“ TRAINING FOR THE SPORT OF BASEBALL”

Baseball is a unique sport, and one which has very specific physical requirements in order for players to have success.  Beginning with a pitcher’s mechanics, to a hitter’s ability to make split-second, cognitive deduction, to base runners exploding from motionless to full speed in tenths of seconds and making right angle turns without slowing appreciably, and to fielders reacting to batted balls instantaneously, in order to make a play. 

Based upon the position played and the physical make-up of a given player, training plans must be designed which are suited to a player’s specific needs.  These plans must capable of enhancing reaction time, developing linear speed and directional change capability, creating rotational strength, and improving flexibility.  Special attention must be given to conditioning joints and connective tissue in preparation for the stress they will be subjected to during activities common to the sport such as throwing and sliding.

Baseball players and coaches have engaged in skill set training since the game was invented.  In addition, over the years, the belief that ball players should avoid the weight room, for fear of becoming muscle-bound, has largely faded away, and players have locked onto the theory that they must become bigger and stronger in order to excel.   This is only partially correct.  Increasing muscle mass can be a detriment to a baseball player, as often as it is a benefit.  As trainers, we must look at both physical makeup and position played, before developing our training  plan.   In addition, simply becoming stronger is of little use, unless we have made our athletes  faster, and more explosive, and his/her strength lends itself to baseball movements.

It is our belief at Elite Speed & Strength Development, that the best way to train athletes for a unique, multi-faceted sport  like baseball, is to utilize trainers who have actually played the game at a high level.   The fact is, nobody understands the needs of baseball players better than former baseball players.   We offer a rare combination of sport-specific knowledge and cutting edge training techniques, many of which came from Eastern Europe and Russia.  All our training modalities are implemented with the development of speed and rotational strength as our primary goals for baseball players.   Every aspect of the training will be directly transferrable to the field of play.

Marc Caplan heads up our B.A.S.E. training at ESSD (Baseball Acceleration & Strength Enhancement).  Prior to becoming a World Champion strength athlete, Marc enjoyed a successful amateur baseball career up through college, earning All-League honors, being selected to compete in the Metro v. State all star game, and playing on teams which won a State Champion medal and took second place at the American Legion World Series.   He was coached by several former professional ball players, including George Freese, Milo Meskel, Jack Dunn and Royce McDaniel.

For the skill set work, which is of equal importance, we affiliate with Don Reynolds, Owner of Complete Game.  Don is a former major league player and scout, and his knowledge of hitting mechanics is second to none.  We firmly believe the combination of training at ESSD and Complete Game is the best available to baseball players at any level.