In the ArmCare Specialist course you learn new key metrics evaluated using player-led dynamometry and range of motion testing and how to integrate them into customized programs for your athletes. This education is a must for any coach or clinician who wants to get the most out of their players and advance throwing health, velocity and command.
Course Objectives
A comprehensive online course and an practical seminar on all things pitching
What to Expect
Arm strength and range of motion are evaluated through 6 important measures focused on relative strength, shoulder balance, strength velocity ratios, arm fatigue, arm recovery and arm readiness. By having advanced knowledge of these ground breaking metrics, coaches, sports medicine specialists and athletes will be able to make the right decisions in adjusting training and workload and establish a strong performance process through our Player-First Approach that organizes observation, communication, implementation and evaluation of data.
Once complete you will be ArmCare Certified and be able to present your credentials publicly and be considered a baseball performance specialist that deeply understands how to monitor the throwing arm and overcome any obstacles in developing players to reach their dreams.
32 videos encompassing the fundamentals of training and programming pitchers
Obtain a basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology
Powered by a biomechanics lab that has assessed top prospects and MLB pitchers, learn the key mechanical concepts that should drive your training
Learn how to perform Driveline’s warm-up and recovery protocols and fix common mistakes
Get in-depth breakdowns of Driveline’s throwing drills
Learn the details of how we program athletes and how we structure our training days
Learn the principles of programming that can be applied in year-round training phases
Expand your knowledge base in the live portion of the course, where we review video, mechanics flaws, and drill prescriptions to improve a pitcher’s mechanics
Test your critical thinking skills by reviewing programming scenarios in small groups
Pass the final course and earn a certificate that MLB teams are searching for on resumes
Course Curriculum
What’s include
1. Introduction to Specialist Course
- Future Vision for Player Development & Scouting
- How data-led training can make you a better coach
- Major Causes of the Injury Epidemic
- Assessment Tools
- Arm Soreness & Pain
- Importance of arm strength
2. Monitoring Framework
- Performance Pyramid
- Player first approach
- Observation Types
3. Measurement Strategies
- Observation Windows
- Exam Types
- Exam Frequency
- Range of Motion Tests
- Strength Tests
- Data Capture Features
4. Key Metric & Action Alerts
- Relative Strength
- Shoulder Balance
- Strength Velocity Ratio
- Arm Fatigue
- Arm Recovery
- Other Metrics to Consider
5. Coaches Portal Overview
- Technology Summary
- Coaches Portal Screens
- CSV Review
- Future of the Coaches Portal
6. Advanced Decision Making
- Data-Led Coaches Adjustments
- Decision Making Matrices
7. Velocity Enhancement Training Checklist
- Survey Questions
- Athletic Performance Measures
- Objective Strength and Range of Motion Criteria
8. Data-Led Training
- Training Blocks
- Iron Scap
- Equipment
- Customization rules
- The Future of Data-Led Training
8. Team/Facility Intergration
- Equipment Needs
- Exam Setup
- 1 ActivForce for every 10 players
- For fresh & post
- 1 ActivForce for every 2 players
- For Arm Primer
- Plyo Boxes- Strength
- Wall w/ Lines- ROM
- Use level- every 2” with dot for the elbow
- Training Setup
- 1 Training Kit for ever 2 players
- Remote Players
- ActivForce & Training Kit for each player
- 1 ActivForce for every 10 players
9. Onboarding Players & Coaches
- Coaches- Need to take this course
- Organize players into teams/small groups and watch these videos
- Player Onboarding Video- Why & What
- Tonal
- Benefits- How will this help me
- Exam Training Video- How
- Warm up Video (shoulder activation)
- Player Onboarding Video- Why & What
- Complete 1st Fresh (Quick) Exam
- It okay if players are in a slightly fatigued state
- Practice / Train
- Complete Post Throw Training
10. Team Roadmap
- Flow Chart showing training/game days
- Sample Spreadsheet
- Player, role, days (game/training)
- Warm up, primer/exam, plyo care, throwing program, practice, post exam (yes/no), post training
- Time Commitments
11. Course Summary
- Section Review
- ArmCare U
- Certificate- ArmCare Specialists
- Accreditations (NATA, NSCA etc.)
- ArmCare Elite Membership
- Discount on Training Equipment and Dynamometers
- Certificate- ArmCare Specialists
- Thank you
About Ryan Crotin
Sport Scientist
PhD, CSCS, RSCC
Dr. Ryan Crotin is the Vice President of ArmCare.com focusing on global adoption of individualized training and assessment through a data-led approach. He also is the driving force behind ArmCareU and the ArmCare Elite community, being a comprehensive educational stream and network to advance baseball health and performance. Ryan completed his PhD at the University at Buffalo studying fatigue-induced movement compensations in baseball pitchers. His post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Pennsylvania focused on joint function and biomechanics to determine potential causes of throwing injuries. His latest position in MLB was Director of Performance Integration for the Los Angeles Angels overseeing strength and conditioning efforts and sport science to apply physiologic-based data to improve the way athletes are coached, receive clinical care, and scouting as it relates to athletic profiling for the amateur draft.
