01/20/2026
PARENTS: Wise resource allocation in baseball/softball/athletictics training starts with understanding training through a developmental lens—because not all gains are equal at every age.
Pre-Puberty (before hormonal shifts):
Structured strength training won’t drive substantial muscle hypertrophy (visible size gains). Low levels of anabolic hormones limit muscle growth, so the primary adaptations are neuromuscular—better motor unit recruitment, coordination, firing rates, and neural drive. Kids can still gain significant strength (often 30-50% in 8-12 weeks with proper programs), but these come mostly from improved nervous system efficiency, not bigger muscles.
That doesn’t mean zero benefits! Strength work pre-puberty can:
• Enhance coordination and motor skills
• Improve bone density
• Boost confidence and reduce injury risk through better movement patterns
• Build a foundation for future gains
But much of this can be achieved similarly (and often more enjoyably) through active play: running, jumping, climbing monkey bars, sprinting, throwing, and general athletic games. These activate the central nervous system naturally without needing expensive equipment or programs. The “cost” of formal strength sessions may not justify the return when free, fun alternatives deliver comparable neural benefits.
Post-Puberty (after hormonal changes kick in):
Now the game changes. Rising testosterone, growth hormone, and other factors enable real hypertrophy and larger absolute strength gains (bigger/faster/stronger). Structured programs become critical to maximize athletic potential—turning those neural foundations into serious power for hitting, pitching, throwing, and speed on the bases.
The good news? Most of your schools can do the “heavy lifting” in this area. Spacious and well equiped weight rooms, dedicated strength/conditioning coaches, and classes multiple days a week provide high-quality, supervised training. Many schools allow for extra access outside class hours, and strength teachers are often happy to customize programming for sport-specific goals (baseball/softball power, rotational strength, etc.)—the caveot, your athlete needs to ask their Strength Teachers for the added programing help! Teachers get into the education profession to help young people succeed, chances are they will enthusiastically help and champion on your athlete’s success
Before investing in pricey private strength & conditioning sessions, check if your child is fully maximizing these free school opportunities. Are they consistent in class? Are they fueling properly (nutrition for recovery/growth)? What about prioritizing sleep (key for hormonal benefits and adaptation)? If the body’s environment isn’t set-up for success, the anticipated gains will not follow.
In the real world of limited assets, where you choose to spend your dollars is key. For highly skill-based sports like baseball and softball, training repetitions become critical for on-field success—thousands of deliberate swings, pitches, throws, and defensive reps build the technique, timing, pitch recognition, and muscle memory that separate good from great players. Allocate any extra training dollar resources there first (hitting/pitching lessons, cage time, bullpens, or instructor lead group training classes) while utilizing every free opportunities that exist elsewhere as explained above.
Smart training isn’t about spending more—it’s about spending wisely on what delivers the biggest return at each stage. Focus on fundamentals first, layer on targeted work as biology dictates, and make sure to maximize the free resources available to your athlete before fully emptying your pocketbook. 
