Elizabeth High School Baseball Weight Training
Copyright 2000, Joseph Przytula Jr. MA ATC CSCS
PHILOSOPHY
To create a realistic
progressive resistance training program that is realistic, and not one
that only looks good on paper. It is designed with high school age
athletes in mind, to increase strength and protect from injury.
SOME CONCEPTS
- Consistency is the key to any weight training program. Don't miss workouts!
- Workouts are three days
per week for the first two mesocycles, decreasing to two for the third,
and one for pre-season and in-season.
- The weight training
sessions should be combined with running, plyometric, and agility
training two to three times per week. The running should be primarily
anaerobic, however overweight athletes should do more aerobic
activities in the first two mesocycles.
THE CIRCUIT
The circuit takes about
one hour to complete. Give athletes about 2.5 min. at each station,
allowing 30 sec. to travel between stations and rest. Feel free to
modify the program to accommodate time/equipment limitations. The
program does take strict supervision to work.
- Begin each session with some light stretching . The warm-up is built in to the circuit.
- Begin the workout with
each athlete and his partner at the determined apparatus. One athlete
will spot while the other is working.
- The first trip around the circuit is the "warm-up lap". 20 reps are done at 50 % of max.
- The athletes attempt to make three "laps" around the circuit.
- Circuit Training
routines challenge anaerobic endurance, and out of shape athletes may
become lightheaded. If this occurs, they should discontinue the
workout, and the next session attempt to go a little bit further on the
circuit, and eventually build up to the complete workout as their
fitness increases.
- All sets should be
performed as a percentage of single repetition maximum (1RM). I have
provided a chart to estimate these percentages. Be aware that 1RM
testing can be dangerous, and only should be performed by experienced
lifters with a good strength and technique base. Another way to
determine how much weight to use is by "perceived exertion". I tell
athletes to work out with a weight heavy enough so that a burning
sensation is felt on the last three to five reps of a set. If the
preset number of reps cannot be performed, the weight was too heavy. If
the athlete didn't feel the burning sensation, the weight was too
light. Adjustments can be made in the next set.
- Athletes should move in a predetermined clockwise or counter clockwise direction around the circuit.
- Be sure to follow the exercise order, as it is one of the determinants of exercise intensity.
THE PROGRAM
NOTE: IN MOST WORKOUTS YOU WILL SEE
"Workout #1" OR "Workout #2".
ALTERNATE BETWEEN WORKOUTS.
ALSO, ALTERNATE BETWEEN "HEAVY" OR "LIGHT" WORKOUTS TO STIMULATE MUSCLE GROWTH.
Mesocycle 1
Early Off Season (Sept.15- Oct.31)
Goal: develop a good strength base.
10-12 reps per set unless noted otherwise. 60% of max
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Workout #1
- Dumbbell alt. biceps curl
- Bench press
- Leg extension
- Tricep extensions
- Leg curl
- Military press
- Lat pulldown
- Crunches-begin with 10-20 reps for 2 sets per "lap",work up to 2 sets of 30
- Calf raise/toe raise superset
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Workout #2
- Crunch with twist
- Incline bench press
- Barbell reverse arm curl
- Hip sled
- Lateral raises
- Hyperextensions
- Bent over rowing
- Diamond push ups- begin with 10-15 reps for 2 sets,work up to sets of 20 30 reps
- Superset hip add/abd
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Mesocycle 2
Middle Off Season (Nov.1- Dec.31)
Goal: hypertrophy, increase lean body mass.
Light day: 10 -12 reps 70% of max
Heavy Day: 6- 8 reps 80-85% of max
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Workout #1
- Bench press
- Standing tricep extension
- Upright row
- Lat pulldown
- Alt. dumbbell arm curls
- Crunches with 5lb. wt. at chest, add a twist.
- Parallel squat
- Calf raise/toe taise superset
- Alt. dumbell shoulder press
- Alt. dumbell reverse curls
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Workout #2
- Incline bench press
- Military press, push press, or power jerk
- Reverse curl
- Tricep pushdowns
- Single arm bent over rowing with dumbells
- Hyperextension with twist, 5lb. dumbbell held at chest
- Weighted box step up
- Reverse sit up,work up to holding a 7lb. medicine ball between the feet
- Box step up with lateral or crossover step
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Mesocycle 3
Late off season (Jan.2-Feb.28)
Goal: Increase Strength, Get Sport Specific
10-12 reps each set, @70% of max. *= 50% of max.
Performed twice per week.
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Workout #1
- Lunge series, or walking lunge with dumbbells
- Jumprope, sets of 30sec. each "lap"
- Stiffarm pullover, or stiffarm pullover into tricep ext.
- Standing diagonal patterns with 7 lb. med. ball
- Alternate dumbell shoulder press
- Lateral dumbbell raise
- Scarecrow exercise with dumbbells or tubing*
- Superset wrist curl/wrist extension*
- Crunches with arm crossovers with 2.5lb plates, or reverse sit-up with 7lb. medicine ball
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Workout #2
- Shoulder shrugs
- Front dumbbell raise(scapation), thumbs up*
- Forearm pronation/supination with 1/2 dumbell*
- Single leg squat series on 10-14" box
- Bent over lateral dumbbell raises*
- Dumbbell bench press
- Modified lat pulldowns
- Dips, with elbows bending no more than 90deg.
- Parallel squat, emphasizing explosion upon ascent
- Russian twist with dumbell
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Mesocycle 4
Preseason (March)
Goal: Maintain Strength Gains, continue sport specific conditioning
Workout once per week.
2 sets, 12-15 reps, 50-70% of max.
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- Weighted box step series or walking lunges
- Hyperextensions with twist with medicine ball
- Alterate dumbell shoulder press
- Parallel squats emphasizing "explosion" upon ascent
- Gambetta modified dumbbell bench press
- Crunches with arm crossover with 3-5 lb. weight, or weighted reverse sit-ups
- Superset wrist ext. with wrist curls
- Pronation/supination with dumbbells
- Superset shoulder internal rotation with external rotation with rubber tubing or dumbbells
- Superset gambetta curls with gambetta reverse curls
- Bent over later raise or gambetta "dumbbell swim" for scapular stabilizers
Mesocycle 5
In season(April-August)
Goal: Same as Mesocycle 4.
Workout once per week
(may be extended to twice per week if the athlete has weight room access in July and August).
2 sets, 12-15 reps @50-70 % 0f max. depending on energy levels.
Exercises are the same as
mesocycle 4. Your goals should be realistic for this part of the year,
as time constraints are at their most challenging. Remember,
consistency is everything. It's better to get in the weight room once a
week and get a great workout, than to come for a few weeks everyday,
only to giveup all together. Many exercises can be done at the ball
park with surgical tubing if time is really tight, but...
GET IT DONE!
Good luck to Everyone !

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