USA Softball conditioning techniques

Brandon Marcello is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for USA Softball and for Baylor University. We spoke to him to get his thoughts on how he prepared the team for the World Cup of Softball—and on-field temperatures that reached as high as 110 degrees.

What are the responsibilities of a Strength and Conditioning Coach? For the USA Softball team the responsibilities are to develop strength and conditioning programs for the girls based on an individual prescription.

We need to know what the needs of the sport dictate, what the needs of the position dictate, and we need to know what the needs of each individual is within each of those descriptions. Whether it’s a pitcher, infielder, outfielder, etc.

How are the needs different by position in softball? A lot of it depends on limiting factors. If you look at it by position pitchers need more overall stamina than the other positions. If you’re looking at catchers you know that hip mobility plays an important part. There’s a lot of things which transcend all the positions such as balance, stability, shoulder stability, hip stability—things of that nature. But the goal is to attack that specific limiting factor and find something that helps an athlete lift up their game.

I noticed your pre-game warm-up with had a lot of balance and coordination drills. With a sport such as softball it’s very chaotic. You don’t know where the ball is going to be at all—so you have to be able to respond and react. And being in balance is absolutely key to success. But it isn’t just on the conditioning side.

We also stress being in close communication with the rest of the support staff such as the massage therapist, the team physician, and the team athletic trainer. We all work in concert with each other to find out exactly what the athlete’s needs are.

What are some of the common injuries you guys are looking out for and what do you do to treat them? The common injuries are typically shoulder injuries and lower back injuries. So depending on what injuries they may have had coming up and injury histories are very well-known. But we have a very healthy group. We’re lucky not to have many injuries at all.

At this stage it’s more of an overuse thing. Sometimes that’s an issue with pitchers but we have so many good ones—who can all be considered #1 pitchers. So the workload can be spread across pretty well. The big thing is to make sure they are conditioned and they don’t fatigue as quickly. When fatigue sets in that’s when you’re setting yourself up for possible injuries to occur. So if we can increase that stamina where they don’t get fatigued as quickly we’ve made a great contribution for injury prevention. And hopefully it translated onto the field.

Comments

[Mike Allen]

I've seen the questions, but not the answers. I'd like to know what the girls do to improve strength and conditioning. Our high school has a number of overweight players who need to get in better shape.

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[Marissa Davidson]

Hi, I was really hoping you could give me some tips on how to get in better shape to play softball. I a m 13 years old and I am a pitcher. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks

[Jess Burgason ATC/L]

HI,
I'm looking for new ideas for conditioning drills for a college team. Is there a why you could sent me ideas.
Thanks

[Alisa Fila]

I'm looking for some pre season strength and conditioning drills for high school softball.
Thanks.

[kelly hendrix]

Looking for strength, flexibility, and speed conditioning program.

Thanks

[Tammy Starkey]

Hi,

Looking for some conditioning drills for a high school softball team. Need to work on speed, agility, balance and strength. Thanks!

[Tammy Starkey]

Hi,

Looking for some conditioning drills for a high school softball team. Need to work on speed, agility, balance and strength. Thanks!

[Tammy Starkey]

Hi,

Looking for some conditioning drills for a high school softball team. Need to work on speed, agility, balance and strength. Thanks!

[Emily Davis]

Hi i am a sophmore pitcher and in need of some conditioning drills to bulid up my stamina and overall strength if you could please send me anything that might help.. i would appreciate it!!

[Robin Bender]

Could I please get some strength training ideas for fastpitch players? I coach at the high school level.

Thank you!

[kimberly smith]

i am a high school player and i play center field. i was wondering if i could get some conditioning techniques. i don't want to be behind again this year.Thanks!!

[McKenzi Rhodes]

Can you please send me some conditioning drills for your legs, calfs, shoulders, and also some conditioning drills for catchers.

Thanks

[k]

hey. I was wondering if I could get some conditioning and training drills for pitchers 12yrs old. My daughter has been trying to find one. thanks

[ccl]

i was wondering if you could send me some pitching exercises that i could do in the gym to make me a better player and keep me in shape to pitch faster and for longer periods of time.

[Lou Frontero]

Hello, I was looking for some ideas for training and conditioning my 10 year daughter! thank you!

[Angie Vulcano]

Looking for conditioning drill for u-14 team, also some drills for inside the gym. thanks coach v

[matt harris]

Could you send me some exercices for the shoulder for h.s girls?

[Lyle Foltz]

Could you please send me some conditioning drills.Pitching, baserunning and power hitting drills are what the girls are looking for.

[Anthony Howard]

Can you send me some conditioning drills for girls high schools softball???

[Eileen Rivera]

Can you please send me conditioning drills? I also need defensive drills?

[Kaylee Johnson]

hello, i was wondering if it would be possible to get some ideas on drills for catchers, this would help me out greatly.

Thanks

[max appleby]

I am putting together preseason condtioning program for a collegiate team. Balance, stamina etc... Can you give me some idea of what you do in the month before competiton.

Thanks.

[Michael Cox]

Can you please send me some of your conditioning drills?