Embracing Change at an Established D1 Powerhouse

The Challenge

The Pac-12 is historically known for being one of the powerhouse conferences for NCAA baseball and continues to produce top Major League talent. The Pac 12 conference has produced four out of the last nine number 1 overall draft picks in the and has the most college world series championships in history. The Sun Devils of Arizona State University are no exception, as they recently generated the number 1 overall pick in the MLB draft and have the fourth most college world series appearances all time.

Like many well established programs, ASU baseball had been operating under a more traditional model of reacting to injuries and implementing a return to play protocol but felt they had developed a sound program with relatively good alignment within each department. When approached with the Sparta Science System, there was a natural hesitation for change.

After dealing with high injury rates, the staff identified an opportunity for improvement utilizing technology to enhance their existing methodology and preparation strategies. The staff tracked KPIs such as the number of injuries, DL days, surgeries, and MRIs throughout the year but was lacking the modifiable leading indicators that affect the outcome of these particular KPIs.

The Solution

An initial misunderstanding was the assumption that to utilize Sparta Science they must operate under strict parameters and prescriptions set by the Sparta Science System, taking away their autonomy and ability to apply their own expertise. During the on-site installation of the Sparta Science System, the ASU staff welcomed the fact that this technology was a complement to their existing approach, and not a replacement. After the initial on-boarding, the ASU strength and conditioning and medical staffs quickly realized the Sparta System provides them the necessary data to make individual adjustments while fitting within their current system.

While the performance staff uses the Jump Scan to focus on the biggest “bang for your buck” portions of the program and make customizations depending on the individual, the medical staff prioritizes the Plank Scan and Balance Scan to evaluate athletes’ proprioception, global stability, and identify deficiencies throughout the kinetic chain. If an athlete scores below a specific threshold, the staff assigns supplemental programs which are completed on their own in the training room, before on-field workouts, post-weight room sessions, or during their personal time. Upon re-evaluation, the staff reassesses using the Plank and Balance to check progress and make the necessary adjustments. This feedback loop creates accountability and has led to consistent results in reducing injuries, DL days, surgeries, and MRIs.