Letters and Emails to College Coaches--Revisited!

Hey there! At Academy Elite, we use three terms to describe players to one another.
Without naming names, you might want to categorize yourself and be aware that you are creating your brand every time you step across the white lines...
PLAYER: This is a guy who can do a little bit of everything.  He is reliable, shows up ready to play, requires no "babysitting". If you give him a sign, he attempts to execute properly.  He doesn't whine and bitch about where or how often he plays. He comes with no parental baggage, is generally program oriented and adheres to a "team" mantra. A "Player" is a guy you would always ask back for another season and you will always look out for this as he has made an investment in you as a coach or mentor and is loyal to your program. You don't win without plenty of these guys.
DUDE: This guy takes "Player" to another level. He works tirelessly. This guy skips homecoming to make a fall game.  He gets BIG hits and wants the ball against the best teams--and can produce.
He breaks up with his girlfriend on February 28 to focus on his goal of 15 extra-base hits. He is self motivated. He plays for himself with a fire and passion that is infectious.  He picks up teammates almost instinctively and is indespensible in the dugout.  His manner of play makes others question their own commitment and effort.  This guy is why we coach.  One of these guys per year can refuel our collective coaching tanks and they are critical in developing a program. Dudes, it should be noted, are not just the truly elite players, but they come with NO BAGGAGE.  They are meticulous in their reputation and their parents are supportive and non-meddlesome, program oriented advocates for their son.
DUD: Sadly, this is a larger group than coaches would like.  Number one symptom of a "Dud" is a guy whose parents create an impossible expectation.  Coaches find themselves balancing parent-pleasing with the competitive integrity of their ballclub. The player, who is invariably struggling begins to press and creates symptom two...frozen pizza. Now this player is full of thought and cannot perform simple tasks like taking signs, secondary leads, bunts and even good old fashioned hustle. At AE, we are exceptional at keeping the morale of this player intact, but not without costs.
In addition, this player fails to "control what he can control".  Some Duds issues stem from having talent but a lack of work ethic--specific, meaningful work.  After age 15, if you are not in the gym 3 times per week in the off-season, you are allowing others an opportunity to pass you by. This player fails to be constructively objective and critical of his game allowing himself to go season to season without adding or improving any useable skill. Duds routinely make excuses or blame the program/coach for their shortcomings. This guy skips a Sunday bullpen in the spring to watch the Hawks or Bulls. He will never be a consistent performer.

We recommend you guys ask your coaching staff what you can improve upon specifically this off-season.  Work hard without guarantees of anything besides your athletic dignity and impeccable reputation as a Dude! You might bust your butt and not be offered a spot on the team next spring...but you will gain pride, purpose, and respect of coaches and players.  I've never met a SINGLE player that regretted working hard toward their goal--regardless of achievement.  The good ones control what they can and stay positive.

At Academy Elite, we have so few Duds every year, we are the most fortunate program around.
In 2011, our Dud-free Nationals won their third major championship in three years. This time it was
the Big One...the DSP World Series at 18U.  Twelve of those players are on to collegiate playing opportunities. Can you be a National? You gotta be a "Dude". 

First of all, it's likely not some major mechanical flaw.  Players, parents and coaches tend to overreact to 3 for 15's with major reconstructive mechanical adjustments, lineup changes, even eye-exams (not always a bad idea prior to the start of a season).  The reality is probably above the shoulders. Illinois High School coaches have a tough issue to deal with.  The veteran coaches know that the kid can hit--just needs to relax, etc. Problem is, they also know they only have a month of quality weather to get their club playoff-ready.  If this were the big leagues, we'd look at the first six weeks and see what direction the kid is headed and make necessary adjustments.  For the Prep player, six weeks is basically the season. So what to do?

Well, this area is a specialty of mine.  I find that most of the useful strategies I have acquired playing at a high level revolved more around my failures (overcoming different types of fears--or dealing with them with proper behavior) than successes. The following things WILL NOT work to turn it around...

1. An unannounced benching or lethal drop in the batting order from 3rd to 8th.  Unless a kid is just lazy and a waste of a uniform, a sudden drop in the lineup is seen as a grave consequence in his life and his confidence will plummet.  Instead, talk to the player.  In college, I moved from 3rd to 7th (after leading off my whole life).  Our hitting coach said, "I KNOW you can hit. You're over-thinking this thing. You're still hitting fastballs pretty hard.  Coach and I think if you hit in the higher grass for awhile, you'll get more fastballs, you'll satrt building something and get your presence back at the plate.  You're not going anywhere--you're in the lineup. Take your time, stay focused, and let yourself play."  It worked like a magic potion.  It has worked for me as a coach countless times as well.

2. "If you hit another pop-up or strikeout with men on--you're done"...ummmmm yeah. NOT a good plan.  Basically, this hitter is going to the plate thinking of two things; a popup AND a strikeout.  Try, "stay behind the ball, get a good one to hammer." or "see white, hit white." 

3. "Lower your hands and lengthen your stride and tilt your ass bend your knees choke up open up keep your head in there firmer grip looser grip jump down turn around pick a bail o cotton..."  Invite 30 people over to your house and put out 50 different indredients and see what kind of soup they make...PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS, as the saying goes...


Instead, try these little tips.  You may find them sane...and helpful...

1. Take a more useful batting practice guys! Instead of coming to AE and chucking 100 balls at your buddy who's scuffling, little drills like "5 hit and runs" or "3-2 counts", etc. create a small amount of expectation and energy (pressure and focus) that translates better into games. Batting practice is a great time to fail--no scorebooks!  In fact, if you're not failing once in a while in BP--you're not improving.  It's the failures and proper reaction to those failures in baseball that teach us and move us up the ladder.

2. Have a plan.  Develop an approach with your coach.  Don't go crazy with mechanics. Most of you have solid swings by March.  You and your coach within 20 at bats can see how you're being pitched, how aggresive you are, etc. Talk to your coach and develop a simple plan.  I had a kid scuffling last summer; he hit into some tough outs and lost his aggressiveness. I started the runners in his next two trips with men on basically making him be aggressive and putting the ball in play hard.  The first trip he bounced out and the next he hit a long triple to right-center.  He went 9-13 with a homer the rest of the week. If you need a basic plan, you can never go wrong with using what I call the "big half of the field".  It allows you to let the ball travel--see it better--and get back to basics. Trying to pull the ball, overswinging or just plain trying to do too much plays into the pitchers arsenal.  You'll turn an ordinary kid throwing "78 with an overhand breaker" into "87 with a tight slider".  I've seen many kids without a plan or approach throw themselves world-class change ups! If it seems like you're ALWAYS hitting 0-1, 0-2, or 1-2...you probably need to change your approach. Stay positive, team oriented, and trust your coach to help.

3. POSITIVE messages are key.  We ALL hit the same way...Optic nerve, brain, message, muscle reaction. First, SEE THE BALL.  Great hitters can track a ball within 10 feet of the plate.  Hitters that suck see it out of the hand and react. These guys are GREAT 6th grade power threats. Load behind the ball and TRACK it.  Maybe even take a pitch.  Ever get a take sign 3 and 0 and swear to the Heavenly Father that had coach just let you swing you'da hit it 12 miles? The reason is there was NO FEAR of failure.  You KNEW you were not swinging.  You relaxed and just SAW the baseball travel.  It looks so big and sexy.  That's your optic nerve and brain relaxed. Now, add the power of negative thought and the baseball is reduced to a Bayer aspirin dipping, diving and rocketing through the cosmos. Why?  It's simple. Your hitting sequence becomes optic nerve, brain, fear, message, inhibited muscle reaction. Your muscles WILL NOT react properly when fed negative thought... 

To that end, I have told at least a HUNDRED kids of the following scenario; they always laugh and say "Holy Cr*p! That's SO true."...

I get emails with touching little anectdotes seemingly daily.  I am blessed that people think enough to include me in their left-clicks.  Today, I recieved one that really hit the target with me.
I like the message and want to share it you.  It  follows...

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments
together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate , they hugged and the mother said , 'I
love you and I wish you enough'.

The daughter replied , ' Mom , our life together has been more than
enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough , too , Mom'.

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the
window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and
needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed
me in by asking , 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it
would be forever?'.

Yes , I have,' I replied. ' forgive me for asking,
but why is this a forever good-bye?'.

'I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the
reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye , I heard you say , 'I wish you
enough'. May I ask what that means?'.

She began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from
other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone'. She paused
a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she
smiled even more. 'When we said , 'I wish you enough' , we were
wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good
things to sustain them'. Then turning toward me , she shared the
following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray
the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may
appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person , an hour to
appreciate them , a day to love them but then an entire life to forget
them.


TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....

To all my friends and loved ones,
I WISH YOU ENOUGH