Let’s Talk

about YOU!
 DAY 1
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
PREPARATION OF
ATHLETES AND COACHES
ON THE RETURN TO
Stress & Anxiety - The aim of this lesson is to understand what
stress and anxiety are and how they are measured

Stress Management - The aim of stress management is to learn methods

that can be used to help athletes to control stress and anxiety. Learning to cope
with stress and anxiety is vital to an athlete who has to perform in high-pressure
situations.

Stress in Sport - Stress management in sport is learning techniques that

help athletes to control stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress and
anxiety is vital for athletes performing in high-pressure situations.

https://www.teachpe.com/
sports-psychology/stress-
anxiety
PHYSICAL
PREPARATION
Physical Demands of Baseball & Softball
The following represents the main physiological processes involved in some
international sports including baseball and softball.
Strength & power - Strength is the ability of a muscle or muscle group to exert
maximal force against resistance.
Power - is the ability to move weight with speed. Power is the workload
multiplied by velocity most commonly expressed in Watts. The metabolism most
used in this case is the anaerobic one (ATP-PCr) where the energy system is
usually used under 15 seconds.
Muscular endurance - It is the ability of a muscle or muscle group to execute
sub-maximal force against resistance for an extended period of time. The
metabolism most used is the Lactic one (glycolytic) where the effort fluctuates
between 15 secs and 2 mins.
Aerobic endurance- It is the body’s capacity to sustain medium to
high intensity physical exercise for extended periods of time through
the continual acquisition of oxygen. The metabolism most used is the
aerobic one where the energy expenditure overcomes 1 min with no
limitation.
Movement agility - It is the ability to move and change direction
and position of the body quickly and effectively.
Reaction time - It is the length of time taken for a person or
system to respond to a given stimulus.
Psychomotor skills - It is the stable and reliable link between perception
of body (sensory-motor area) with environment and execution of goal‐
directed sports actions.
Accuracy - Where the objective is to hit a static or moving target of
various shapes and sizes.
Among these, please below you can find the main used in baseball and
softball:
● psychomotor skills;
● accuracy;
● reaction time;
● strength;
● power
I
In order to benefit of a great health, it is paramount to consider the athlete‘s
health and well-being, composed mainly of:
● mental health;
● cardiovascular health;
● musculoskeletal health;
● nutrition and dietary habits;
● injury prevention.
It is very important to put a particular focus on:
● concussion;
● heart rate;
● energy demand of training and energy food nutrients;
● specific medical concerns of the female athlete (energy deficiency
syndrome);
● sleeping disorders, risky behaviours.
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=GO7-7W76irs
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?
PRESENTATION PER REGION ON
THE PLAN AND ACTIVITIES FOR
1ST WEEK OF TRAINING
TALENT
IDENTIFICATION
What is talent identification?
The identification of talent in sport is often erratic and
subjective. There is a lot of focus on the current performance
of young athletes and the real talents – the ones with the
future potential – are often overlooked and de-selected early.
In terms of development, a one-size-fits-all approach too often
overshadows individual development pathways – leading to
overuse injuries, demotivation and early drop-out from sports.

Talent identification is the search for young athletes with the

potential to become elite athletes.
Why is talent identification important?
During youth development in sport, coaches and trainers tend to rely on their experience to
select talent (the coach’s eye). This causes a bias, as maturity can vary enormously and is
rarely taken into account.
In most sports, taller and stronger kids are seen as more talented players. In team sports they
are the most visible on the field, take control of the game and score the winning points. In
individual sports they are faster and stronger than their opponents and arrive at the finish first.
This catches the eye of talent scouts and coaches – who might be overlooking the potential of
the ones who are later in their physical development and are not as dominant. Talented but
late mature athletes might miss their chance due to a limited number of spots in the talent
development program.
A well-known consequence is the relative age effect, where children born early in the year
have more chances of being selected due to physical advantages – as they may be up to 11
months older than the peers they are compared to.

https://www.victoris.be/
talent-identification-in-
sports/
But how do you identify talent?
“We see ourselves as a partner to implement standardized and objective test
protocols. We help federations and clubs to set up their own highly specialized
program with the right parameters. We ensure they have the right tools and
knowhow to ensure high-quality data – which is a crucial part of the equation but is
often forgotten.”, says Lode.

https://www.victoris.be/
talent-identification-in-
sports/
General Tests
Descriptions of how to conduct each of the fitness tests are available online, as well as
equipment required and forms for recording and submitting results. The general test
protocols are listed below. The eTID website had some extra specific instructions for
conducting these tests.
● standing height
● body mass
● arm span
● push-ups — using a chair, perform max number in 30 seconds.
● vertical jump — with one hand on hip, the other raised.
● 40m sprint
● Either a shuttle run (beep test) or 1.6 km run
Talent Identification Testing is primarily used for help in designing the most appropriate
athletic training program. A general non-sport specific testing battery can provide you with an
idea of your basic strengths and weaknesses, and from this you may find you would be better
suited to another sport which makes better use of your strengths. Although testing has
sometimes been used in this way for talent identification, it has generally not been very reliable
in predicting the future success of juniors (mainly due to varying growth patterns) and in sports
which rely heavily on other factors such as technique, tactics and psychological factors

https://www.topendsports.com/
testing/talent-identification.htm
DAY 2
TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT
Why are mental and
physical skills important for athletes?
Mental training prepares the mind to help you perform at
your best, mentally and physically. Mental factors such as
confidence, focus, self-belief, and motivation are crucial to
athletic performance and can help take an athlete to the next
level if the physical ability is already there.
 APPLYING PRINCIPLES IN TRAINING
Optimizing Training - For training to improve an individual fitness
they must follow basic principle of training

FREQUENCY

INTENSITY

TIME
ADHERENCE
 What are the 4 stages of preparation for sports?
Basically, the periodization of an annual plan has four major stages:
preparatory phase, pre-competition (pre-season) phase,
competition (season) phase and transition (off-season) phase.

Period Main task of period

Preparatory Developing fitness and training

Pre-competition Tapering of performance

Competition Maintaining high level of performance

Transition Physical and psychic recovery

 System and conditions for good and purposeful training process planning

Planning macrostructure and microstructure

Basic elements of macrostructure:

● systematic approach
● a strategy to distribute training loads in relation to competition goals
● a defined structure for progress
● an approach of building subsequent training units
● a set time frame for executing the plan
● a complex training containing all elements
● respecting the unstable nature of adaptation process
● systematic work with training variables (volume, intensity, frequency)
● choosing a method of monitoring training and assessing competition results
Basic elements of microstructure:
● competition schedule
● input training of athlete or group, with respect to the level of performance and
biological maturity
● the arrangement of training effects at optimum time, the consequence is
fatigue management, which eliminates stagnation, overload or overtraining
● biological rhythm of the athlete
● the variability of stimuli
● appropriateness of exercises in relation to age, performance, period etc.
● time available for training, social and economic conditions, optimizing the
duration of training
● the level of motor skills and abilities of the athlete or team
● the level of the athlete’s interest, motivation and psychic characteristics
 Preparatory phase
Preparatory phase is the most important part of ATC. During this stage, the athlete gains required level of
fitness and technical quality for the following periods. In some kind of sports (e.g. endurance sports), it is
the longest stage of annual cycle. During this stage, the training process has to ensure creating the
training basis for future performance
Pre-competition phase
This period is included about 2 or 4 weeks before competitive period (season) and it should not be very long
because it may result in decrease in motivation or problems with maintained reached fitness level without top
competitions etc. The main task is increasing performance. Fitness training is specific, technical skills are
stabilized for competition load and the variability of race movement. The main principles of training in first
transition period are the following:
● Decrease in training volume
● High quality of training process
● Sufficient time for rest and recovery
● Most training exercises are specific
● Check races or competition
 Competitive phase
The main aim is to demonstrate the maximal level of performance. During season, the athlete usually
competes in top, most important or second-level competitions. This stage is created in relationship with
the dates of important competitions and can be either simple or complex. Simple competition period lasts
for 2-3 months while the complex one for 4-5 months

Transition phase
Periods of demanding motor activity must be alternated with relaxation periods. This period usually lasts
between 2 and 6 weeks, depending on the length of pre-competition and competition phase. The frequency of
training is low and training units are short. The content of training is usually general and must support
physical and psychic recovery. Transition period is characterized with:
● Decrease in training load (intensity, volume, frequency).
● Training is based on general training means, however, it should be varied.
● Without competition.
● Attempt to maintain acquired level of fitness.
● Psychological recovery.
 What are the preparation of an athlete?
Athletes should also prepare for a match by using positive self-talk. Self-talk involves use of statements
such as “I played really well in my last match”, which replaces negative emotions with happy ones.
Listening to music is another way in which athletes can get in the right head-space before they compete.

How do you prepare for sports participation?

● 5 Ways to Prepare for Your Sports Season
● Get in shape. Being in shape will help you have an easier start to your sport season.
● Set realistic goals. While you get ready for the start of your sports season, think of
what you want to achieve. ...
● Check your gear. ...
● Consider a sports camp. ...
● See your doctor.
DAY 2 - ACTIVITY 3
CREATE YOUR
TRAINING PROGRAM
FROM PREPARATORY
TO TRANSITIONAL
PHASE
DAY 3
CURRENT TRENDS
AND ISSUES
In the old days, athletes tried to be as physically fit as possible. Since that time, we have come a
long way. Mental training, food, supplements and data analytics are just a few examples of this.
In order to realize their peak, athletes and their teams continuously try to be ahead of the pack
by implementing new performance enhancing strategies. With sensors and artificial intelligence
big data will decide what’s best.

Athletes will also start to introduce non traditional holistic approaches to their training
programs. These will integrate and connect mind (neuro), body (physical), spirit (emotional)
and soul (spiritual). Smart food, neurocoaching, gene therapy, sleep management, they all will
be part of an athlete’s future tools. No doubt this will result in a flood of new records
Today's players are Millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) or Gen Z (born mid to late 1990s to
early 2010s) and are comfortable using tech and data. In fact they expect it to be a feature of their
coaching and learning. The graphic above, presented by Nottingham Forest first-team analyst Tom
Corden at our Individual Development Webinar in May, illustrates this nicely.
This means coaches and managers have to adapt to the players they are working with, even if they
themselves are not from these generations. The speed of change is fast and can be bewildering.
 What are 3 issues in sports today?
● Developmental athletes over-compete and under-train.
● Adult training and competition programs are imposed on developing
athletes.
● Training and competition formats designed for male athletes are
imposed on females.
● Preparation is geared to winning in the short-term, not long-term
development.
New things to consider.
1. Sports Psychology
2. Sports Nutrition
3. Sports Medicine
ROLE OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLAYERS
TRAINING MENTAL CONCENTRATION
 The Fast Pitch Softball latest rule change

● Among the main changes introduced in the new set of rules is the addition of a penalty for
placing an incorrect runner on second base in a tiebreaker inning. On a proper appeal by the
defensive team after a pitch, they shall be called out. The appeal may be made at any time
they are on base. (LAST TO BAT)
● The temporary runner rule added the pitcher for whom a temporary runner may be used, if on
base with two out. If an incorrect temporary runner is used, on a proper appeal by the
defence, the incorrect runner will be called out.
● The new rules also provide for a clearer understanding of how to deal with unreported
substitutions and re-establishing the FLEX or DP after reducing the line-up to nine (9) players.
● FLEX - LISTED ON THE 1OTH SLOT / - DP - BATTER FOR FLEX / OPPO - OFFENSIVE
PLAYER ONLY
● A player may also wear one or two warming sleeves (compression sleeves) provided that
each is the same solid colour as the team uniform colour and that the colour matches all
other undershirts worn by any player on that team.
● For female players, caps, visors and headbands are optional and players are free to choose
which of these they wish to wear, providing that all players wear the same colour.
● OBSTRUCTION & INTERFERNCE / STRIKE ZONE. / PITCHING FOOT.
DAY 3 - ACTIVITY 4

LET’S PLAY
BALL…..
DAY 3
CURRENT TRENDS
AND ISSUES
BASEBALL 5
BASEBALL 5
DAY 3 - ACTIVITY 4

LET’S PLAY
BALL…..
COACHES!!!
!