Following the experimentation conducted by the Team Italy U15 softball manager Maristella Perizzolo and her coaching staff beginning last year with the Azzurre squad after the initial Blast Motion launch at CON-X 2024, Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) and Blast Motion announced today the signing of the official partnership agreement between FIBS President Andrea Marcon and Blast Motion Chief Financial Officer Jason Sorensen. This agreement provides FIBS and its coaches with a very advanced and effective tool for studying and improving the swing of baseball and softball players.
The Blast Motion system is based on a sensor positioned on the knob of the bat, which, through its management software, allows to collect metrics useful for the technical evaluation of the swing. At the same time, a video recording of each swing of the bat is made. The system testing process began on December 3, 2024, when swings by Team Italy U15 softball players were analyzed by Christian Silva using Blast Motion technology data. Then, under the guidance of Team Italy U15 manager Maristella Perizzolo and Blast Motion developer Pier Piancastelli, a report was prepared that recorded eight of the 10 metrics detected along with six still images which revealed six different moments of the swing, beginning with the stance position to the final closure.
The working group analyzed the mechanics and the
characteristics of speed and power of the swing, highlighting some aspects
detected with the use of the sensor and supported by video analysis. The
summary documents of the players used as testers were shared today with the
clubs to which the girls belong.
The created report, previewed to the coaches of the Regional
Selections at the Turin Regions Tournament, aims to offer coaches food for
thought. There is no intention of revolutionizing the way of swinging. Instead,
Blast Motion technology desires to improve the technical awareness of the coach
and the athlete himself/herself.
The study concluded, "We are very aware of the fact
that it takes time and practice to improve any aspect of such a complex and
articulated motion as swinging - the footage dates back to December 3rd of last
year so some athletes may have also changed their mechanics, in which case, of
course, it will be necessary to evaluate whether the considerations we made are
still current."
To complete the material provided, the technical staff of the Clubs to which the players belong are also provided with the results of the athletic tests coordinated by Andrea Cardone, Physical Trainer of the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, equally useful information to have a more complete picture of the athlete.
The proposed report is also a point of contact and sharing between the same staff of the National Team and the technicians of the Clubs for a constant improvement of the individual athlete and, by extension, of the entire Team Italy Baseball and Softball movement.
Perizzolo, Piancastelli and Silva will be present at the Finali Giovanili Baseball e Softball at the end of September to illustrate the Blast program live and provide information to the coaches.
In order to broaden the knowledge of the tool to the entire movement, the ‘Corso Blast Motion’, has been scheduled, promoted by the CNT in autumn-winter 2024, starting on October 30th and ending by Christmas, which all technicians are invited to attend.
The agreement between FIBS and the Southern California-based Blast Motion also officially makes the Blast Motion sensors available on the Italian market at special prices by using discount code FIBS10 at shop on-line europeo.
BLAST SHOP
BLAST SPECIAL
BLAST MOTION
Forza #Italia!
by Marco Landi and Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Maristella Perizzolo and Christian Silva presenting the first results of their work to the Regional Selections coaches)
