No we are not talking about any sappy love songs here!
When you train you need to feed your muscles. Some of that nutrition is eating and hydrating well. Yes, even during softball training. We often think of softball practice as a less-demanding environment than some other sports but the truth is that any workout will place a demand on your body.
When you get ready to practice you stretch, right? Most softball practices have a short jog and stretch segment where athletes prepare their bodies for the activity they are about to undertake. Stretching has become a common sense part of all training.
Let’s add another key component to your training
Oxygen.
Before you work out. Prime your lungs by breathing deeply. If you spend a minute forcefully breathing deeply (about 1.5 seconds) and exhaling (about 1 second) you are starting your practice in a highly oxygenated state. Your muscles are flowing with oxygen and ready to go to work.
During your practice. When you take a water break also take an oxygen break. Do about a 30-second version of your pre-practice routine. This will recharge your muscles to help you continue to perform at a high level.
After practice. Repeat your pre-practice breathing routine and you are on your way to less fatigued muscles, less soreness and better results from your practices.
We have all experienced the pain and soreness of a hard workout. Try feeding the muscles with more oxygen and you will perform much better.
About the Author: Tory Acheson brings a wealth of knowledge to the Fastpitch Prep staff. He has coached at all levels of the game, including the last 25 years at the college level at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State. He began his coaching career at the high school level spending 9 years Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. and is now working as a professional softball instructor.
