Cold Weather Training For Throwing

Cold weather training for throwing takes place outside, in hallways, gyms, and weight rooms or anywhere room can be found to accommodate the athletes.  So the coach must consider several things: the size of the group, their skill level(s), whether they are multi-event or single event throwers and whether or not the coach wants to train the entire group or plan individual instruction.

Additionally is the space available to train an indoor or outdoor facility?  Will the athletes be sharing the space with another sport or team?  Because most of the time, practices will take place inside, the coach must be flexible and adaptable when planning to optimize the area used.  The coach must also realize that at some point, especially for the outdoor season that practice has to be outside.  

However, when planning to train outside, the coach must consider the weather and whether the ability to go outside is worth any potential injury risk.  The safety of the athletes is always the number one consideration regarding any training variable.  

Sarah Stevens-Walker shares some excellent advice and ideas when it comes to the utilization of space.  Athletes can be separated into groups and assigned stations.  Each station can focus on a different aspect of throwing using drills.  Provided it is integrated properly the weight room can also be a station.  

By using drill stations, athletes can get a number of repetitions. This takes less time than if the athletes were making full range throws.  Coach Stevens-Walker says that while there are a lot of things to do, know why you’re doing what you’re doing.  Focus on quality reps versus quantity. 

Skills and drills to focus on in cold weather.  

Get access to a multitude of drills that help teach and develop throwers of all levels.  Coach Stevens-Walker outlines and explains a number of drills that are very useful, including:

• Hip activation drills
• Stand throw position drills
• Wall drills
• Line drills
• Entry drills
• Stop checks
• Medicine ball throws
• PVC pipe drills

She explains each category, details the proper execution of each drill and the reason it is presented.  This alone is an exceptional resource for any throws coach.  

Understand how mental preparation can be your biggest asset in cold weather training and competition!

Weather is the great equalizer in competition.  Mentally preparing athletes for adverse conditions can be a great advantage.  Coach Stevens-Walker stresses the importance of preparing athletes for success in spite of any weather.  By talking to them about what they will face and preparing checklists, the likelihood for the athlete to perform well increases.  

Not only must the athlete be adequately dressed, they must also be certain that they have all of their equipment that they need to compete.  She makes a timely observation when she says “…whichever kid shows up more prepared physically with all their stuff is probably more prepared mentally as well.”

Throughout the video Coach Stevens-Walker reinforces the importance of mental preparation.  By controlling what can be controlled and preparing, the athlete can find a way to use the weather as an advantage in competition.  

Sarah Stevens-Walker shares so many things that should be considered when planning training in cold weather.  She provides many great ideas about organizing the athletes when training.

The drills contained in the video are educational and well-illustrated.  She does an exceptional job of explaining the grouping of drills so the viewer can quickly determine which one they may find most helpful. 

Stevens-Walker’s observations on the often overlooked aspect of mental preparation under adverse conditions are valuable as well.  By educating the athlete on this, the coach can help them find success in the ring.

Customer comment: 5 star rating

 “The emphasis on the well-thought out preparation of a practice plan, in regard to the weather, is something that needs to be said and heard.  Coach offers plenty of suggestions in regard to organization and demonstrates numerous drills that can be performed under less than perfect conditions. This video is a worthy resource in anyone’s library.”

47 minutes.  2023.