WPPA Travel Baseball
Roadmap
| Season | Lesson/Training | When | Overview | Frequency | Ages | Organization | Status | ||
| Pre Season (Nov - Mar) |
Winter Training (Quad Sports Complex) |
Winter | Players will be re-grouped weekly for these practices that include individual/team defense drills, as well as evaluation periods for determining the rosters. | One (1) training per week (weekends) |
All Ages | Welles & CBC | Required | ||
| Small-Group Training (The Academy @ Mozart) |
Winter | Players will train mechanics and fundamentals in hitting/pitching with their respective age group. Sessions will also include evaluaitons for the determining rosters. | One (1) training per week (weekdays) |
All Ages | Welles & CBC | Required | |||
| Speed & Strength Training |
Winter | Improving on-field performance by increasing balance, coordination, mobility, quickness, speed, and power. | One (1) training per week (weekdays) |
10U to 14U | Welles & GameShape |
Optional (10U-12U) Required (13U-14U) |
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| Foundations Classes (Hitting / Pitching) |
Ongoing | Focus is on building a foundation of fundamentals/mechanics for skills that scale; principally focused on hitting and pitching. | Schedule dependent |
8U to 9U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Bat Speed Class | Ongoing | Focusing on increasing bat speed through specific programming of overload and underload training. Data will be collected to measure progress. | Schedule dependent |
10U to 14U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Other Classes (Pitching / Catching) |
Ongoing | Classes focusing on a specific skill set. Players will train in a group setting and be allowed to master mechanics and fundamentals through guided repetitions. | Schedule dependent |
10U to 14U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Private Lessons (Catching, Hitting, Fielding, Pitching) |
Ongoing | Coaches will work with individuals to assess areas for improvement, and then address those needs. | Schedule dependent |
All Ages | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| In Season (Apr - Jul) |
Team Practices | Spring/Summer | In season practices focus on in-season maintenance of mechanics/fundamentals as well as team defense. Practices will also include batting practice sessions at the Academy. | One (1) to two (2) days per week; Schedule dependent |
All Ages | Welles & CBC | Required | ||
| Team Games & Tournaments |
Spring/Summer | LSFBL/MSBL will be the two main leagues. MSBL typically runs from Apr-Jul and LSFBL runs from May-Jul. Tournaments on Memorial Day and July 4th, at a minimum, plus pre-season and/or post-season tournaments. | Schedule dependent |
All Ages | Welles & CBC | Required | |||
| Foundations Classes (Hitting / Pitching) |
Ongoing | Focus is on building a foundation of fundamentals/mechanics for skills that scale; principally focused on hitting and pitching. | Schedule dependent |
8U to 9U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Bat Speed Class | Ongoing | Focusing on increasing bat speed through specific programming of overload and underload training. Data will be collected to measure progress. | Schedule dependent |
10U to 14U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Other Classes (Pitching / Catching) |
Ongoing | Classes focusing on a specific skill set. Players will train in a group setting and be allowed to master mechanics and fundamentals through guided repetitions. | Schedule dependent |
10U to 14U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Private Lessons (Catching, Hitting, Fielding, Pitching) |
Ongoing | Coaches will work with individuals to assess areas for improvement, and then address those needs. | Schedule dependent |
All Ages | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Off Season (Aug - Oct) |
Fall Stars | Fall (Sept/Oct) |
A fall baseball development program that provides players with training sessions and controlled intersquad scrimmages. Typically ends with a local tournament. | Two (2) trainings per week (weekday/end) |
9U to 14U | Welles & CBC | Optional | ||
| CornerStone Training (Session #1) |
Fall (Sept/Oct) |
Baseball skill/drill work with an introduction to maximizing and utilizing ground force and rotational power for hitting and pitching. | One (1) training per week (weekends) |
10U to 14U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| CornerStone Training (Session #2) |
Fall (Oct/Nov) |
Baseball skill/drill work with an introduction to maximizing and utilizing ground force and rotational power for hitting and pitching. | One (1) to two (2) trainings per week (weekday/ends) |
10U to 14U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Foundations Classes (Hitting / Pitching) |
Ongoing | Focus is on building a foundation of fundamentals/mechanics for skills that scale; principally focused on hitting and pitching. | Schedule dependent |
8U to 9U | Welles & CBC | Optional | |||
| Private Lessons (Catching, Hitting, Fielding, Pitching) |
Ongoing | Coaches will work with individuals to assess areas for improvement, and then address those needs. | Schedule dependent |
All Ages | Welles & CBC | Optional |
A downloadable .pdf of the Travel Roadmap can be found here.
Development
Private Lessons and Skill Enhancement Classes
CBC will offer optional skill enhancement classes as well as private lessons to WPPA travel players at an additional cost. The skill enhancement classes will include hitting, catching, and pitching class options.
For more information, please contact training@wppachicago.org. These classes are available for an additional cost to the costs outlined on the Travel Costs.
- Foundations of Hitting Class
- Foundations of Pitching Class
- Bat Speed Class
- Catching Class
- Pitching Class
- Fall Stars Sessions (fall only)
- Private Lessons: Pitching, Catching, Fielding, Hitting
Strength & Conditioning
In collaboration with Game Shape Training, WPPA is excited to provide our 11U and older players with an elite strength and conditioning program. Game Shape Training provides progressive approaches to athletic training, designed to ensure the young athlete is physically prepared to succeed at the highest level. The goal of Game Shape Training is to make the average athlete elite, and to make the elite athlete supreme.
The strength and conditioning program will be optional for ages 12U and under, and required for ages 13U and older (incorporated into the fees).
Some key areas of focus for the WPPA strength and conditioning program include:
- Minimizing the risk of Injury through neuromuscular activation,
- Maximizing on field production potential through improved athleticism,
- Measurable improvements in athletic performance,
- Increase confidence with measurable athletic improvement, and
- Improving coordination by creating new and diverse neuromuscular pathways and patterns.
Game Shape Training Team
Charles Angelica