5 Training Tips for a More Productive 2023

1. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS

   • On day one, write down your top 5 baseball goals for that season, and reflect on how badly you want to achieve them. 
   • We may not reach all of them, but a written list will keep us more self-aware and committed to our training. 
   • If you want it, go get it!

2. COMMIT TO A ROUTINE

   • Baseball IQ has some amazing resources for routine building. Our 12 week throwing programs are the best in the business. If your first game is March 10th, commit to starting our programs on January 10th. 
   • A bad routine w/ 100% commitment can often be better than a great routine w/ 1% commitment. Training is a mindset, if you believe in what you are doing and stay diligent to the program you will see results. 
   • Hold yourself accountable. This is your process, you don’t need someone telling you what to do, own your independence. 

3. FIND A TRAINING PARTNER

   • One of the biggest causes of laziness is accountability. If you find a buddy who has similar goals to you, make a pact that you will throw, hit, and workout together. You will be significantly less likely to skip out on training if you have a buddy relying on you to show up. 
   • This does not mean mom or dad, this must be you and a friend or teammate. You need to compete against someone everyday to stay motivated. 

4. MAKE A GAME OUT OF EVERYTHING 

   • Training is often made more difficult, because it feels monotonous. How you frame your training makes all the difference. If you are playing catch with a partner, see who can hit each other's target more than the other. If you are hitting off the tee, see who can hit a line drive off the back of the cage more often. 
   • Assign points and value to everything you do. Compete against your training partner and yourself. If you hit 85 last week, hit 86 next week. 
   • Development comes about by constantly pushing the goal posts farther and farther out every time you train. 

5. WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? 

   • Before you go to bed every night ask yourself this question. What will you lose or miss out on by not working as hard as you possibly can tomorrow? 
   • For some it might be not making Varsity, others it might be not getting a college offer. We are all motivated by the fear that we may fall short of expectations. That is not a bad thing. Fear is a powerful force, embrace it and refuse to let it win. 
   • Who are you when nobody is looking? Do you take a rep off, do you lose focus, or are you motivated by a higher goal? You must spend equal time understanding your dreams, but also acknowledging your fears. 

-MIKE CASTELLANI