Off Season Strength and Conditioning is Key to your Success

An off season workout is the key to your baseball success during the season. Ozzie Smith would tell you that incorporating a off season strength and conditioning program is "what separates you from being a good player compared to a great player. "

Click on the link below and try the MVP Baseball Bodyweight workout. It is a great workout to do when you are short on time.

MVP Baseball Workout #1

A Boxing Workout is a Great Way to Get in Shape During the Off Season

Staying in shape during the off season was a must for Ozzie Smith.

A great way to get in tip top shape is by incorporating boxing into your off season conditioning program.

The benefits from boxing are endless. Here are 9 reasons to incorporate boxing into your off season strength and conditioning plan.

1. You stay motivated and committed to a fun and challenging workout.

2. You reduce total body-fat percentage and strengthen muscular system

3. You build confidence and a sense of well-being

4. You improve the ability to relax, to keep calm and poised under high pressure
5. You develop discipline
6. You will tone muscles
7. You will increase endurance and stamina
8. You will improve flexibility and balance
9. You will improve co-ordination10. You will burn fat and loose weight

A good boxing workout not only challenging and motivating it will also make you feel like a MVP!

Click on the link below for an example of a quick boxing routine.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=92d4d6fc9961d8bb217d

The Express Bodyweight Workout

I recently met with actor and dancer Darrin Henson to talk about my favorite subject FITNESS. Henson, who played "Lem Van Adams" in the Showtime series Soul Food and "Grant" in the movie Stomp The Yard is a fitness buff and uses bodyweight training as a workout technique for his busy schedule.

Staying in shape is a must for Henson, who is currently working on two films - Blood Done Sign My Name and Tekken will be released in 2009. Henson’s latest film, The Express, opened on October 10, 2008, where in plays running back Jim Brown.

The Express is based on the incredible true story and follows the inspirational life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Following his draft by the NFL, tragedy struck the star athlete and he was never able to take the professional field. But his tale would forever change the face of professional sports.

Henson and I both agreed that the benefits from exercising are endless.

Here are 9 reasons to incorporate an exercise plan into your everyday life.

1 You stay motivated and committed to a fun and challenging workout.
2 You reduce total body-fat percentage and strengthen muscular system
3 You build confidence and a sense of well-being You improve the ability to relax, to keep calm and poised under high pressure
4 You develop discipline
5 You will tone muscles
6 You will increase endurance and stamina
7 You will improve flexibility and balance
8 You will improve co-ordination
9 You will burn fat and lose weight

I have created The Express Bodyweight Workout. You can start The Express Bodyweight

Workout right away. And the faster you start, the faster you can start seeing and feeling the benefits that are listed above.

Click on the link below and try the Express Bodyweight Workout

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=92d4d6fc9961d8bb217d

In the meantime, go to the theater and check out Henson’s enjoyable performance in The Express.

Try This MVP Baseball Tips Workout

One of the latest trends in weight lifting today is training with kettlebells. Kettlebells look like a cannon ball made of iron cast with a handle on top.

The kettlebell is an ancient Russian exercise device; the kettlebell has long been a favorite in that country for those seeking a special edge in strength and endurance.

How can this “iron cannonball with a handle attached” be the best kept secret—as well as an outstanding tool to get in the best shape for baseball?

It is because kettlebell training helps you achieve and maintain the highest levels of power, strength, conditioning and flexibility by boosting your heart rate with a combination of cardio and strength training exercises.

Strength coach, Mike Mahler adds, “Unlike many other forms of cardio, kettlebell training is brutal fun and a hard cardio kettlebell workout gives you a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

A kettlebell workout is very beneficial for baseball players. In fact, in some baseball programs across the country kettlebells are quickly becoming the tool of choice for baseball players who want to quickly accelerate their conditioning.

Pat Rigsby of the Fitness Consulting Group says "If you're looking for an innovative way to jump ahead of your competition on the playing field, kettlebell training for baseball is a must! “

Kettlebells can be found in some fitness and sporting goods stores, but in most cases you will have to order them online. The costs range for $39.99 each for a 10 pound kettlebell and $139 each for 72 pounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyQk-YH7S8U

Here is another tip, don't try kettlebell training if you're looking for an easy way out.

Try it only if you're prepared to work hard, have fun and get in the best shape you've ever been in.

Six Pack Abs

Six Pack Abs - strong abdominal muscles are very important in baseball. It is also a common goal in the fitness industry.

If you are a pitcher, having strong ab muscles can add 7-10 mph onto your fast ball.

And when you are at the plate, having strong core muscles can add power to your swing.

One of the keys to Ozzie Smith's success was his strong ab muscles.

Strong ab muscles will allow you have a much quicker torso, which will make you run faster and be more explosive.

I have develop a great ab workout routine called The MVP Abs From Hell. This workout will make your abs burn and will increase your quickness and speed on the playing field.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYHeIlbVye8

Hire A Personal Trainer

Ozzie Smith was well ahead of his time when he decided to hire a personal trainer to make him stronger during his playing days.

Ozzie was one of the first players in Major League history to hire a Personal Trainer. He hired Mackie Shilstone to help improve his game.

Shilstone's training program allowed Ozzie's batting to average to jumped from .280 (in '86) to .303 in '87.

Hire a personal trainer or hitting or pitching coach - It is proven that having a motivating and positive support system will help you stay with your goals.

Remember those goals you have set for yourself? How many have you achieved? Was improving your strength and quickness part of those goals? Or are you just sitting around, wasting time and being a couch potato and not working on improving your baseball skills during the off season?

Get motivated and use a Personal Trainer, Hitting or Pitching Coach to help support you in your goals and improve your overall game.

Give Your Injury a Rest

Give it a Rest - even when injured.

Working out while nursing an injury puts a temporary stress on the body, which may prolong your injury.

It may be OK to work out when injured (depending on the severity) but a few days of rest is usually just what the doctor ordered. A short break won't have a negative affect on your overall baseball goals.

The Proper Age for Strength Training

Strength training with free weights, weight machines, and rubber resistance bands are a great way build muscles and confidence on the playing field.

But what is the proper age that a player should start training with weights?

With a properly designed and supervised program a player can start training with weights at the age of 12.

Some experts say that strength training has less wear and tear on a youth’s body than the actual sport. For example, an upper body workout could have less stress on the body compare to a pitcher throwing a complete game for seven innings.

Players under the age of 12 can gain strength by doing a variety of bodyweight exercises such as push ups, jumping jacks and sit ups.

It's important to remember that strength training is very vital to your baseball success.

Strength training is a fun way to build stronger muscles, joints, and bones. With proper training techniques, a player can improve his endurance, conditioning and performance on the baseball diamond. Strength training can even help prevent injuries and speed up recovery.

5 Benefits of Weight Training for Baseball

Weight training for baseball is very important to the mental approach to the game.

Here are 5 benefits for baseball weight training.

1. Weight training energizes you.

2. Weight training makes you strong. Strength gives you confidence on & off the field.

3. Weight training makes you less prone to nagging injuries.

4. Weight training improves your balance and coordination.

5. Weight training improves your muscular endurance.

I recommend three 45 minute sessions a week to gain all the potential benefits of strength training for your baseball success.

A great effort in the weight room will reap big benefits on the diamond.

You can feel healthier and play better, which in turn will improve your skills and the benefits can make you a MVP.