Development
The work between the games.
A season is a few months of games. Development is what a Cardinal does the rest of the year, across all four teams, and it is the reason a player at this club grows without leaving it.
The Cardinals Development Program.
Year-round positional and team development runs across all four teams, Futures to Premier. One coaching standard runs through every level, so what a Futures player is taught is the start of what a Premier player is held to.
The facilities
The individual work, at HitHouse.
Through the winter the hitting work moves indoors to HitHouse, a player performance centre in Abbotsford, where Cardinals get one-on-one time with a coach as well as small group and team sessions.
HitHouse is an independent business. The club trains there and does not run it, so a family books its own lessons and cage time directly with them.
Two of the coaches on their staff are Cardinals coaches. Corey Eckstein, head coach of the Premier team, coaches hitting and fielding at HitHouse. Aiden Cutrell, on the Cardinals coaching staff, coaches pitching development there.
Visit HitHouseThe fall season.
Fall ball opens with the first practice on September 8th and runs to the last practice on October 18th. Every team practices Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Futures
17 games in all: 4 intersquad, 12 games and the Fall World Series.
Practices Tuesdays and Thursdays at Townline.
- Bantam
17 games in all: 4 intersquad, 12 games and the Fall World Series.
Practices Tuesdays and Thursdays at Townline.
- Junior
17 games and the Fall World Series.
Practices Tuesdays and Thursdays at Delair.
- Premier
16 games and the Fall World Series.
Practices Tuesdays and Thursdays at Delair.
After the fall season.
From October 19th to the 25th every player sits down for a fall exit interview, and the club holds Cardinal Culture Day. From October 26th to November 1st the coaching staff runs assessments, strength testing and mobility screens.
Off season training, 2026 to 2027.
Through the winter the club trains six days a week across Delair and The Hangar. Pitchers and catchers work in pods, hitters and fielders work by team, and every group lifts.
- Monday and Wednesday
Pitchers, in pods of eight at The Hangar, with all pitching coaches there.
Catchers at The Hangar, defence and hitting.
Infielders at Delair, defence and hitting.
- Tuesday and Thursday
Pitcher lift groups.
Catcher lift groups.
Outfielders at Delair, defence and hitting.
- Friday
Lift groups, Futures and Bantam infielders.
Lift groups, Futures and Bantam outfielders.
- Saturday
Team practices at Delair.
- Sunday
Lift groups, Junior and Premier infielders.
Lift groups, Junior and Premier outfielders.
Player development at the Cardinals is led by Kevin Nicholson.
These schedules are current as of 30 July 2026. Dates move, so check with your coach.
Every week has a job.
The fall practice plan is built one week at a time, and each week has a job.
- Week 1
Evaluate
How did they return to camp?
- Week 2
Fundamentals
Small details.
- Week 3
Team defence
Hammer it home.
- Week 4
Situational awareness
Live scenarios.