Move the Needle: The Human Performance Podcast

Andrew Behnam: Virginia Baseball Performance

22 snips
Oct 15, 2025
Andrew Behnam, Director of Baseball Performance at the University of Virginia, shares insights from his extensive coaching background. He discusses innovative fall programming for athletes and emphasizes the importance of pelvic control in rotational performance. Andrew dives into the significance of deceleration training and how individual testing can enhance on-field outcomes. He also touches on the latest developments in creating a state-of-the-art training lab, while advocating for a balanced work-life approach in coaching.
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ADVICE

Three-Week Movement Foundation

  • Run a 3-week movement competency block for new players to teach full ROM and pelvic and scapular control.
  • Test IMTP, CMJ, SJ and sprints to bucket athletes and program by qualities after the block.
INSIGHT

Program By Qualities, Not Labels

  • Program athletes by qualities (force-dominant vs elastic-dominant) rather than simply by position or training age.
  • Use force-plate quadrant reports to identify where athletes sit and tailor plyometrics and modalities accordingly.
INSIGHT

Speed Trumps Absolute Strength

  • The sport outcome in baseball depends more on speed and transfer efficiency than raw maximal strength.
  • Producing the same force faster often beats heavier absolute strength for performance on-field.
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