A Message to Youth and High School Athletes
If we could do it over again (cliche, I know) here are a few things we would do differently.
Surrounding yourself with the right individuals ranks high on the list of priorities. Whether you're a young man or woman, the company you keep greatly influences your journey. Seek out peers who share your aspirations and values, not just in sports, but in life as a whole. If you have goals of playing baseball or softball at a high level, you will find that most people who make it to that level have a great mentor and peer group that they can use as support.
Be a student of the game. Baseball is renowned as a cerebral sport, demanding a deep understanding from its players. Familiarize yourself with various positions, even if you don't regularly play them. Understand how to play multiple positions, even if you don't necessarily always play at those positions, it is a huge advantage when you know what your teammates are trying to accomplish while playing that position.
Understanding what coaches seek in players is pivotal. While each coach has unique preferences, certain qualities stand out universally. Mastering these intangible traits offers a competitive edge in any situation. Hustle, attitude, and being a good teammate are all things that you are able to control at any point in time. As a coach, we know that mistakes are going to happen but it is up to you on how you respond after those mistakes may happen. Be the athlete that a coach doesn't have to worry about when he turns his back. The old saying “what are you doing when no one is watching” hits the bullseye on this one.
Don't believe everything that you see on social media. Social media is a fantastic resource for educational and recruiting purposes. Make sure that you remain wary about everything that you see. Some of these “internet coaches” make it seem like they have all of the right answers, but just remember that every athlete is different. Just because it works for one athlete that you see a video of, doesn't necessarily mean that it is right for YOU!
Setting goals and maintaining a journal are habits shared by elite athletes. Keeping track of progress fosters accountability and growth. Whether jotting down training notes or analyzing in-game performance, a journal serves as a valuable tool for improvement. After each training session a great habit to get into is to make notes of what you were working on during your training and use it to your advantage. Another great way to do this is to track your in game results. Write down how your at bats went, what you were thinking while in the box, what pitches you hit well or did not hit well. After doing this process for a while, you will start to have a “positive list” of thoughts or goals as well as a “negative list”. It is your job to try to eliminate items from the negative list and shift your focus to the positive list.
Get stronger and put on weight. I probably should have listed this as the first item but if you have been reading this long, I wanted to save the best for last! There is going to come a point in time in every athlete's life where they are physically incapable of performing particular movements or actions due to a lack of strength or flexibility. Everyone at the Division 1 and professional level have the talent that it takes to be there. We feel that one of the largest separation factors comes down to strength. Don't let yourself fall victim to being surpassed due to a poor work ethic in the weight room. Hit it hard! We promise it will pay off in the end!