Abstract des Autors

A strong arm commands respect, whether it be on the mound or in the field. However, baseball players and coaches neglect this physical tool every day at practice. Coaches are continuously working to improve a player's running speed, agility and quickness, or bat speed. Yet very little time is spent improving a player's ability to throw the ball with greater velocity. Often players spend only a limited time on strengthening their throwing arm. They throw together in the outfield before practice or a game so that their arm is warmed up enough to play. Pitchers spend many hours of practice time on technique work, but they spend less time working directly to improve their throwing velocity. The ability to throw the baseball with great velocity is tremendously valuable for both pitchers and position players. Concerning players at the

Major League level, a high percentage of them do possess this tool. For pitchers, the value of throwing the ball with greater velocity needs no mention. For infielders, it is often the differences in a batter being out or safe at first base. And for outfielders, it can lead to throwing out the crucial runner at home plate. The strength, speed, power program is a multidimensional approach to attaining greater throwing velocities. It utilizes total body strength training, shoulder stabilization, weighted baseball throwing, abdominal/rotation strength and power training, and upper body plyometrics. Each of these components targets the specific muscles and movements of throwing to bring about increases in throwing velocity. Verf.-Referat