Training Power with Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP)

I love to use the phrase, “training doesn’t happen in isolation”. In other words, there’s a time to train strength and a time to learn to apply that strength quickly. Post-activation potentiation (referred to from here on out as “PAP”) is a phase we use once harder throwing begins at the mid-point of the off-season with our more advanced athletes to train explosive power.

What exactly is PAP?

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Podcast #125: ABCA Highlights and Human Performance with Dr. Jimmy Onate

Jimmy Onate

After speaking at last week’s ABCA, today I’m sitting down with Dr. Jimmy Onate, Director of Human Performance at the Ohio State University to discuss last week’s convention… and a lot more!! Topics include:

    • What is the ABCA experience
    • What it offers that’s different from other conventions
    • Jimmy’s role in the Performance Lab at OSU

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Podcasts #124: A Day in the Life of an S&C Coach in Pro Ball with Zach Kollar

Today, we’re sitting down with S&C Coach Zach Kollar with the Toronto Blue Jays, who was also formerly the Director of S&C at RPP Baseball. Topics Include:

    • How a great internship can prepare you for a job in pro ball
    • The difference in coaching when going from the private sector to pro ball
    • Juggling training volume and starts for pitchers

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How to Improve Shoulder IR in the Off-Season

Being efficient and staying healthy as a pitcher is highly reliant on both internal (IR) and external (ER) ranges of motion at the shoulder.  In this article, we are going to focus on the IR side of things.

    • What exactly is shoulder IR
    • Why is it important to baseball players
    • What are some of the more common causes of poor IR
    • How to assess passive vs. active ranges of IR
    • When to train shoulder IR

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Podcast #123: The Best of 2024 Podcasts

This week we’ve got a special episode featuring the Top 5 downloaded podcasts of 2024. Topics include:

    • Training Rotation (Eugene Bleeker)
    • Developing Global Movement Patterns (Dr. Ismael Gallo)
    • What’s in a Great Travel Program (Bahram Shirazi)
    • Assessing and Profiling Pitchers (Nunzio Signore)
    • Life in the Transfer Portal (Ryan Butler)

Once again, have a safe and Happy New Year!

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Do You Have an Arm Care Program?

Do you have an arm care program?  It’s a question we’re often asked by parents of young athletes. Unfortunately, this question also comes with an expectation that any arm care program would be mostly focusing on band work. This couldn’t be farther from reality. With respect to throwing a baseball nothing happens in isolation, and a great arm care program is no different. I can recount many conversations with parents about arm care. And, when I tell them that it’s about a number of different things, including strength training,  I can see it in their eyes. Their response often is “but I’m looking for arm care”.

Let me explain!

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Podcast #122: Maximizing Nutrition to Gain Lean Muscle Mass with Sam and Alex French

Sam French

Today we’re sitting down with Sam French, Freshman Pitcher / Corner Infielder at Red Bank Catholic High School (NJ), and his father Alex French. Sam (Class 2028) is ranked #92 Nationally by Perfect Game as a RHP, and Top 20 Overall in New Jersey.  We’ll be discussing Sam’s recent gains in lean muscle mass, how he got there, and the subsequent gains it has brought him. Topics include:

    • Making nutrition a priority
    • Calculating caloric intake
    • Scheduling meal / snack times
    • Calculating calories to daily expenditure

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Training Deceleration in Baseball Players

In the field of sports performance, we are always looking to improve an athlete’s force and velocity production. By building a bigger “motor” we can improve “horsepower,” giving the athlete the ability to move at higher speeds.  In baseball, this can equate to a player throwing harder, bat speed, or getting down the baselines quicker (first step quickness). However, when we build a bigger motor, we also must build better “brakes”.

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Podcast #121: Maximizing the Recruiting Process with Andy Kiriakedes

Today we’re sitting down with EMD Recruiting’s Andy Kiriakedes. Being both a former player and a coach, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Topics Include:

    • Showcases, when and why
    • Downsizing the 40-man college roster, what it means to young athletes
    • New topics that are potentially impacting the recruiting process

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