By Jarrett Guthrie
Editor
TAMPA – Baseball has long been a passion for twin brothers Eric and Kyle Schindler, who grew up playing the game in the New Tampa area. That passion for baseball extended past their days playing at Freedom High School, staying together for four more years while playing at the collegiate level, and that passion was one they wanted to continue in their professional careers.
The Schindlers graduated from Freedom High School in 2012 after spending four years playing for the Patriots and were lucky to spend an additional four years playing together at the college level, first at St. Petersburg College and then at Lynn University in Boca Raton. After graduating from Lynn, the brothers went on to the University of South Florida where they both earned doctorates in physical therapy, as well as certification as strength and conditioning coaches.
“When we were finishing up our four years of playing together in college we knew we wanted to go into physical therapy school, and we realized we wanted to keep involved in baseball and find a way to contribute to the game,” Kyle Schindler said. “Even if it was just a way to contribute back to our colleges and our (former) coaches.”
Eric and Kyle Schindler from their time playing at Lynn University (photo provided).
Today, the Schindlers continue on as teammates working together for PT Solutions in Tampa, focused on helping coaches and athletes maintain physical health, strength and also avoid injuries.
“Baseball injuries as a whole are rising, you’re seeing it at all levels from the MLB injured list on down to the youth game,” Kyle said. “And a lot of it could be combatted with low-hanging fruit that players (could) take advantage of, like working out and building strength, which naturally lowers risk of being injured – if you are stronger you are less likely to be hurt.
“I wish this type of thing was available to Eric and I at a younger age, with learning these skills, the younger the better.”
As the quarantines and limitations associated to the COVID-19 pandemic are beginning to ease and roll back, Kyle said he is fearful that there will be a lot of players at all levels of the game that may jump back into competing and training at a high activity level without first properly preparing.
With that in mind, the pair will be hosting an online, one-hour seminar discussing tips and strategies about how players can properly work back into playing shape this summer in a structured and moderate level on Wednesday, June 3 at 6 p.m.
“I hope our audience will include coaches, players and parents,” Kyle said, “and I hope that coming from Eric and I, two players not that far removed from their shoes … so ultimately, we want to share with them things we wish we knew when we were in their shoes.”
They are encouraging college and high school baseball coaches, as well as athletes and parents to attend the virtual meeting where they hope to share their knowledge about the best way to ease back into strength and athletic training.
