Preventing injury is crucial for a pitcher to handle high training loads and sustain performance throughout the season. While the risk of acute injuries from unavoidable situations (such as collisions at home plate or being struck by a batted ball) is always present during games and practices, the risk of injuries due to inadequate training, sudden workload increases, and external stressors must be minimized. Even the best training plans can be disrupted by lack of sleep, insufficient caloric intake, and stress from academics, family, or personal issues. Recognizing these external factors can help identify when a pitcher is not recovering as expected, allowing for early intervention to prevent training interruptions. Monitoring training, both in the weight room and specific to pitching, ensures the pitcher receives an appropriate training load for adaptation and the development of physical resilience.
To effectively assess how a pitcher is responding to training over time, establishing a monitoring system is essential. The objective of this system is to regularly review data to detect patterns of fatigue or soreness, which can inform training decisions more accurately.
The specifics of the system often depend on the number of staff and athletes, technology access, and personal or coaching staff preferences. However, it should at least achieve the following:
Efficiently capture self-reported wellness measures
Efficiently capture training load
Provide a method to view data over time
Ensure data is stored accessibly for all relevant parties
A straightforward way to gather self-reported wellness measures is through an online form available to the pitcher before each workout. Questions should prompt the pitcher to rate her fatigue level, sleep quality, stress level, soreness, etc. Responses must be reviewed regularly, such as weekly, to effectively use these measures to adjust training. If a pitcher reports consecutive days of sub-optimal responses in any category, it should initiate a discussion about potential causes, and training should be adjusted accordingly. More importantly, this conversation provides an opportunity to discuss proactive strategies to prevent future declines in wellness.
Comentarios