Jul 04 2023 33 mins
PART 2 WITH GEORGE ZIRKEL | SEASON 4, EPISODE 13
Part 2 with George Zirkel discusses how his throwing program has been impacted by new philosophies and technology, along with major takeaways and lessons he has learned during his time as a pitching and throwing coach.
In this episode, we cover:
- What J-Bands are and their benefits in training
- The history of weighted baseball training and if weighted balls are necessary to throw faster
- The disadvantages of mass adoption of popular programs and philosophies
- What new approaches have come about in recent years to throwing harder
- What tactics are used to address throwing form issues
- What the effective ways to talk to athletes are
- What George specifically modifies in a player's throwing
- How George incorporate's a surgeon's advice when working with throwers recovering from an injury
- How George modifies his program "on the move"
- What the #1 deficit in mechanics that leads to elbow injuries
- The most common thing coaches do wrong that lead to a pitcher's injury
- George's #1 tip to throw harder
George is the Director of Pitching and Associate Director of Operations at On Deck George and was the Director of Pitching at Ascent Athlete for nearly 4 years where he coached hundreds of pitchers including MLB, MiLB, college, high school, and youth pitchers. He also created an internship program in which aspiring coaches received educational training and gained hands-on experience working with athletes. George has spent years coordinating throwing plans with strength and conditioning coaches and physical therapists to ensure his pitchers are getting the best care possible.