Fall Ball can serve a purpose for many different baseball players, from having fun to increasing playing time, or just getting my game reps in as a player transitions to a larger field of play.
But is Fall Ball the right answer for your athlete?
First, let’s start with the obvious. If your athlete is playing another sport – football, soccer, etc. – 5 or more days per week, playing in a couple games on Sunday will do very little to advance their baseball skills while also increasing their risk of injury in the other sport without time off for the body to recover.
Next, let’s ask some critical questions:
- Is pitching once a week – with no other throwing activities taking place – setting an athlete up for success or injury?
- How does swinging a bat in a game situation – maybe a dozen times at the most – help improve an athlete’s swing if he/she is not getting reps outside of game day?
- How much total baseball skill will be learned, or improved upon in the limited time playing games on Sunday afternoons?
Remember: Quality work will always trump quantity of work.
Falls Aces offers a number of instructional options over Fall. Learn more by visiting our Baseball Training page.
If taking a day off is not going to happen, spend some time developing the “engine” that drives results. Perform a circuit workout that develops a stronger core. Work on speed and agility training. Think more long-term about areas of your game that need to be improved and don’t feel pressured to play baseball just because it is available. Early specialization is not the answer for youth athletes.
Are there specific times where Fall Ball is of value? Absolutely! If you were injured for the majority of the baseball season, or maybe didn’t get a chance to play much while riding the pine, Fall Ball is a smart choice for you in order to get better reps against live pitching, hitting, and fielding. Having that confidence back after competing – even in meaningless Fall Ball games – is a huge asset to hold onto over the offseason.
Falls Aces players can consider three different options for Fall:
- Take a break from baseball (recommended for top pitchers and position players who may benefit more from continuing to build their “engines”)
- Play Fall Ball (recommended for players who were injured or who are moving to larger fields)
- Participate in instructional camps, clinics or sign up for private lessons (recommended for players who are not playing other sports 5+ days per week)
Why choose instructional camps? Simple: these are highly focused camps that develop specific skills ranging from hitting to outfield play to base running and many other aspects of the game that often go untrained. Falls Aces Camps – like the 5 Tool Camp – feature a number of fast paced, game-like drills meant to allow athletes to acquire higher-level skills.
Check out the latest training offered by skilled Falls Aces coaches on our Baseball Training page.