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.