OUr Team Training
Muscle memory does not exist. Muscles do not have brains, therefore they can not have memories. Muscle memory is actually called myelin in science. Myelin is an electronic spark inside your brain. Everyone has them and when you are learning something new it looks like a spark from a lighter. As you learn, every hour of deliberate practice a person does, this myelin begins to form a layer of coating around it. Beginning to direct the spark into a singular direction. The more hours of work the more coatings around the spark. The faster the spark moves. Over time the spark is then directed through the body at an alarming rate. Hince muscle memory and why you can see the Cake Boss ice a cake perfectly while blindfolded. To learn more about this I recommend The Talent Code by Dainel Coyle.
This is how we set up our team practices. Taking training methods from fighters, we train a very specific movement, very fast with a very high level of reps. We are creating a coating around the myelin which will carry onto the field.
This is how we set up our team practices. Taking training methods from fighters, we train a very specific movement, very fast with a very high level of reps. We are creating a coating around the myelin which will carry onto the field.
Our Approach
Our approach to practice or a drill is to first understand what it is you are trying to achieve. Then we teach it. Not as a mechanic but a movement.
And continue to teach it until we feel the players understand the concept of what we are doing.
As the players understand these movements. When they feel their bodies move through space in a positive way and can tell the difference. We begin to do as many reps as possible as fast as possible in order to hold that feel as long as possible. Once the feel is lost or the player can routinely perform the movement.
We build by adding another step. Never do we move on until that movement is mastered.
And continue to teach it until we feel the players understand the concept of what we are doing.
As the players understand these movements. When they feel their bodies move through space in a positive way and can tell the difference. We begin to do as many reps as possible as fast as possible in order to hold that feel as long as possible. Once the feel is lost or the player can routinely perform the movement.
We build by adding another step. Never do we move on until that movement is mastered.
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What you will not get from us.
A traditional practice.
Have you ever watched a traditional practice? It looks like this. Players arrive. They throw in the outfield for about 20 minutes then transition straight into infield-outfield. They do infield-outfield for about 45 minutes followed by hitting on the field. Each player gets two rounds of hitting while the rest go shag. Then you go home.
Now have you ever studied a traditional practice? Players arrive and go straight to throwing. No arm care and not growth during what we call "catch phase". Arms soreness is usually an issue. Then they move into infield-outfield. The whole team stands there while one person gets a ground ball or pop up. We counted once, the Short Stop touches the ball for a total of 15 times during this. Then you move into hitting on the field. Each player gets two rounds of 10. 20 swings total while everyone else stands around.
To summarize, during a traditional practice the Short Stop (most active player on the field) received 15 defensive and 20 offensive reps for an entire day. For a program focused on "development" this unacceptable.
Have you ever watched a traditional practice? It looks like this. Players arrive. They throw in the outfield for about 20 minutes then transition straight into infield-outfield. They do infield-outfield for about 45 minutes followed by hitting on the field. Each player gets two rounds of hitting while the rest go shag. Then you go home.
Now have you ever studied a traditional practice? Players arrive and go straight to throwing. No arm care and not growth during what we call "catch phase". Arms soreness is usually an issue. Then they move into infield-outfield. The whole team stands there while one person gets a ground ball or pop up. We counted once, the Short Stop touches the ball for a total of 15 times during this. Then you move into hitting on the field. Each player gets two rounds of 10. 20 swings total while everyone else stands around.
To summarize, during a traditional practice the Short Stop (most active player on the field) received 15 defensive and 20 offensive reps for an entire day. For a program focused on "development" this unacceptable.