The Plan

“The Plan”

Northwest Nationals Baseball offers a personalized consulting service designed to help athletes and families navigate the player development journey with clarity and purpose. Our team works closely with each athlete to build a seasonal and/or year-round baseball plan that aligns with their goals, skill level, and overall commitment.

The Plan includes structured training, practices, games, and key baseball events across all four seasons to ensure consistent growth and development. We also help families make smarter decisions to save money by identifying the most valuable opportunities and avoiding unnecessary expenses. Unlike many for-profit companies in the youth baseball space, our focus is solely on the best interests of the athlete, not on maximizing revenue. With a professional, individualized approach, NW Nationals provides the guidance and support needed to train smarter, compete with confidence, and stay on track toward long-term success in the game.

The Four Seasons:

  • Spring (March–May): High School/Club Season

  • Summer (June–August): Summer Club Season

  • Fall (September–November): Fall Ball and/or Recovery Season

  • Winter (December–February): Preparation for High School or Club Season

Each athlete and family will receive a customized player development plan in writing, outlining specific goals, seasonal training objectives, recommended events, and suggested timelines. This document will also include guidance on workload management, arm care, travel planning, and budgeting to help families make informed decisions throughout the year. The written plan serves as a clear roadmap, helping athletes stay focused and families stay organized as they move through each phase of development.

"The Plan" has been utilized by high-level players in the region and has proven successful in helping athletes reach the next level whether that’s college baseball or the professional ranks.

The NW Nationals “The Plan” includes:

Player Overview: A detailed evaluation of the athlete’s current skills, strengths, and areas for improvement, serving as the foundation for all development planning and guiding the training, event, and recruiting strategy moving forward.

Goal Setting: Clearly defined short-term and long-term goals developed collaboratively with the athlete, parent(s), and coaches to provide direction, motivation, and measurable benchmarks for progress throughout the year.

Pitching Plan: A customized plan and monthly pitching routine and arm-care program designed to maximize performance while protecting long-term health. Each plan emphasizes proper build-up, smart workload management, and durability through structured throwing schedules, recovery protocols, and individualized arm-care work. Athletes also receive guidance on pitching-specific strength training and development opportunities available in their local area to ensure they’re progressing year-round with the right support, while also helping families and athletes navigate the demands of the club and high school season.

Hitting Plan: A customized plan and hitting routine designed to maximize performance while building consistency and results throughout the season. Each plan provides a clear structure for cage work including tee routines, front toss, and machine work to develop repeatable mechanics and long-term results. Athletes also receive guidance on hitting-specific training opportunities available in their local area to ensure they’re developing year-round with the right support.

Fielding & Position Plan: A customized fielding and position plan designed to maximize defensive performance while building consistency, confidence, and game-ready skills throughout the season. Each plan provides a structured monthly routine for position-specific work including footwork, glove work, throwing progressions, and situational reps to develop reliable mechanics and long-term results. Athletes also receive guidance on defensive training opportunities available in their local area to ensure they’re developing year-round with the right support.

Strength, Conditioning & Recovery Plan:Guidance on performance training strategies designed to direct athletes to maximize athletic development while improving strength, speed, mobility, and durability throughout the season. Athletes also receive guidance on performance training opportunities available in their local area to ensure they’re developing year-round with the right support.

Nutrition Plan: Guidance on nutrition strategies designed to support performance, recovery, growth, and long-term athlete health throughout the year. Athletes and families receive practical recommendations for fueling around training and games, hydration, recovery meals/snacks, and building sustainable habits that help athletes feel and perform their best.

Mental Performance Plan: Guidance on mental performance strategies that support focus, confidence, resilience, emotional control, and consistency in both baseball and life, with guidance on mental performance coaching resources in the athlete’s local area.

Team & Practice Plan: Guidance on teams, programs, and practice environments that align with the athlete’s developmental needs and competitive goals. Athletes and families receive guidance on selecting the right fit for training quality, coaching style, playing opportunities, and long-term development helping ensure each season supports both performance and growth.

Seasonal Event Plan: A curated calendar of tournaments, showcases, evaluation periods, and key baseball events, with strategic guidance on what recruiting events to attend, when to attend them, and how they fit into the athlete’s overall development and recruiting timeline. This plan helps families make smart scheduling decisions, avoid unnecessary events, and prioritize the opportunities that best support long-term development and recruiting goals.

Recruiting Plan: A personalized approach to navigating the college recruiting process, including target school identification, skills video guidance, coach communication strategy, and showcase selection. Ongoing support ensures the plan evolves as the athlete develops and opportunities change helping families stay organized, proactive, and confident throughout the recruiting journey.

Academic Plan: Support for academic success and eligibility, including grade and GPA tracking, standardized test planning, NCAA/NAIA eligibility requirements, study habits, and balancing academics with athletic commitments. If an athlete’s GPA is 3.5 or lower, our staff will conduct regular grade checks to ensure they stay on track academically, address concerns early, and maintain eligibility throughout the year.

Budget Plan: A comprehensive breakdown of projected costs including programs, training, travel, and events, designed to help parents make informed, value-driven decisions while managing resources efficiently and avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Accountability Plan: A structured system to ensure consistent follow-through and progress, including regular check-ins and plan reviews, goal-based progress tracking, and adjustments to training, events, or workload as needed. The plan includes bi-monthly athlete calls and monthly Zoom calls with families, along with ongoing communication to maintain alignment, build strong habits, and ensure the athlete stays accountable throughout the year.

The Plan is an approximately 50+ page document with supporting resources, including pitching, hitting, and fielding routines, a budget spreadsheet, a season calendar outlining tournaments, camps, and showcases, and a daily breakdown of nutrition and development (Train Like a Pro).

  • Aaron Schoolcraft

    Founder

    Aaron Schoolcraft is the founder and owner of the Northwest Nationals, Northwest Summer League and the Northwest Baseball Association (501c3). He focuses on player development, providing year-round training and summer league competition with exposure to college-level coaching. Under his leadership, many athletes have advanced to collegiate baseball programs.

  • Zach Toglia

    Athlete Support

    Zach Toglia is a 6'4" infielder from Gig Harbor, Washington, who played baseball for the University of Portland. A former standout at Gig Harbor High and transfer from the University of Utah, he’s known for his power, athleticism, and defensive versatility across the infield. Coming from a baseball family, his brother Michael plays professionally.

  • TBD

    Athlete Support

    TBD

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    Athlete Support

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Parent/Athlete Testimonial

“As a parent, The Plan gave us clarity and confidence in our son’s development. Instead of chasing showcases or guessing what mattered most, we were given a clear, individualized roadmap that prioritizes long-term growth, health, academics, and accountability. The structure, communication, and family involvement made a huge difference not just in performance, but in our son’s maturity and ownership of the process. This plan is worth every bit of the investment.”

— Parent

“The Plan gave me structure and direction in my development. Instead of guessing what to work on, I have a clear daily routine for training, pitching, hitting, recovery, and my mental game. Everything is personalized to my goals, which has helped me become more consistent, confident, and disciplined. The accountability keeps me locked in, and I now prepare and train like a college-level athlete. This program has completely changed how I approach my development.”

— Athlete

'“What we value most as parents is development, and that’s exactly what The Plan delivers. Every part of the program is intentional physical training, skill work, mental preparation, and academics all working together. Instead of shortcuts or hype, our son is learning how to train, prepare, and improve the right way. We’ve seen real growth not just as a player, but as a young athlete who understands the process.”

— Parent

“The biggest difference with The Plan is the daily routines. Every day I know exactly what I need to do for pitching, hitting, training, recovery, and my mental game. That structure has made me more consistent, confident, and prepared when I compete. Instead of doing random work, everything has purpose. The routines have helped me train like a pro and stay focused on long-term development. I feel more in control of my progress and where I’m headed as an athlete.”

— Athlete

“The level of communication and support has been outstanding. From the beginning, everything was clearly explained, expectations were set, and we always knew where our son stood and what came next. Questions are answered quickly, check-ins are consistent, and we truly feel like partners in the process. As parents, that trust and transparency mean just as much as the on-field development.”

— Parent

“Since starting The Plan, I’ve made real, measurable gains in my performance and consistency. My strength, confidence, and overall readiness have all improved because my training is structured and intentional. Instead of guessing, I’m building on progress every week. The Plan has helped me take real steps forward as an athlete.”

— Athlete

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