Softball training exercise

Do you need to be in shape to play softball? Not necessarily, but if you want to play it well, improving your fitness will have a big impact on your game.

So if you are looking to get in shape for softball, what type of training will help you to improve your game?

Although it's not an aerobic sport, basic cardio fitness will help you - cardio fitness will enable you to cope better with the demands of a long game, particularly the stress of playing in the sun.

Strength is another key component of fitness. Upper body strength will help increase bat power and speed, and is also important for throwing and pitching. Given the incidence of shoulder injuries among pitchers, strengthening the rotator cuff will also reduce the risk of injury.

Other areas that need strengthening include the hands and forearms, and the legs and core. Almost all pro baseball players have immensely strong lower bodies - the strength from here is transmitted through the core to the upper body, so regular exercises to strengthen the core are essential.

Flexibility is a component of fitness that is often overlooked, but it will increase your range of motion when hitting or throwing the ball, improving performance and reducing the risk of injury.

Finally, anaerobic fitness will dramatically improve your game, enabling you to steal bases or run down a long hit in the outfield.