with Myndie Berka,
owner/pitching instructor of BreakThrew Fastpitch
Myndie Berka has trained hundreds of successful pitchers. Her pitchers have:
- earned scholarships at over 60 different colleges and universities
- competed at the Women's College World Series at the NCAA DI, DII, NAIA and JUCO levels
- been named collegiate All-Americans
- been collegiate national strikeout leaders at both the NCAA DI and DII levels
For maximum development, pitchers should have different goals and focuses during the off-season and in-season phases of their training. Most coaching focuses on in-season training, neglecting an important part of a pitcher's development.
In this video, BreakThrew Fastpitch owner and pitching instructor Myndie Berka offers a solution for coaches with five challenging off-season workouts to help improve mechanics and develop the strength and speed to power pitchers through a long season.
Workout No. 1
The first workout from Coach Berka focuses heavily on mechanics. The off-season is the best time to break down a pitcher's mechanics because they don't have to worry about falling back into their bad habits by pitching in a game. You'll see how Berka zeroes in on the snap and spin of the pitch, and how she breaks down the pitching motion to help her athletes spot-check specific aspects of their delivery.
Workout No. 2
Distance pitching, or long toss, is a great way to help pitchers develop their arm strength and that's the focus of Berka's second workout. A pitcher with a stronger arm will throw the ball harder and make it harder for opposing players to make solid contact. Additionally, Coach Berka shows how to incorporate conditioning into your pitching workout to keep your athletes in pristine shape.
Workout No. 3
Pitchers who understand what their bodies are doing in space will be able to feel certain movements and make adjustments on their own. This workout will help your pitchers develop body awareness in addition to a strong core and front side. Coach Berka showcases how to use a bosu ball or similar tools in creative ways to challenge a pitcher's balance and core stability.
Workout No. 4
Berka's fourth workout focuses on harness training to develop strength and quickness. The harness can be used to assist the pitcher in improving speed and agility. Coach Berka also displays how to use the harness to resist the motion, which will increase the pitcher's effort and develop strength.
Workout No. 5
In the final workout, you'll learn how to implement weighted balls, a proven way to increase speed to help your pitcher throw harder. Berka explains how to safely use a heavy ball to develop strength, and a light ball to develop quickness.
This video provides five separate workouts, each with its own focus and objectives. Let Coach Berka show you how get the most out of your pitchers' off-season!
79 minutes. 2019.