It’s always everyone’s favorite time of the year. The weather cools, decorations are put up, festivities are planned, and the arms of baseball players start to get sore.
Yes, that was a “bah humbug” sort of commentary at the end there, but, unfortunately, it’s true.
December is also the time for school finals, so academics begin to take precedence with many hours of study going on. High school basketball games get mixed in, so attendance for athletes is always recommended. And players are coming to the end of what was a grueling 4 months of practice, weight lifting, and games. All of this is a recipe for arm issues.
I constantly hear how at all schools there are numerous players starting to tire and fatigue, their bodies not responding like in the past. This commonly occurs with freshman players who aren’t used to the everyday occurrence of practice and games at the pace they play. Those 14 and 15-year-old kids come from years of practicing twice a week with games sprinkled in to five times a week of practice with single and double header games every Saturday.
At Throwzone Academy, we like to educate our players on the importance of maintaining their arm care routines. And we mean more than just arm bands and throwing, but warm-up routines as well as post-throwing routines to take extra precautions. Even some of our Throwzone clients run into soreness due to the 6 to 7-day week baseball schedule that, coupled with academics and leisure time, can be a shoulder or elbow injury waiting to happen sooner than later.
And sometimes, simple rest can do wonders for a throwing arm, for about a week or two.
But I can tell you with 100% certainty that not throwing for long periods of time will result in an injury due to the stagnant nature of a player who takes 3-4 months off to rest their arm. In fact, the opposite is true. In the 20+ years of players coming through our academy doors, I’ve seen many that have suffered minor AND major arm injuries because they took too much time off and ramped up their throwing too quickly.
The bottom line during the holiday season is to get through finals and do well. Mix in throwing either at practice or on your own, and then maybe the week of Christmas give yourself a few days off to mentally and physically get yourself right. But then it’s time to build strength and get prepared for the early spring season when baseball begins again.
Educate yourself on proper nutrition, hydration, and sleep. These areas help in your recovery after games. And let Throwzone Academy help you get prepared for the rigors of your son’s season in the new year.
Once New Year’s Day weekend is over, January begins, and it’s time to get to work. Schedule your son’s practice with us now and get a head start on the season. You’ll be glad for the education we offer, while being part of a gold standard in pitching and throwing development.
Please have yourselves a very merry Christmas, holiday season, and a wonderful New Year. This past year has been a challenging one, so I pray 2022 brings only the best to you and your family!
Until next time…
Jim
Jim Wagner's ThrowZone Academy 