Best Remote Pitching Coach Insights on In-Season Training

Every year, we see athletes commit months to off-season training—building strength, refining mechanics, and increasing velocity—only to watch those gains slip away once the season starts. The common belief is that playing games is enough to keep athletes in peak form, but the reality is that without a structured in-season training plan, strength declines, power output drops, and injury risk increases.

What’s interesting is that remote and hybrid athletes may actually be better equipped to handle the challenges of in-season training. While it might seem counterintuitive—given that on-site athletes have direct access to a facility and coaches—the truth is, the biggest struggle for in-season athletes isn’t access to equipment, it’s knowing how to schedule training, practice, and recovery effectively. Hybrid and remote athletes, by nature, develop a heightened ability to self-manage and adapt their training to fluctuating game schedules, travel demands, and fatigue levels.

A major reason for this advantage is that remote and hybrid athletes are constantly communicating with their coaches. Unlike on-site athletes who might stick to a fixed schedule, these athletes must provide regular feedback—adjusting lifting intensity after a high-pitch-count game, modifying throwing workloads based on arm fatigue, or shifting recovery days due to travel. This back-and-forth dialogue trains them to be more proactive in managing their development. They don’t just follow a plan—they learn how to actively adjust their training based on how their body feels and what their schedule demands.

This skill becomes critical during the season, when schedules change weekly (or even daily). The athletes who understand how to communicate with their coaches and make real-time training adjustments are the ones who maintain their strength, velocity, and performance all year long.

The Importance of In-Season Training

One of the biggest misconceptions in youth and high school sports is that playing games alone is enough to maintain an athlete’s strength, power, and mechanics. The reality? Athletes who neglect in-season training experience significant physical declines—and the numbers back it up.

Studies have shown that without resistance training, athletes can lose up to 10-15% of their strength over the course of a competitive season. Power output, which is critical for explosive movements like pitching and hitting, can drop even more dramatically. Meanwhile, research also indicates that as strength and power decline, injury rates rise. In other words, as athletes become weaker, their risk of injury increases—a direct inverse relationship that should concern every parent and athlete.

But why does this happen? The answer lies in force production and movement strategy selection. The human body operates under a simple principle: your movement options are dictated by the amount of force you can generate. When force output is high, an athlete has more available movement strategies to execute a skill. They can efficiently maintain their mechanics, stabilize their joints, and adjust under dynamic conditions.

However, as force output declines—whether due to strength loss, fatigue, or lack of training—the movement strategies an athlete can access begin to shrink. This means they are left with less efficient and more compensatory movement patterns, leading to one of two negative outcomes:

1. Performance Decline – The athlete loses consistency in their mechanics, becoming more erratic in movement execution. Pitchers may struggle with command, lose velocity, or experience changes in arm slot and release points. Hitters may have difficulty adjusting to different pitch speeds or maintaining bat speed through the zone.
2. Injury Risk Increases – When an athlete is no longer strong enough to sustain proper mechanics, they begin compensating in inefficient ways. This places excessive stress on joints, soft tissues, and tendons—ultimately leading to breakdowns. This is why we see an uptick in arm injuries late in the season when strength and power levels have dropped significantly.

This is why in-season training isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. If an athlete isn’t actively working to maintain strength and power during the season, they’re not just failing to improve—they are actively regressing, putting their performance and health at risk.

Common Mistakes We See With In-Season Training

Even when athletes attempt to train in-season, we see a lot of avoidable mistakes that ultimately lead to performance decline and increased injury risk. Understanding these pitfalls can be the difference between maintaining peak performance and watching your hard-earned progress slip away.

🚨 Mistake #1: Assuming You Don’t Have Time for In-Season Training

🚨 Mistake #2: Trying to Train the Same Way as the Offseason

🚨 Mistake #3: Completely Abandoning the Weight Room

🚨 Mistake #4: Ignoring Movement Quality and Mobility

🚨 Mistake #5: Not Tracking Performance Trends

How to Effectively Take Advantage of In-Season Training

In-season training isn’t just about avoiding regression—it’s about ensuring athletes continue to thrive while competing at their highest level. The key is planning ahead, tracking progress, and adjusting based on performance trends. Here’s how athletes can take full advantage of in-season training:

1️⃣ Start the Dialogue Now With Your Coach

2️⃣ Decide With Your Coach How Often You Should Be Testing Key Performance Metrics

3️⃣ Prioritize Recovery With Intentional Mobility Work

4️⃣ Train Smarter, Not Harder (And Pay Attention to Nutrition & Weight Fluctuations)

5️⃣ Monitor Workload and Adapt Based on Fatigue Levels

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Not Sure How to Structure In-Season Training? Let’s Talk.

If you’re unsure about how to approach in-season training, don’t leave it to chance. Book a Call with a VeloU Coach Today and get a customized plan to ensure your athlete stays strong, healthy, and performing at their highest level all season long.