I was lucky enough to spend the weekend in Sandusky, Ohio with the Adrian American Legion team. Last year I had planned to help Aaron Klotz coach the team but my spring/summer health kept me at home. This year, though Klotter is no longer the coach, I have appreciated not only my good health, but another opportunity to coach baseball, as Dave Stanifer and Don Cappelletty have brought me along with their team.
Though I am most accustomed to coaching college aged (age 18-22) players, because of my own kids and doing camps and lessons I do enjoy working with younger athletes. The Legion team is made up of guys between the ages of 16 and 19. The game of baseball is the same for them as it is for the college guys, but the high school aged players aren't as refined with some of their skills nor as experienced with many of the situations that occur during games. Because of the fact that these players are at the age that they can learn so much, I have the fabulous opportunity to teach while in the dugout. Every pitch of every game brings a new situation; therefore every pitch provides a learning opportunity. Hopefully, you can imagine how much fun it is for me.
One of the major teaching points that I am able to help these athletes with is the mental/emotional part of the game. Their ability to control their thoughts, and thus their emotions, is so important in developing their abilities to be successful in game situations that they perceive as stressful. That part of the game is so important for athletes who are hoping to continue playing a sport (or two) after they leave high school as well as for the ones who are playing just because they love to play. There are so many gifted athletes in the world, but the ones we watch on television who are paid millions of dollars to play games are the ones who have separated themselves from the others, often due to their ability to control their thoughts and emotions while in the middle of a competitive situation.
Through the years I have learned over and over the importance of the mental and emotional side of competing. I have had to learn how to improve that part of the game for myself as a coach, too!! Last summer when I was holed up in my house, I had the opportunity to watch more professional tennis and golf on television than I ever imagined myself doing. While doing that, the commentators, especially the former pros in the broadcast booths, constantly talked about the athletes and their abilities (or lack of) to handle the mental/emotional parts of the games.
So for me, as fun as I am having teaching baseball skills, pitching and hitting mechanics and philosophies, etc., I am also enjoying the opportunity to help these guys with the mental/emotional part of competing, which will ultimately enhance their ability to execute efficiently and effectively with their athletic skills in all the sports they play.
Tomorrow is the last day of the school year for me......then my summer truly begins!!! I couldn't ask for anything more!!
Though I am most accustomed to coaching college aged (age 18-22) players, because of my own kids and doing camps and lessons I do enjoy working with younger athletes. The Legion team is made up of guys between the ages of 16 and 19. The game of baseball is the same for them as it is for the college guys, but the high school aged players aren't as refined with some of their skills nor as experienced with many of the situations that occur during games. Because of the fact that these players are at the age that they can learn so much, I have the fabulous opportunity to teach while in the dugout. Every pitch of every game brings a new situation; therefore every pitch provides a learning opportunity. Hopefully, you can imagine how much fun it is for me.
One of the major teaching points that I am able to help these athletes with is the mental/emotional part of the game. Their ability to control their thoughts, and thus their emotions, is so important in developing their abilities to be successful in game situations that they perceive as stressful. That part of the game is so important for athletes who are hoping to continue playing a sport (or two) after they leave high school as well as for the ones who are playing just because they love to play. There are so many gifted athletes in the world, but the ones we watch on television who are paid millions of dollars to play games are the ones who have separated themselves from the others, often due to their ability to control their thoughts and emotions while in the middle of a competitive situation.
Through the years I have learned over and over the importance of the mental and emotional side of competing. I have had to learn how to improve that part of the game for myself as a coach, too!! Last summer when I was holed up in my house, I had the opportunity to watch more professional tennis and golf on television than I ever imagined myself doing. While doing that, the commentators, especially the former pros in the broadcast booths, constantly talked about the athletes and their abilities (or lack of) to handle the mental/emotional parts of the games.
So for me, as fun as I am having teaching baseball skills, pitching and hitting mechanics and philosophies, etc., I am also enjoying the opportunity to help these guys with the mental/emotional part of competing, which will ultimately enhance their ability to execute efficiently and effectively with their athletic skills in all the sports they play.
Tomorrow is the last day of the school year for me......then my summer truly begins!!! I couldn't ask for anything more!!
