Baseball Factory Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, Steve Bernhardt gives us his three keys to getting ready for another season of baseball, no matter what level. 

For baseball players around the country, the time is drawing near. Daily baseball practice and opening day games are right around the corner for many baseball players. As you prepare for the season, here are three things to keep in mind:

Take Care of Your Body

To be a productive player for a team you need to be healthy and on the field. Pay attention to keeping your body strong and flexible. Be sure to warm up properly before every workout (especially on cold days early in the season) and cool down when you are finished. Be a well-conditioned athlete. Get plenty of rest and make sure you are eating healthy – that is your body’s fuel.

Pace Yourself

Start your training early enough to allow for gradually building up to being “game ready.” It’s easy to get excited about playing baseball again, but resist the urge to do everything at full throttle the first day. This is most necessary with your arm. Don’t come out the first day of workouts throwing your maximum velocity. Follow a throwing program to build arm strength and arm health that leads up to the season. Your arm is an extremely valuable asset for you – take care of it.

Put a Program Down on Paper

Lay out a program that includes your weekly workout routine – on and off the field. It should include what you plan to do each day with specific drills and numbers of repetitions. This covers throwing, hitting, defensive work, strength and conditioning and all other aspects that are a part of your pre-season preparation. Writing this program down will help you stick to it, and it will allow you to chart your progress leading up to opening day.

By doing these three simple things, you will put yourself in a great position to have a successful season. Taking care of your body, being smart about your workload and putting your program on paper are great steps toward being fully prepared for the start of the season. By putting in the proper work in the off-season you will begin the season confident and ready to produce.