Reuter: Team up with the Sterling Park District and get ready to play ball

STERLING – As the chill of winter begins to thaw, the arrival of baseball and softball season heralds the promise of warmer days and renewed excitement. The annual tradition of pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner.

Fans eagerly anticipate the performance of their favorite teams as well as the players in their family, speculating about the impact of the new rookies and the potential of seasoned players.

For those stepping onto the field, the sensation of the sun warming their faces and the familiar scent of fresh-cut grass bring a sensation of nostalgia and joy. It’s a time of hope and possibility, where dreams of a successful season take root and the timeless rhythm of the game brings communities together.

Spring training plays a pivotal role in preparing baseball and softball players for a successful season. It’s not just about shaking off the winter chill; it’s about honing skills, fine-tuning reflexes and fostering a strong mental game.

Offseason athletic training plays a crucial role in injury prevention by allowing athletes to focus on enhancing their strength, flexibility and overall conditioning without the immediate pressure of competition. The period provides an opportunity to address muscle imbalances, improve technique and build a solid foundation of fitness that can mitigate the risk of injuries during the competitive season.

By emphasizing recovery and tailored workout regimens, athletes can strengthen vulnerable areas and enhance their resilience to the physical demands that baseball/softball require.

In addition to physical benefits, offseason training also offers significant mental game advantages. Athletes can use this time to develop mental toughness and resilience, which are essential for overcoming challenges during the competitive season. Training in a low-pressure environment allows athletes to experiment with new strategies and techniques, boosting their confidence and mental agility. This mental preparation can lead to improved focus and decision-making skills during high-stakes situations.

Offseason training like incorporating cross-training, diverse exercises and access to batting cages and practice turf during the offseason can provide athletes with the opportunity to maintain and improve their batting technique and fielding skills. Engaging in varied activities can also prevent burnout, keeping the athlete’s passion for the sport alive.

At Westwood, The Lab provides various features that are universal to all sports, yet designed specifically for the biomechanical and physiological demands of each individual’s sport. Director of Human Performance Kel Bond has worked in the fitness field for over 15 years and has trained in a variety of areas, including multiple levels of athletes.

Bond recognizes that each sport and discipline have specific demands, which is why his options for performance training are tailored to the specific needs and aspects of each sport and athlete. Individual, small group and team training plans are designed for athlete development at every level and provide commonality of movement patterns that overlap in a variety of sports. For example, non-sport specific plyometrics (jump-training) have shown greater results in all aspects of performance as compared to sport-specific plyometrics. Because of this, we train movement, not sport, to provide the most complete athlete experience, according to Bond.

Along with Bond’s knowledge, he guides athletes to utilize some of the advanced training equipment The Lab has to offer. Proteus is an advanced resistance training system that identifies strengths and weaknesses in speed and power by capturing movement in three dimensions, the same way the human body moves.

Desmotec specializes in isoinertial training, which involves using ropes and straps attached to a rotating flywheel, providing variable resistance throughout the entire range of motion used for targeted strengthening of specific muscle groups.

The Perch camera system is used for monitoring movements during velocity-based training. VBT has been shown to increase speed, jump height, changes in direction and improve strength gains, enhancing the user’s motivation, safety and performance while lifting weights. The Synaptec flickering strobe intermittently blocks the user’s vision, forcing one’s brain to fill the gaps at anticipated increments, improving eye-hand coordination, movement, balance, reaction time, peripheral vision, focus and timing.

Vertimax is a small platform with Bungee-like cords attached for jumping, maximizing quick hands and feet, improving glove-to-throw speed and base-running techniques and provides many benefits for every sport. While these are just a few of the features provided at The Lab, a training program with Bond is the best way to learn what specific areas are needed to focus on for your athlete.

In addition to The Lab, the Sterling Park District offers a controlled environment where players can focus on specific aspects of their game, ensuring they enter the season at peak performance.

Whether you’re looking to improve your technique or simply enjoy some recreational practice, the batting cages and caged turf area at Westwood provide a convenient and accessible option for all levels of players.

With dimensions equivalent to a baseball infield, it serves as an ideal environment for pitching, batting and infield practice or drills. Utilizing these facilities and investing in a well-structured offseason training program not only contributes to an athlete’s longevity and performance but also fortifies their mental game, ensuring they enter the competition season at their peak physical and psychological condition.

It is critical to identify any compensation patterns an athlete has developed from their sport, as well as any structural, mechanical and muscular imbalances in order for an athlete to excel in sports and minimize the risk of injury. By utilizing Bond’s unique knowledge at The Lab or our batting cages and turf areas, our experience and approach have proven time and time again that the best way to prepare athletes for their competitive season is by enhancing strength, power, speed, explosiveness, agility and mental fitness.

For information about The Lab and training plans, Bond can be reached at 815-622-2216 or kbond@sterlingparks.org.

Batting cages and the turf area is found in building 3 at the Sterling Park District Westwood facilities. Members can reserve the mezzanine-level batting cage up to 24 hours in advance with no additional fee.

Normal rental charges apply for any rentals beyond 24 hours in advance. All batting cage participants must be a Total Fitness Pass Member. Non-members can rent the cage at any time; however, this rental does not allow access to first-floor turf.

The turf and cage are rented together; the cage in the turf area cannot be rented alone and does not allow access to the mezzanine-level cage.

For information and rates, see our winter activity guide found on www.SterlingParks.org or call Westwood at 815-622-6201.