WEST VIRGINIA BASEBALL
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING Athletic excellence and strength and conditioning go hand-in-hand at West Virginia University. Long regarded as one of the nation’s finest strength programs, the strength and conditioning coaches at WVU ensure that all student-athletes are kept at the peak of their total fitness capabilities. “Our strength program here is second to none. The entire staff cares tremendously about our baseball program and players,” said coach Greg Van Zant. “Combining our facilities with our excellent strength program, it doesn’t get any better, and that’s a huge reason why we’ve had players who have been AllAmericans, all-conference or getting drafted and playing professional baseball. We really emphasize player development, and a big part of their development is their strength.” To keep athletes in tip-top condition, West Virginia offers a variety of training areas and a vast array of strength programs. The lifting portion of the baseball routine is used to improve overall strength, power and explosion. An increase in stride length, frequency and range of motion in joint to tendon relationships is directly correlated to speed, agility and injury prevention. Therefore, it is important to make flexibility an area of emphasis. For baseball players, the abdominal and low back regions are the units that tie the upper and lower extremities’ power together. In order to have excellent maneuverability and transfer of power, an athlete must have superior balance and strength in this core region. Training of the core region occurs three times per week using balance balls, medicine balls and other baseball-specific drills. Each athlete is educated on correct dietary habits and essential vitamins and minerals necessary to be an elite athlete. The athletes have the opportunity to meet with nutritionists, go on guided grocery store tours and receive diets designed specifically for them. Equipped with excellent amenities and staffed by some of the finest strength coaches in the nation, athletes who come to West Virginia know that they are in good hands when it comes to fitness.