Even though their season does not start until the spring, the baseball team is already getting down to business by participating in offseason training with Performance Course, a program that uses proven scientific training principles to provide athletes with a mental and physical advantage.

“I think [PC] is the best strength and conditioning program around,” head baseball coach Jason Wilson said. “They’re trying to get the players stronger. As far as helping a baseball player, the stronger you are, the better you’re going to play and the more productive you’ll be.”

PC allows players to focus on baseball during the athletic period and condition outside of it. This process does not violate UIL rules, which state that formal before or after school practice for this season is prohibited until Jan. 26, 2018.

“I think it is ultimately going to help us out in the long run with our baseball skills and strength,” Wilson said. “I think if there is a program or school that is not doing [an offseason training program], then we definitely have an advantage that is going to help our players be more successful than [players at] other schools.”

In any sport, opportunities to become a better athlete are ways players are able to prove themselves to their teammates and coaches.

“Coach sees [an athlete that trains with PC] as willing to get better and take a considerable amount of time out of their day to improve,” senior Luke Howell said.

Junior Luke Finn said he gains confidence in himself and his team by training with PC.

“I think [PC] is really beneficial because a lot of times you know that you’re putting the work in, but you don’t know that everyone else is,” Finn said. “When you see other people doing the same stuff you’re doing, you know that they’re getting better as well as yourself.”

In a way, outside programs such as PC are seen as mandatory by players and by coaches, even though participation is technically not required.

“The coaches are going to know that they are putting in the work [if they train with PC],” Finn said. “I think if you want to get better, then [PC] is mandatory.”