ELITE SUMMER TRAINING PROGRAM

Here is an overview of each component of this program:

Catching - Focused skill work in every aspect of the catching position. This includes the ability to receive efficiently, block consistently, and throw both quickly and accurately - all while handling nastier movement and higher velocities from pitchers. The amount of time this group will have to focus on catching work will allow for more advanced catching concepts to be worked on with substantial repetitions. 

Throwing - Turner has both trained and coached under some of the best throwing developers in the country (including THROWformance and Florida Baseball ARMory), which has given him a strong understanding of how to build arm strength, optimize movement patterns, and promote arm health. Athletes in this program will work on each of these areas daily, including catcher-specific throwing drills, arm care exercises, and movement training. 

NGT Strength Training - Nicole Gabriel is a nationally recognized performance trainer, particularly in the baseball sector, as she trains several of the biggest names in baseball, including Vladdy Guerrero Jr., Randy Arozarena, and more. Catchers in this program will have a tailor-made performance training program covering strength, mobility, agility, and physical conditioning designed specifically for middle school aged catchers. Done in The Backstop Bunker weight room, under Turner’s guidance and supervision, which will be fully furnished with high quality weight equipment to fit the needs of the NGT program. 

Hitting - Each day will include time to hit in the cage with Turner, who will run the boys through guided hitting sessions designed to encourage quality repetitions, healthy competition, swing development, and confident approaches. Through Turner’s time as a player, he was fortunate enough to be exposed to some of the top hitting minds in the world including coaches from professional organizations such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, giving him a diverse understanding of various hitting philosophies. Turner’s approach to helping coach hitters is to help each hitter execute his swing so that he can feel convicted in the box and get the results he wants. This will be the focus of our time in the cage. 

Baseball IQ & Mental Training - Playing catcher requires a superior knowledge of the game compared to other positions, along with a strong mental fortitude. Time will be allotted throughout the program to help each catcher learn things like how to call pitches, how to handle a pitching staff, how to deal with the highs and lows of baseball, how to stay steady through a season, how to control a game, and how to enjoy it all the while. 

Culture - Perhaps the most valuable element of this program will be the culture each catcher will be stepping into. Backstop Bandits started as a group of 4 college catchers who trained together every day during each off-season. Hours grinding and learning together. This group dynamic created an environment where each of us pushed each other to be better. It also made it significantly more fun. Having guys to train with every day that had the same goals, were going through the same things, could critique each other while also laughing together, was special. The players we became were better than who we would’ve been if we were to have trained alone. This program is designed to create that same type of environment. Competitive. Supportive. Energetic. Fun. It isn’t for everybody. It’s for guys that really love this game and this position, and want to achieve great things.