Hello Parents:
I recently read an interesting article that focused on the Six Pillars of Strength. The article was written by Andrew Heffernan and it was published in the December 2015 issue of Experience Life magazine (ExperienceLife.com).
Heffernan references a workout designer named Kate Galliett. She identified the "six key areas of focus that... lead to healthier movement and better durability."
Six Pillars of Strength:
Shoulder-blade strength
Postural strength
Torso strength
Glute strength
Hip strength
Foot strength
I'm a strong proponent of good balance and a strong foundation. Galliett states that, "Unstable feet lead to unstable shoulders. Poor glute strength weakens the core. It's all related." Her first statement speaks volumes, "Stabilizing and strengthening the body starts from the ground up." (Experience Life, pg 23)
We aren't simply getting stronger to hit the ball farther and throw it harder. Gaining the proper functional strength will help protect us from injury and it will also allow us to move in a more efficient manner.
Have you ever watched Albert Pujols run? In 2015 he was running heavily, but it was actually better than the past two seasons. His feet are in bad shape (due to nagging injuries), but they were in even worse shape in 2013 & 2014; and his power numbers showed this. In 2015, he was back in the 40 home run group. Watch video of Pujols (preferably in the early 2000's; maybe 2005 vs Brad Lidge and pay attention to his feet); he has an excellent foundation.
When you watch good hitters, the first thing you usually see is their swing and where the ball goes after contact. Well, rewind the tape (I'm old school) and watch their feet. Watch how they take a pitch. If you watched the 2015 MLB Playoffs, you will recall that the commentators mentioned Daniel Murphy's meteoric rise. He was on an absolute all-time HR tear. The MLB Network really dissected his swing and they focused primarily on his lower half. I'm cutting this one short. I could write about this for hours.
Parents, I'm sure that you already do this, but put on the MLB Network and hope that Harold Reynolds breaks down a hitter. You can also search for Big Sticks with Ken Griffey Jr.
Here's a YouTube link of an episode with David Ortiz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4fZ5AP74bU
I know that I started this post with the Six Pillars of Strength, but it all comes back to the feet (your foundation).
Parents, the more your young players play, the better the odds of them having the chance to continue playing in high school and beyond. There are many places to play. The love and desire must be there. It can be done!
All the best...
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Six Pillars of Strength
Posted - 12/04/2015 : 03:32:19
