Baseball Workout Mistake #6 - Confusing Your Core
Coach Dan Huff, CSCS
Most people think of the "Abs" when they hear the word "core," but
the core is so much more than that. Your core is part of your body
that holds everything together. It connects the upper body to the
lower body and the front of your body to the back of your body. Another common misconception of the core is that it is responsible
for a lot of movement. Actually, the primary function of the core
in most athletic activities is the prevention of movement. Your
core resists the external forces that are trying to knock your body
out of balance during athletic activities. Think of all of the movement involved in turning a double play.
There is the approach to the bag, touching the bag, beginning the
throw, all the while trying to avoid the sliding base runner. Each
of those movements is attempting to pull your body out of balance.
It is your core that is responsible for maintaining your balance as
you move from one movement into the next. Keeping that in mind, core exercises are primarily stability
exercises that require your body to work hard to hold a balance
position. Some of them are simple body positions that you will
hold, and others are movements that will challenge your ability to
maintain balance while moving. When your core is not stabilizing your body it is usually
responsible for rotating your body in movements such as hitting,
throwing, or turning to make a backhand play for a few examples. We
can really get into strong and powerful rotation work using a
medicine ball.
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