Weightlifting

[PDad]

The strength and conditioning coaches at the collegiate level work with the head coaches on a plan for every player. ...

Unfortunately, sometimes neither one knows what's appropriate for women and/or the sport.

My niece played vball in ACC for a new HC that came from a Big Ten school. HC used a S&C coach with a football background the first year and 3 girls had shoulder injuries that required surgery. That triggered the medical staff to get involved and revamp both the practices and workouts.

An alumnus from our HS recounted what happened at her Big Ten softball program with a HC that had been there 10 years. Freshman year, new S&C coach bulked up the players so much they lost their speed/quickness and 5+ had hip injuries. They changed trainer/regimen the next year and had great success.

YMMV

[MAXX]

For softball, it should be lifting for strength, not lifting for power.

Guy weightlifting coaches, regardless if there is a football team, use a lot of football related exercises.

It's this type of thinking that keeps softball in the dark ages.......

Softball players don't perform powerful movements???

Which exercises are classified as "football exercises?" Deadlifts? Squats? Cleans? Any softball program worth their salt uses those exercises. Check out some of the videos of Bama and Auburn's players doing these exercises and you'll understand where a lot of on field performance is being developed.....

[Sftbll4ever]

For softball, it should be lifting for strength, not lifting for power.

Guy weightlifting coaches, regardless if there is a football team, use a lot of football related exercises.

It's this type of thinking that keeps softball in the dark ages.......

Softball players don't perform powerful movements???

Which exercises are classified as "football exercises?" Deadlifts? Squats? Cleans? Any softball program worth their salt uses those exercises. Check out some of the videos of Bama and Auburn's players doing these exercises and you'll understand where a lot of on field performance is being developed.....

It's the coaches that want the girls to do clean and jerks and snatches. These are bad for shoulders if done the wrong way. Some of these coaches need to know what the pitchers need to work on, they have a different muscle group that needs to be strengthed and if done wrong will cause severe injuries.

I love the idea of lifting for the girls. But I also love the idea of crossfit for the girls too. My daughter did it one Summer and was in such good shape. Luckily for us, our box had a USA junior team member teaching her the proper way to do the lifts.

[jonriv]

Weighlifting has become a integral part of Softball training and probably one of the biggest adjustments that HS players have when moving into college. My DD (senior) is in the best shape of her life. She is hard as nails. She is lean and mean. My sweet little thing can out lift her Uncle and gives her brother a run for his money. Of course there are dangers in not doing it right, but I think most of the fears expressed come from ignorance and misunderstanding. Almost all athletes train with weights- in many cases utilizing techniques one might associate with football players. I feel very confident that the instruction my daughter is getting in the weight room is 100 times better than what I had received back in the day

[as the world turns]

Which exercises are classified as "football exercises?" Deadlifts? Squats? Cleans? Any softball program worth their salt uses those exercises......

What are these ekercise science and comunikashuns majors going to do when they can't reach for a can of soup because of jacked up shoulders or can't run because of bad knees and all that muscle turns to blubber because they are sitting at home wondering they can't get jobs in their field?

[jonriv]

Which exercises are classified as "football exercises?" Deadlifts? Squats? Cleans? Any softball program worth their salt uses those exercises......

What are these ekercise science and comunikashuns majors going to do when they can't reach for a can of soup because of jacked up shoulders or can't run because of bad knees and all that muscle turns to blubber because they are sitting at home wondering they can't get jobs in their field?

Deadlifts,Squats, Cleans are all part of the weight training my daughter does. She has also developed a hardcore workout regime she will continue for the rest of her life- from what she learned from the trainer. BTW- she already has a real good job after graduation(and they have a great gym!)

[Dugout Dad]

For softball, it should be lifting for strength, not lifting for power.

Guy weightlifting coaches, regardless if there is a football team, use a lot of football related exercises.

It's this type of thinking that keeps softball in the dark ages.......

Softball players don't perform powerful movements???

Which exercises are classified as "football exercises?" Deadlifts? Squats? Cleans? Any softball program worth their salt uses those exercises. Check out some of the videos of Bama and Auburn's players doing these exercises and you'll understand where a lot of on field performance is being developed.....

Hey sport, my point is not against these lifts, I am saying that weight lifting coaches sometimes lose sight that these players are not football players. Many justify their weight lifting program's success based on increased numbers, I don't think it should be done at the expense of injury. Train them more like quarterbacks, not linemen - speed and strength, and sport specific motions.