Preseason is one of the most important and beneficial time periods to prepare a team for a competitive season, especially for high school sports. There are many benefits to preseason training. Most importantly, getting in shape. 

As some baseball coaches in Utah are still putting together a baseball team roster, Cyprus High School Baseball Head Coach, Nuho Kraja has already started his preseason training program.

According to Kraja, he believes, “If we want to be competitive, it’s important to start early. Baseball is a technical sport, so you can’t just pick up in season.” 

Kraja feels that skill development is very important, especially in the upcoming season. Moreover, this also means that his players can focus more individually on mastering their own fundamentals and personal skills.

Cyprus High School Baseball Player, Cam’ron Rendon, states, “These training sessions prepare us physically and mentally. I personally feel like they help, especially when we’re deep into the playoff games, where we have to play back to back.” Rendon also believes, “At the end of the day, I feel that it makes me a better player.”

However, besides getting the team in amazing physical shape, Kraja believes that these preseason training sessions benefit the team in terms of bonding. 

According to Kraja, in the week of Nov. 6, 2023, “Today, tomorrow and Thursday will be our last days for fall training and then we’re going to be moving on to the UVU challenge, which is a fitness challenge where there will be little groups of guys competing against each other.” 

On top of that, Rendon says, “Yeah, the UVU challenge gets competitive, but at the end of the day it’s all brotherly love. It brings us closer together.”

So what exactly does the schedule look like for a player participating in these preseason training sessions? 

Kraja mentions, “We train everyday, Monday-Friday after school.” Furthermore, Kraja states, “Our season training is all year round, besides the break off June-July. Anyone is welcome to come to these preseason training sessions, they just have to talk to me first.”

These sessions vary between weight lifting, running and agility, and mobility. 

In addition, Rendon says, “Although we do it everyday, it doesn't really affect me in terms of getting school work done. Kraja gives us enough time to get work at times, so it isn’t really that stressful.”