Indoor training helps softball players become stars
By Mark Andrews
When I was a kid growing up in the 70s and 80s, softball meant a bunch of guys with coolers (and bellies) full of beer running around on a Sunday morning hoping they don’t pull a muscle. My, how that has changed.
Fast pitch softball is now one of the fastest growing sports in the country and a staple in every Extra Innings indoor training facility. The game is changing and we intend to continue to change with it. This is serious softball and indoor training facilities can be a key part of helping an average softball player become great, or even helping an amateur simply learn the fundamentals—something that is not always offered in every city or town for young age groups. That’s where indoor training facilities can be a real “home run.”
Indoor training offers a more efficient work out because players can utilize the many different stations and multi-use tunnels available. Training goes far beyond just batting tees and ground balls these days. In every Extra Innings facility, you’ll find a training room with the latest training tools, in addition to batting cages. It’s important for coaches to know how to make the most of each athlete’s time in the facility. By breaking kids into groups, they can rotate throughout the facility, cutting back on down time and allowing them to get instruction and practice in every facet of the game. The days of one player hitting and 15 others standing around and shagging on the field are long gone in an indoor facility.
Another benefit of indoor training is accessibility. It’s always 70 degrees and sunny in an indoor facility. Indoor training centers are a great solution to field shortages and poor weather conditions. Extra Innings sees a great deal of travel softball teams in our facilities for their winter training, which starts well before the season, and they’ll never have to cancel or reschedule a practices. We not only provide them with a place to work out, but they can also get their equipment, uniforms and accessories all under one roof. Best of all, these products are being recommended by professional instructors who know the game and what’s best for each individual player.
*To see the full feature, be sure to check out the next issue of Softball Today Magazine, which will include our annual equipment guide. 
Click here for more information