Prior to getting into all the assessments below, we want to preface this with the understanding that this is a lot! Especially for the younger athletes. The Technology being used is the best in the industry, with many of these companies being connected to Major League and High-Level College Teams. While some of the data we collect will be advanced for some of the athletes, the value of incorporating industry leading Technology into the youth space is unparalleled, as each athlete strives to get better at Baseball and develop to the best of their ability. By tracking the growth of players in 3 main categories: Fundamental Skill (Rapsodo & DVS), Cognitive Development (Reflection), and over all athletic ability (RVA Athletes), the Mid-Atlantic Orioles Program gives Coaches and Players an unprecedented opportunity for Development. The TSI Team is committed to making sure our athletes have every advantage to get better on and off the field.
Rapsodo Hitting Evaluations
The Rapsodo Hitting Evaluation gives our coaches the ability to see the metrics behind a player’s swing. Players will take a round of batting practice with each swing being registered by the Rapsodo Unit. Each hit will register the players Exit Velocity, Lauch Angle, Exit Direction among a variety of other stats. This data will not only help track each player’s progress from season to season but also gives coaches another tool to assist in swing and approach development.
Parents that are new to the program will receive an email from Rapsodo inviting them to set up a profile and download the Rapsodo App. Within the app, parents will be able to see the results from the Fall Evaluation, as well as track their players’ progress season to season. Any other session done with the Rapsodo Unit will also be sent to the app such as Complete Pitcher Program as well as Individual Sessions. For any questions regarding Rapsodo, visit their website at https://rapsodo.com/pages/baseball-learning-center Link to Login for results: https://cloud.rapsodo.com/login
Delivery Value System (DVS) Evaluations
The Mid Atlantic Orioles are excited to announce the new arrival of DVS Baseball, which stands for Delivery Value System. DVS is a baseball performance and injury prevention system that uses biomechanical analysis to evaluate and improve pitching mechanics. It focuses on optimizing a pitcher’s movement patterns to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury.
After receiving your DVS Score, you’ll work with DVS trainers or coaches to analyze, train, and perform:​
- Correct Mechanical Flaws – Address weaknesses in your delivery.
- Improve Velocity and Accuracy – Fine-tune mechanics for better results.
- Follow a Custom Program – Engage in personalized training to boost performance and longevity.
The goal is to help you become a stronger, more resilient pitcher. If you need your results emailed to you, message jyoungman@tuckahoesports.org
Reflection Edge Cognitive Evaluation
Cognitive Training is a relatively new field when it comes to sports. The 5 main values of cognition are Eye-hand Coordination, Reaction Time, Tracking, Inhibition, & Prioritization. Just like working on back handed grounders, these values can be worked on through training. The Reflection Edge is a new device that will allow our athletes to test their current cognitive abilities and then set weekly drills to improve their scores. During the Evaluation, players will be shown the testing drills and be given a baseline assessment. The results will be used to set their “Fall Curriculum”. Scores will be compared with athletes from their age group as well as their teammates throughout the season!
Parents will be able to Track their son’s progress through the Reflection App. An invitation to download the app and set up your son’s account will be sent out prior to the evaluations starting. For more information on the Reflection Edge and Cognitive Training, visit their website at Reflection.co/Learn
RVA Athletes Athletic Evaluation
-Speed Test:
The RVA Athletes Speed Test will measure the time it takes Athlete to get from Home to First (9u to 14u) or 60 yards (High School). This time will be compared to the time of athletes in the same age group within baseball.
We’ll be using Dashr timing gates to get the times specific to your athletes age group. Using timing gates over a stopwatch ensures the accuracy of each time.
-Agility Test:
Players will participate in a 5-10-5 Test also using the Dashr timing gates. Athletes will perform a 5-yard dash to a predetermined point. From there they will sprint back through the gate to another point, 5-yards away on the other side of the gate. Athletes will sprint back through the gate to get the results of their run.
This test lets us see an athlete’s ability to decelerate and change directions. Overall, it’s a great test to gauge agility and help improve neuromuscular coordination.
-Strength Test:
Hawkins Force Plates will be used to determine the overall power output and the amount of force they can produce through specific movements. The movements we will be using are:
Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull –
Tracks the amount of force the athlete can generate through their lower body by pulling a handle attached to our Hawkins equipment.
Countermovement Jump –
This allows us to see how much force they are producing to get off the ground, as well as see what their vertical jump height is based off their jump.
RVA Athletes can then take the information for each athlete and get an idea of what areas athletes can work on and what we can do to help reach those goals.
After recording scores and numbers during the Pre-Season Evaluations, results will be shared with Coaches and Parents in the weeks after. These results will be used to build development plans in the respective areas for each player. If you have any questions regarding your athletes’ results or how a test will impact your players’ development directly, please contact the corresponding coach below:
-Reflexion Edge: T.J. Williams at tjwilliams@tuckahoesports.org
-DVS: Josh Youngman at jyoungman@tuckahoesports.org
-Rapsodo: cmcknight@tuckahoesports.org
-RVA Athletes: glenn@rvaathletes.com