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HIGH PERFORMANCE
HITTING PROGRAM
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2024-25 HIGH PERFORMANCE HITTING
Catalyst Softball High Performance (HP) Hitting Program
The Catalyst Softball High Performance (HP) Hitting Program is an 18-week, comprehensive training experience designed for athletes dedicated to refining their craft and taking their hitting to the next level. This program integrates cutting-edge technology, individualized skill development, and personal growth to help athletes unlock their full potential.
Throughout the program, players will work with advanced tools such as Rapsodo, Blast Motion, 4D Motion, Video Breakdown, and High-Speed Video Analysis. These technologies provide athletes with precise, quantifiable feedback that allows us to tailor each training session to the individual, ensuring a focused and results-driven approach.
Our coaching staff will guide athletes in understanding their body movements and teach them how to better control and utilize those movements to maximize performance. While data-driven insights are invaluable, the true sustainability of progress comes from teaching players how to position themselves for optimal biomechanical efficiency. By mastering this, athletes will improve their swing mechanics and develop consistency at the plate.
Program Details:
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Ages: 12-18
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Duration: 18 Weeks
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Focus: Individualized skill development, technical refinement, and performance optimization through advanced technologies and tailored instruction.
The HP Hitting Program is divided into five distinct phases, each designed to build upon the previous, ensuring a steady progression toward becoming a more dynamic, powerful hitter.
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Introductory Phase: We begin the development process by introducing biomechanics principles specific to the softball swing. Athletes will get an understanding of their swing patterns and the data being tracked throughout the program, setting the foundation for improvement.
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Circuit Phase: During this phase, we focus on enhancing physicality and proprioception through dynamic circuit training. This will include the use of various training tools such as variable bats, PVC pipes, and plyo balls to develop movement control and power.
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Internal Phase: Building on the circuit phase, we assess progress and refine swing patterns. Using gathered data, athletes will further develop their swing mechanics and efficiency, with a focus on optimizing bio-mechanical sequencing.
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External Phase: In this phase, the emphasis shifts to external execution, incorporating variability training and competitive drills to prepare athletes for live game situations. We also implement bat speed training to further enhance swing dynamics during game transitions.
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Live Phase: As the season approaches, athletes will fully commit to external training through live at-bats or machine work, ensuring they’re prepared for competitive performance.
Before we begin, we'll meet with you to understand your offseason goals. If you're unsure about your specific goals, don’t worry! Our main focus will be to build on your existing skills and help you develop as a hitter, focusing on rotational power and swing movement patterns. While data is invaluable, we prioritize teaching our players to find the right body positions to maximize bio-metric sequencing, ensuring high-level swing efficiency. Here is what you can expect throughout our program:
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Testing & Assessments: We begin with individual assessments and baseline training. With a capped ratio of 4 athletes per coach, each session is personalized for your needs. We will continuously assess and reassess to make adjustments and set goals.
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Education: We believe in empowering our athletes with knowledge. Data is crucial, but understanding the “why” behind the numbers is just as important. Our coaching team will explain the metrics in simple terms to ensure that athletes understand how to apply data-driven adjustments to their game. Hitting is complex, and we embrace constant learning alongside our athletes, using research-backed methods to continuously improve.
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Data Collection: We will be collecting the following data metrics throughout our HP Hitting Program:
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Ball Flight Data - Using Rapsodo and/or HitTrax technology, we track exit velocity (mph), distance (ft), and create a batted ball profile to identify areas of strength and improvement.
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Swing/Connection Data - Blast Motion data provides insights into rotational efficiency, hand speed (mph), bat speed (mph), and power (kW), helping athletes refine their swing mechanics.
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Strength/Speed/Agility Data - We collect data on your physical performance in the weight room to complement your hitting development.
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Approach: Our hitting philosophy is built on being on time, swinging at strikes, and giving your maximum effort at the plate. We focus on controlling what we can in each at-bat and use our batted ball data to tailor our approach for specific pitch counts.
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Athlete Autonomy: We believe in fostering independence within our athletes. Occasionally, athletes will have the opportunity to choose their preferred training options for the day, empowering them to take ownership of their development.
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Strength & Development: We understand the critical role strength plays in your offseason training. That's why we’ve partnered with Strength & Development specialists to ensure you’re improving explosiveness, gaining power, and maximizing your on-field performance. Our focus is on strength qualities like sprinting, jumping, and change of direction, tailored to the demands of softball.
Key Strength Qualities we analyze are:
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Rate of Force Development (RFD): How quickly and forcefully can your muscles initiate movement without a stretch reflex?
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Eccentric Ability: How well does your body stretch and recoil, like a rubber band?
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Yielding Strength: Stability and strength for resisting or absorbing force.
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Reactive Strength: Your ability to switch from stretching to contracting (absorbing and transferring force) quickly.
Program Details:
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Duration: 18 weeks
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Ages: 13-18
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Time Slots: One-hour sessions for all softball training. Strength & Development sessions are offered separately with dedicated time slots from Monday-Saturday and are not included in HP Hitting program pricing, though they are recommended for optimal progress.
PLEASE CONTACT INFO@CATALYSTSOFTBALL.COM TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT IN HIGH PERFORMANCE HITTING.
OUR HP HITTING PROGRAM HAS SOLD OUT EVERY YEAR SINCE WE BEGAN IN 2019.
Pre-Registration opens to the public on 9/14/2024.
Please email us with any questions - registration can be seen here:
Spots are limited.
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS:
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2X per week hitting sessions
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Over 33 sessions
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Mon/Weds or Tues/Thurs
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Sessions on the hour from 3 PM - 9 PM
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Rapsodo Hitting Technology
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4D Motion
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Camwood Weighted Bat Trainers
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Blast Motion
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Weighted Axe Softball Bats
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HackAttack Softball Pitching Machine
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Plyocare Balls (Weighted Hitting Balls)
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Super Speed Sluggers
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Strength & Development Training Room Access
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4:1 Player to Coach Ratio
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Access to Data Assessments & Reassessments
LEAD INSTRUCTORS
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Erika Smyth
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Hannah Schmoll
LOCATION
CATALYST SPORTS LAB
12500 ZINRAN AVE
Savage, MN 55378