Good Evening Fans!
This week I have chosen to share my opinion on radar guns. This is a popular topic that often comes up during my lessons at The Player's Edge from both parents and players alike. I feel the need to share my thoughts on this topic since so many of you have brought it up to me...
Plain and simple - radar guns are a young pitcher's worst nightmare. Anytime a pitcher sees a radar gun pop up from behind home plate, he forgets about mechanics, location, and even helping his team win because all that he focuses on is throwing as hard as he can to light up the gun. What good is this teaching our kids? In my opinion, velocity is by far the most over rated aspect of being a pitcher. Whatever happened to location and movement or the ability to throw 4 pitches for strikes on command? Today, scouts and coaches are so wrapped up in what the radar gun says and its almost as if 90 mph is the benchmark that makes or breaks a prospect. Pitching is an art form... it's what separates pitchers from just being hard throwers. That is why so many young kids have arm injuries today - in my opinion. They go to all these "showcases" and camps where they boast about how many scouts will be in attendance, etc. Well the only thing an athlete cares about is throwing as HARD as he can with no regard to his health.
Shame on you if you're a high school coach, parent, or even COLLEGE coach that uses radar guns during practices or camps. I was recently disgusted when I heard that a college baseball program was hosting a Winter Camp for young baseball players and on the first day of camp, they whipped out the radar guns and tempted the kids to throw as hard as they could after they hadn't picked up a ball for months! WHY?!
It goes without saying that I will NEVER own a radar gun in my facility. Let's focus on control and movement first and then build velocity. Radar guns are one of the worst pieces of equipment a baseball coach can own. Don't fall into the trap of forcing our young players to believe the only thing that matters is flashing the highest MPH on the screen...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Coach & Player Synergy
Coaches,
Why is it that you have accepted the coaching position? Is it because you love the game of baseball or softball? Is it because you felt obligated? Is it because its possibly additional income? Or is it because you have a child on the team?
I challenge you to think about this question and get to the root of the true answer. The reason I've chosen this topic to write about is not to lecture, but to simply state observations I've made and quite honestly - can't stand to see. If you're coaching for the right reasons - because you love the game and enjoy molding the youth into young men and teaching them about life through the game of baseball - then I applaud you...
But if you're coaching for any of the wrong reasons, then continue reading... The reason I state this is because what if the player/coach synergy doesn't match one another? What if you have a player who truly wants to be the best he can be and have the opportunity to further their careers, is it fair to he or she to have a coach who doesn't have the same goals? NO!
I'm tired of seeing coaches just go through the motion and not teach our young athletes how to play the game right and to get their full potential out of them. You're doing the child a dis-service by not having the proper foundation of goals to work from. Just because YOU as the coach don't take things seriously or with pride, doesn't mean it should affect the players.
A coach is a mentor, a teacher, and a role model. Young athletes look to you for instruction, guidance, loyalty, support and so many other reasons. I challenge you to re-think the reason you've taken the coaching position and make sure it matches that of your players. Granted, not every kid wants to play college or pro ball, but thats not for you to decide... Treat every single player as if thats his/her goal and dont cheat them out of one minute of practice, one swing, one throw, etc.
As I heard my freshman year of high school baseball that lit the internal flame and used as motivation - "None of you will ever see the inside of a college or pro stadium unless you buy a ticket!" I will forever remember these words that my COACH said to our team.... don't be that guy....
Why is it that you have accepted the coaching position? Is it because you love the game of baseball or softball? Is it because you felt obligated? Is it because its possibly additional income? Or is it because you have a child on the team?
I challenge you to think about this question and get to the root of the true answer. The reason I've chosen this topic to write about is not to lecture, but to simply state observations I've made and quite honestly - can't stand to see. If you're coaching for the right reasons - because you love the game and enjoy molding the youth into young men and teaching them about life through the game of baseball - then I applaud you...
But if you're coaching for any of the wrong reasons, then continue reading... The reason I state this is because what if the player/coach synergy doesn't match one another? What if you have a player who truly wants to be the best he can be and have the opportunity to further their careers, is it fair to he or she to have a coach who doesn't have the same goals? NO!
I'm tired of seeing coaches just go through the motion and not teach our young athletes how to play the game right and to get their full potential out of them. You're doing the child a dis-service by not having the proper foundation of goals to work from. Just because YOU as the coach don't take things seriously or with pride, doesn't mean it should affect the players.
A coach is a mentor, a teacher, and a role model. Young athletes look to you for instruction, guidance, loyalty, support and so many other reasons. I challenge you to re-think the reason you've taken the coaching position and make sure it matches that of your players. Granted, not every kid wants to play college or pro ball, but thats not for you to decide... Treat every single player as if thats his/her goal and dont cheat them out of one minute of practice, one swing, one throw, etc.
As I heard my freshman year of high school baseball that lit the internal flame and used as motivation - "None of you will ever see the inside of a college or pro stadium unless you buy a ticket!" I will forever remember these words that my COACH said to our team.... don't be that guy....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)