Metrics in the recruiting process

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Oct 17, 2014
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#'s for bench and squat would be 1RM......although it would be great to see big numbers, I'm more interested in just seeing that a kid is actually involved in some type of strength training program and learning proper technique. Many kids send me videos of them at workout sessions. I can tell how athletic a kid is by the way they move. If I was running a combine company, which I've thought about, I would test power output using force plates, which are really expensive. That way you would get a # that was strictly amount of power produced, and not necessarily tied into whether or not a kid is lifting.

Any type of strength training a kid can get, with proper technique, will give them a big advantage in the fall of their college freshman year, especially at D1 level.

Also, we bench press and have kids do overhead lifts. We use a closegrip press instead of a wide grip. Pitchers bench with dumbbells. Closegrip and dumbbells take some of the stress of the shoulder area. Would be even better if you could press with a swiss multi-grip bar.

Our kids back squat, front squat, split squat, deadlift, and power clean. Proper instruction is key to avoid pain or injuries.

OF pop time - paint a line or use cones to set up a distance from home (150 feet is what we use). Grounders must be fielded at the line. We just toss up a fly ball at the line. Measure glove to glove times to determine arm strength and ball transfer/footwork times.

College coaches are recruiting earlier and earlier and we want to know a kid's test score as early as possible. 1-Can she get into school? 2-How much academic money will she qualify for?
The more academic money a kid is eligible for, the more valuable they are to us because we can put together a better package. Our tuition is 44k for out of state students. We could offer a 50% athletic scholarship and if the kid doesn't have a high enough test score they will get zero academic money. 50% athletic scholarship isn't so great if you still have to pay 22k a year out of pocket.

Plus, the earlier you take the test, the easier it is to identify weaknesses and work to improve those areas. If a kid hasn't taken the test by spring of junior year, it is a huge red flag. Often we are looking to fill a late spot with a kid who may be entering their senior year. Every kid who hadn't taken the test yet and finally did so wasn't able to make the cut and often times they weren't NCAA qualifiers. We've had to pull significant offers from kids once we got their test scores. Only good things come from taking it early.....why wait???? I took it my 8th grade year just so I could get familiar with it and see where I was. I don't understand why kids/parents would spend thousands of dollars on travel ball, camps, showcases and not insist their kid take the ACT/SAT. It is your main moneymaker, and if you can't get above an 18 on the ACT, maybe you should spend less money on softball and more money on tutoring and extra classwork.

FYI......these are solely my opinions.....YMMV
 
Oct 2, 2015
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D1 coach here. I am interested in:

20 yard dash time
Bench press
Squat
Chin-ups
Vertical jump
Overhand throwing speed
Pitcher fastball speed
Catcher pop time
Outfield pop time
Batting exit velocity
Batting approach angle
Average distance of hit
GPA
ACT/SAT test score (no later than fall of sophomore year)

I know I may be an outlier in wanting so much info, but it all helps tell the story....

Great info man!

...Average distance of hit...I love it!
In your opinion what is considered "excellent" for average distance hit?
Whether it's close up slow toss, or from a pitcher's mound at full speed?

How about max reps in lifting? Do you base that on percentages? Meaning if a girl is 140 or 180 lbs, she needs to be benching or squatting "X"% of her body weight

Thanks
 
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Oct 17, 2014
123
18
You can use the blast vision app on apple products to determine average distance of hit off of a tee. It's a cheap version of a hit trax. We use diamond kinetics and they will be launching a similar app that will be more accurate than blast vision. But you can get a general idea without needing a bunch of space. But it measures launch angle, exit velocity, and distance of hit. We try to keep our hitters between 15-25 degree launch angle. We look for exit velocity over 70 mph. If we are getting those #'s consistently, the average hit will be between 180-200 feet.

I have used a strength index in the past when we have tested our players. Meaning, how much are they lifting per pound of bodyweight? The only caveat is, the strength index is applied after all tests are completed. With men, we had a 1000 pound club for bench, squat, and clean. We test a bit differently now. We test 20 yard dash, broad jump, vertical jump, chinups, squat, bench press. We then assign each test a point value. Chinups are multiplied by 10, VJ by 6, BJ by 2, 20 yard is assigned a point value based upon range, and squat/bench is 1 point per pound lifted. After all of that is added up, we can then apply the strength index to equalize the results so that smaller athletes can be compared to larger athletes.

You can't really use a % of bodyweight to determine what is "good" for a lift because body composition can very so much from athlete to athlete. I have a chart that I created after studying thousands of my own testing results of athletes as well as other tests and standard norms from the strength and conditioning community. So these are the guidelines I use. However you can find normative data if you search a bit. For example here is the data for bench press based upon % body weight - https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/re...ve_and_Descriptive_Data_for_Fitness_Tests.pdf
 
Oct 2, 2015
615
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Hey Maxx, great post!
Very informative!
I've got all of their lifts, sprints and workouts cataloged for the last year and a half or so. So I'll try to calculate their level on these charts when time allows.
I'm going to look ito the blast vision app.
Measuring distance off of a tee, is a great idea becuse the ball is at a constant/static velocity. Plus it's easier to get exit speed velocities since you are right in front of the ball as it is hit. Versus trying to set up on a ladder to get an exit speed since the ball is climbing at the ~ 25* angle of incline.
Comparing tees what I do with my DDs.... I slow toss to them at what I "hope" is a somewhat constant velocity.
And when we use the pitching machine that is very consistent in speed.
Our distances are obviously farther, hitting with slow toss and off of a machine, vs. hitting of of a tee. Due to the energy transfer from the bat hitting a speeding ball.
When we measure distance, we hit on a 275' or 300' field, so outfielders can mark the balls as they land, and we can keep track of them.
It's interesting to see how one little tweak in a swing can positively or negatively effect the distance hit.

Thanks again!
 
Oct 2, 2015
615
18
Maxx, you say you try to keep your hitters between 15-25 degree launch angle.
I have taught my 3 DDs the same thing. Even when they are in the cage. It drives some of their coaches nuts when they are hitting the ball up and into the top of the cage.
Some of their coaches are absolutely adamant that they hit the ball staight up the middle of the cage at a 0 to 5 degee launch angle.

Do you coach your players to hit the ball at 15-25 degree launch angle at all times?
Including when they are in the cage?

Thanks
 
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