue their conditioning programs. After time off from throwing they need to follow a long toss/flat ground throwing program...not a pitching program, a throwing program. There is a major difference.

True pitching programs don't allow pitchers to take time off and then when it comes time to start throwing again go straight to the mound and start firing away.

Conditioning is priority. Building total body strength and endurance is critical to arm care.

So yes, pitchers need to rest arms in the beginning of the "Training Season" but not their bodies. Find a good throwing program that leads up to pitching 4 to 6 weeks prior to the start of the season.

 

i have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of multi-sport athletes. while playing other sports may put players behind as far as game-ready skills; hitting, arm strength, etc., their instincts should not be affected.

instincts aren't developed in this "training season." those are, many times, inate or learned from in-game experiences. to say that a player is "unable to adapt to the intricacies of the game at the next level" because he plays another sport is quite a strong statement that is unfounded IMO.

kids should be athletes, not "specialists." i'm sure it's been mentioned on this board before, but most college coaches would prefer a player who has shown an talent to be versatile and develop other parts of their physical abilities, rather than the kid who has done nothing but live in the batting cage for 10 years, but has ZERO agility.

just a few examples that go against your theory that you may have heard of....

-Bo Jackson (one of the greatest athletes of all time before injury, All-Star in 2 pro sports)
-Deion Sanders (similar description as Bo)
-Kenny Lofton (being the point guard at Arizona never hurt his "instincts," one of the best center fielders and base stealers in recent times)
-Dave Winfield (pretty sure he was drafted in all 3 major sports leagues and he's a HOFer)
-John Smoltz (future HOFer had basketball scholarship offer from Michigan State)
-Derek Lee (had multiple basketball offers from top D1 schools including UNC)
-Carl Crawford (didn't he have an offer to play QB at Nebraska?)

again, i don't want to sound as if i'm attacking your opinion because that is exactly what it is, your OPINION. i simply disagree with it and felt a notion to share why.

let me also say that multi-sport athletes who want to be great in any of them, find the time to make themselves great. weekends, late nights, early mornings...they find the time to get in the cage, shoot extra free throws, hit the weight room. that drive is what makes them great and special when compared to others.

ps...is it February yet?