The Monday Mound Visit

You hear many youth baseball organizations claim to focus on player development. It is one of the most important things; however, I honestly believe it is a term so loosely used. Using games at youth ages to validate development is not the most practical way. Games are very chaotic environments with so many uncontrollables. Young players have not yet mastered a skill set that is needed in a game that prides itself on being one of the highest skilled sports to master. Simply put, it takes time!

The last couple weeks I have been stressing the importance of LTAD (long term athletic development) as the fundamental principle for everything we do at 706. So many clubs use development as a loose term but only use games as a way to display that development. I think it’s flawed; however, I want to clarify that I am not painting this picture with a broad brush. There are many great coaches and organizations around and I know we are young and still make mistakes but my vision has always been through a lens of how WE can do this better. To enforce development and practice what we preach, I sent out resources last week for nutrition guidance and a 2 month, 3 day per week lifting schedule with intended outcomes that sets them up for November and December training. IF you need them or did not get them, please let me know. 

The number one goal for any youth sports organization under the age of 16u should be primarily focused on development. First and foremost, developing the HUMAN. We happen to use baseball as a platform for that. Second, develop the baseball player. We call this long term athletic development (LTAD). LTAD places the primary goal on long-term benefits and having a desired outcome that may years from now. That is a paradigm I try to use when looking at how 706 Baseball Club works with youth players. Our goal is to prepare kids for the next level. It is future minded. 

Preparation is one of the most important factors in building confidence. Player’s that attach their confidence to results create a fickle sense of confidence where they thrive on the peak of victory and wallow in the valley of defeat. With confidence built on preparation, players navigate the season in a more healthy mental state. The wins become validation of the preparation and the defeats serve a purpose of identifying areas of growth. I understand that winning is important to build up confidence but it needs not be the only source, especially with our youth. Results don’t define them. Their character and work ethic have more influence on their confidence than their wins and losses. Results take precedence later in their career when the stakes are attached to incentives such as money, NIL, scholarships, etc. but I digress. 

1) Roster Size: WHY LARGER ROSTER SIZE?

We have 14 on the fall roster. As coaches, Robert and I have to look out for the best of the team. With so many factors at play in the fall such as high school football, UGA football games, unconditioned arms, schedules, and high school class acclimations (AP Classes) this can be a challenging season. If we took 11 players and a couple were banged up from football or going to a UGA game, we would have to either pick up players or pull out of tournaments. I don’t want that. We also have to look at the long term health of players and pitchers. With arms not in mid-season form, it is irresponsible of us to assume they can have 80-90 pitch counts. We need increased roster size for depth on the mound.

1) The coaching. I look at the word “coach” in 2 different words that makes it completely different. Coach the noun vs Coach the verb. The noun version of Coach is merely a title. It’s a sign of respect but with little context. What I want to establish and I think we are on the right track, is living out the verb of a coach. Coaching is mentoring. It’s educational. It’s transformative. Our coaches are working to make better players and better people. We are here to be positive male role models for our younger generation and I take this very seriously. It is a responsibility that you often see used lightly in the travel baseball world. For us being a coach is transformative NOT transactional. 

Baseball games are great but it isn’t the developing tool to make them competent competitors. Developing the skill sets are vital in the success of these players. So I am attaching something that every player will get. It is individual skill progression cards including arm care (pre & post throw) and hitting drills that they can be doing to develop their skill. We will be rolling these outs within the next couple weeks. They will be laminated and consolidated to a key ring. Most of these will be foreign to you but I am here to help. Fire away with questions and I will send you videos of a demo. 

I want our boys to be challenged. I want them to embrace the difficulty of learning this game so that they can develop the perseverance to overcome a challenge in life. I want kids to try to delay gratification and strive for something that they can’t see right now. Perseverance embraces the process driven mindset while letting results only be a marker for their current circumstances so they have a frame of reference for their development. You most likely don’t remember your win/loss record when you were your kids’ age or find that it had no impact on your future, but you do still carry on the lessons learned and apply them still today.